The moon used to remind Hypnos of his mother; bright, vibrant, and brimming with life. That happiness had tarnished into misery after two decades. Looking at it now reminded him of the night he sold himself to Corina for Pandora’s survival and Hades’ sake.  Corina had taken that comfort from him, too.  He stood before ...

Athena reformed in the heart of Olympus after leaving Hades. Golden sunlight warmed her, carrying the scent of blooming flowers and honey. Her home was perfect. Up here, the world below felt distant. When she approached her father’s quarters, a harem of women lounged throughout the open space. They gawked at her in shock. No ...

Pandora   In Nyx’s office, Pandora stood before the windows she adored. Night swallowed the skyline, leaving thousands of lights glittering in its wake. From this height, they looked like stars scattered across the earth.   For a moment, she watched.   Hades and Nyx arrived without a sound, but she was keenly aware of his presence. The hairs on her neck prickled, and she suppressed a shiver.   ...

“What did you do?” Athena repeated. Red embers sparked within her silver stare, which glowed in the dimmed space. “A simple conversation, niece. Nothing more.” He rapped the glass of beer he had ordered. Condensation dribbled onto the table. He was feigning nonchalance, or genuinely unbothered. Sensing her powers intensify, the sparse number of patrons ...

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 ...