Page 59 of Summer's Seduction

I drew Larkspur in for one last, deep kiss, memorizing the sound of her little whimper as I drew back with a grin. “Tonight, you’ll stay with me.”

She nodded, her cheeks flushed and eyes dark.

“Let’s go,” Cyrene said, looping her arm with Larkspur’s and dragging her toward the others.

I watched her float across the marbled floors, noting each person who turned to stare at her, scenting what I’d just done to my sweet, little monster. Everyone knew she was mine. And that I was hers. It was right there, in the red ring around her eyes put there by me. In the sweet smell of her arousal clinging to my body.

This was my home, more than any placeever had been. I should have felt relaxed, and I mostly did, but there was an undercurrent of unease watching Larkspur walk away from me.

I locked eyes with Artemis from across the hall, her silver gaze swirling with promises of destruction if I didn’t start moving. I held up my hands, mouthing, ‘Okay, okay.’ Turning toward the sea of dancing bodies, I searched for Egerius and willed myself to ignore the growing pit of dread settling in my stomach.

LARKSPUR

After the first five songs of standing around, Camilla finally convinced Artemis nothing would happen.

“Morpheus is sure to retrieve the key that is rightfully his by birth, and we’ll be out of here by the end of the night,” Camilla said, linking her arm to Artemis’s.

“We could sleep in beds tonight and leave in the morning,” Megara suggested, but after glancing at the disgusted faces of the huntresses, she quickly changed her mind. “Or not.”

“We prefer sleeping beneath the stars,” Cyrene said in her sing-song voice.

“And away from men,” Hebe added, her nose wrinkling as she met my gaze. “No offense.”

“None taken,” I said with a sigh, and I meant it. There’d been so much hurt over my life at the hands of men. Most had a level of entitlement that went unchecked their entire lives. I supposed men in The Underworld were no different. “For most, I’d agree with you.”

“But not all,” Arete asked, her head tilting to the side as she studied me. “Is Morpheus really that great in bed?”

A surprised laugh tumbled from my lips, echoed by Megara and Camilla, but the Hebe, Cyrene, and even Artemis were looking as if they were waiting for an answer.

“No, I mean, yes, he is, but that’s not why I feel comfortable around him. I trust him.”

Scanning the room, I looked for my Dark Prince. The dance floor had filled, and wine was flowing freely. Even more guests arrived as the night went on. Finally, I found Morpheus seated on the opposite wall on a cobalt cushioned chair, his great wings tucked in close behind the back of it. One arm was propped up as he sat across from Egerius, who was draped over an emerald green lounge and waving toward a group of women.

Three sauntered over, their fair features and scantily clad bodies surrounding Morpheus. He brushed their attention off, declining kindly, but I couldn’t help but wish he’d been more direct. Two of them drifted over to Egerius, joining him on the lounge, but the one with long blonde curls and a tight two-piece dress helped herself to a seat on the arm of Morpheus’s chair.

“What were you saying about trust?” Arete asked. The look of pity etched across her face was mimicked in Hebe’s, and a frown had formed across Cyrene’s soft features, but Camilla waved me over, one arm still linked with Artemis.

“I’m sure Morpheus is doing what he must,” she said as I slinked toward them.

“That doesn’t mean I want to see it,” I muttered, thinking that he’d better understand there was a line he couldn’t cross. Regardless of this key's importance, I wasn’t okay with him touching anyone else.

“Let’s dance,” Megara said, dragging our mopey group toward the center of the room. “We’re supposed to be blending in, and who knows. Maybe it will help move things along.”

When a servant in a red cloak passed carrying a silver tray, Megara snagged two tall flutes filled with bubbly liquid and pressed one into my hand.

“To finding light in the darkness,” Megara said.

“And dancing in the flames as the world burns,” Hebe finished with a grin, holding a glass that looked to be filled with cider.

Megara rolled her eyes but lifted her glass. I spared a last glance over my shoulder, hating that I found Morpheus still seated and the blonde still flirting. With narrowed eyes, I turned back around, feeling the fizz of the bubbles against my lips as I met Hebe’s stare.

“To dancing in the flames.”

One song blended into the next as the night went on, each of us taking turns leading. Surprisingly, Hebe and Arete were light on their feet and familiar with nearly all of the dances. Hebe twirled me through the last of the fast tempo, dipping me just as Arete dipped Cyrene. Megara and I giggled. The wine was stronger than we’d anticipated. Thank the gods, I’d only had one glass.

“I need a drink,” Megara breathed, her chest heaving.

“Me too,” Artemis said, her words muffled with Camilla’s lips on hers. With a grin, she pulled back. “I’m going to find something to lessen the headache you two will feel tomorrow.”

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