I clutched the torque, attempting to pull it apart, to break it open, but it didn’t budge. I shook it, bellowing with my goddess strength. I turned it this way and that, trying to pry it off my neck. It didn’t move. The torque was like the cage that had once contained me and the curse that had shackled my power.

Apollo folded his arms before his chest, watching me struggle.

“Let me know when you’re finished with your tantrum,” he said in a bored voice.

I wanted to spit in his face, but that wouldn’t achieve anything other than maybe getting a punch in my face, and with my power bound, I was at a great disadvantage.

I summoned my fire again. It was now but a whimpering glimmer at the bottom of my magical lake. The runes on the torque were extremely potent and even sentient. Sensing me fighting the binding, they sank hundreds of invisible needles into my neck.

I screamed in pain. I couldn’t help it.

“Stop fighting it, Cass.” Apollo frowned at me. “It’ll only get worse.”

I let my power slide back, and the agony ceased, leaving a dull echo of pain.

“Remove the fucking collar, Apollo!” I growled, my eyes flashing with dark fire that couldn’t come out.

“It’s not a collar,” he said. “It’s a torque with on opening at the front. A collar is for a beast, which you aren’t. Unless you prefer a collar, then I’ll make a modification to suit your need. However, you are a goddess, so a torque in the guise of an exquisite necklace befits you. I commissioned it particularly for you as soon as I learned of your existence. I’ve been waiting to meet you for a long time. Finally, we’re going to spend a lot of alone time together.”

“We can spend alone time with each other when you get this fucking collar off me.”

“Now you’re being difficult.” He flashed me a brilliant, white smile. “Let’s not quarrel. It’s important we build an amiable relationship.”

He was a worse psychopath than Phobos, and he obviously believed only his own opinion mattered.  

“Don’t pout, little Cass,” he said. “I’ll take it off when I can trust you.”

I shook my head in disgust. I wasn’t pouting. I was sending him a death glare. Even that proved to be a waste of energy.

I had a very bad feeling about how this was going to turn out for me.

“What’s your definition of trust, if you even have one?”

“When you’re willing to be my ally, my lover, my bride, and my queen, then I’ll let you roam the universe, free and by my side.” His voice softened and grew more enticing. “Look at me, Cass. This is what you’ll get.” 

His entire being glowed in glorious beauty. His perfect godly body stood tall. His red-golden hair flowed in light, and his green eyes made the world pale in comparison.

He was flawless.

But his allure didn’t work on me.

All I wanted was to punch his perfect face, but he would hit back, and I would lose. I flexed my itching fingers and glued them to my sides.

Fight smarter and dirtier. I reminded myself.

Months of living with my mates had taught the importance of strategic moves. But what was the right move here?

I could only sneer at Apollo when I thought of my mates.

“I see that you’re tired,” he said. “It was a long day for you.” He offered me his arm as if he were still a gentleman. “Come, Cass, you won’t be in need of anything in my palace.”

I refused his arm. I wouldn’t be able to drink from him anyway, not with the collar tight around my neck. Touching him would only make my skin crawl, no matter how gorgeous the sun god was.

But I strode beside him, my chin high and my spine straight, so his minions would understand from my signature attitude that I was his equal, and that they must take my orders, too.

Apollo chuckled as he led me toward the front entrance of the Amethyst Palace.

I studied the double doors of gold and the white flame travelling along it in an endless circle.

The doors glided open inwardly at Apollo’s approach, while the flame kept flowing through the empty space. The sun god passed through the flame as if it was wind, but I halted.

“Are you going to drop the light show?” I asked.

He arched an eyebrow. Reys did it way better than him. “What?”

“The fucking fire.”

I had my own flames, but I wasn’t sure of the aggressive fire guarding the entry, especially when my own were repressed by the torque.

He quirked both eyebrows. “Are you being funny, Cass?”

I wanted to punch him even more.

“When I’m trying to be funny, you’ll know.” I put my hands on my hips. “Is this how you treat your honored guest?” 

I was changing my strategy.

I wouldn’t call myself a prisoner, though I was one. Words were powerful. If I insisted on naming him my jailor, the sun god might act like one. I needed to appeal to his fake noble side while he had the upper hand.

“The flame can’t harm you,” he simply said.

“Right, and I was born yesterday.”

“To me, you were born yesterday.” He sent me an amused, self-indulgent smile. “The flame can’t harm a powerful god or goddess, but it’ll stop a lesser being from entering my domain. Don’t you want to see which type you are? You doubted if you were Hades’s daughter. You denied you were one of us. It’s time for you to acknowledge and step into your true role. Come now. Do not stall.”

“True role my butt!” I said. “I’m not one of you, and I have no urge to prove anything to you or your sorry lot. I won’t step through that fucking door unless you either drop the flame or—”

Apollo waved a hand and powerful, unseen hands dragged me toward the cascade of the white flame, and then I was inside the foyer, a ribbon of silver fire clinging to my tri-colored hair.

“See how easy that was, foolish girl?” Apollo asked.

I decided to change my strategy again. To hell with my former decision of not antagonizing the sun god too much.

I leapt into the air to kick Apollo, my wet boot aiming at his jaw. The giant god sidestepped faster than a laser beam, and I flew past him.

I landed in a crouch, turned, and snarled at him.

“Congratulations, little Cass,” he said mockingly. “You’ve just proven what you refuse to accept. Shall we keep going? You’re quite wet, if you haven’t noticed.”

I rose to my feet. It was damn uncomfortable to have damp fabric clinging to my body. If I had access to my fire, I could dry it in a second.

“Whose fault was that?” I hissed.

The sun god’s green eyes dipped lower, to settle on my nipples, which pricked against the wet clothes. I immediately folded my arms over my chest to block his view.

He chuckled lightly. “You fell into the waterfall pools, and I pulled you out.”

Why did I even bother to point out facts and argue with a psycho, especially while I couldn’t even send my fire to make him bald like what I’d done to the fae bitch who bullied Amber?

“Let’s get you a bath and some dry clothes,” he said, as if he was the nicest guy in the world.

I ignored him as I surveyed the hall.

The walls were made of gold, and the windows were framed by blue diamonds. When I left this gilded cage, I planned to stash as many diamonds as I could into my pockets.

They could be my dowry to my mates.

“Where is everyone?” I asked, a sinking feeling in my stomach. I didn’t want to be alone with the psychopath in such an enormous place. “You’re the sun god, Apollo. A god like you should have a huge entourage, a horde of servants, and minions, right? Otherwise who is going to help you dry your feet and wipe your ass?” 

He shook his head, obviously deciding to ignore my snide comments.

“I thought you’d appreciate some privacy, so I ordered everyone to make themselves scarce for your first day here. But don’t you worry, little Cass. You’ll have your lady-in-waiting.”

He snapped his fingers, and a beautiful, fair-skinned female in a blue flowery dress materialized in front of us.

The woman curtseyed. “Lord God.”

She had blond hair, green eyes, and pointed ears. She could be Ambrosias’s twin.

“What the fuck?” I exclaimed. “She’s a fae.”

“I have more exotic servants if you want to see them all,” Apollo said carelessly. “I collect all sorts of species, and they’re each bound to my will, serving me in utter obedience and devotion.”

The asshole god enslaved Reys’s people.

“Did you abduct her as well?” I asked, fuming.

“You tire me, Cass,” he sighed, “and I haven’t shown anyone the degree of patience I’ve exhibited for you. Don’t use up all of my grace on your first day.” He waved at the fae woman. “Show Goddess Cassandra Saélihn to her room. And perhaps, after a warm bath, she’ll be more cordial.”

He strode away.

And my mind immediately ran wild. Should I attempt my escape now?

It’d be futile anyway.

I needed to learn about this place and Apollo’s endgame, then map out my own countermoves.

“Goddess Cassandra Saélihn, this way,” the fae female said as she glided ahead of me, heading in the opposite direction of the sun god.

I narrowed my eyes at Apollo’s back, my nostrils flaring and my body trembling from the icy wetness.

“Please, Goddess Cassandra Saélihn.” The fae half turned towards me after she noticed I wasn’t following. “I’ve prepared a warm bath for you. I’ll be punished if you catch a cold.”

“I never catch a cold,” I said as I jogged toward her. “Call me Cass. And what’s your name, fae chick? You know, two of my mates are fae, too.”