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For what felt like ages, Pandora stood atop the hill overlooking the ocean where Sol swam, her eyes on the horizon and her mind elsewhere. It wasn’t until a long arm extended in the air, beckoning her forward, that she realized Sol was shouting something at her.
Rolling her eyes, she descended the hill and made her way across the sand, her feet resting just in front of the rolling tide. “What is it?” she called out to him.
“Join me!” he said.
“No!” she barked.
“Come on, Trivia, when will you get another chance like this? You can’t tell me you have such luxuries in the Underworld.”
Pandora opened her mouth to argue, but then realized he was right. She wouldn’t get an opportunity like this.
Especially if this realm would soon be consumed by death magic.
Why shouldn’t she enjoy herself? Her work was done. There was nothing left for her to do but wait.
Her preference would be to swim alone, but that couldn’t be helped.
She removed her shoes, and Sol laughed in triumph.
“I knew I could persuade you.”
“Shut up!” she snapped, but a smile worked its way across her face. Yes, for this moment, she could be like Sol and pretend nothing else existed. Nothing else mattered but the enjoyment of the moment.
Sol was swimming closer to her, his eyes sparkling. And damn if his wet hair didn’t look good, side swept and messy around his face, the water droplets running down his cheeks.
“What else will you take off?” he teased.
Pandora’s eyebrows lifted in a challenge. He thought she wouldn’t do it. The amusement on his face was plain. She was nothing but a bitter goddess of the Underworld, consumed by her hatred.
Well, she would prove him wrong.
She loosened the ties of her dress and relished the look of surprise on his face as the fabric fell at her feet, leaving her in nothing but her shift.
Yes, shocking Sol was proving to be one of her favorite things.
She grinned as she stepped out of her dress, then let the straps of her shift fall as well. The silk fabric puddled at her feet, leaving her completely bare as she strode into the water. It was indeed cool against her flesh, but not unpleasant. Waves lapped at her skin, the constant motion of the water surrounding her like a rhythmic dance. In and out.
She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation. Gods, she had never felt anything like this before. She hadn’t once been to the mortal realm, and her only exposure to water in the Underworld were the rivers of souls. The roar of ocean waves filled her mind, dulling the rampaging thoughts that always lingered and tormented her.
With a deep breath, she dropped, submerging her head underwater. Light and sound were drowned by the water, and for a moment, she lingered under the surface, reveling in the silence.
When she emerged, she gasped, peeling her wet, sticky hair off her face and grinning widely.
“You are full of surprises, aren’t you, Trivia?”
She opened her eyes, finding Sol treading water alongside her, a mischievous smile on his face.
“You don’t know me nearly as well as you think you do,” she challenged, her gaze roving over him. His chest was bare, but the rolling waters concealed the bottom half of his body. “Are you really fully naked under there?”
He laughed. “You think I would wear britches in this, and let them drag me down? You don’t know me all that well, either.”
So he was naked. Just like her.
They were both naked in the water.
Together.
The sheer insanity of it, the ludicrous notion that Pandora would be swimming naked alongside a man she loathed, only made her laugh. She threw her head back and let her laughter echo into the sky, resonating around her.
