Page 66 of Summer's Seduction

Artemis banked right, aiming for the gentle slope of a mountain mostly shrouded by the cover of tall pines. It seemed the goddess wasn’t concerned with wandering spirits.

At least I’d taken the chain from around Egerius’s neck. The glass key was cool against my chest, tucked beneath my tunic between Larkspur and myself, tangled with all the things left unsaid between us.

Egerius had all but confirmed she was the lost princess. The visions shared between us had to have been memories of her life. Our life threads were far more tangled than I ever could have imagined. I only hoped my little monster knew we were on the same side in this war.

My fathers, one by birth and one by love, had drawn a line in blood. They’d made their choice of power and greed. It was time I shed the persona of the errant prince and embraced all that was mine. If not for myself or my people, then for her. For Larkspur, my little monster, the lost princess, and rightful Queen of Nightmares.

LARKSPUR

My legs burned as I willed them to run faster, racing up the hill toward where our small cottage was. The sharp scent of magic swirled on the wind, causing the cold tendrils of dread to coil in my stomach.

My father was a green witch, useful for gardening or grounding powerful beings to this realm, but in an attack? He would be obliterated. Psyche was a witch, and I knew her power would be strong someday, but she was not yet twelve. I’d only been gone for an hour, but the rumble of the earth told me everything had changed.

The metallic tang of blood coated the back of my throat as I pushed my body to move quicker, the prick of my newly awakened fangs still foreign to me. I’d only fed from animals and the occasional traveler I met at the market, but I was fully prepared to use all of my magical reserves against whoever had dared to attack our home.

I rounded the corner, finding our sweet cottage utterly destroyed. Vines had torn the bricks apart, wild, poisonous barbs twisting through the rubble as pricks of my father’s earthy magic deflected what he could.

Chest heaving, I stood there poised on the hill's edge as over a dozen dark ones swarmed like a hive of angry hornets. And there, at the center of the mayhem, was Psyche.

Her silver-gold hair and pale skin stood out in stark contrast to the black bat wings surrounding her. I dove behind a bush as the mass of monsters turned down the narrow path in my direction, leading my little sister from the home we’d once shared.

Taking a deep breath, I willed my wild pulse to steady. Both of us wouldn’t make it out of this, and I still had to find my father, but if I was smart, I could find a way for Psyche to run. She knew the forest better than anyone. She could hide there until it was safe.

A current of magic rolled through the ground, feeling like it came from what used to be my home. I looked at Psyche, not surprised to find that despite the precarious situation, she looked calm. Her eyes were open, the icy blue irises so devoid of color that they almost appeared violet in certain lighting and were framed with thick, white lashes. Despite having poor vision, Psyche saw far more than a typical witch did, somehow able to catch glimpses of their essence or soul.

Not for the first time, I wondered if that was how she remained so calm. So utterly unbothered by the world around her. She’d been a particularly quiet child, and I knew our solitary lifestyle hadn’t helped, but I needed her to be bothered enough by The Dark Ones’ presence to want to escape.

Six dark ones escorted her closer toward me. Just a few more steps and I would jump out, stab the first, compel the second and pray to the gods Psyche got away. Right before I put my plan in motion, boots slammed into the path before me as a dark one dropped from the sky.

My brows furrowed as I watched the scene play out, realizing that I knew what would happen next.

This was a dream.

The dry earth cracked under the impact as the figure rose. His dark hair was shagger than it had been since I’d last seen him, but his cerulean-blue eyes were the same: Lucius.

“She’s a child,” Lucius said, his wings twitching as he looked over my sister. “Unbind her hands.”

“Can’t,” the man with the short nose and wide-set eyes answered. “Demeter’s orders.”

Lucius looked like he might argue but then waved them on. “Lord Egerius is waiting at The Glass Palace.”

Younger me drew in a sharp breath, the slight sound catching Lucius’s attention. His eyes locked with mine through the tall grass and bushes, nearly causing me to faint.

“All is as it should be.” My heart squeezed as Psyche’s soft, musical voice cut through the mounting tension. Lucius flinched as she turned her unnaturally shrewd gaze on him. “I forgive you for this and for what is coming.”

He swallowed, his deep cerulean eyes finding mine as if I would offer any advice on how to kidnap my sister. I held my breath as a few of the others started to turn.

“Go,” he barked, drawing their attention away from me. They launched into the sky, taking my brave, tranquil little sister with them. Lucius stared at me a moment longer, and I wondered if this was it. Maybe he’d changed his mind and was going to imprison me as well.

He only shook his head, staring at the ground as he murmured, “I’ll do what I can to keep her safe.”

Iwoke up with a start. The scent of leather and spice surrounded me as strong arms held me close.

“You’re safe, little monster.”

Morpheus’s voice calmed the erratic beating of my heart, but I couldn’t dispel the worry left over from my dream. I blinked,seeing that we’d landed on a large plateau set before the wide entrance of a cave. The gentle rolling of water over river rocks echoed from within, eclipsed by the gentle patter of hooves landing behind us.

My eyes darted from the huntresses slipping off pegasi, my focus snagging on the two bodies behind laid to the ground before meeting Morpheus’s guarded gaze. I wanted to tell him about the dream, remembering Lucius from the day my sister was taken, but now was not the time.

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