A Kingdom of Wild and Power (Kingdom of Gods #4)

Prologue

The Underworld had altered little since last Eris had graced it with her presence.

She never cared for the place; its endless gloom wearied her, its monotony gnawed at her patience.

Yet it was not the bleak landscapes alone that soured her mood.

It was the fact that her brother Thanatos dwelled here.

And if there was one god Eris could not abide, it was him.

She loathed him with every fibre of her being.

Truth be told, Eris detested her entire divine kin, with one singular exception.

Her sister Enyo. The two were bound so closely that many whispered they must be twins.

They were not. They merely shared a father.

Eris’ mother—the same one who had birthed Thanatos—had long since vanished, a shadow lost to time.

Neither sibling had ever looked upon her face.

Rumour wound its way through the godly realms that their father had cast her aside to pursue Enyo’s mother instead.

That union, too, had curdled and collapsed, leaving little but bitterness in its wake.

With a violent shove, Eris flung wide the massive black doors of the castle and peered into its depths.

Silence greeted her. Undeterred, she strode within, her steps echoing down cavernous corridors until she reached the throne room.

The doors groaned open with a thunderous protest, and to her delight, she found Persephone enthroned, while Thanatos lingered at her side.

‘And what have we here?’ Eris drawled, sweeping in as though the halls themselves had summoned her. ‘Am I intruding?’

Persephone stiffened, only for the briefest instant, before reclining against the throne with regal ease once more.

Eris studied the queen with intrigue. She had always been beautiful with those fathomless eyes that shifted from the blue of deep waters to the black of void, and those towering antlers like obsidian crowns. She truly was every inch a queen.

Eris tilted her head, her attention drifting towards her brother. He was as immutable as ever; tall and lean, as though chiselled by death’s own hand. His eyes were the very shade of darkness incarnate, and his short, curling locks seemed stripped of both colour and light.

‘So, you have returned,’ Persephone said, striving unsuccessfully to mask the annoyance upon her face.

Eris drifted closer, idly inspecting her nails.

‘Indeed. It seems I rather underestimated Mal Blackburn. But never again. Fear not, I shall soon return and claim a fresh vessel for myself.’ Her smile curved at the sight of Thanatos’ taut expression.

‘Are you glad to see me, brother? I imagine not. You look far more troubled than pleased. Worried, perhaps? Afraid I might lay a hand upon your wife?’

Thanatos moved forward, menace shadowing his gaze. Eris laughed softly.

‘Do not provoke him,’ Persephone admonished. ‘You know he cannot truly leave my side.’

Eris’ smile deepened, more wicked now. ‘A dreadful fate, is it not? Bound eternally to the ruler of the Underworld. Surely you long for Mal Blackburn to seize the throne instead?’ Her eyes gleamed with malice. ‘Take care, Persephone. He might yet plunge a blade into your back.’

‘Why are you here?’ Thanatos interjected, unwilling to let the exchange continue.

‘I wished to see you,’ Eris replied with a languid shrug.

‘Our realm has grown intolerably barren and silent since all others departed. Mother and father wander the mortal lands, Enyo too has slipped into a human body, and here you remain…’ She feigned a yawn, as though weary with ennui.

‘What amusement is there when there is no one left to torment?’

Thanatos exhaled a long, weary sigh.

‘I shall give you someone to torment,’ Persephone said, ignoring the way Thanatos turned his head towards her. ‘Find Mal Blackburn. You may not be able to slay her, but there are subtler manners of undoing a life.’

Eris’ eyes brightened, molten with interest. ‘Such as?’

‘Her child.’

Thanatos spun. ‘Persephone—’

‘Hush,’ the Queen of the Underworld ordered, lifting a hand that brooked no argument. She regarded him for a long, hard moment, then fixed her full attention on Eris. ‘Mal Blackburn is with child. Find her, and bring me that child.’

Eris bared her teeth in a feline way. ‘And why, pray tell, do you desire the child?’

‘Because she took my daughter Makaria,’ Persephone said, voice low and cold. ‘I want her to taste the same loss.’

Eris’ laughter spilt from her bright, delighted, almost cruel. She doubled over with mirth. ‘Oh, Persephone, I have always adored the way your mind contrives vengeance. Why not send this one to Hell to fetch your daughter?’ She nodded towards Thanatos with a theatrical flourish.

‘They will not release Makaria unless the original soul is returned,’ Persephone ground out through clenched teeth. ‘And Mal Blackburn has hidden the witch from me.’

‘Mmm.’ Eris returned to inspecting her nails as though considering a pleasant puzzle. ‘Perhaps I can kill two birds with one stone. I might find the witch, too.’ A predatory smile curled her lips at the gleam of hunger in Persephone’s eyes. Yes, she had the goddess exactly where she wished her.

‘And what do you want in return for this favour?’ Persephone asked.

Eris shrugged with languid indifference.

‘Me? Nothing. Chaos is payment enough.’ Her gaze shifted to Thanatos, statuesque and taut, his hands tightening into pale fists.

‘What a pity you cannot prevent us, brother. Being Death must be a most tedious torment.’ She flung them each a mocking kiss, spun on her heel and departed, her cackle trailing behind like a ribbon of black smoke.

Even after she slammed the door, she felt Thanatos’ obsidian stare boring into her back.

And she relished every single second of it.