Page 19 of Summer's Seduction

“You think I drank from you out of some ploy for power? For my own benefit?” My voice wavered, and the calm Idesperately sought slipped further from my grasp the longer Larkspur remained silent. I knew she would hate me the moment I’d tasted her without her permission, but surely, she understood why I’d done it.Why I had to do it.

I took a step forward, only for her to take three back. Ignoring the twist of pain in my chest, I stilled, holding myhands up in a display of surrender. It would’ve been less painful had she’d driven the blade between my ribs.

“You think I'm no better than The Olympians?” I asked, though it sounded more like a statement.

“You’ve given me no reason to believe otherwise,” Larkspur challenged, the fire in her eyes daring me to contradict her.

“I fed to claim you,” I gritted out, catching the slight narrowing of her eyes a moment before she struck.

The glint of metal flashed in the light of the stars as I arched back, narrowly avoiding the bite of the blade across my chest.

“Please,” I started, but she was already cocking her arm back The blade slashed through my tunic. I sucked in a breath as my skin knitted back together, catching her wrist as she swung the blade up. Squeezing, I exerted just enough force to cause her to drop the blade. “If you would let me explain?—”

She twisted, her fist connecting with my face. I stumbled back with a curse as she whirled on me.

“Thereisno explanation that could excuse what you’ve done,” she growled, tears shining.

When she swung her fists this time, I didn’t bother moving. My body crashed to the floor under the force of her blow, the sweet smell of wildflowers stained by the harsh tang of my blood. I blinked through the throbbing ache in my jaw and the matching bloom of pain across my cheek as the weight of her body settled across my waist. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her chest heaving as she fought for breath with the dagger poised above my heart.

“Poseidon would’ve taken you,” I breathed, not minding if she ended my part in this existence but wanting her to know the danger still lurking should she continue on her own.

Larkspur swallowed; her unyielding gaze locked on mine, but she hadn’t stabbed me yet.

“Have you not heard the tales of what gods in The Above do?”

Her nostrils flared, anger smoldering in those bright, green eyes.

“You, little monster, are fearsome to behold, but I’m afraid that raging fire in your soul only draws the moths closer.”

Larkspur leaned back, keeping her grip on the dagger but no longer pressing it against my chest. “You want me to believe that your only motivation in biting me… was to protect me?”

“Yes.”

“Persephone was there,” she countered, suspicion etched across her face. “She would’ve stopped Poseidon.”

“And risk a war with the gods?” I asked, hating the way her brows furrowed with uncertainty. “Persephone may have tried, but she isn’t powerful enough to stop one of The Olympians alone.”

“Hades…” she started, her voice trailing off as she no doubt recounted a similar path my mind had taken earlier.

“Maybe,” I conceded. “But maybe he would have let you go. And I couldn’t allow that possibility.”

Larkspur held my gaze a moment longer, weighing my words as she looked upon my face, no doubt searching for a lie. I must have passed her unspoken test because, in the next breath, she stood, swaying as she did so.

“You saved my life, and I just spared yours,” she said, tucking the dagger away before searching the field of flowers for her pack. “We’re even, but I’ll never forgive you.”

The vow rolled through me. It was nothing I hadn’t heard before, but somehow, it felt eerily similar to when Thanatos dismissed me. Not sure what else I could say to ease the situation, I watched as she reached for her pack, noting how her legs wobbled. Cocking my head to the side, I listened to her heartbeat—finding the cadence still beating rapidly, her breathing slightly shallow.

“How often do you need to feed?”

Larkspur’s spine stiffened as she shot me a glare. “Don’t even think about offering.”

I shrugged as if her disgust at the thought of feeding from me didn’t hurt. Needing a reprieve, I glanced down as I dusted off my pants and stood.

“I didn’t see anything,” I muttered, still not meeting her gaze, but I felt her still. “There were glimpses of emotions, and I did feel the weight of sacrifices over your lifetime, but no detailed memories.”

The silence stretched until it was impossible not to look up. My little monster was frozen in shock, her bright green eyes wide and lips parted.

“Larkspur?” I asked, voice pitching as I flitted to her side. It was a testament to her state that she didn’t flinch. Or try to stab me. Her eyes were unfocused, lips parted with hushed disbelief.

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