Chapter 12: The Queen’s Blessing
Sleep wasn’t happening.
Kael had tried everything—changing positions, counting Cerberus heads, even attempting meditation (which, in his opinion, was just fancy sitting). But no matter what he did, his mind kept circling back to the tournament. He was too excited.
The glorious, blood-pumping, limb-shattering tournament of doom, where he was probably going to get his butt kicked—though a little less now, since he was trained by the best.
So instead of resting like a normal person, he made a different decision. An out-of-pocket one. Something only Kael would think of.
He was going to see his mother in the Underworld to ask for her blessing. After all, she was the goddess of the Underworld. At least then, he might have a better chance of placing in the top 30.
A soft whistle left Kael’s lips. A second later, the shadows stirred, slithering through the open window before forming into the sleek, feline shape of Cyrus—his ever-loyal companion and professional enabler of bad ideas.
The shadowy creature tilted his head. "You’re supposed to be resting."
Kael swung his legs over the bed. "Yeah, well, sleep and I are in a complicated relationship. I need to see her."
Cyrus let out a huff but didn’t argue. Instead, the darkness beneath them twisted, swallowing Kael whole. The world blurred, melted, twisted—
And then, just as suddenly—
He was in the Underworld.