She shuddered. “She would torture Sol. My mother. My sisters.”
“Doesn’t she plan to do this to you anyway, if you don’t provide her a means to escape?”
Trivia hesitated. This was true. She had nothing to lose.
She heaved a sigh. A kernel of hope bloomed in her chest, but she tried to ignore it. Hope was dangerous, especially in a place like this.
Instead, she looked at Midas with resignation, knowing he was her only way out.
And she was his.
With one stiff nod, she said, “Fine. I agree. Let’s work together.”
PAYMENT
EVANDER
Evander was unstable.His mind was fractured, and his body no longer felt like it belonged to him.
Ever since he had lost Typhon, he’d felt…off.
But now, without Mona, he didn’t even know who he was anymore. He had no purpose. No drive. No sense of awareness or belonging.
He was lost. Broken. Irreparable. Even if he did get Mona back, he still didn’t know if he would ever feel whole again.
His pearly wings spread wider, carrying him through the sky. Every passing day brought more light and vibrance in the air, making the sky feel more real. The murky fog was slowly dissipating. Evander suspected it was because Cyrus had been chosen as the rightful king of the realm, and now the land was healing itself through that bond.
Cyrus had truly come into his own power. He was the king the people deserved. He knew his place. Hebelongedhere.
Evander envied that. His wings beat harder, the wind whipping at his face as he soared over the rubble-filled lands. This place still had a lot of healing to do, after enduring the horrors of Pandora’s box. It would take ages before it could be restored to its former glory.
But this was a start. Grass was beginning to sprout. Silvery water trickled along the rivers, a promise of more to come. Soon, the souls would have a stream to carry them from one path to the next.
Soon, the realm would be fully mended.
Evander wanted to feel relief. He really did. This place was his home. He understood the dangerous repercussions of a broken Underworld.
But he felt… nothing.
Hollow.
When Romanos had absorbed his magic and Evander had seen Mona—held her, touched her—he had felt nothing but joy. Nothing but the comfort of knowing she was there with him and they could be together.
But each moment made him feel more and more unsettled. As if, every day, another crack formed in his armor, hacking away at the pieces of himself.
His wings pumped harder, and he gritted his teeth as exhaustion filled his bones. He was almost spent. Soon, his ghostly wings and tail and horns would vanish, and he would just be… Evander once more.
But he didn’t even know who that was. Someone without magic. Without a purpose.
Someone powerless.
With a growl of frustration, he arced low, circling theUndead Wilds. He often came here, forcing himself to relive the moment Mona had been taken through the Titans’ portal.
If he hadn’t lost Typhon, he would have been able to save her. He was certain of it.
He’d failed her. He’d failed Prue, too.
He’d failedeveryone.
