Page 57 of Salt & Blood

Hands gripped Pandora’s shoulders, hauling her off Gaia. She spat and thrashed, the spirit inside her still desperate to cause pain, to tear off Gaia’s head.

As Romanos and Evander dragged Pandora to the opposite end of the throne room, the shadows dispersed with an echoing scream of rage. Gaia slowly climbed to her feet, brushing her fingertips along the silver blood oozing down her face.

“You should let her go,” Gaia said, her voice deep and powerful. “I deserve her fury.”

Though her dark powers were gone, Pandora was still hissing and growling, flailing against the gods who held her. She was indeed like a caged animal.

“Do something!” Sol shouted, his eyes wide as he gestured to Pandora.

A kernel of warmth spread through her chest at the look of concern on his face, but it was drowned out by the screams inside her, the memories that engulfed her.

Kill Gaia. Kill her. Destroy her. Rip out her throat.

“Marina,” Rom said in a strained voice as he struggled to contain Pandora, who continued to fight his grip on her. “Can’t you help? You have Hestia’s curse breaking abilities.”

The Gorgon shook her head slowly, her eyes calculating as she surveyed Pandora. It was as if Pandora was a fascinating new species to observe, not a goddess in pain. “This curse is bound by the magic of the Titans.Hermagic. It’s stronger than mine. I can’t do anything for her.”

“Sol, you snapped her out of it before,” Mona said, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked beseechingly at the sun god. “Perhaps you can do it again. Please.”

Sol’s lips parted, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard. He shot a glance at Gaia, then said, “Turn her away, so she can’t see her.”

Romanos and Evander both grunted as they shifted Pandora until she faced the earth wall of the throne room. Pandora screeched in fury, shoving hard against the death gods. But their grip was firm.

Then, Sol was there, his beautiful face before hers, his midnight blue eyes as bottomless as the sea. He pressed his hands to her face, fingers sliding under her chin and along her jaw as he cradled her like she was something precious.

His touch stilled her. She went limp, her arms held up only by the strength of Evander and Rom. Her eyes locked onto Sol’s as if entranced by him. He was stunning, with his smooth blond hair and perfectly trimmed goatee, the smooth nose and square jaw and full lips that she had tasted not long ago.

And when he looked at her like that, like she was someone to be treasured, it unraveled the darkness inside her.

“Sol,” she whispered.

He leaned closer until their noses brushed. Her eyes closed as she drank in the scent of him, the heat of his body so close to hers.

“You are here with me,” he murmured, his voice low and soft and deliciously sultry. “Think only of me. My body and yours. The crash of the ocean waves. The salty sea air.”

Pandora knew he was referring to their naked swim together, their bodies entwined, their laughter echoing. That had been the first time she’d let herself be free around him. And it had been exhilarating.

She took a deep, shuddering breath, then opened her eyes to meet his once more.

His eyes crinkled with his smile. “There she is.”

Pandora brought her hands to his chest, fingertips running along the fabric of his tunic. His heartbeat stirred from underneath her hands, the rhythm a soothing pulse to the chaos raging inside her.

“Gaia is here,” Sol whispered.

Pandora jolted, her body going rigid as her pulse began to race. That darkness flooded her senses again, threatening to take over.

“Stay with me,” Sol murmured, running his fingers down her neck and settling his hands on her shoulders. “Trivia, stay with me. You are strong enough for this.”

Pandora nodded, even though she didn’t agree. Shewasn’tstrong enough to fight the soul inside her. She had always been too weak. It was why she had devoted her life to vengeance; because she was powerless to resist it.

“I will be with you the whole time,” Sol said. “You can overcome this. No matter what that darkness inside you demands.”

Again, Pandora disagreed, but she clung to his words:I will be with you.

Perhaps, with Sol grounding her, shecoulddo this.

Gradually, Pandora’s mind cleared and her senses came back into focus. She registered the Gorgon sisters speaking with Gaia.

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