Page 85 of Queen of Shadows and Roses
‘Love is overrated.’
‘Is it? I can’t wait for the day you find someone you love—a love that consumes you to the core. If that cold heart is capable, of course.’
He coughed a laugh. ‘No woman will ever do that to me; I’m not a sap.’
‘Let’s have a bet.’
He frowned at my words. ‘You always did think with your heart, Persephone,’ he replied, rolling his eyes so hard they almost popped out of his ears. ‘What are the conditions?’
‘If you find love, I want to ride a hippocampus.’ I knew Poseidon was particularly possessive towards his favourite sea creatures.
‘You’ll drown,’ he answered drolly.
‘Not if I ride it on the surface.’ I gave a half-shrug.
He shot me a narrow-eyed look, but a soft grin played at the corners of his mouth. ‘Fine. You’ll lose because, as you said, my cold heart is incapable of the love Hades holds for you.’ At his words, my heart stuttered a beat. ‘Mycondition is that you make my brother happy… again.’Again.That word made the melodramatic bond thrum in my chest and steal the breath from my lungs. My silence thickened the air around us like dense fog.
‘Agreed,’ I finally managed to whisper as we shook hands. Then, of course, the cockwomble god had to ruin the moment.
Poseidon gave me a shrewd smile. ‘I’ve heard the gossip that Minthe still covets Hades. What if he decided she would make a better consort than you? How would you feel? She does love him, after all.’ Ice coated my skin, his words draining the oxygen from the room, and my temper sizzled again.
‘I don’t know. How would you feel with my fist in your face?’ I snarl-whispered as I curled my hand; I could feel my shadow magic pulsing, but I controlled it quickly. A smile twitched on Poseidon’s full lips as he cocked his head, and then we both audibly groaned at the sound of Zeus’s voice.
‘Persephone.’ I turned to face the king of the gods, my fake smile plastered across my face and extended my hand for him to kiss.
‘Zeus. How lovely to see you again.’
‘I hope my brother isn’t being bothersome?’ he said, a ghost of a smile tugging on his lips.
‘No more than usual,’ I replied as I side-eyed Poseidon, lifting my chin to meet Zeus’s gaze.
‘Very good. Well, I feel Apollo has pulled out all the stops to give you a night to remember. Just ensure repayment does not come in the form of sexual favours. Hades would be most put out. As would we.’
My jaw dropped open, and I blinked about a dozen times—the audacity.‘We’re not all hoe-bags, Zeus. Some of us havemorals.’ Poseidon roared with laughter, but Zeus’s eyes crackled with silver lightning, his jaw working for several seconds until he regained his composure. ‘There’s one thing I’d like to say.’ I flared my nostrils as my irritation ratcheted up another several degrees.
‘Yes?’ Zeus said slowly.
‘You two’—I pointed between the gods, giving them each a death glare—‘are both absolute and utter colossal fuck-wits.Anda massive pain in the ass.’
I growled softly as I stomped away from their rumbling laughter. ‘Fucking pricks,’ I muttered to myself. Simmy appeared with a glass of pink fizz, and I took a big gulp. The fizzle of champagne and nectar on my tongue eased my mood, much like ripe berries and sunshine. That lasted for about ten minutes, until I spied Ares approaching. My irritation returned, spinning like a high-speed cyclone, but when I saw Hedone eyeing me, I schooled my features. I sighed a moan of frustration, then almost screamed when I saw Adonis walking towards me with Ares.
Fuck. My. Life.
‘Dammit,’ I whispered to Simmy, who glanced in the direction I was staring. ‘Here comes Captain Charisma, who’s got nothing but biceps and a degree in lechery.’
Simmy snorted. ‘A fitting description for Ares,’ he muttered, edging away.
I turned towards him and growl-whispered, ‘Come back here, you little shit.’ Which he ignored.
I turned slowly, the practiced smile on my face. ‘Ares. Adonis. How lovely to see you both again,’ I said, trying to mask my ‘I’d really like to kick you in the balls’ voice. Both men kissed my outstretched hand, and Adonis lingered a moment too long, causing my skin to crawl.
‘Well, it seems we’re both out of the running to claim you as a wife,’ Ares remarked, glancing from my toes to my face, lingering on my breasts for an uncomfortable amount of time. ‘So, we’ve made a wager on who you will choose. Unless you decide to take a lover as well as a husband, then I’m more than up for the job.’ He winked at me, while Adonis released a dark chuckle.
‘Oh, really?’ My face remained blank, but my muscles were tense, and my polite smile never wavered.
‘Adonis believes you’ll choose Zeus. My money is on Apollo.’
I let out a soft lady-like laugh. ‘I see.’ My eyes met Adonis’s gaze, and at his shrewd look, unpleasant tingles raced down my spine. ‘Well.’ I inched away. ‘Have a marvellous time.’
