Page 41 of Queen of Shadows and Roses
‘Oh,’ she muttered. ‘Why didn’t you just askmewhat I wanted?’ I stared at her blankly. ‘Never mind,’ she sighed. ‘Just tell me what the problem is.’
‘Well, Zeus is still adamant about holding this absurd competition for you.’
‘What?’ she screeched. ‘No, he can’t!’ She paced restlessly; her agitation had a citrusy, tart, taste, reminiscent of lemons.
I swore under my breath and scrubbed a hand down my face. ‘He can, and he will.’
CHAPTER 15
PERSEPHONE
‘Iwant you to return to the Underworld. You’ll be safest there, with Tee… with all of us. We will figure something out, I promise. I shall bestow Xenia upon you,’ Hades said as he scrubbed a hand across the back of his neck.
I turned to him. ‘Xenia?’
‘Yes. It will keep you safe.’
I nodded at his words, worrying my bottom lip.
‘So, have you two made up?’ We turned slowly to find Matt awake on the sofa.
‘Be quiet, human,’ Hades thundered.
‘Matt,’ I barked, pushing Hades in the chest again. ‘His name is Matt.’
A muscle ticked in Hades’ jaw. ‘Did you kiss my wife?’ Hades’ eyes locked onto Matt’s, and as he shrank back against the pillows, Matt’s eyes widened to the size of spaceships. I groaned in frustration. Kissing wasn’t the only thing I’d done with Matt,but I decided to keep quiet. Given the look on Hades’ face, I figured it wise not to provoke him further.
‘You’rethePersephone? I—I didn’t know. Holy crap.’ Matt’s were fixed on me, clearly avoiding Hades’ lethal glare, his brow now beaded with perspiration.
‘Neither did I, Matt. Don’t worry.’ I smiled at my friend. ‘Anyway, I will freaking well kiss whomever I want, Hades!’ I turned and scowled up at him, and at my words, his shadows suddenly danced around us.
‘Go to your room, human. You will not mention seeing me.’ Matt stood, his posture rigid and his eyes cast to the floor as he walked out of the door.
‘Did you just use compulsion?’ I glared up at the irritating god.
‘No. I think I just scared him.’
‘You’re such a jerk.’
‘I know,’ he replied with a tight smile.
‘You can’t terroriseeveryman I’ve been with! Anyway, your kisses are decidedly average. So—’ My gaze collided with his, and I snapped my mouth shut because the look in his eyes caused me to take a few steps back… but he followed. His proximity sent a wave of liquid fire pulsing through my veins and straight between my legs.
‘How manyboyshave you been with?’ His voice was a low rumble. Part of me bristled at his demand, but another part of me, lacking functioning brain cells, was weirdly thrilled.
‘I’ve never been withboys, Your Majesty.’ His blue eyes flared, swirling with golden aether. ‘Anyway, it’s none of your business.’
‘Oh, itismybusiness,’ he all but growled, lowering his head, his breath tantalisingly warm against my cheek. I hated that it made my pulse skip. My gaze dropped to his full lips, and I stepped back again, my back hitting the wall. He leaned in andplanted his large hands on either side of my head, caging me in and making the air catch in my throat.
‘Explain that faulty logic to me,’ I managed to whisper.
A savage smile cut into his lips. ‘You’re my wife. That makes it my business.Definitelymy business.’
Fire of a different kind pulsed through me, and I flipped. ‘Get out of my face, you asshole!’ I shoved his chest, solid as stone. He didn’t budge. ‘I amnotyour wife. And if I were, you betrayed me…’ He flinched, but I was past mercy. ‘You fucked Minthe!’ I seethed, every word laced with venom. ‘You touchedherwhile claiming to belong tome.’
His nostrils flared, jaw flexing with the force of his restraint. Then his hand wrapped around mine—huge, hot, possessive. The shadows exploded around us like a storm unleashed, curling up my arms, brushing my skin like ghostly fingers, swallowing us whole in that velvety-dark magic.
His voice came rough and low, nearly trembling with the effort to keep it together. ‘I never belonged to her.’ A beat. ‘I’ve only ever belonged toyou.’
