Page 73

I moved to the side, wanting to keep his attention on me, not Persephone. “You’ve got to be shitting me. You’ve sent so many assassins after me, I’ve lost count.”

“So you say,” he mocked. “You have no proof.” He leapt behind the rock, grabbed Persephone by her hair, and dragged her up to use as a shield.

“Ever the gentleman, aren’t you?” I continued moving to the side, trying to get closer.

He wrapped his hand around Persephone’s neck and held up a hand at me. “Stop or I’ll rip her head off,” he snarled.

Persephone’s eyes went wide and then her expression darkened. She was pissed.

“Flip that axe over and slide it to me, handle first,” he ordered.

I flipped him off. “Eat shit and die, asshole.”

“You will not—” he began to thunder before crying out in pain.

Persephone had burned him. He jumped back from her, staring down at the blackened skin of his hand.

When he stumbled back, I’d moved in, springing toward them and thrusting the top of the axe head into his chest to get him away from Persephone. I didn’t use the blade just in case he was right and I got smited for it. “Move behind me,” I told Persephone.

“I will do no such thing.” She leaned down, clutched Finvarra around the neck, and lifted him off the ground as the skin of his throat reddened and then turned black before flaking away, all while the king screamed out in pain.

Chapter 26

INTRODUCTIONS ARE MADE

“I can take over now,” a bell-like voice said.

Not wanting any misunderstandings between two very powerful women, I moved forward quickly. “Persephone, this is Gloriana, the fae queen. Gloriana, this is Persephone, goddess of the spring. She was imprisoned here by Finvarra.”

Gloriana inclined her head to Persephone. “Please accept my sincerest apologies for what the king has done. I’ve heard whispers over the ages about this, but we couldn’t find you. I had my people searching every realm for you. And then one day, I met this one.” She gestured to me. “Like your Pythia, I saw in her your freedom, so I gave her my ring to help her along.”

Gloriana walked to me, wrapped her hand around the back of my neck, and pulled me down to her height so she could kiss my forehead. “You’ve done well, child. I’ll no longer call on you. Live your life as you will.”

“Thank you, my lady.” A huge weight lifted from my shoulders.

Gloriana looked back at Finvarra with disgust as he got to his feet. “Why don’t you two run along now. I’ll deal with him.”

I didn’t need to be told twice. I sheathed my axe, then grabbed Persephone’s wrist, walking us to the wall. I put up my right hand and pushed through, dragging Persephone with me.

A moment later, we were back in the tunnel and Hades was sweeping Persephone off her feet, crushing her to him.

I turned back to watch what was happening. Gloriana and Finvarra appeared to be arguing. He smirked and she shook her head. With a wave of her hand, he flew into the wall, cracking his skull.

Wait. Her hand.

I looked down at my own and saw that she’d returned the opal engagement ring Clive had given me, taking her own back. She’d meant it. Our connection was cut. There would be no more dangerous missions on her behalf.

Finvarra got slowly to his feet, a murderous look in his eyes. She turned her head and looked at me. Now that I’d been in the chamber, I knew she couldn’t see out, but I also knew that she was staring right at me. With a wink for me, she turned to Finvarra and flipped him off before disappearing.

Finvarra’s mouth opened in a shout. He flinched. Looking confused, his brow furrowed and he flinched again. One more flinch and his eyes went wide. He looked up into the sunlight, his mouth opened in a scream.

“What’s the matter with him?” Persephone asked.

I sat on the bench across from the chamber and watched Finvarra lose it. “That prison is part of Faerie. That’s why Hades couldn’t find it or break into it. As it belongs to Faerie, it’s under Gloriana’s rule, and it looks as though the jailer has become the prisoner.”

“Good,” Hades grumbled. “I hope she keeps him imprisoned as long as he kept my beloved from me. Longer.”

I nodded, suddenly exhausted. “Persephone hasn’t eaten since she’s been locked up. You should go take care of each other.”