Epilogue Even Gods Make Mistakes I stand on the balcony of Hades’ penthouse, looking out over my city at night. The lights of San Francisco might be even more beautiful now that I
see them through different eyes.
It’s all in the perspective.
Lightning flashes over Zeus’ temple in the distance, and I’m considering knocking that thing down and making this our patron city instead when strong arms steal around me. Hades drops his forehead to the back of my head, and I hear him breathe me in.
“You’re sure you want to do this?” he asks.
It’s only been a day since he was crowned. After a whole lot of explaining on Hades’ part all last night and today, I now know everything. We have something important to do. And we have only one shot.
It all comes down to saving Persephone.
I already knew she wasn’t dead, that she’d been trapped in Tartarus somehow. Pandora’s Box is how we get her out. That is why Hades needed to be King of the Gods all along. So he could get the box as his boon.
Pandora’s Box—the container that appeared actually held something more like a jar, which he informed me was very large when it was fired but has been shrunk for easier carrying—is, apparently, a back door to Tartarus.
A magical portal that will work for a single person to enter or exit.
Persephone somehow already knows to be waiting on the other side of the gate at the appointed time.
But Pandora’s Box can only be used once. And it’s dangerous.
It’s not the evils of the world Pandora’s Box could release. Like a lot of the myths and legends of this pantheon, mortals got that wrong, too. It has the power to unleash something much, much worse. The Titans.
But Hades says there is no other way, and I believe him. He’s tried everything else he can think of since she disappeared. Plus, he’d been informed ahead of time that I could win the Crucible. Come to think of it, who informed him is still vague. I’ll have to ask him after we’re done
freeing Persephone.
Which of course we’re going to do.
After everything he put me through to get that damned box, Hades is giving me the final choice.
I lay my arms over his and squeeze, leaning into him. “I’m sure. Stop asking.”
He’s been uncharacteristically unsure of himself since explaining. Or maybe feeling guilty.
He takes another breath. “It’s time, then.”
In a swirl of smoke, Hades ferries us down into the Underworld. It takes three teleports, because of the wards and the depth.
The second we arrive, we’re hit with Charon’s snarled, “For the record, Phi, I don’t like this.”
He’s already waiting for us outside the gates of Tartarus with Demeter, Boone, and Cerberus.
Hades scowls. “You’ve been more than clear for the records.”
I put a hand on Charon’s arm. “If you were trapped in there, you’d want us to try,” I argue.
Charon shakes his head. “Not if it was too dangerous.”
“This is a foolish gambit,” Demeter agrees slowly. “But…my daughter doesn’t deserve to be in there with…them.”
She bites her trembling lip, her red-rimmed eyes welling with more tears.
I insisted last night that Hades tell her what really happened to her daughter.
As her mother, Demeter had the right to know, to be part of the decision, and now to be here to help.
“We’ve already been through this,” Hades says. “We agreed.”
Charon looks away, then gives a jerking nod. He may hate it, but he’s backing his best friend anyway.
We all do foolish things for the people we love. And sometimes we win.
Either way, we have to try.
The Crucible taught me that.
In heavy silence, we make our way over the narrow bridge that spans an unending pit that is a moat around Tartarus. Hades has already warned the Cyclopes and the Hecatonchires who live in the abyss below, guarding the gates from the outside since they were released from that same prison. They won’t attack us tonight.
Standing in front of the massive, metal doors carved in scrollwork that makes me think of thorny vines, Hades takes a deep breath, then slips the container into a hidden lock of the same shape and size that only the seven gods and goddesses who created the gates of Tartarus can see. Just before he pushes it all the way in, he pauses, then turns his head to meet my gaze.
He searches my face, and like he’s laying his soul bare, I can suddenly see our future—secure, strong, trusting, loving—right there for the taking.
When I smile, utter satisfaction burns in the molten silver of his eyes.
Then he faces the door and presses Pandora’s Box into place with a click that sets off a series of clanks as each of the magical wards is altered.
I don’t know what I expected to happen.
I think I pictured her just appearing before us. That or for the Titans to burst free and start a murderous rampage. Which is why the others are here, too. Backup should this go sideways.
What I didn’t expect was for the door to open at all, but it does. Just a crack.
I’m not sure what he sees from where he stands, but Boone suddenly shouts, “No!” and grabs my arm. In that instant, we all go dead still. Not scared still. I mean frozen, as if time itself has stopped.
Then, together with Boone, I am sucked past Hades inside, and the door to the prison closes behind us with an ominous clang followed by a series of clicks—the wards locking back down. The finality of the last click jars
me out of my shock.
Or maybe time resumes?
Because I’m standing on the wrong side of the prison door of Tartarus, staring into the face of a man who looks so much like a slightly older version of Hades that I gasp. There is only one Titan this could possibly be.
The worst conceivable option.
Cronos.
“Lyra!” The shout is so faint, I can barely make it out.
I spin around, my hands flat on the doors. Oh gods. Hades.
My chest squeezes tight as the pounding on the door gets louder and louder, the shouts more frantic as he tries to get to me. And he will. I know
he will.
Hades will stop at nothing to save me.
A sob breaks free as two thoughts strike in rapid succession. First…he’ll blame himself for this. I know it in my bones, in my soul.
And second…I should have paid more attention to Rima’s prophecy during the Crucible—one I honestly thought we’d stopped from happening.
A vision of Hades burning down the world.
We are so fucked.
The love doesn’t end here…
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Acknowledgments
Dear Reader, I hope you loved the first book in Lyra and Hades’ story! What a ride it’s been. The second those two appeared on the page together, the words just flew out of me. I love writing these characters and this world so much and can’t wait to bring you more!
I thank God every single day for a life where I get to live my dream of being a writer, and I try to soak up every single step of this journey with gratitude and joy. Writing and publishing a book don’t happen without the support and help from a host of incredible people.
To my wonderful readers… Thank you from the bottom of my heart for going on these journeys with me, for your kindness, your support, and generally being awesome. I love to connect, so I hope you’ll drop a line and say “Howdy” on any of my social media! Also, if you have a free moment, please think about leaving a review.
To my agent, Evan Marshall…thank you for your faith in me from the very beginning!
To my editor and publisher, Liz Pelletier…your brilliance knows no bounds. I am so grateful for your friendship, for hours-long chats, and getting the opportunity to work together with you. Thank you so much for everything!
To my editing team, Mary, Hannah, and Rae, as well as all the internal readers, copy editors, proofreaders, and my mom…thank you for helping make this book the best it could be.
To my publishing family at Red Tower / Entangled…you are a dream to work with, and your support and friendship (and patience) make a world of difference and a very fun journey.
To my publishers all over the world who are bringing this book to even more readers…thank you. Seeing your responses to it has been a dream come true.
To my cover and interior art team…Bree Archer, LJ Anderson, and Elizabeth Turner Stokes, you all make me gasp with your artwork every single time.
To my endpaper artist, Kateryna Vitkovska…thank you for bringing Olympus to such exquisite life.
To Tracy Wolff, Alyssa Day, and Devney Perry, for reading an early copy at the drop of a hat and saying such lovely words.
To Heather Howland…this journey started with you, and I learned a thousand ways to be a better writer working with you.
To my assistants, Izzy, Pam, and Amy…thank you for keeping me together and even more for keeping me company.
To all my author friends and writing community…you are my found family.
To Michelle, Nicole, Kait, Avery, Chrissy, Cate, Tracy, and Steph…thank you for listening to me talk about this book ad nauseum for a while now, for your advice, and especially for your friendship.
To my team of sprinting partners, beta readers, critique partners, TXRW, Cathy’s writers group, and awesome writing retreaters…your discussions, feedback, support, and friendships make me a better writer and a better person.
To all my friends, both near and far…you are and will always be lights in my life, and I hope I am in yours, too.
To all my family…thank you for your love and for teaching me to look at the world through eyes of love, hope, joy, faith, bravery, empathy, and adventure!
Finally, to my husband and kids…I love you with every part of my heart and soul.
Xoxo, Abigail Owen abigailowen.com
P.S. To T-Bone, our furbaby and my writing buddy for almost all of my published author journey…unconditional love is how you burrowed so deeply into our hearts. Every day without you will be just a little bit harder.
Wait on the other side of the rainbow bridge for us, little dog.
