Page 68 of Salt & Blood

“You can do this without me,” Pandora bit out. “You and Sol can activate the fail-safe.”

“Pandora, you don’t seem to be understanding me.” Gaia leaned forward, her eyes sharpening.

“Don’t call me that.”

Gaia blinked. “What should I call you?”

“Trivia. I am not her. I am not the same as her.”

“Very well, then. Trivia, you must understand. This is more than just your punishment. It is more than just a training exercise to help you with your magic. The soul inside you is dangerous and has already ripped apart two realms. It is connected to the very darkness that seeks to bring down our existence. If I can teach you to quiet the voice inside you and trust your own magic, to grow your powers and make you strong enough to complete this task, then it will silence the presence inside you. You will become stronger than her. She will no longer be a threat to you or to our realm.”

Our realm.As if Pandora and Gaia could ever belong to the same place.

No, Pandora had grown up in the Underworld.Thatwas her home.

But if what Gaia said was true, then Pandora could finally be free. The soul would still be living inside her, but it would be silenced. Pandora would be in control of her body and her mind.

She would be able to shut off these thoughts and emotions. She would be able to live her own life.

The idea was so foreign and yet so appealing… It loosened the tightness in her chest and made her feel weightless. The possibilities were almost overwhelming. What would she evendowith her life? Her entire purpose had been revenge. What would she do without it?

“Fine,” she said in a clipped voice. “Where do we start?”

“We should wait for Sol to return,” Gaia said.

Pandora shook her head. “No, I need to do this without him.”

Gaia tilted her head, looking at her with interest. “Why?”

“Because… because he is too connected toher.It’s why his touch affects me so much.”

Gaia smiled, her eyes sparking with amusement. “Is that what you think?”

“Obviously,” Pandora said through gritted teeth. She wanted to smack that smug expression off the goddess’s face.

“If his touch is only a connection to Pandora, then why does it seem to soothe you?”

“Because it soothesher.”

“So, that voice inside you, it grows louder when he is near? Her emotions intensify when he touches you?”

Pandora faltered at that. Because, in truth, Sol’s touch helped to quiet those voices and emotions. It helped bring her clarity.

“If Sol was connected to that soul inside you,” Gaia went on, “then his presence would make things worse. Pandora’s emotions would fight harder to escape and to reach him. They would drown you out completely.” Gaia clasped her hands together on her lap, her eyes intent as she focused on Pandora. “Trivia, I believe it isyourlove for Sol that grounds you. He is your anchor, tethering you to this world and this life, not the one that came before.”

“I don’t love him,” Pandora said automatically, even as her chest constricted from the lie.Wasit a lie? Well, it had to be. There was so much betrayal tangled up in her association with Sol. How could two people possibly come to love each other after all that? He was her rival, the man she’d hated as a child. His behavior was insufferable.

And yet… He had stood by her. They had saved each other in more ways than one. He had willingly come to Elysium with her. He had shared a bed with her, knowing it was the only way to calm her.

A knot of emotion formed in Pandora’s throat, and she couldn’t breathe. The reality of her feelings for Sol swelled until it nearly suffocated her.

“That’s it.” Gaia scooted forward, then stretched out her hand. “Focus on those feelings, and take my hand.”

Pandora shook her head, unable to think clearly. Her confusion and disorientation were like a storm in her mind.

“Take my hand, Trivia.” Gaia flexed her fingers.

Pandora sucked in a sharp breath, then snatched Gaia’s hand.

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