Page 38 of Thorn & Ash

Mona’s smile slowly faded as she realized this area looked different from what she remembered of the Underworld. The trees were more sickly and gray, the grass less vibrant. The churning waters were slower and murkier than she was accustomed to. Even the air seemed tainted with some kind of plague.

The Underworld is dying, Vasileios had said. Was he right? Was this realm in danger?

In the distance, she could make out the pointed twin pine trees she recognized from Evander’s domain. But they were much farther away, perhaps a mile or two from where she stood.

Why had she appeared here? Why hadn’t she returned to Cocytus, where her soul belonged? A shudder rippled over her at the intense feeling of wrongness that surrounded her.

Whatever magic lived here was dark and unnatural. And Mona didn’t want to be near it.

But she couldn’t move. She was a spirit once more, frozen above this river. Frustration boiled inside her, an echo of the impassioned feelings she’d experienced when she’d temporarily had her body again. Everything was hollow. Distant. Goddess, she missed that feeling. It was intoxicating. Enthralling.

And to be with Evander like that…

She didn’t want to think of him because it made her confused and chaotic. But she couldn’t deny the things she’d felt around him, even if neither of them had been themselves. Evander had certainly been different, and Mona, overcome with the emotions and sensations from her new body, had easily succumbed to those arousing feelings.

And yet… she found she didn’t regret it at all. She had never felt more alive than in that moment, pressed up against the tree with Evander’s naked body wrapped around hers.

Never in her mortal life had she felt so alive.

The thought made her feel a mixture of excitement and devastation. Had her human life been so unfulfilling that her life as a spirit was more captivating? What had she even wasted her life doing? Reading books and romping through the forest with Prue?

No. She would never regret her time with Prue.

But even her sister had found passion and life. She’d sought relationships and adventures… while Mona had not, keeping herself locked away with her books and her solitude.

And now she was dead. Her life had passed her by.

“Mona!” a voice cried, jolting her from her self-pity.

Mona looked around, her heart lifting at the sight of Evander hurrying toward her. He wore nothing but his trousers, his bare and muscular chest on full display. His wings were spread, his claws out, and two small horns rested atop his head.

Just like when they’d almost taken each other in the woods.

The reminder made her insides turn molten.

“Thank the gods,” Evander breathed when he reached her, his silver eyes wide with panic. His gaze roved the area, his nostrils flaring. “What—what are you doing here?”

“I don’t know,” Mona admitted. She couldn’t meet his eyes. “I just… appeared here. After I visited my sister.” She decided not to tell him about her visit with Vasileios. Not yet. It had been so brief, and Evander seemed panicked enough already.

Relief crossed Evander’s face, and she knew she’d done the right thing, omitting the truth.

Mona’s eyes fell on the withering trees surrounding the gray waters. “What is this place?”

“We’re on the edge of the Undead Wilds,” Evander said. “It’s a… dying wood. No one often travels here.”

A dying wood? “But the river—”

“This is Acheron,” Evander supplied. “It’s connected to my river, but the waters here are different.”

Mona shook her head. “No, Evander, something is wrong with these waters. Can’t you feel it?”

Evander stilled, his brow furrowing. His gaze traveled to the waters, and he bent on one knee to inspect it. “Yes,” he said slowly. “It is a soft echo of what I feel in Cocytus. I thought that was because this isn’t my domain.” His jaw went rigid. “But yes, something is very wrong here.” He stood and looked at her with renewed urgency. “I need to get you out of here. I’m not supposed to be here, and if my brothers find out…”

“I can’t move,” Mona said, frustrated.

“You can,” Evander said. “Sing with me, Mona. Please.”

The invitation in his voice made her body heat all over again. Goddess, he still looked magnificent with his wings and horns. And whatever he thought he became when he was this creature, he was still Evander.