Page 38 of Queen of Shadows and Roses
‘You’re trembling.’ His gaze flicked to my clenched fists.
‘It’s revulsion.Notarousal.’ I spat, trying to banish the thoughts of that kiss and the way I’d almost spontaneously combusted—my panties were probably still in the seventh circle of hell.
His voice dropped to something dark and hungry. ‘Liar.’
‘I’d rather kiss a basilisk.’ I glared.
He leaned in, close enough to feel his heat lick across my skin. ‘I bite harder.’
Gods. Hand me a fan. My temperature just soared into inferno territory. Damn him.
I stood and placed my hands on my hips. He offered a nonchalant half-shrug. ‘You’re a total ass-wipe. Oh, my gods, to think I actually wanted to have sex with you!’ I seethed. Dream Hades was an even bigger cock that real-life Hades!
‘I know. Most women do.’
Damn it, this man’s ego must have its own gravitational field. ‘Holy fuck, your ego never fails to astound, you arrogant prick.’ His eyebrows inched up his forehead. ‘Anyway, it’s irrelevant now. You’re the last man I want to fuck. This is my dream, and I donotwant you in it!’
‘As you wish.’ He gave a slight bow and vanished, leaving me more frustrated than ever. That man made me crazy. Why had he just left me?Because you told him to, you fool.I stomped and muttered profanities as I considered various ways to slowly kill Hades with my divine blade.
‘Sephy. Wake up.’Tee’s voice rudely interrupted my murderous dream.
I groaned and clutched the comforter tightly over my head. Gods, how much wine did I drink? ‘Quiet down! Someone stabbed me through the eye with a stiletto.’ Tee yanked the cover off me, and I growled in frustration. Peeling an eye open, I saw her scowling face.
‘Don’t get all scary-glary with me, Tee. I feel like shit.’
‘Serves you right. You downed an entire bottle of wine, you stupid moron. Get up.’
I jumped up on the bed in anger. ‘It was that arrogant asshole's fault—’ But before I could utter another word, nausea overwhelmed me; I sprang from the bed and dashed to the bathroom to puke. Ugh. I stared at my face in the mirror and moaned. I was a hot mess of a train wreck. I frowned as I looked down at my silk cami and matching shorts.
Stumbling from the bathroom, I croaked, ‘Did you undress me? I can’t remember anything.’
‘Yes. I put you to bed. You were so drunk, rambling nonsense. I’m not surprised you can’t remember.’ Her face wore a grim expression. I think she was pissed at me. ‘Anyway, I’m taking you home.’
I whispered, ‘Oh, I’m sorry—’ and then her words sank in. ‘What do you mean, take me home? Like, back to London? Am I free?’
‘You’re free. Come on; you can shower when you get there.’
Confusion gripped me. Free? But I couldn’t think clearly; instead, I snatched my divine blade, then took Tee’s hand, and she flashed me to my bedroom… my bedroom in Islington.
‘I’ll be back to check on you later. I need to go to Hades; make sure he hasn’t lost the plot… again.’ She shook her head and gave me a bitter smile, then flashed out of the room.
Her bitter smile of disappointment left me feeling like shit; my shoulders slumped, and I covered my face with my hands, then staggered to my bed, collapsing into a heap and instantly falling back to sleep.
When I wokeand opened my eyes, I sat up in shock. I was in my bedroom—my bedroom in Islington. Had it all been a dream? Hecate, Hades, Thanatos, everything? I felt like I’d been beaten over the head with a piñata stick about a thousand times, so I slid from the bed and took a long shower, then pulled on a crop top and yoga pants.
As I brushed my hair in front of the mirror, my thoughts wandered to Hades—the egotistical, infuriatingly gorgeous god who drove me insane. Had I imagined him? Then I noticed the bruise-like love bite on my neck, where he’d seductively sucked on my tender skin. It was him. Hades… and I knew, I knew it had been real. My fingers lingered on the mark, and godsdamn, I craved his lips on mine, his kisses and fangs grazing my skin.
I sat up abruptly, my spine stiffening. Oh, my gods. I was losing my mind. I didnotwant Mr Gorgeous but Deadly. At. All. Nope. But Hadeswasreal, just as I knew the strange feeling in my chest—‘the bond’—was still there. Without Hades, would it gradually be smothered, and when it had gone, would I have a gaping hole in my chest instead?
Why had he sent me home? And why didn’t I feel glad to be free? Free of the gods, whom I loathed. Free of Hades. A horrible, burning sensation churned deep in my stomach, slowly making its way up my throat, while a sinking, drowning feeling threatened to swallow me. Gods, why was I feeling like this? Had Hades chosen Minthe instead of me? At the thought, anger consumed me, but I welcomed it. It was far better than the hurt and that drowning feeling of rejection.
But why, in the world of fucks, did I care who he chose? Even my confusion was confused.
I felt awake, except my will to live seemed to have withered. I smoothed my hair with my hands, clenching my jaw as I colourfully ranted about my so-called ‘husband’, then walked downstairs to make myself a coffee.
‘Hey, Sephy!’ Matt’s megawatt smile lit up the room. ‘Did you have a good time at the club last night?’
I slowed my pace and stopped. Last night? I’d been gone forwellover a week. I shook my head in confusion, the messy swell of emotions getting the better of me.
