From Apollo’s Betrayed Bride to Hades’ Queen

I was Apollo’s most devoted follower, the lover he handpicked from a sea of worshippers.

With me, he’d always shed his divine arrogance. He was so tender, so attentive. I actually thought he loved me to the bone.

Until seven days before our Consort Ceremony, when I used my gift of prophecy to peek into our future together.

I expected to see a lifetime of blinding love. Instead, I saw him violently tangled in the sheets with my adopted sister, Cassandra.

Wrapped around him, Cassandra giggled. "You're so good to me, my Lord. Thanks to you, I'll finally get my sister's Sight and take her place as High Priestess."

And Apollo—my god, my lover—smiled down at her with pure adoration. "Whatever makes you happy, little bird. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have played pretend for this long, let alone allow her to become a god's consort."

In that split second, my heart turned to ash. My faith shattered into a million pieces.

With seven days left until the ceremony, I didn't confront them. Instead, I fell to my knees before the altar of Hades, Lord of the Underworld.

"I offer you my gift of prophecy. I will be your most loyal follower in exchange for your sanctuary."

"Please. Take me away from here. Take me somewhere Apollo can never find me."

"Are you certain you want to trade your most precious gift for the Underworld's protection?"

A chilling, low voice echoed through the temple.

Hades materialized from the shadows. He was the King of the Dead, radiating a biting cold that felt entirely out of place in the Temple of Light I’d served for two years.

"I'm sure," I said, a little shocked he had answered in person. But I quickly took a deep breath and steadied my voice. "As long as I can leave this place, I'll give up everything."

Hades stared at me, his eyes as deep and dark as the Abyss.

After a moment, a soft chuckle slipped past his lips.

"The Underworld does not prey on souls backed into a corner." He raised a hand, an obsidian ring gleaming on his finger, and with a flick of his wrist, he rejected my sacrifice. "Keep your Sight, Lyra. Go and sever your mortal ties. In seven days, I will come for you myself."

The black mist dissipated, and he vanished into thin air.

Before I could even process the overwhelming aura of the Underworld King, a blinding golden light burst into the room.

It was a message from Apollo.

"Lyra, it's the family dinner tonight. Cassandra misses you so much. Don't be late—how about I come pick you up?"

His gentle voice echoed through the hall, but it only made my stomach turn.

Just a week ago, giddy with excitement for our future, I had looked into our married life. I didn’t find the sweetness I was hoping for. Just a filthy truth.

In the vision, right there on our marital bed, Apollo had Cassandra