Page 19 of Queen of Shadows and Roses
I hesitantly pushed open the door and peeked inside. It was a spacious, light kitchen adorned with soothing shades of cream and grey. Chequerboard tiles in dark and light grey covered the floor, and a massive island was lined with leather bar stools on one side, sufficient to seat eight people. The white marble countertops appeared to shimmer as if sprinkled with stardust, glittering in the magical light, while a long table displayed a magnificent vase of narcissi. I smiled at the colours. The space seamlessly combined style and function while remaining inviting.
I quietly slipped through the door and saw him. He had his back to me, standing by the cooker—still in black jeans but this time wearing a black T-shirt. His hair hung loosely around his shoulders. As he turned around, his eyes widened, and his lips parted as though in surprise. I gulped as he held my stare—his eyes were captivating—and my mind went blank. He was utterly beautiful and completely terrifying, and my treacherous stomach did a backflip.
‘Persephone.’ His voice was deep and hypnotic. Hesaid my name as if he were tasting it on his tongue, and my stomach clenched in the most delicious way. Was he really supposed to be this hot? The fuckalicious god of the Underworld was here to suck out my godsdamned soul.
Ignoring my raging hormones, I chewed on my bottom lip as I dropped my gaze to the narcissi and muttered, ‘Hi.’
He moved towards me with leopard-like grace, and my eyes shot to his face. His earthy scent swirled around him, and I tried not to breathe. A small smile twitched at his lips, causing heat to infuse my cheeks like a fever as he extended his hand for me to shake. Hesitantly, I placed my much smaller hand in his, and the buried dark magic thrummed in my chest, making my eyes snap to his again. I forced the magic back down, trying to quell my panic.
‘Sephy,’ I breathed.
At his touch, images flashed in my mind—me naked and his smiling face looking up at me from between my thighs; me on top of his sculpted body, riding him with my head thrown back. Vague recollections of him and me pulsed in my subconscious, as if fighting to escape. I yelped and dropped his hand. What the fuck? Heat pooled between my legs, causing my core to tingle, and I took a step back.
He must be using some sort of divine manipulation. Focus!
As we locked eyes, a slight frown marred his wonderful face. Emotions I didn’t recognise surged in my chest; those memories slipped through my fingers like sand yet hammered in my mind, trying to break free. Gazing into those desperate, liquid blue pools of flaming fire, I realised once again that this man was familiar. His voice was familiar. As I closed my eyes, I broke eye contact.
He is my enemy; he has killed thousands of people… thousands of my kin.
I opened my eyes to find him still staring at me; his gaze held a look I couldn’t fathom, and something tugged in my chest, but I dismissed it.
My heart thumped unsteadily as I got a grip on myself, and a maelstrom of irritation brewed within me.
‘Do all gods kidnap women, or is that justyourlove language?’ I snapped.
‘Only the ones who threaten to unravel me.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Kidnapping is not flirting. It’s a felony.’
‘Gods don’t commit crimes. We commit fate.’
‘Try that line on someone not fantasising about stabbing you.’ I blew out a breath of irritation. ‘Seriously, whyhaveyou kidnapped me? Why didn’t you simply come to see me? Talk to me. If you think I’mthePersephone?’ I said through gritted teeth.
‘Why?’
‘Excuse me? What?’
‘Why would I come to see you? When I know this is what you will ultimately want. You belong to me… I didn’t steal you. I claimed what was always mine.’
‘I’m sorry… I—Ibelongto you? You own me?’ Oh, now he’d really pissed me off. ‘Listen here, mister high-and-shadowy.’ I pointed my finger at him. ‘I don’tbelongto anyone. I’m not a freaking pet. And what Iwant?’ I coughed out a laugh. ‘You can’t kidnap me and not expect to piss me off.’ He lowered his brows. Gods, I was on the verge of screaming. ‘Because, whether you think you know it’s what I ultimately want or?—'
He stepped closer, voice low and dangerous. ‘I could have you begging with a single word.’ My mouth fell open. The audacity.
‘Try it. But don’t cry when I laugh.’ I tilted my head and glared at him.
He stared down at me like I was the most infuriating thing he’d ever seen—and maybe I was. Good.
‘I know you want me,’ he murmured. ‘I cantasteyour attraction. Your arousal. You want this… me.’
‘You canwhat now?Tastemyarousal? I stepped back, pure disbelief twisting into fury. ‘Well, that’s plain rude. You can stop doing that right away. You creep.’ I was so close to kicking him in the balls. ‘You need to learn some manners, mister. And if youwanted to take me out, all you had to do was ask. Politely. Not kidnap me.’ I placed my hands on my hips, and as I glared up at him, those eyes churned more gold than blue, the line of his jaw turning brittle. He didn’t speak for a long moment.
‘Interesting.’ He studied me like I was a riddle he couldn’t quite solve, but desperately wanted to. I didn’t flinch; I met his gaze, unblinking. If he thought I’d squirm under his stare, he hadn’t been paying attention.‘Well, I’m sorry. I would like you to spend time with me.’
‘What if I don’t want to?’
He paused, tension bracketing his mouth as he tilted his head. ‘Then I suppose I shall respect your wishes.’
I pursed my lips. ‘Will you let me go then? If you’re respecting my wishes?’
