The Beginning Read online

  Acheron was dumbstruck by her words. He looked at Ias and saw the pain in his eyes before they turned blank and Ias died. His heart hammering, Acheron picked up the medallion and tried to release the soul himself. It didn’t work. Furious, he froze Liora into place before he killed her for her actions.

  “Artemis!” he shouted at the ceiling.

  The goddess flashed into the hut.

  “Save him.”

  “I can’t change the rules, Acheron. I told you the conditions and you agreed to them.”

  He motioned to the woman who was now a human statue. “Why didn’t you tell me she didn’t love him?”

  “I had no way of knowing that anymore than you did.” Her eyes turned dull. “Even gods can make mistakes.”

  “Then why didn’t you at least tell me the medallion would burn her?”

  “That I didn’t know. It doesn’t burn me and it didn’t burn you. I’ve never had a human hold one before.”

  Acheron’s head buzzed with guilt and grief. With hatred for both himself and her. “What happens to him now?”

  “He’s a Shade. Without a body or soul, his essence is trapped in Katoteros.”

  Acheron roared with the pain of what she was telling him. He had just killed a man and sentenced him to a fate far worse than death.

  And for what? For love? For mercy? Gods, he was such a fool. Better than anyone, he should have known to ask the right questions. He should have known better than to trust in the love of another person. Damn it, when would he learn?

  Artemis reached down to him and lifted his chin with her hand until he looked up at her. “Tell me, Acheron, is there anyone you will ever trust enough to release your soul?”