Page 8 of The Queen & the King

Every dark thought or emotion I’ve ever had waits to burst forth as a violent power. How long had I repressed my darkest instincts, too afraid to unleash that side of me, too afraid to face that side of me?

Before I think better of it, I pick up the phone and dial.

“Dr. Pathenos’s office, how can I help you?” the receptionist answers smoothly.

I open my mouth to speak but end up slamming the phone back into the cradle before I can say anything. Fuck. What could I gain from therapy? Especially from Athena, who isstillnot a licensed therapist. I need another way to find another outlet for these brewing feelings.

I jump up and stride from my office, heading for the library. I reach out to touch the spines of the books, greeting old friends. The well-worn leather beneath my fingers and the scent of old parchment invoke reminders of the words scrawled on those pages. Stories that once took me away from my reality to another world, another quest, another crown. Each one was another escape. Yet there is no familiar feeling of serenity.

I pace along the shelves, trying to calm my racing mind. All the previous avenues to release my stress are gone, and that tornado of dark emotions continues to swirl inside me.

My eyes snap up when the Underworld fluctuates. A new presence has arrived, and this one has an invitation.

“You took your sweet time,” I growl at her, whirling to face her.

“You gave me a day,” Mellie hisses back. “Don’t allow time you’re not willing to give, Hades.”

My eyes narrow, closing the distance between us. Mellie’s mismatched eyes slide over me, and the hardness in her gaze softens as she takes me in.

“You look like shit.”

I’m sure I look awful. I can’t remember the last time I ate anything or slept. But Mellie doesn’t need to point it out. I’m very aware of how I’m unraveling at the seams. Yet I can’t think of a way to stop it, much less figure out a way to stitch myself back together.

I glare at her, waiting for her to speak.

“Helios saw Persephone,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest.

My foolish heart leaps at her name. I don’t know what I expected her to tell me, but just hearing that she’s out there gives me the slightest bit of comfort. She’s not with me, but she’s somewhere.

“And?” I ask, trying to read Mellie’s face, searching for a sign of how Persephone is.

“She’s okay. Demeter is allowing her out of the house.”

Bitch. Just the sound of that woman’s name makes the shadows flicker around the room. It’s enough of a change that Mellie notes the way my powers are whirling.

“She’s not hurt?” I ask hoarsely. “He’s sure?”

Mellie sidles closer like I’m a skittish horse on the verge of bolting. “Helios said she was fine. I’ll ask him to keep an eye on her if you want. But for now, we should wait it out.”

I mimic her stance, crossing my arms. “Wait it out?”

Time is the very thing I don’t have. With each passing second, I draw closer to the deadline for when I can no longerleave the Underworld. With our bond snapped, I would be here alone. Again. The shadows swirl on the walls.

“You think Persephone dove into this without a plan?” Mellie asks, her eyes narrowed, and I can see her watching the way my power is fluctuating.

“Her mother took her from my arms. There wasn’t time to plan.”

Mellie hisses at my tone. “Then it’s time for you to make a plan. A smart one.”

A plan. Right. I’m known for planning, observing, and carefully executing strikes. And where exactly had that ability gotten me?

Nowhere.

“I have a plan,” I growl at her, narrowing my eyes.

“Not dreamwalking. It’s too dangerous, Hades.”

I close the distance, grabbing her arms. “Mellie… I need her.”

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