Page 28 of Salt & Blood

“A Titan,” Apollo supplied, his grin widening.

Prue looked at Apollo in alarm. He couldn’t be serious. “How? It’s impossible for a Titan to be here. They are currently bound in Tartarus.”

But Prue wasn’t completely certain of this. After Pandora’s darkness had destroyed the realm, were the restraints of Tartarus still active? Or were the prisoners of Tartarus now freed?

Before Apollo could respond, more footsteps echoed, and another figure appeared. This one elicited a strangled whimper from Prue as she felt something inside her crack, then shatter.

It was Cyrus, and he wore a look of boredom and apathy on his face. “Yes,” he said idly. “Itwouldbe impossible—without my help. You see, dear wife,Ibrought him here.”

CIVILITY

PANDORA

With the cityof Sodara in ruins, there was no place to stop for the night. Farah told Pandora of an inn she often frequented before the city had been destroyed, and Pandora had to admit, the idea of resting on a soft mattress and having a hot meal in her belly seemed like a dream come true.

But with each step she took through the destroyed city, the ache in her stomach only tightened, coiling tighter and tighter until she felt like she might burst.

My fault. This is my fault.

When they finally reached the edge of the city, her insides were squirming so much that the idea of eating anything made her want to retch.

“That’s the Voiceless Jungle,” said a low voice beside her.

Pandora turned to find Wren, the witch with curly ginger hair, standing next to her. She pointed to something barely visible in the distance. The sun had already set, but the sky was just light enough to make out a line of trees along the horizon.

They stood at least a mile away. Pandora glanced at the sky and then back to the forest. “Will we make it before it’s completely dark?”

Wren smirked. “You forget you are among fire witches. We can light the way.”

Pandora nodded, unable to manage even a small smile.

Wren’s expression sobered. “Are you afraid?”

Pandora glanced at her. The witch’s golden eyes burned in the darkness. “No,” Pandora said. “At least, not for myself. Whatever my fate is, it’s nothing less than I deserve.” She sighed and glanced toward the forest again. “But Iamafraid of how much worse it’s going to get. I’m afraid of seeing the consequences of my actions and how many people I’ve hurt. I—I don’t know if I’ll survive it.”

Wren was silent for a long moment, her lips pressing together thoughtfully. “Perhapsthatis your fate, then. Whatever the Gorgon sisters decide for you, perhaps you can consider this”—she gestured to the ash and debris around them—“a part of your penance.”

A knot formed in Pandora’s throat, and she nodded.

“I know that doesn’t help,” Wren said quietly. “But I don’t think any of us would ever change if we hid ourselves from the darkness around us. The destruction is necessary for our growth. It teaches us to change, and it makes way for new life.”

“I don’t know if I’m capable of change,” Pandora said. “Not with this vengeful soul inside me.” She shook her head. “At any rate, I cannot be convinced that the loss of an entire city—full of innocent people; children, even—would be considered a good thing. I don’t care how much I would grow from it; I would much prefer for these people to be alive.”

Wren’s gaze turned soft. “That is an admirable sentiment.”

Pandora snorted. “I don’t feel admirable at all. I feel like shit. But you’re right. It is part of my penance, and I will continue to bear it.”

Wren offered a wry chuckle. “I like you, Pandora. You’re a dark soul, but you own it. And you still have a heart, in spite of what you’ve endured.”

Pandora could only manage a half smile. Here she was, making friends, all because of the deceit and betrayal she’d worked throughout her life. It didn’t seem right. Everyone should despise her.

She thought of Mona, who was next to Evander, drinking from a waterskin and smiling at something he said to her. Mona, who had every right to despise her, and yet, she had stood by Pandora.

Another kindness she did not deserve.

Pandora watched her sister for a moment when something in her peripheral vision caught her eye. Next to Mona, standing only a few paces behind Pandora and Wren, was Sol, his solemn gaze fixed on Pandora.

She felt her breath catch at the intensity of his gaze. The usual hatred wasn’t there, but a hardness lined his features, making him look fierce and formidable. She had no doubt he’d heard every word of her conversation with Wren. She wasn’t sure what to make of that.

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