Page 67 of Salt & Blood

Pandora grunted, struggling to see past it. But the former goddess’s power was too strong. It was everywhere, consuming her thoughts, her body, her very being.

“Her hatred for me is overpowering you,” Gaia observed.

Pandora exhaled in a huff of exasperation and opened her eyes. “Why? Why does she hate you so much?”

For some reason, Gaia’s gaze flicked to Sol and back to Pandora before she replied, “She sought the throne of Elysium.”

Pandora’s head reared back, and she felt Sol stiffen beside her, his hold on her shoulder tightening just a fraction.

“When I married Apollo,” Gaia went on, “I took the opportunity away from her. So, she sought out the Titans, hoping their power would help her seize the crown by force.”

“Apollo wasn’t king yet,” Sol said, his voice low. “You two married well before Jupiter’s demise.”

Gaia looked at him again, sorrow and regret stirring in her gaze. She said nothing, but Pandora’s stomach dropped as realization set in.

“It wasn’t just the throne she wanted,” Pandora whispered. She suddenly felt ill as the churning in her gut intensified. “It was…Apollo.”

Oh gods, she was going to be sick. She was going to retch and vomit right here on Gaia’s carpet.

The soul inside of her lovedApollo.Her father.

Something hissed inside her, all venom and anger, and Pandora realized the soul did not love Apollo. Not anymore. Not after what he had done.

But once, long ago, she had.

Pandora looked up at Sol, blinking through the fog of her mind, to find his expression hard as stone as he glared at Gaia.

“You’re lying,” he said.

“I am not,” Gaia said firmly. “It is true. When she realized she had no chance with Apollo, she sought out another sun god to help her get closer to him, to bring him down if she could not have him for herself.”

Sol stepped toward Gaia, withdrawing his hand from Pandora. The darkness immediately swelled, crowding her vision, threatening to drag her under.

Distantly, she heard Sol growl, “Stop it. This is alie.I knew her. And she wouldn’t—” He broke off with a sharp inhale. Pandora knew he’d been about to sayShe wouldn’t do that,but this wasn’t true. The goddess had been ruthless and power hungry. Shewouldhave done whatever was necessary to seize power. It was what had led to her downfall in the end.

“I am sorry,” Gaia said softly.

Sol was panting now as if he’d run a mile. For a long moment, he said nothing, but his breaths became more ragged and desperate. He turned and stormed from the room, his heavy footsteps echoing.

“Sol!” Pandora cried, rising to follow after him.

“Let him be,” Gaia said. “He must process this without the reminder of the woman he once loved.”

Pandora shot a hateful look at Gaia. “Why did you do that? Was that truly necessary?”

“It was necessary foryouto understand the full extent of her rage,” Gaia said smoothly. “Sol would have found out eventually.”

Pandora shook her head, her hands quivering with fury. She was torn between chasing after Sol and strangling Gaia. The earth goddesswascold and callous. She didn’t care that she’d hurt Sol, who had done nothing but strengthen and support Pandora since the hydra attack. His loyalty was something she did not deserve. But he was here, doing his duty to his kingdom. And now Gaia was crushing him with the revelation that his lover had only used him to get to Apollo. That the passionate love that had shattered him for centuries was built on nothing but lies.

“Do you feel it?” Gaia asked. Her voice was so quiet Pandora almost didn’t hear her over her own violent thoughts.

“Feel what?” Pandora snapped.

“Your own rage. It’s stronger than hers now, isn’t it?”

Pandora gritted her teeth. “That’s what this is? Some kind of test for me?”

“That is the whole reason we’re here,” Gaia said, her expression stoic and unapologetic. “To harness your earth magic so we can rebuild Elysium.”

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