Pandora struggled to connect Alerion with Hades, even though he sat across the table from her. He didn’t look like Hades, but those mannerisms belonged to him. The slight quirk of his brow when confusion crept in. The perpetual scowl carved into his features. Even the way he steepled his fingers whenever he was deciding how to deliver terrible news.    It ...

Hades waited in his office after the hearing had concluded. Hypnos tried to stay, but Hades dismissed him. This was their conversation to have, and he would not shy away from Persephone’s anger. The door burst open, and she stepped in as if summoned. The flowers in her tresses had shifted from what they had ...

Demeter stood in the center of the massive courtroom, surrounded by tiered seating and a duo from every pantheon. She cast her fiery gaze to the ceiling, and defiant tears streamed down her cheeks. Heavy manacles that were secured to the ground covered her wrists. Demeter faced punishment for attempting to kill Hades and endangering Hypnos.    Persephone ...

“Hello, my darling pixie,” Hades said, but the man before Pandora wasn’t him. At least not in appearance.       Black and white hair had turned rain cloud purple, falling into unfamiliar heterochromia irises. One glowed electric blue, and the other sparkled emerald green. There were pupils in the irises, too. His sharply angled features reminded her of someone she’d forgotten. Leather ...

Upperworld, Twenty Years Later   Pandora had forgotten Hades’s visage. The fine details of his face were a blur. Two decades without him did that. Thoughts of him brought immeasurable pain, but she knew this path was inevitable. His fingers ghosted across the markings, reminding her that he was always with her. Then bitterness tainted the ache when the uncomfortable tingling traveled along ...

Pandora was limp in his arms, and blood seeped from unsealed wounds. He stumbled out of the nightmare. Hypnos caught him as his knees buckled and guided him to the ground. His friend’s lips were moving, but the world spun. All that registered was sharp feedback.     “Hades,” Hypnos’ voice cut through the noise, and he moved to look at ...

Pandora would taste sweet, like aged whiskey and fresh honey. The thought tantalized him, and he shifted on his makeshift throne to readjust himself. His plan unfolded smoothly. He had secured the bargains, and they were about to blame the wrong person for everything. The next phase would begin after she fell. A savage smile pulled back his lips, sharp with the promise of ...

The cave’s opening, a portal from the Upperworld, provided entry to the River Styx. It shone so brightly that Persephone shielded her eyes. The illumination was an illusion, meant to soothe souls into thinking they’d found the light. Without enough coins, it morphed into the end of their journey. Kharon was serious about collecting the ...

Someone was in Hades’ dreamscape. He sensed their presence when they entered. A tired excitement filled him. Whoever arrived could distract the demons and grant him the opportunity to find the rip between dimensions. He’d sealed Hypnos’; he would seal his own. Unfortunately, he couldn’t move from where they’d cornered him. His luminescence dimmed again and ...

Searing pain ripped her from sleep. Pandora shot upright in bed and clutched her throat as a scream died on her lips. Metallic blood tainted her tongue; her chest convulsed as panic tightened and clawed under her skin.     She stumbled into the adjoining bathing chamber and flicked on the light. Her nightshirt hit the ...