"No."
"If I recall correctly, it took you minutes to look this way. Hours to stop sniveling and crying.And what was it? Three days until you stopped the shouting?"
I glared at the king of the gods. The last thing I wanted to do was remember the mess I'd been when I was first locked away.
"I was disappointed when you decided to just accept your fate," he mused.
"My apologies," I bit out.
"That's okay, my dear."
"Why do I get the feeling it's not?" I didn't even try to hide the sarcasm in my tone. He didn't deserve niceties anymore.
"Because I just subjected dear Alexius to the same torment."
This was bad. Very bad.
"But just for a day?" I clarified. How the Hades had I gone from hot and heavy with two sexy humans to being mentally toyed with by the gods?
Oh, yes. I was Pandora, bringer of miseries. This was just my life.
"To you, yes. To him...not so much."
Shit.
"How long?" I crossed my fingers behind my back, hoping he wasn't going to say centuries. I was a prime example of what that could do to a person.
"Just a couple of years. I'm gracious enough to offer you a choice."
A couple of years? Alex had gone through a couple of years’ worth of being in my box? I was so caught up on that thought I almost didn't consider it could mean I'd spent less physical time in the box than I thought. Then again, after the first week, I didn't think it really mattered.
"What's the choice?" I asked, already dreading his answer. There was no way this could end well for all the parties involved.
"I'm glad you asked." Zeus clicked his fingers again and a young goddess appeared, holding a dish of figs.
The look Zeus gave her left no doubt in my mind he'd not brought her here for the food.
Why wasn't I surprised.
"No," I blurted out. Not if it was the only way of living.
"Oh, Pandora. If you think I'd lower myself to that, you have another thing coming."
"You'd take anything with a hole," I threw back. Even the humans seemed to be aware of that little tidbit.
"But not you," Zeus countered. "You're dismissed. Wait for me in my chambers," he said to the goddess. She disappeared seconds later.
I barely refrained from rolling my eyes. I knew what he was doing. This was all about power and intimidation.
"So, what do you want?"
"An extra misery."
No. He couldn't do that. Could he?
"In return, I'll give Alex back to you."
Indecision warred within me. I should save Alex. I really should. But could I condemn another person for that?
