Page 22 of Summer's Seduction
MORPHEUS
Clouds thickened as we progressed north, hiding the midday sun and allowing my little monster to sleep. She thought searching for Hypnos was her idea, unable to know that I’d already promised Hades my help.
Despite the already long evening, Hecate had insisted on hatching a plan once The Olympians had taken their leave. Persephone’s vines faded as a soft, golden glow took their place, healing all that had been destroyed in the rash display of power. If Zeus hadn’t been paranoid before, he certainly was now.
This war should’ve been extinguished from the start but it had been ignited and fed by Zeus’s jealousy. At this point, the only way to prevent The Underworld from falling was to cut the head off the snake. And who better to do that than the snake’s son?
I’d planned on telling her. There had already been enough untruths between us, but gods below had she looked at me with such loathing when I’d found her dashing through Elysium. Her entire presence in The Underworld was for one thing—to see her sister safe. The thought alone felt like a dagger to my chest. I couldn’t let her know that her quest had been further delayed. If she knew the safety of her only living family was rendered to justanother overlooked task with little to no priority, it would break her—or unleash a wave of wrath I was unwilling to tempt.
Larkspur deserved to beseen. She should be respected and listened to. I didn’t want to be another person to let her down in life, and yet I couldn’t help but think that’s what awaited us.
Me, the pathetic prince. And her, the neglected queen.
What a pair we made. With a sigh, I banked left, circling the lake's edge. Vast mountain ranges ebbed as the thick pine forests gave way to stony banks, the edges long since smoothed by the harsh streams that bore them south. The lake itself was frigid, but hot springs lurked along the tree line, nestled in great caverns said to be heated by the wrath of the titans trapped deep below.
Lord Hades and The Olympians would have us believe they were tucked safely in the pit of Tartarus, but how vast was their prison? And how long could beings such as them be contained?
Shaking off the feeling of dread, I focused on the scent rising from the rippling banks of the Moros River, now tinged with sweat, blood, and sex as we neared our destination.
I spotted a long braid of auburn hair and sapphire eyes waiting for us. She wore the same style of clothes she had in life: a loose, cream dress. The sleeveless gown was adorned with a violet cloth cinched around her waist, and golden sandals wound up her calves, visible through the long slits nearly reaching her navel. Megara.
I dropped lower as Larkspur started to stir, fixing an arrogant smile on my face when Megara’s sapphire eyes found mine. She’d been through so much during her time in The Realm of The Living. It wasn’t fair I was planning on leaving the promise of war at her feet.
My little monster yawned, nuzzling into my chest as if my body and scent were comforts. Her hand slipped beneath theties of my tunic, the soft pads of her fingers exploring the hard planes of my chest.
A deep rumble shook my chest as warmth stirred lower, causing her waking body to tense. “No need to be ashamed, my little monster. In sleep, we can take anything we desire without the burden of guilt.”
Her fingers curved inward, the sharp prick of nails digging into my skin. I sucked in a sharp breath, gripping her tighter as if I might be able to convince her to continue. To dig out my rotting heart and be done with it.
“I donotdesire you,” Larkspur hissed, her breath fanning my neck. “I never will.”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
Her nails flexed, drawing a hiss from my lips, before she withdrew them, finally seeming to realize we were descending. “Where are we?”
“North of The Lethe, along the eastern edge of my father’s territory.” I glanced down, watching as Larkspur stared at her bloodied nails, tracking a large drop of my blood as it splashed onto her cloak. “Drink up, little monster. You need to keep your strength.”
She shot me a glare, making a point of wiping off every last drop on my tunic. My eyes narrowed, knowing that she needed to feed.
“You will have to play the part of my loving partner while we’re here.” I spoke low and quick as we descended, making sure Megara wouldn’t overhear.
“Why?” she asked, eyes narrowing as she glanced from me to the ground. The cave entrance was visible now, with couples and groups making their way in. “What is this place?”
I smiled, unable to help the way excitement gripped me. I wanted to show Larkspur all the pieces of me, and even thoughthis was one that fit my flippant party boy persona on the outside, it was important she started to see below the surface.
“Get ready, little monster. We’re about to enter the lion’s den.”
Larkspur
Gods below, did Morpheus’s blood smell sweet, like the finest ambrosia crafted just to tempt me. I’d almost done it. Almost licked the sticky sweetness of his blood from the tips of my fingers, knowing if being fed on had felt that electric, then consuming his essence would be life-altering. Somehow, I found the strength to resist.
Morpheus had bitten me. He’d taken one of the only things I had left to give and claimed it as his own. I understood why he’d had to do it. Part of me was even grateful that he’d been the first to bite me rather than letting Poseidon get his disgusting hands all over me, but it still hurt being reminded that I was helpless to protect myself. That I was seen as an object to be used and discarded when done.
“Little monster,” Morpheus whispered, more breath than words as we landed. “Look at me.”
Smooth rocks along the lake shifted under his boots. He held me still, his arms feeling soft and strong all at once. It wastoonice. Too gentle. I knew how to handle pain and fear. How to deal with lust and greed… but kindness? That was far too disconcerting.
Not daring to meet his gaze, I shoved from his arms, barely catching myself on wobbly legs. Morpheus’s hands were at my waist, the warmth of his touch searing despite the brisk, overcast day.