Watching the space where he just stood, I felt nothing but a hollow chill.

"Go. I don't need you anymore," I whispered. My voice was so fragile a breeze could have shattered it.

But Apollo was already gone.

I didn't wait for him to come back. Clenching my jaw, I stepped directly into the final pool: Ignorance.

Without his divine shield, the water turned into invisible razor blades, violently flaying my soul.

It was absolute torture. I bit down on my lip until I tasted copper, refusing to let out a single scream.

Just endure it, Lyra. After today, it's all over.

When the final trace of mortal impurity was burned away, my body finally gave out. The world went black.

When I woke up, I was back in my bedroom at the temple.

A servant helped me sit up and handed me a letter.

Cassandra again. “So sorry, Sister. I just got a tiny scrape, and Lord Apollo was so frantic he dropped you completely. Guess you're not that important after all. Anyway, happy wedding day tomorrow.”

Maybe the near-death pain of the pools had burned away my capacity to care, because I felt absolutely nothing.

The servant nervously watched my deadpan face and hesitated. "Lord Apollo also left a message... He said Lady Cassandra is gravely injured and needs him. He might not make it back tonight. But he swore he will give you the grandest wedding tomorrow. He wants you to rest."

The night before our wedding, my fiancé was sleeping by another woman’s bed.

It was almost comical. But I couldn't even be bothered to call him on his bullshit. I just wanted to get the hell out of here.

Dawn broke.

I changed into a simple traveling cloak. I handed the memory stone and the boxed laurel crown to the servant.

"When the ceremony starts today, hand these directly to Apollo and Cassandra."

"Yes, My Lady," the servant bowed and scurried off.

I walked out to the grand ceremonial venue I had designed myself. Staring at the sea of golden laurel flowers, I gave my final order to the head attendant.

"Tear all the laurels down. Replace them with white roses."

"But My Lady, laurels are your favorite—"

"Tear them down." I didn't offer an explanation.

By now, some of the early-arriving gods were mingling. Spotting me, they walked over with warm smiles.

"Lyra, congratulations. You're finally binding your soul to Apollo."

"You look beautiful today. Wishing you an eternity of happiness."

Looking at their genuine smiles, I gave a small, polite smile back. "Thank you. But I'm not the one who needs your blessings today."

Leaving the gods thoroughly confused, I didn't waste another second and walked away.

One hour before the ceremony. I stood in the most secluded corner of the temple grounds.

Suddenly, a massive rift tore through the fabric of the air, leaking shadows and the heavy, intoxicating scent of the Underworld.

Hades stepped out, clad in robes of midnight, his sharp features unreadable.

Those abyssal eyes locked onto mine. His voice was a low rumble. "Are you ready, Lyra? Have you severed your ties?"

I looked up at him, zero hesitation in my veins, and placed my hand firmly in his cold palm.

"I'm ready. Take me away, Lord Hades."

His fingers curled tightly around mine. The freezing touch of his skin brought me a sense of peace I hadn't felt in years.

He pulled me into the shadows.

Before the rift closed, I threw one last glance over my shoulder at the Temple of Light.

I knew I was never coming back. Not in this lifetime, not in the next.