Page 21 of Salt & Blood

He knew that look well. It meant the clever side of her brain was working.

“You’re right,” Mona said slowly. “We have two earth goddesses here who can rebuild the realms.”

Pandora stiffened, then looked around wildly as if expecting another woman with earth magic to appear. “I’m sorry,two?”

“You are a daughter of Gaia,” Mona said slowly, as if explaining this to a child.

Pandora crossed her arms. “I wasn’t reborn like you, Mona. Your powers are ten times stronger than mine. Besides, I have the soul of a vengeful goddess thrashing inside me. She refuses to let me access the full extent of my powers. Not until her revenge is complete.”

The sun god scoffed. “Elysium is gone. Isn’t that enough for you?”

“Apollo still lives, Sol,” Pandora said darkly. “And so does Gaia.”

Mona released Evander’s hand and took a step toward Pandora. “What does Gaia have to do with this?” Her tone was sharp and laced with panic.

Pandora grimaced, then rubbed her temples. Her face was a shade paler than before. Evander wondered what shadows she battled inside her. For the first time, he felt he could relate to her. They shared a hidden darkness they could not escape.

Or rather… theyhadshared that. Evander wasn’t even sure who he was anymore without Typhon.

“The goddess wants revenge on Gaia, too,” Pandora said.

“Why?” Mona asked. “She had nothing to do with what happened to Pandora.”

“But she had everything to do with what happened tome.” Pandora’s eyes flashed, and in that moment, she looked like the dangerous goddess who had revealed her true nature to Evander before pulling him through the portal to Elysium.

A tense silence passed between them before Sol said in slow, measured words, “You said your actions were fueled byherquest for revenge. Not yours.”

The silence became awkward as Pandora’s face grew even paler. She glanced from Sol to Mona and then to the witches who gaped openly at her. “I—I—Oh gods…” She covered her face with her hands. “It’s all so muddied. Sometimes, I have trouble discerning what is me, and what is…her. I’ve been angry for so long that it often mingles withheranger, and at times, I can’t tell the difference between the two.”

“You assured us you were of sound mind when you made the choice to betray Elysium,” Farah said thoughtfully. “Now you’re claiming the opposite.”

“No, don’t make excuses for her,” Sol said, stepping forward angrily. “She is still responsible for her actions.”

Farah raised a hand, cutting a sharp glance at the sun god. “You have made your position on this clear. For now, I don’t think we should decide anything until we have reached the Voiceless Jungle. We can make our plans from there.”

“How far is it?” Mona asked, chewing on her lip in worry. Evander shared her concern. How much time would they waste visiting these Gorgons when the realms needed immediate help?

“A day’s walk,” said Farah.

Mona nodded, then looked up at Evander with concern in her eyes. “Are you well enough?”

“Yes.” He was still wrestling with the gaping emptiness in his chest, but other than that, he was in perfect health.

If the loss of Typhon was what was required to be with Mona, then he wouldn’t regret it. He would push through that emptiness and come to terms with it.

It would just take some adjusting. That was all.

Farah lifted her chin, then turned to face the witches behind her. “Sisters, gather your things. We leave within the hour.”

VISITORS

CYRUS

Cyrus did not appreciate being summoned.

So when a servant appeared with a letter ordering Cyrus to meet Apollo at the entrance to Tartarus, he swore loudly before ripping the paper to shreds, vowing to ignore Apollo until he had the decency to speak to him like an equal.

After his temper faded, he begrudgingly admitted to himself that to get information from Apollo and earn his trust, Cyrus would need to play along.

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