Monsters and Gargoyles

If Hades thinks he’s going to drag me back to the Underworld, he might just learn that this fiery hound is more than just his daughter. Or his pet. Without my leash, this bi*** has a bite that’ll make him piss his godly pants. And maybe, just maybe, make him rethink that whole chaining me to the Underworld for eternity, decision. I can hope, right? The thing is, I know I’ll never actually be free of Hades.

Thousands of years ago, I made a mistake. A terrible mistake that cost me everything. My dearest husband. My beloved children. Even my humanity. My curse makes me dangerous to all those around me, so I've secluded myself where I can never hurt another person again. But the Fates have other plans for me that don't include hiding for eternity.

It's a strange thing to live again. My memories of before are nothing but shadows, like me. And yet, I've done what no Shade before me has done: I've severed my bond to the Underworld. As Cerberus told me to do.

Being Hades’s prisoner isn’t all it’s cracked up to be...It’s been longer than I can remember since I’ve seen sunlight, since I’ve felt a breeze...since I’ve been free. Imprisoned deep in the Underworld by an arrogant god, I’ve counted the minutes until my escape. But when I finally had the chance, I couldn’t go. Not without the man I’ve fallen in love with, my gargoyle guard. Who just happens to be technically dead. Now, we have another chance to escape, but the risks are vast. What’s more, I’ll need to learn to trust more men.

Do monsters have midlife crises? Because I’m pretty sure I’m having one. My kind bring trouble and chaos wherever they go. I can’t change that, it’s just the way things are. So rather than continue to watch the people around me being impacted by my curse, I did the only thing I thought I could—I stepped away from the world.