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“Mera,” the woman said, bobbing a quick curtsy.
Pandora nodded once. “All right, Mera. I will let you take my measurements and dress me for the day, if you can do one thing for me in return.”
Mera’s face twisted with unease. “Yes, my lady?”
Pandora was already at the desk in the corner, hastily scribbling a message on a sheet of parchment. When she was finished, she folded it and handed it to Mera. “Get this to Lord Sol as soon as you can.”
Mera visibly relaxed, as if she had been expecting far worse. Perhaps Pandora already had a reputation for being a troublemaker. The servant set the fabric down on the edge of the bed and took the parchment. “Of course, my lady.” She closed her eyes, and a humming sound filled the room. The parchment glowed a brilliant white before vanishing, leaving a tiny puff of smoke in its wake.
Pandora’s eyes widened. “What was that?”
Mera smiled. “The magic of Hermes lives in my bloodline, my lady.”
Hermes—the messenger of the gods. Technically a deity himself, but because of his responsibility to the other gods, he was seen as inferior. Just like Pandora. While Hermes himself had perished hundreds of years ago, she wasn’t at all surprised that the gods of Elysium had found a way to preserve his magic. After all, it was far too convenient.
“Damn,” Pandora muttered with a soft chuckle. “That’s awfully helpful.” She turned to Mera, determined to make the servant feel at ease in her presence. It was the least she could do. “Come now, Mera. Show me that fabric you’ve got.”
* * *
Two hours later, Pandora paced the length of the library, fisting her violet skirts in her hands as she waited for Sol to arrive. She had been nothing but patient as Mera tended to her, and then she had flown down the staircase to meet Sol.
Only to find he wasn’t here yet.
Perhaps he hadn’t seen her message yet? Or perhaps he was with Apollo.
It didn’t matter. Pandora would wait.
Another half hour passed, and Pandora had stopped pacing and was now sitting by the window, her eyes following the motion of the waves in the sea. Up and down. Rough, then calm once more.
It was strangely soothing to her. Despite the depth of each wave, the ocean always became smooth once more. Even if only for a moment.
Loud footsteps echoed nearby, and she heaved a sigh of relief, rising to her feet.
“About damn time,” she snapped, turning to see Sol marching toward her. She froze at the look of darkness and rage on his face.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” he barked. He wore his usual tunic of royal blue, his long blond hair neat and combed back.
But his eyes were full of venom and hatred.
Pandora’s head reared back. “Excuse me?”
“You think you can just summon me like I am your lackey? Like I have nothing better to do than cater to your needs?”
Her eyes narrowed. “I wasn’t summoning you. I asked you to meet me in the library. Or did you forget we have a task to accomplish?”
“Did you forget that Apollo has reassigned me?” Sol bit out. “Our work together is finished. We have no need to associate with one another any longer.”
Pandora’s eyes grew wide. Was he serious? Just like that, they were done working together?
She should have felt relief. How many times had she yearned to be finished with this arrogant asshole?
And yet, her stomach dropped, and an icy coldness crept through her body.
Sol continued to glare at her, and his expression of bitterness and anger only made her own defiance rise up to meet it.
“What’s the matter with you?” she demanded. “The last time I asked you to meet in the library, you simply ignored me and painted in your room.”
Sol’s nostrils flared, his lips growing thin. A muscle feathered in his jaw.
