I was only thinking of it because the alternative was worse—thinking about my vision of the future and what I had done.
I’d caused the end of the world.
Or something close to it, with the entire Earth being consumed by the underworld. Because of me and something I’d done willingly. I looked at my arm, grateful to see my tattoo still hidden. It had glowed in the vision, but not in real life, thank fates.
But that vision had felt so real. I still couldn’t believe I would do something like that.
There is darkness within you.
Hades’ words echoed in my mind. And he was right. I could feel it. I’d felt it in that vision.
Just like I’d felt the light in him when he’d rescued me. Yet he resisted it. He pursued a truly evil goal when he was not fully evil.
Why?
No.
Asking why was close to caring, and I should not care. I would get the cure for Mac that he promised and find my way out of this hellhole. Then I would run to the ends of the Earth to hide from him. I’d leave my beloved library behind, so he’d never find me again.
If I was the key to his goals, I’d hide myself away.
Finally, Horse galloped through the gate and up to the castle, stopping abruptly in front of the stairs. I flew off, nearly going to my knees when I landed on the ground.
Hades climbed down slowly, the epitome of tightly laced control. The lines of his face had hardened back to stone, and his eyes were blue diamonds.
I met his gaze, flinching at the harness within. “Give me the cure for Mac.”
“No.”
Shock nearly made me woozy. “No? What do you mean, no?”
“I mean that I won’t give it to you.”
“You promised.”
“I lied.”
Dumb bunny.
Of course he had lied. He was a monster. I knew that.
My jaw tightened as I stared at him. “You’re worthless.”
A muscle flexed in his jaw. “You’re not. You’re priceless to me.”
I hissed my rage. Priceless?
He wanted to use me to bring the horrible misery of the underworld to Earth. That made me priceless?
I wanted to pull out my hair. To scream. To break something.
He strode up the castle steps, his cloak nearly brushing me as he passed. I watched him stalk into the castle, grace and power. Unstoppable.
Angry with myself, I followed. He was already gone by the time I reached the entry, and I went to my room as quickly as I could.
I shouldn’t have been surprised that he’d lied. I knew it was a possibility—it’s why I’d gone to the apothecary. Of course I’d need a Plan B with a man like him.
But still, I’d hoped.
And having that hope dashed freaking sucked.
How much longer did Mac have?
How much longer did I have?
Because Hades certainly had something new in store for me. There was no doubt. And the way he so confidently strode away from me, leaving me to my own devices outside his castle, spoke to his confidence that I couldn’t run from him. Couldn’t hide from him.
Well, he underestimated me. Because if there was one thing I was going to do, I was going to get the hell away from him.
My room was empty when I arrived—no Kerala or Beatrix. I ate two protein bars in the space of two minutes, then climbed into the bath, trying to thaw my bones.
Beatrix arrived on the windowsill as I was finishing.
If I’d had any modesty before this, it was gone now.
She dropped a small bag on the windowsill and transformed, her long legs clad in brilliant yellow tights. Her dark hair was a wild, curly tangle around her head, and her eyes gleamed with concern. “How are you?”
“Fine.” I climbed out of the water and wrapped a towel around me. “How is Mac?”
“Hanging in there, but weaker.”
Damn it. “I don’t have a cure yet. I’m going to the apothecary, though, to pick up what she made. I just need to figure out how to complete the potion, and I’ll have something.”
She nodded. “The apothecary isn’t there right now. I flew over her cottage as I came. No smoke from the chimney and dark lights. Then I heard a maid talking about how she always leaves on the night of the full moon.”
“But she’ll be back tomorrow?”
“That was the implication.”
Another day wouldn’t matter. I needed to rest, anyway. The potion had healed me, but I was so exhausted I could barely see straight.