Page 60 of Crown of Serpents

Unfortunately, he did not share in her natural grace. He had asked her to dance, but there was no doubt that she was leading this duet. Perseus stumbled over his feet, and Medusa’s eyes sparkled with amusement. Laughter bubbled up inside his throat, and he twirled her around, trying to conceal his misstep. She let him spin her, her feet moving in perfect harmony.

The music picked up in pace as the other patrons began clapping their hands and stomping their feet to the rhythm. Medusa’s eyes were lit with excitement that spread like wildfire through the room. Other guests jumped to their feet, joining in, starting to swirl around them. Perseus spun Medusa again until a silvery laughter bubbled from her mouth. Drunk on the sound of her glee, Perseus lifted her, whirling her through the air.

As the music faded, they found themselves breathless, Perseus's hand still resting on her back, hers in his.

“I did not take you for a dancer, godling,” she said, panting.

“I am not, but I figured I should dance withmy wifeif people are to believe our story.”

Perseus held his breath then, waiting for her reaction. Would she act on her promise to gut him?

She didn’t. Instead, she tipped back her head laughing.

The sound was so sweet; something warm started glowing in Perseus’s chest.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Medusa froze in the centre of the inn’s bedroom, her laughter dying in her throat as she whirled to face Perseus.

“There is only one bed,” she stated with a mixture of frustration and hesitation.

Perseus leaned against the door frame, unfazed. “That would be correct.”

Medusa's mind raced. Had the evening’s revelry clouded her judgement? She could not remember a time when she had felt as light as she had, when Perseus had twirled her across the dance floor, enthralled by the lively rhythm of the music and the cheering crowd. She hadn’t even minded the stench of stale wine nor felt the urge to escape the drunken revelry. No one would have touched or even dared approach her — not with Perseus accompanying her. Not when he had made a show of acting as if he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She had not minded Perseus’s attention either. Medusa had basked in the warmth of his smiles, bringing out the golden hues in his hazel eyes.

Now, it seemed Perseus wanted to claim the price for his protection. Searing, hot anger began bubbling inside Medusa. Why were all men the same? She would not tolerate this — not fromhim.

Before Medusa knew what she was doing, she lunged for the bed behind her, snatched a pillow, and hurled it across the room with all her strength. She hit her mark. For a moment, Perseus merely stared at her, rubbing his head in confusion. Medusa was still panting, rage making her heart race.

Then, unexpectedly, Perseus burst into laughter – loud enough to echo down the hallway. “What was that for?”

“You know exactly what that was for. Why did you order a room with only one bed?”

Perseus shrugged, “Because, my love, we told the innkeeper we were newlyweds. So, when I picked up the key, I couldn't exactly ask for a room with separate beds, could I?”

Suddenly self-conscious of her explosive anger, Medusa shifted her weight.“Pretending to be a married couple was a foolish plan.”

“Well ... did you have a better idea for explaining that veil of yours? No one would have believed that a priestess of Apollo would be travelling alone — let alone accompanied by someone as handsome as me. If anything, they would have believed that you had run away from your temple ... at best, they would have locked me up and tried to return you ... at worst …”

“Be that as it may ... I am not your wife, and I will not share a bed with you,” Medusa interrupted, her voice firm.

She could never. It did not matter that she slowly began accepting that Perseus might be a decent man — the exception to the rule. Neither did the fact that the self-righteous prick occasionally made her burst into laughter — and worse, made her blush — change her mind. Medusa would not lie next to any man. She would never be vulnerable again.

Perseus sighed, keenly studying the emotions mirrored in her features. “Are you really going to make me sleep on the floor?”

Medusa could tell that most of the annoyance in his voice was faked, but she still shot back. “You had no qualms about making me sleep on the dirty floor of a cell for weeks!”

Perseus averted his gaze. The silence between them grew uncomfortable for a moment.

“Alright, alright ... I'll sleep on the floor, but I'll take the thick blanket,” Perseus conceded.

Medusa nodded in agreement, relief washing over her body. She unclenched her fists, ignoring the half-moon indentations she had unconsciously dug into the palms of her hands. She strode toward the bed. When she turned to face Perseus again, he had begun unfastening his chiton. With one swift movement, he pulled it over his head, and Medusa nearly gasped at the sight of his broad shoulders, shimmering bronze in the flickering light of the oil lamp.

Medusa quickly averted her gaze.“Can't you turn around at least, or do you crave female admiration so much that you just have to give me a show? Do you want me to swoon over your chiselled chest and compare you to Adonis’s beauty?”

“You think I'm as beautiful as Adonis?” he asked, flexing his muscles.

Medusa rolled her eyes.

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