The Nameless Heir

"You be good. Don't cause Mother any trouble, ok?"

Alice shook her head. A loose strand of her once golden hair slid across her cheek, the ends already darkening—black slowly eating into the gold. One eye burned red, the other still a bright yellow. Her body was still evolving, piece by piece, into something the Underworld would call its own.

She shifted her weight, the tip of her boot scraping the floor. Her head tilted, eyes catching his for a moment. Her fingers fussed with each other before she spoke. "Do you know… I can be cute and adorable too?"

Kael reached out and pinched her cheeks, his tone flat but carrying a hint of amusement. "Yes, you can. So… what does the little princess want?"

Her smile came quick, almost shy. "When you come back… bring me ice cream?"

"Pfff, that's it?" Kael lifted a brow and snapped his fingers.

An ice cream shop appeared in the yard, the exact one he and Liz always visited. The same man stood behind the counter, looking around like he'd just been dropped into the wrong world. Another snap, and he was gone—sent back to the surface. Kael pointed at the ghostly owner. "Serve her whenever she wants."

He looked down at Alice. "What else do you want?"

"Toys."

A toy store appeared beside the ice cream shop.

"More snacks."

Another store joined the row.

"More toys."

Shop after shop appeared until the yard looked like a small market. Alice started to speak again, but Kael's eyes cut to hers, a small narrowing that stopped her before she could finish the thought. "I think we have enough stores."

His hand slipped into the shadow at his side and came back holding a small black-furred hellhound pup. It stared up at her—one slow blink, tail twitching once. "How about a puppy? Just so you have a friend to share all those things with."

Her smile spread instantly. She scooped the pup up and hugged it tight. The little thing went stiff, eyes bulging under the squeeze.

"Easy—don't kill it. You're too strong for the puppy."

She shot him a look, then glanced down at the pup. "Sorry."

The pup licked her in return.

Just then, Liz walked out of the palace in her new armor, each step ringing softly against the stone. Deep greenish-black plates caught the light, a golden sun engraved at the center of her chest. The metal had been pulled from the deepest part of the Underworld, rare and heavy with power.

Her eyes swept over the yard, taking in the rows of shops Kael had dropped into place. She crossed her arms, exhaling slowly through her nose as her gaze settled on him. "What is all this?"

Kael looked around at the clutter he'd created, then reached back to scratch his head. "I think I went too far." He picked Alice up and angled her toward Liz. "Look at this face. I couldn't say no to this face."

Alice had an ice cream cone in one hand and the puppy in the other.

Liz raised a brow, a smirk slipping through before she could hide it. "You are adorable," she said, warmth in her tone with just enough edge to make Kael know it was aimed at him too.

Alice grinned, extending the ice cream toward her. Liz took it, and Kael set Alice back down.

He gave them both a short wave. His mother stepped forward, offering her blessing. Then, without another word, he and Liz sank into the shadows.

They needed a ship to reach the Abyssal Triangle, and the only place to get one worth taking was Poseidria. They skimmed low over the dry land. The dragon's wings rose and fell, each beat shoving a slow breath of wind across their backs.

He stared forward, hair shifting in the wind. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the worry in Liz's face. He didn't turn. "What's wrong, sunshine? You afraid?"

She leaned forward and punched his arm—not hard, but enough to make her point. "No."

"Then why do you look so down?"

Her lips pressed together. She didn't answer.

Kael's gaze stayed fixed on the horizon. "The world I went to—the one where the demigods ran. They'd started to reproduce. Some willing… some not. I had to decide. Leave them alone… cleanse them… or make sure no divine blood stayed in that world."

His shoulders barely shifted as he spoke. "I killed them all. But I couldn't kill her. I gave her mother my word I'd protect her. And Pride… has taken a liking to her." His eyes narrowed slightly. "That puppy you saw? That's Pride in disguise."

The wind filled the silence that followed.

"My mother lost many children before me," he went on, voice low. "Liz, I know you're thinking about you and I living happily, but—"

Her arms came around his wrist before he could finish. The sudden contact made him pause, eyes flicking down at her hands.

"So those dreams are true then," she said.

He didn't answer right away. The dragon's wings beat twice, slow and deep, before he finally spoke. "…Yes. But this time, we'll break the cycle."

Liz leaned her head against his back. "Don't worry. This time, I'm a lot stronger."

A soft laugh escaped her. "Sure you are."

"Pfff, I can take on Zeus right here and now."

Boom. The clouds above them darkened fast, lightning tearing through in jagged bursts.

Liz laughed, wind tossing her hair back. "Looks like he accepted your challenge."

Kael smirked without looking up. "Hey, Zeus, I'm sorry. Just kidding. How about we call it even and be friends?"

Lightning tore across the sky, white light flashing over the dragon's scales. Its wings hitched mid-beat. A growl rolled out of its chest.

Liz tilted her head toward him without looking away from the sky. "I guess he doesn't want to."

A heavier rumble followed, crawling across the clouds. The dragon snorted once, tail giving a sharp flick in reply.

He gave a short laugh under his breath. "Touchy."

Her hand found the dragon's neck, fingers pressing lightly against warm scales. "Don't worry, big guy."

The dragon kept flying, wings slicing through the charged air while Liz shook her head, a faint grin still on her face.

Far ahead, a city glimmered in the sunlight. The wind pushed Liz's hair back as she leaned forward, gaze locked on the gold.

It was Apollois—her home country. The only place where the clouds weren't dark or heavy.

He caught the look in her eyes. "As you wish, my dearest." He shifted in the saddle, guiding the dragon's flight. "Next stop, shiny gold city."

The dragon dipped lower, wings steady but easing their pace, as if it had noticed her locked gaze on the city. Liz sat straighter the closer they got, pride settling quietly in her expression.

As they flew, Kael watched her from the side, just enough to catch her profile. He knew Liz… but in this life, he still didn't know who she truly was.

"You think it's safe to go? We're kind of wanted."

She smirked, turning just enough for him to see it. "What happened to talking all big? You getting scared?"

"Girl, you know I could annihilate this entire country."

Liz's hand shot up and smacked the side of his head. "Try it, and I'll toss you straight into the River Styx."

Kael's grin bent into something sharper. "Well played, Milady."

The dragon rumbled under them, the sound running through its spine, then leveled out and carried them toward the gold on the horizon.

He dropped from its back, landing hard enough to stir dust across the stone. The king and queen waited ahead. Liz moved first, and he fell in behind her.

"Hello, Mom. Hello, Dad," Liz said.

He smiled. "Damn, sunshine, didn't know you were royalty."

The king and queen's eyes moved to him. The king's shoulders straightened, his gaze steady. The queen's brow lowered just slightly, her eyes fixed on Kael as if weighing every detail.

He walked up with a casual nod. "Hello. I'm Kael Voss, Lord of the Underworld, son of Hades. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Guards closed in fast, boots scraping stone, spears and arrows aimed at his chest.

"Damn, so that's how you welcome your daughter's husband?"

Liz smacked him in the chest just as his hand twitched toward his sword. "That's enough." She turned to her father. "Can we talk, Dad?"

The king's face shifted into a warm smile. "Sure, my love."

As they moved toward the palace, Kael noticed the queen still watching him. He met her eyes for a moment, unreadable, before looking ahead. Only then did she follow.

Kael rubbed the spot where she'd smacked him. "I always get hit, even when it's not my fault," he said low enough for only himself to hear.

Liz glanced back at him. "What?"

"Nothing," he said quickly. "Just saying how cool the city is."