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She wasn’t sure how long she lay there, her hands buried in the sand and her tears soaking the earth. But after a long while, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
She jerked upright, expecting someone to attack her, only to find it was Mona.
Pandora’s mouth fell open as she stared, stunned, at the sister who she betrayed, the sister she tricked and used just like everyone else. Behind her stood Evander, still in his demon form, his torn wings sagging behind him.
“What are you doing here?” Pandora demanded. “You need to get out. Now!”
“I’m not leaving you,” Mona said firmly.
Pandora laughed, the sound full of bitterness. “Then you’re a fool.”
“Perhaps I am. But I am not like you, Pandora. I will stay with you because you are my sister. We are blood, you and I. And no matter what you do, no matter how despicable you are, that will never change.”
Pandora’s heart twisted painfully at those words, digging fresh wounds into her already anguished body. “You’ll die,” she moaned, letting her head fall into the sand again.
“No, we won’t.” Mona tugged on a leather cord hanging from her neck, pulling it out of her bodice to reveal a sliver of moonstone.
Pandora squinted at it in confusion. “What is that?”
“A totem. I’ve poured my magic into it. If you pour what’s left of yours, it should be enough to power this portal until we can get out.”
“Amara,” Pandora said, coughing up more blood. “I’m not leaving until the villagers are free.”
“I’ve already led them through the portal on that side,” Mona said.
Pandora stared at her in bewilderment. “How?” She could only utter the one word. Here she lay, wounded and dying, barely able to fuel the portal for the dozens of deities who had already passed through. And somehow, Mona had not only managed to fuel the other portal and get an entire village to safety, but she’d had enough magic leftover to power a moonstone. And she was still standing, looking as regal and serene as ever.
“How do you have so much power?” Pandora whispered. She was now so exhausted she couldn’t hold her head up any longer.
“Because I died,” Mona said. “The three of us were bound by a powerful enchantment that kept us locked in our mortal bodies. Only upon death can our true powers be freed.” She lifted her palm, where a fresh cut was leaking blood.
But not ordinary red blood. Silver blood.
The blood of the gods.
Pandora’s heart jolted at the sight. Mona must have cast a spell with her blood to activate the second portal. Blood magic was the most powerful form of magic.
The magic of the witches.
Of course. Pandora had only been thinking of her goddess powers. But Mona was not only a goddess, but also a talented witch. She had a whole arsenal of spells at her disposal.
Pandora lifted a shaking hand to the blood still oozing from her nose. Her hand came back stained in red.
“So if I die, I’ll come back stronger?” Pandora asked, unable to contain the longing in her voice.
Mona’s face turned hard. “No. You’ll need someone to bring you back. Someone who cares enough to sacrifice everything.”
Pandora slumped back onto the sand, closing her eyes. “I have no one. Only enemies.”
A warm hand closed around her own. “You have me. You have us.” Mona crouched in the sand next to her, her eyes shining with a tenderness Pandora didn’t deserve. Behind her, Evander drew closer, his face a mask of stone. He didn’t hold the same affection for Pandora that Mona did, but still… he was here. And that was enough.
Slowly, Pandora nodded. “All right. What do I need to do?”
“Anything you have left, pour it into this.” Mona lifted the necklace from her head and held it out toward Pandora.
“I have nothing left, Mona,” Pandora sobbed. “I am empty. I am dying.”
“You do have power left, sister,” Mona said gently. “It will take everything you have. You will likely fall into unconsciousness from the effort. But you can trust that we will carry you through.”
