Page 6 of Spring's Descent
“I—I didn’t do anything she didn’t want,” he stammered as my fists flexed. As much as I wished he weren’t, I knew when it came to Persephone he was telling the truth. But he couldn’t hide his past from me—couldn’t erase the black haze of his soul from what he’d done to the first girl who’d trusted him to keep her safe. For that, for every second he’d lived unencumbered by guilt while that girl lived haunted by his touch, I’d make him pay.
“She’smine,” I seethed, my fist colliding with his face, splintering the bones beneath. “Where?”
Blood ran freely from his nose, mixing with the drool and bits of chipped teeth that splattered the white tiles on the floor.
“Willowcrest,” he mumbled between tears. “Korae is there. In the heart of The Black Forest.”
Korae. That’s what Demeter was calling her. My upper lip curled, already knowing why she picked it. Korae meant maiden. Another earth witch Demeter had raised this past decade to be quiet and tame. Though the piece-of-shit before me proved she wasn’t one to follow the rules, I knew my betrothed—my soon-to-be-wife—would be another witch poisoned with a hatred for my kind.
No matter. She would be mine one way or another. And if she was fucking around with this guy, someone who wouldn’t know where a clit was if it had an arrow pointing to it—Well, I’d enjoy showing her what it meant to be fucked by a god.
Ignoring the stench of the mortal’s fear and the metallic tang of blood, I honed in on her sweetness. Inhaling deeply,I committed her scent to memory—vanilla with a hint of wildflower. My mouth salivated. Gods, she smelled delicious.
The time for hiding was over. Soon, I’d have my little witch in my arms. I hoped she begged. My cock twitched at the idea of her on her knees before me, pleading for a mercy that wouldn’t come.
“Thanatos, it’s time.” I stepped away from the shaking human as my shadows descended. I let his screams echo in the chamber for a moment longer, relishing that he knew the God of Death was on his way to greet him, before abruptly cutting them off with a sharp snap of his neck.
The air shifted as the gentle beating of wings reached me. Thanatos’s white feathers and striking silhouette appeared a moment later, complete with the scythe he used to reap wicked souls. The God of Death stood a few inches taller than my six-foot-three, all lean muscle and speed where I was thicker across the chest and thighs. His silver-blond hair was longer than mine, his skin a pale, bone-white hue. His bright blue eyes and full pink lips paired with the white wings had him the picture of what mortals called ‘angels’. Little did they know, Thanatos was the one sent to collect souls when their life strings were cut and drag them into The Underworld for me to keep.
A brow quirked as his sharp gaze looked over the mess I’d created.
“What did that poor bastard do?”
“He slept with my wife.”
Thanatos’s lips twitched. “I thought the wedding wasn’t until next month. And then there’s the whole problem of finding the bride in time.”
“We have her location,” I said, turning from the room, rolling out my shoulders as I head for the door. “It’s time to collect my betrothed.”
“She’s going to fight you,” Thanatos warned, falling in line behind me. “Demeter has filled her head with nothing but hatred for those in The Underworld. You most of all.”
“Then I’ll hide my identity until she gives herself to me, body and soul.”
Only then would The Underworld stabilize. Death was powerful, but without life to offer balance, it was an unstoppable void, ravaging not only my realm but that of the living as well. My little witch needed to join my side, to take her rightful place as my bride, ensuring all would be restored.
“Aidoneus should do nicely,” I added. Thanatos lifted a brow at me. I shrugged. “Hecate insists I was once called that in another life.”
“It’s better, but she’ll run either way,” Thanatos said.
My wings bristled as my palms shoved the door open. The cool, crips air felt like the first breath I’d had in hours. Letting my wings expand, I tilted my head up to the darkness above. “It’s a good thing I love the hunt.”
I’d been stalking her for years, my little witch always just out of reach. But tonight, I’d gotten her scent, and fuck if I didn’t want to drown in it. She could run as fast and as far as she liked. It made no difference. I would find her. And when I did, I’d drag my little witch to The Underworld to be my bride. My queen. To be my goddess forever.
4
PERSEPHONE
“She wants you to marry Cyrus?”Larkspur asked, dragging the brush through my still damp hair. I’d scrubbed my skin until it was pink but couldn’t erase the feel of Cyrus’s magic. She knew what had happened the moment I returned to my room—the only other person in the world who saw the harsh realities of this coven like I did. Lark had brought up two steaming cups of tea seeping on the low-set table in front of the worn sitting couch while I was in the shower and was now working my favorite wildflower-scented oil thoroughly through my curls, gently tugging the knots free.
I allowed myself to sink into her touch, wondering if this was what it would’ve felt like to have a big sister.
“Yep.” My voice was devoid of emotion as I looked my body over in the mirror. A thin silk robe hung low across my shoulders, exposing my collarbones and a large portion of my chest. They weren’t sticking out nearly as much as Mother would have liked thanks to Lark sneaking me small loaves of bread from the kitchen whenever she could. Lark said it was a good thing I wasn’t as thin as the others, despite how the rest of the coven whispered.
I had felt stronger and was able to keep up with Lark during our secret training sessions now, but it was hard not to feel like I’d failed somehow.
The tap of the brush on the counter drew my gaze up, finding Lark’s hazel eyes swirling with concern. Her long hair was tied back, showing off her strong cheekbones and flawless dark skin. Gods above, I wished I could look like her.
“Cyrus as in the blond who is so far up Demeter’s ass that he wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between night and day?”