Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 74198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Finally, I resort to leaving the mirror entirely. I get far enough away that the surface changes to black, and I spend the walk back to my rooms trying to rearrange my expression so that it is no different.
It’s only when I close the door behind me, shed the clothes and shoes, and climb into bed—Cerberus has not moved—that I realize my expression must have shown my feelings for Persephone long before tonight.
How many times has she seen that expression on my face?
How many times have they all seen it? To know that she has changed me forever? That I would bend to her will?
A voice hisses at the back of my mind, What does it matter? I cannot change this feeling that has come over me. I will never change it. Persephone could spend the rest of her days on Olympus or in the mortal realm, and it would never change. And who the fuck are they to judge me?
I think of her in the mirror instead. Waiting for me. Hoping I would be there. Sitting there with the soft fabric of her robe around her shoulders. The delight in her eyes when she saw me. Her power is undeniable. She pulled me to her. Perhaps the Fates’ warning for Zeus was right. She would grow to be more powerful than him.
The very thought forces that fear back. The reason that I do not wish her to ever leave me. She is a danger to Zeus. And he knows it.
He’s already tried to kill her once and I do not know if he’ll try again. A numbness grows through me until I fall asleep thinking about her.
The night passes quickly, though sleep does not ease my desperation for her. I wake up with the image of her in the mirror fresh in my mind.
She’s all I can think about during the day’s session at court. All I can think about as I walk the path with Cerberus.
She’s what I am thinking of when Minox joins me on the path, sliding out of the shadows and falling into step with me.
“My Lord,” he greets me and I reluctantly oblige.
“Minox.”
“I have no intention of repeating what happened last time, Minox,” I say, after a minute.
“I knew you would not, my Lord.”
“I promised Persephone they would be well.”
He glances at me. “When will you go to Olympus, my Lord?”
Freezing, I stop on the path and stare at Minox. He stops as well and meets my gaze, his expression placid. Only a flicker of emotion in his eyes gives away that he does not know how he has mis-stepped.
“What did you say?”
“I asked when you planned to go to Olympus.”
“I cannot go to Olympus. You know that.”
He inclines his head, agreeing. “You cannot freely go to Olympus.”
“What do you mean, I cannot freely go to Olympus? Of course I cannot freely go to Olympus. That has always been the case.”
He swallows thickly, perhaps doubting himself. “My Lord, forgive me. I thought this was a possibility you might have discussed with Hecate.”
“Hecate.” I practically whisper her name as Minox’s suggestion races through my mind. I am damned and condemned, cursed and yet blessed to rule the Underworld. Day in and day out I must stay, for I am needed and the divine law requires each of the ruling gods to be bound to their territory. Zeus to Olympus and the mortal realm, Poseidon to the seas, and myself to the Underworld. Hecate, the keeper of the keys, knows this law well. She was present for its creation.
“Yes,” Minox says slowly, concern in his eyes. “Hecate is bound to return to the Underworld for Diepnon, but she may travel freely between the realms during the hours and days around it. She prioritizes magic and such over law… It is perhaps a conversation…” he trails off.
With anxiousness racing through me and my mind whirling with the possibilities, I turn away from Minox and stride down the path. He waits only a moment before following me. Up ahead, Cerberus reappears on the path, a stick in his middle head’s mouth. He tears toward me, proud of himself. I bend down and take the stick, then hurl it ahead. Cerberus goes after it, barking and barking.
Minox glides up next to me. “My Lord.”
“I did not have such conversations with Hecate,” I admit to him. I question Hecate’s reception to such things. My heart pounds. “When Hecate was in the Underworld. That is not what we discussed.”
“Ah,” Minox says with a slight nod of understanding.
“There is no favor I will not ask of Hecate, or any god, Titan, or mortal, if it means I may have my queen by my side.”
“Do you plan to discuss it with her then?”
“Gather those who may know where she is; tell Hecate I need to speak with her urgently. I will scry if she does not wish to return to the Underworld. I am amenable.”