AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The tree behind him sprang to life, branches wrapping around him. Phaidros strained against the bonds in outrage.
“It has to be you. I sensed it in your magic when I healed you. It’s like you said—if the Moon Goddess was your mother, your father is Tartarus itself. You’re the only one who can take us there.” I hesitated for a moment, then added, “Please.”
“And if you don’t have the good sense to take my wife up on her request, I can make the alternative a lot less pleasant.”
Dark magic swirled around the tree branches, echoing Cole’s words.
Phaidros bared his teeth at me. “Fine. If you want to return to that hellhole, be my guest.”
“Hell, I rule,” I corrected. “So the term doesn’t really fit.”
Phaidros hissed at me again but stopped fighting against the branches. I let him go. A massive, yellow portal sparked around us.
“Now’s as good a time as any to lose our souls, I suppose.”
Tartarus was every bitas awful as I remembered.
The same darkness I had walked through before engulfed us. It swallowed all the scents and smothered my magic. I tried to reach for Cole, but there was nothing. A cold sweat broke out across my brow.This was a mistake.
“Enough theatrics,” Cole snapped, sounding less terrified out of hismind and more annoyed.
The darkness cleared away. In its wake, it revealed the same place Cole had been shackled, the silver manacles still hanging from twin towering rocks. I didn’t hide my growl. Cole, who was only inches away, was rigid. Not a single muscle in his body moved. I wasn’t sure he was even breathing.
That was what this place did. It dredged up your worst memories, the worst horrors it could inflict on you, and made you live them over and over again. Made you think that life could not get better and that the safer thing was to give up. That it was better to feel the same cruel torture a hundred times over than to hope it might be differentthistime—and be proven wrong.
I reached for my mate. “You’re not there.”
“Never again,” he vowed.
I echoed the words, but he wasn’t done.
“Never again will I let this place keep us apart.”
A warm flicker of emotion sparked in my chest. There were some things the under-realm couldn’t take away from us. Our promises echoed between us. Our bond was sewn across centuries; it spanned lifetimes. No one would ever take him from me again. I wouldn’t allow it.
“I told you I would see both of you again before the end of time. How unwise of you to hasten your return.”
My spine stiffened as the realm’s voice echoed in my head.
“They come to make adeal,” Phaidros spat. No doubt he would’ve disappeared in a moment given the opportunity, but he had vowed to the Styx he would be present at all trials to moderate.
“I am not beholden to bargains you make.”
“He speaks for you. He is part of you,” Cole countered.
“He is his own creature.”
“He is,” I agreed, earning an arched brow from Cole and a surprised look from Phaidros. I shrugged at my mate. This wasn’t a winning argument. “But we need to carry out a trial for this realm just the same as we did the others. I want to bargain for the freedom of the souls in your domain.”
The under-realm was silent. We waited several moments, but no response came. The sweat on my palms slid against my fingers as I clenched them into fists. We couldn’t let the realm refuse.
“You may not be beholden to your son’s agreements, but you do have a penchant for deals. I will offer you an irresistible prize if you participate.” Cole strode forward, nearing the same altar he’d been imprisoned at. “The same prize as before.” He turned back to me. “Every instinct is screaming at me not to do this, but know this, mate. I trust you above everything.” He turned away from me again, as if the words were too difficult to get out while looking at me. “I will offer the same prize of the other trials—the souls of Avery and I.”
I swallowed. I hoped I was worthy of the honor of his trust.
No. Screw that.I would make sure I was worth it by winning the trial.
“Your kingdoms made sense to fight for. You are foolish to risk your souls. You think because I have allowed each of you to leave once before it is nothing for you to leave again. This greed for more will be your downfall, life-giver.”
