Page 2 of Salt & Blood

Prue wanted to argue, to claim it wasn’t their fault… Butshehad been the one to open Pandora’s box.

She had done this. Itwasher fault.

Her response stuck in her throat, filling her mouth with a foul, bitter taste.

“Don’t you already have a throne?” Gaia asked. “Why do you need another?”

For a moment, Apollo’s expression froze, and a haunted look passed over his eyes. In a flash, his easy smile had returned, and he waved a hand. “Elysium is in good hands. I have left my apprentice in charge. But I’ve neglectedthisrealm for far too long, and I’m here to set things right.”

“You cannot simplyclaimthe throne,” Prue said, and she was relieved to find her voice did not shake. “The magic of the realm must choose you. It has already chosen me. And Cyrus. You are too late, Apollo.”

“Well, I think you’ll find, Prudence, that once a realm is as broken as this one, the magic that binds a ruler to the throne can be… reclaimed. The magic is reset. A clean slate.”

Prue’s heart lurched, and she shot a panicked look at Gaia. “Is this true?”

Gaia’s mouth grew thin, a telltale sign of her unease. “It is speculation. No one here has experienced the death of a realm before. We do not know what to expect.”

“Why do you evenwantthe throne?” Cyrus asked. “You despise this place.”

“I was wrong to turn my nose up at it,” Apollo said with a sigh. “It is time I make amends.”

“By taking what doesn’t belong to you?” Prue asked incredulously. “By leading a people you know nothing about?” She shook her head. “You are insane, Apollo. It will never work. And if you dare to try, we outnumber you.” She lifted her chin, trying to project more confidence than she felt.

Apollo’s mouth stretched into a wide smile that Prue did not like one bit. Her stomach sank with dread as he said slowly, “I think you’ll find that no one here can match my power. But go ahead and try. It would be highly entertaining to see you fail.”

Prue’s breaths came in short spurts, and panic rose in her chest.

Gaia seemed to sense her distress, and she stepped forward. “You know the law, Apollo,” she barked. “Either make a formal challenge, or get out.”

“I’ll issue a challenge,” Apollo said, still smiling at Prue. “But not yet. I’d like to take a look around. Get to know my future subjects.” His gaze shifted from Prue to Cyrus, and at last to Gaia. Then, he clapped his hands together. “Well, I should be off. Lots to see, isn’t there?” He frowned in mock contemplation. “Or rather… I suppose thereisn’t, is there? Not anymore.” He grinned, then bowed. “I shall see you all very soon.”

With that, he sauntered out the room, the heavy doors slamming with his departure.

Prue held perfectly still, waiting for him to come back, to assault them with his powerful magic. Surely, that was notallApollo intended to do. Couldn’t he unleash his sun magic and burn them to ash? What was stopping him from obliterating them all? Gaia might be a match for his power now that her curse had been broken. But Prue wasn’t—and Cyrus certainly wasn’t either.

“What law?” Prue asked, turning to her mother, heart racing. “What did you mean by a formal challenge?”

“In the realms of the gods, a throne can only be acquired if the monarch dies, or if a formal challenge is issued,” Gaia said, her tone solemn.

“That isn’t true,” Cyrus said, his voice stiff. “I took the throne from Aidoneus without issuing a challenge.”

“You fought him, though, didn’t you?” Gaia asked. “That counts as a challenge. It might not have been a formal declaration, but the realm obviously recognized it as such. I was waiting for Apollo to strike one of you, to take the crown from you by force. But he didn’t.” She tapped her chin, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. “What is he waiting for?”

“Apollo likes theatrics,” Cyrus said in a bored voice. “He’s dragging this out on purpose.”

“Perhaps.” But Gaia sounded doubtful.

Prue couldn’t keep her eyes off Cyrus. She recognized the despair darkening his features. But Goddess, he lookedso different.Pale blue eyes. No tattoos. No horns. Inky black hair, instead of that otherworldly silver.

He was a stranger to her.

His gaze snapped to hers, locking onto her. Awareness rippled over her spine as she found herself pulled in by the intensity of that look. She wanted to draw closer to him. She wanted to feel his skin on hers, to see if their bodies still fit together like they did before.

All too soon, Cyrus broke the connection and turned away, heading for the door.

“Wait!” Prue blurted out.

Cyrus froze, then glanced over his shoulder, not quite meeting her eyes. “What?” The word was sharp and calloused.

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