Page 63 of Salt & Blood

“Morning, beautiful.” His voice was low and deliciously raspy, and it did despicable things to Pandora’s pulse.

She practically fell out of bed, panic flaring as she glanced over her body. Thank the gods she wasn’t naked. But shewaswearing a thin white shift.

Which meant either Sol or Gaia had changed her clothes. She didn’t know which option was more mortifying.

She pressed a hand to her chest, struggling to control her breathing. “I—We—Oh my gods, Sol, did we…” She couldn’t finish, and she covered her face with her hands, unable to look at him. Her face was on fire.

What had they done?

And why the hell couldn’t she remember it?

Tell me my first time with this beautiful man wasn’t when I was in the throes of insanity because of a former goddess.

And then, an altogether horrifying idea crept into her thoughts: had that former goddess possessed her body to be with her lover once more? She and Solhadbeen romantically entangled before the goddess’s demise. And Pandora’s darkness seemed more docile when Sol touched her.

Oh gods, no,pleaseno…If another being or entity was using her body like that?—

Sol offered a low chuckle. “Nothing happened, Trivia. I swear it. After you fell unconscious, you had these strange fits where your body would seize uncontrollably unless I held you. Gaia asked if I was comfortable lying next to you to ensure you got proper rest, and I said yes.”

At the mention of her mother’s name, an echo of those screams rang in Pandora’s mind once more. She shut her eyes, struggling to clear her head. “Where—Where is she?”

“At the edge of the wards, trying to see how much damage has been done,” Sol said, but Pandora heard the meaning behind his words.

She’s keeping her distance so you don’t lose your shit again.

Pandora ran a hand down her face. “The wards were destroyed, weren’t they?”

“No. They were merely deactivated when—” Sol broke off, his eyes flaring with pain.

When Hestia died.Pandora quickly continued, “So, they can still be reactivated?”

“Apollo’s side of the wards can. But his power alone was never enough to protect the realm. Gaia will need to infuse her own powers, or ratheryourpowers, into the wards in order to strengthen them. It takes the magic of two deities to fully strengthen the protection of Elysium.”

“I shouldn’t be here,” Pandora muttered, crossing her arms over her chest. “You and Gaia can do this without me.”

“We could, yes.” Sol scratched his chin. “But I don’t think that’s the point. The point is to prove you can overcome that darkness inside you and access those goddess powers. This is an opportunity for you to become something more than your curse, Trivia.”

Pandora swallowed hard, trying not to feel intimidated by this. Already, she had failed. Only five minutes in Elysium, and she had let the darkness win.

Victory seemed impossible.

She changed the subject, frowning at the small bedchamber. A simple armoire rested against one wall, and on the opposite was a set of bookshelves. “What is this place?”

“One of the few homes that survived the attack,” Sol said. “Gaia and I spruced it up a bit to make it fit for us.”

“Us?” Pandora repeated, her heart skittering again.

“Well, it’s clear you can’t resist being around me.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “Youneedme.”

She scoffed, but the reaction was automatic only because he was being an arrogant prick like usual. But the truth was, he was right. If that darkness overtook her again, it was clear only Sol could bring her back.

The thought soured her stomach as she remembered the horror of imagining that former goddess controlling her body. Was she even herself anymore?

“Gaia found a small home across the street that she’ll be staying in,” Sol went on. “You will have your space from her.”

With a sigh, Pandora sank onto the edge of the bed. “Space from her will not help my earth magic.”

Sol sat up and scooted forward so they were side-by-side, shoulder-to-shoulder. “No, but we have to take small steps forward, not great leaps. This will take time, Trivia.”

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