Page 58 of Spring's Descent
Thanatos sighed, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. “We should go before we’re discovered.”
He started down the citrine lined path toward the cave’s opening with the light of the midday sun reflecting off the clear waters beside us. Persephone would be exploring the Elysian designated for women and children only. It was the safest place in The Underworld, and she had Hecate and Kassandra with her. So, why did I feel so uneasy?
Darkness descended before us, halting us in our paths. The shadows solidified, revealing a broad chest and sharp cheekbones. Dark hair reached to his shoulders, the black top and thick boots more akin to The Night Children than to his father’s preferred silver attire: Morpheus.
“Did Hypnos send you?” Thanatos asked as I stepped beside him. His hands were loose at his side, but tension was visible in the slight twitch of his fingers, and the increased cadence of his heart. He was ready for a fight, just as I was.
Morpheus’s golden eyes ringed in red bounced from him to me, his lips quirking in an arrogant smile that revealed just the hint of fangs, proof of his father’s affair with the princess of The Night Children. “My father would be interested to learn you’re this near, Lord Hades. He’s been eager for a meeting with you for some time.”
“I’ve been busy,” I snapped. His smile grew.
“I’ve heard.” Morpheus toed the edge of the Lithe, his black boots crunching along the yellow stones. “You finally found your witch. Even dragged her through The Underworld if rumors are true. Tell me, Lord Hades, why such an extensive tour of Tartarus and Cocytus?”
My jaw ticked, but Thanatos spared me from answering. “We’ve come to invite you to the happy couple’s engagement celebration.”
“Is that so?” Morpheus said, golden eyes blazing as he placed his hands in his pockets. “And here I thought this little visit was for the wraiths. You’ve let them wander too freely, Lord Hades. They’ve grown strong. There are whispers that one attacked your future queen.”
My eyes narrowed.How did he know so much?
“Of course, I silenced such gossip. Can’t have those in my father’s court believing such lies. If word got out that the great Lord Hades couldn’t protect his intended…” Morpheus shook his head. “Some would see that as an invitation to challenge the throne.”
I flitted forward, my fist closing around his neck before he could fade into the shadows. “Is that a threat?”
“Not at all.” Morpheus’s grin stayed fixed in place without a flicker of fear scenting the air. “More of a warning between friends.”
My eyes narrowed as my fingers lengthened into claws.
“I don’t advise starting a war with my father, Lord Hades,” he said, lifting his chin as beads of blood welled up. “Especially when your little witch is battling death magic as we speak.”
“She’s safe in Elysian with Hecate,” Thanatos replied coolly, but I let my tendrils of darkness stretch, searching for her flame of life. She was, indeed, still in Elysian, but there was a sharp spike of frost clashing with her fire.
Morpheus’s lips stretched, his grin showing off the sharp, pointed tips of fangs as he watched my dawning horror.
“She’s unawakened, is she not?” he whispered, his voice dipping with something akin to seduction. “Not even Demeter would be able to contain an active flare of death magic.”
“Stop,” Thanatos growled, his open palm connecting with Morpheus’s chest and sending him sprawling out of my grasp.
Shaking my head to clear it from his influence, I bared my teeth at Morpheus’s bloody neck, peering over Thanatos’s white wings to see that the thin slices left behind from my nails had already healed. “You dare to use your night magic on me?”
Morpheus ran a hand through his disheveled hair, tilting his head to the side and exposing the mess I’d made along his collarbones. He didn’t bother standing, choosing to remain on his knees with his gaze fixed on Thanatos.
Of course. Using his power of persuasion had only been another ploy to get Thanatos’s attention. Morpheus stayed rooted to the spot beneath Thanatos’s feet, peering up at the God of Death as if he could go back in time and fix what he had broken.
Tearing his gaze away from the angel of death, he met my glare with regret still swirling in his eyes.
“Time is running out, Lord Hades.”
37
PERSEPHONE
Power flowed through my fingertips,pouring into the earth around me. I felt it trickle down, like the cleanest water purifying the stained soil. It wasn’t only the plants that sought life, but the earth itself. All the nutrients had been consumed, burned through like a freshly lit match rendered to ash. It was useless. Dead… but the kindling remained. All it needed was a spark.
“You’re reaching your limit,” Hecate said. “That’s enough.”
But itwasn’tenough. Coils of darkness rose, reaching, ravenous for more. A cry tore from my lips as its icy grip locked around the thread of my magic, like claws digging into flesh. It pulled, dragging me across the line of healthy grass into the maimed field. I stumbled, my knees crashing into ice and ash and sharp shards of ice slicing into the flesh of my palms as I fought to regain control.
More, it called, my arms nearly buckling from the force of its draw.