Page 56 of Summer's Seduction

“Maybe there’s a dress code?” Megara asked, probably thinking about her time at The Playground.

“It doesn’t matter if there is,” Artemis answered, cutting off the rebuke poised on Hebe’s lips. “We are not here as guests. Morpheus should have neveraskedto speak with Egerius. He is their rightful prince and needs to start acting like it.”

The others rumbled in agreement—even Megara nodded. I knew what the goddess said was true, but they couldn’t feel him the way I could. It grew fainter the longer I went without drinking his blood, but the flickers of emotion I sensed from Morpheus were filled with contentment, and brimming with peace.

“Do you intend to reveal yourself?” Cyrene asked, her soft voice no less powerful than the others.

Artemis looked among her huntresses as she contemplated her options, meeting my gaze briefly before setting on Camilla. “No. They outnumber us ten-to-one from what I’ve glimpsed of those stationed in the castle. It’s more than double that number if the city gets involved. I’d rather not risk the bloodshed or sacrifice the time of an outright battle, but I don’t trust Morpheus to get things done on his own. His past is clouding his judgment.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to blend in?” Cyrene asked, earning a glare from Hebe and Arete. “Only until we have the key.”

Artemis seemed to consider this momentarily, eyeing the stunning gowns of silk and diamonds before shaking her head. Hebe and Arete let out sighs of relief. “The dresses would exposeour weapons and incapacitate our ability to move freely. It isn’t worth the risk.”

“And the cloaks,” Camilla pressed, eyeing them apprehensively.

“Each servant we met wore red cloaks,” I said, coming up beside her as I thought back to each person we’ve encountered. “There were a few others in red throughout the city, but most of the guards were in black. Maybe it denotes something?”

“Perhaps they see us as warriors?” Hebe offered, her disdain cooling a little.

“I still don’t trust it,” Arete said, drawing the edges of her cloak forward. “I’d rather not leave anything behind.”

In case we need to make a quick getaway.

The words were left unspoken, but we all heard them.

“We’ll forgo the clothes and lean into the idea of working for Hades as Morpheus’s bodyguards,” Artemis decided.

“Something tells me Egerius won’t like that,” I said, twirling one of the beaded filigrees between my fingers.

“Exactly why we need a play of sorts.”

I looked up, finding all six of them staring at me with grins stretched across their faces. Camilla stepped forward, pulling a particularly revealing dress from the bunch. “I think this one would look great on you, Larkspur.”

Black gossamer fabric was pinned over my shoulders with golden clasps before drifting down my torso, leaving much of my body exposed. The light fabric was cinched in at my waist with a belt that matched the clasps before allowing the material to drift to the floor. Two large slits reached up to the belt, making it impossible for me to wear anything beneath. As if that wasn’t enough, the black fabric was twisted along my back into an intricate design that left my skin bare and exposed until right about my ass.

My umber curls had been brushed and treated until they shined. I selected a bright red color for my lips and a harsh, black charcoal for my eyes. Megara had pulled the top half of my curls back, braiding them into the resemblance of a crown across my head and securing them with jeweled pins. When she was done, it looked like the stars themselves had blessed me.

I would’ve liked to keep my boots, but Camilla insisted they would ruin everything we were trying to accomplish. As a compromise, I rejected the heels in favor of a pair of black sandals with straps stretching up my calves and secured behind my knees.

“Are you ready?” Megara asked softly from my left.

The pair of servants in red cloaks had been waiting outside our room. Without a word, they’d lead us through the castle halls before halting in front of a large set of wooden doors. The sounds of a grand party rose from the other side, and even though I knew I was only dressed like this to secure the key to The Glass Palace, I secretly hoped Morpheus would be impressed.

I glanced at Megara, glad that she, Camilla, and even Cyrene had taken advantage of the jewels and lotions offered. Despite remaining in the same clothes, they looked ready for whatever lay behind this door. Artemis, Hebe, and Arete also looked ready but in a look-at-us-the-wrong-and-catch-a-dagger-in-the-throat type of way. The balance between alluring and deadly was always crucial.

“I’m ready,” I breathed, feeling my magic swell just beneath the surface of my skin. Morpheus’s blood lingered in my veins, strengthening my power. Egerius and his warriors would be strong, and I had no doubt that persuading them, let alone compelling them, would take a lot of magic.

The plan was to lean into the persona of a doting woman who was happy to be at Morpheus’s side. If everything went how wewanted, Morpheus would be able to ask for the key without any issues, and I’d never have to test the limits of my magic.

Hooves clicked across the stone floor, causing the huntresses to stiffen a moment before a chimera came into view. It was the same one who had led the charge earlier. His golden eyes seemed to peer inside my soul as he sauntered over to me, heedless of the tension thickening the air. The blue snake that was his tail hissed sweetly as he pressed his great mane to my palm, demanding attention. Feeling some of my nerves flit away, I scratched behind his ears and the great, arching ram horns.

The servants moved, pressing the double doors wide as another red cloak, this one a male, announced our presence.

The boisterous room quieted instantly as everyone turned, watching with appraising eyes. Taking strength from the huntresses at my back, I lifted my chin and stepped forward with more confidence than I felt.

The gentle rhythm of instruments had stopped, and conversations halted mid-sentence as the chimera who’d greeted me at the doors remained by my side. Murmurs broke out as the chimera’s tails wound around my wrist as if voluntarily leashing itself to me, its blue scales slithering comfortably over my skin with a gentle hiss.

Chandeliers composed of hundreds of diamonds hung from the domed ceiling, anchored between detailed frescos. The dozens of pictures portrayed dark ones feeding from feeders in various states of undress and some very creative positions. Everything was clad in gold filigree with tapestries lining stone walls. I expected a large table where we would all sit to eat, but instead, there were black chaise lounges set along the perimeter with low-set tables draped in red silks.

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