Page 49 of Oak & Ember

Gaia hesitated, drawing away from him. “What does that mean?”

“Let’s just say I believe Jupiter’s reign will come to a rather… abrupt end.” Janus’s mouth stretched into a wide grin.

Gaia’s eyes flared wide. “You?—”

Janus pressed a finger to her lips and shook his head. “There are ears everywhere, love. Do not speak it. Just know I have a plan, and you will not have to wait much longer.”

He inched closer and brought his mouth to hers. After a moment, Gaia returned the kiss, her hands twining in his brown hair.

“I will do anything for you,” Janus murmured.

Gaia laughed. “You will do anything for power.”

“Well, that is also true. But you must always remember that nothing—nothing—will ever stand between us. Nothing can keep me from you, nor you from me. We are destined to be together, you and I. And I always fight for what is mine.”

“This was when I knew,” said a voice in Prue’s ear.

She yelped, whirling around in search of the voice, only to find herself alone on the cliff. The lovers on the blanket had vanished.

“Knew what?” Prue asked her mother, knowing Gaia was with her even if she couldn’t see her.

“Knew what he was capable of. He meant what he said, even long after I had left him. Nothing could keep him from me. And nothing would stand between him and his thirst for power.”

The memory shifted, and then Prue stood underneath a dome-shaped ceiling with glistening marble floors and magnificent pillars. A twin pair of thrones sat atop a dais on one end of the room. Before her stood Janus, his hands wrapped around the neck of an unfamiliar man with pale skin and auburn hair. Sitting on the throne behind them was Gaia, looking on with apathy in her eyes.

When light burned from Janus’s hands, the man went rigid, his spine jerking and his neck snapping as he fell over, lifeless. Behind Janus, Gaia flinched.

“Was that truly necessary, my love?” she asked.

“He knew too much.” Janus wiped his hands on his tunic, then snapped his fingers toward a pair of guards in the corner. They hurried forward, hoisting the dead body up and dragging it from the room. “And he was growing too powerful for my liking.”

“You killed him because he was powerful?” Gaia arched an eyebrow.

Janus offered an amused smile. “Do not worry, beloved. I would never do such a thing to you. I trust you completely.”

“I was not worried for myself,” came Gaia’s voice in Prue’s ear once more. “He did not know then that I was pregnant. And I had just discovered there were three souls inside me. The power of three is a dangerous entity. I feared if he knew, he would destroy our children.”

Prue’s blood ran cold. Our children. “Are you saying…” She swallowed, her mouth turning dry. “Mama, are you saying that Janus, the god of two faces, is my…”

“Yes.” Gaia’s voice was sad. “Janus is your father. But now, he goes by a different name: Apollo.”

RISK

PANDORA

Still reeling from the confusing encounter with Sol, Pandora wrung her hands together before smoothing them along her dress as the library doors closed with Sol’s departure.

Why did Apollo want to speak with her alone? Did he want to yell at her, too, because of the attack on the wards?

Pandora’s skin felt hot and cold all at once. She could still taste Sol in her mouth, still hear the sultry groans pouring from him.

And yet, he had called her Pandora.

What the hell did that mean?

Her chest burned and ached with the need for answers… but also a different need. Something she didn’t think she was capable of feeling.

She wanted Sol.

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