dark shape. As we neared, I caught sight of a tall stone and iron gate. Two sconces glowed with orange light, and leafless, gnarled oaks grew around it, making it look like the realm Halloween forgot. Cerberus sat near it, the enormous black dog resting on his haunches as he stared at us with all three sets of eyes.
As soon as Cerberus saw Hades, his three mouths opened in a doggy grin, and his tongues lolled.
Fear collided with the sensation of oh, my fates, he’s cute, and it was the weirdest damned thing. I didn’t know if I wanted to run screaming or hug him.
When he lowered himself to his belly and stared longingly at Hades, my heart lurched.
Oh, my God, I want to hug him.
We rode past, Hades insistently putting his mount between me and Cerberus. I watched as Cerberus inched his head toward Hades, and the god’s brow creased. After a long moment of debate, he reached out and awkwardly patted one of Cerberus’s heads.
The beast made a long, low sound of delight, and Hades nodded stiffly at him.
I grinned widely, unable to help myself.
Hades caught me looking and frowned. “Do not think that I make a habit of such things.”
“Of course not.” But my grin still stretched at my cheeks, and I vowed that if I got a chance, I was coming back here to pet Cerberus myself.
But even more exciting than Cerberus—if such a thing were possible—was the fact that Hades had freaking petted him. He’d done it like a robot learning to feel, or perhaps mimicking humans, but he’d done it.
He was definitely fracturing.
As we passed Cerberus, Echo appeared. He flitted back to sit on one of Cerberus’s heads, and it seemed like they might actually be friends.
We were nearly to the massive gate when Hades spoke. “Be alert. Though the land outside these gates is closest to my realm, it is not fully my dominion. It is a halfway point between the underworld and the realms beyond, and the other gods have an easier time walking upon this land.”
I nodded. “All right.”
Hades directed Horse through the gates, and I followed.
Almost immediately, I spotted the river in the distance. It gleamed darkly as it snaked through the fields. A small boat crossed it, carrying a tall man in a dark cloak.
Charon.
Holy fates, this was wild.
“There’s no one in Charon’s boat,” I said.
“There rarely is these days,” Hades said. “Afterworlds are populated by those who believe in them. Very few people worship the ancient Greek gods anymore.”
“Does that bother you?” I studied his face, getting the distinct impression that it did not.
“No. I prefer it.”
“Too much work?”
He shrugged. “I do what I must, but I find no joy in ruling the dead.”
“You find joy in nothing.” Nothing except me.
He nodded. “Come. We are nearly there.”
He turned Horse to the left, approaching a small copse of dead trees outside the massive stone wall that surrounded the underworld. In the distance, a mountain loomed. I shivered, grateful we weren’t climbing to the top of it.
Once we were inside the copse, Hades dismounted, then came to help me down. I wanted to protest, but the memory of nearly falling on my arse last time I’d tried this was impossible to forget.
“Thanks.” My voice was stiff as he gripped my waist, his touch sending a shiver through me.
As soon as he set me down, I backed up.
His lips thinned just slightly before he said, “Come. The portal is this way.”
14
Hades
Seraphia and I approached a shimmering patch of air that marked the portal. At the entrance, I held out my hand to her. It wasn’t entirely necessary that we stay connected while traveling through the portal, but it was safer.
She looked at it skeptically for the briefest moment, then reached out and grasped me.
Warmth shot up my arm. Though I tried to suppress any enjoyment, it was impossible. Touching her quieted my soul in the same way that the darkness did. I drew in a ragged breath, shoving away the thought.
“Come.” I stepped toward the portal, and she followed.
As the ether sucked us in and spun us through space, I held tight to her hand. A moment later, it spat us out on a rocky cliff. The sea crashed below, the waves roaring as the scent of salt filled the air. Behind us, the ruins of the ancient Greek city crouched against the hills that rose up from the cliff.
For the briefest moment—not even a second—the day was bright. Then, as