Page 41 of Summer's Seduction

Camilla lifted her chin as Artemis spoke, her brown eyes fixed on the ground of men huddled in the center of the clearing. Megara was further back, sticking to the shadows as dusk unfolded, but one glance confirmed Artemis had heard what had happened and intended to enact justice. Well, she would just have to get in line.

“Artemis, goddess of the hunt and moon.” I dipped my chin, honoring her but maintaining my ground as any ruler would. “Thank you for keeping an eye on my subjects while we rested. As you can imagine, a journey from The Realm of the Living to The Dark Palace and then being whisked away to The Darklands can be quite taxing. Especially after being treated so horribly.”

My voice shook with a deadly malice as I strode forward, my heart humming as the pathetic creatures before me cowered. Larkspur kept pace with me, her long legs matching my strides. We were clothed in white, the symbol of cleansing among our people. Larkspur’s gown was not unlike the short tunic worn by Artemis herself. But where Artemis donned a belt of silver as bright as the moon’s light, Lark’s tunic was cinched in at the waist by a band of onyx bearing my crest.

I should’ve warned her what it meant and what others would think when they saw it, but I couldn’t risk her rejecting it, not after what could have happened last night if I hadn’t been there. The memory of her paralyzed and helpless while that creature had his filthy hands on her—I couldn’t stand it. We would discuss everything another time—but for now, I needed her to stay safe so I could take care of matters.

“Yes,” Artemis drawled, stepping around the cluster of whimpering dark ones as she approached us. “Camilla and Megara have informed me what happened.”

Larkspur swallowed as the goddess stopped before her. Artemis was shorter than her, her dark skin and willowy frame packed with lean muscle more accustomed to quick dashes thanhand-to-hand combat, but it made her no less deadly. It was only when the goddess of the hunt and moon looked upon another woman did her harsh exterior soften.

“Camilla also relayed what happened to you, Lady Larkspur.” Artemis tilted her head to the side, like an eagle studying a mouse. “Men are vile creatures. They hardly have the ability to think, and when they do, it’s either with a sword in their hands or the dangly bits between their legs.”

A deep chuckle rumbled from my lips at the disgust dripping from her words.

Artemis quirked a brow as she glanced my way, and I swear the edge of her lips twitched. “Well, at least most of them. I’m hoping Lord Morpheus will prove me wrong today.”

I let my fangs show as I inclined my head. The sweet scent of fear emanating from the vile dark ones clustered at her feet caused a spike of anticipation to shoot through my veins. “It would be my pleasure.”

Artemis stepped back to join Camilla and Megara at the edge of the clearing, watching and waiting to see if I would buckle under her observation. Sometimes, I hated how good I was at hiding my true nature.

Taking a step forward, I looked upon the pile of low lives waiting for their execution and turned to face Larkspur. “May I honor you with their blood?”

Her cheeks flushed as I waited for her permission, showing the greatest level of respect that I could in front of my people. My little monster didn’t disappoint. She lifted her chin as the cowards began begging for their lives, meeting their pleas with a look of disgust.

“Paint my clothes in red, Dark Prince.”

“As you wish.” My wings flexed as my fangs extended, the thrumming of my pulse kicking up as the promise of death hovered.

“Morpheus,” Larkspur called. I glanced over my shoulder, marveling at the hungry look in her deep, green eyes as the first stars winked into life. “Make it hurt.”

Larkspur

Morpheus flew through the bodies. Their screams echoed in my ears like the sweetest lullaby. Splatters of red decorated the trees and the flowers, great spurts of it spraying across the clearing to stain my gown. A head flew, flinging blood and bits of tissue as it rolled toward me. I stopped it with my boot, a smile cracking across my face as I stared down into unseeing eyes.

Each of these men had abused someone. Each body lying in pieces before me was guilty of destroying a life—many lives. It was only fair for them to repay their debt.

And then the screams stopped.

Morpheus stood amid the carnage, his white garments now a dark shade of scarlet. Blood dripped from his outstretched wings, his dark hair damp from slaughter. He looked like a fucking god of revenge—a crazed, primal entity who relished vengeance as much as I did.

“Thank you Camilla and Megara for tracking all those who smelled of the abuser’s blood,” Morpheus said, chest heaving as blood dripped from his body. He looked like an avenging demon who’d crawled out of the darkest nightmare to unleash justice, and fuck if I didn’t want to drop to my knees for him. “I understand a great many more were feasted upon last night. I took pleasure in shredding the remaining souls. Unfortunately, my work here is not finished.”

A hush settled across the clearing as the horrified gazes of all present stared back at him.

Morpheus arched his neck and inhaled deeply, seeming to drink in their fear. When he opened his eyes, no trace of the arrogant royal was left, only the unhinged Dark Prince.

“A man was killed.” His boots squelched over chunks of muscle and fat as he prowled like a panther scenting a hog. “He had white, feathered wings and a pure soul.”

Some of those in the crowd shifted uncomfortably. Morpheus grinned, the gesture all threat.

“Most have been dealt with. You see, The God of Death can’t die. Thanatos took his revenge, but he was too lenient.”

Small clusters of heartbeats spiked as the bitter tang of panic caught on the wind.

Morpheus lowered his chin, red-ringed eyes fixed on where the most potent scent of guilt came from. “You will find no mercy here.”

“Please,” a man begged. The moment he spoke, those nearest him leaped back. “I didn’t touch him. I only watched?—”

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