Page 71 of Summer's Seduction

Hecate’s eyes softened as the footfalls of the huntresses grew louder from behind us. “She was another recused soul brought to Soterio just before we relocated you. She is a witch… and something else. I wasn’t the one who found her, but I know she is the daughter of a forgotten king and queen and was fleeing two wicked siblings.”

“But she is stillyoursister,” I whispered as I felt Larkspur’s pulse race. I wove my fingers through hers.

“Psyche hasn’t had her memories altered,” Hecate said, her voice dropping as the others neared. “She’s spent most of her childhood viewing you as her big sister. I tried, but something about her power, even as a child, prevented it from working.”

My spine stiffened under Hecate’s description of Larkspur’s sister. Most of those secured in The Glass Palace were creatures rivaling those of Tartarus or enemies of my father who had done unspeakable things. There were a few political annoyances, and some had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time… but power like Hecate described was rare. So rare that there’d only been one who came to mind—the young girl I’d seen seven years ago when I’d finally realized I didn’t want to be Hypnos’s puppet any longer.

“Did her power feel like it had pushed its way inside you?” I asked, doing my best to ignore the way Larkspur’s head whipped around. “Like she could sense all of your thoughts and emotions—could read your soul—and then force you to feel all the parts you wanted to hide?”

“Yes,” Hecate breathed. “There was no hiding the truth from someone who saw only that.”

I’d assume Larkspur’s sister would have similar features to her, or at least a similar magic system. Still, if the two had never been related by blood, then the young girl I’d led to my father’s prison cells—to the ones he reserved only for those he took a keen interest in—was Psyche.

Larkspur ripped her hand from mine as she stepped back just as the huntresses and their goddess emerged from the cave. “You knew where she was this entire time and didn’t save her?”

Artemis narrowed her eyes on me, her body tensing as if she were contemplating eviscerating me on the spot.

I grimaced as Larkspur’s fists clenched, wanting to explain why I’d left her sister there that would make this better, but there was nothing. So, as weak as it would sound, I settled on the truth.

“Hypnos made me escort her from the lower cells to the top tower, the one with the spire still piercing the snow.” Nausea twisted my gut as I watched the tenderness in Larkspur’s gaze shift to mistrust. “She took my hand right as we reached the door and told me, ‘All is as it should be.’”

“Say the word, Larkspur, and I’ll send him to The Lethe,” Artemis promised, but Larkspur paled at my words, stumbling back as if I’d slapped her. The others turned worried glances her way, stepping toward her for protection as if I’d take advantage of her vulnerability.

“I don’t know how to explain it,” I stammered, afraid I was losing my little monster. Knowing that she deserved so much more than a fucked-up coward like me. “It was like she was speaking in my mind, telling me that was where she was supposed to be. I know it sounds crazy, but I left feeling like I’d done the right thing like we’d meet again when the time was right.”

Larkspur looked like she’d seen a ghost. She opened her mouth to speak, closed it, and tried again.

“Psyche told me the same thing the day we were captured.” Larkspur took a shaky breath, tears pricking her eyes as she forced the words out. “I was in the forest that morning. I didn’t know they were in danger until it was too late. When I got there, The Night Children already had Psyche bound. Lucius was there.”

“Lucius?” I asked, eyes going wide.

“He tried to help her, or at least I think he did. He also didn’t tell The Dark Ones I was there.”

My brows furrowed as I tried to piece him out. So much shit had gone on between the two of us. We’d been close as brothers after having been raised by Egerius, the one commander among Hypnos’s army who had a shred of kindness to him, but he’d chosen to stay. He had withdrawn primarily from Hypnos’s service in favor of Egerius’s, but I knew he carried out horrendous tasks, just as I once had. So, why cover for Larkspur when Psyche was taken? Why save her life a second time when Egerius was actively trying to end mine?

“Psyche must have gotten to him, too,” I whispered, connecting the pieces. “He withdrew from Hypnos’s service just before I did. It must have been her.”

“I am sorry for the cost your sister has had to pay,” Artemis said, speaking directly to Larkspur. “But we must focus on what we can control at this moment. Hypnos would’ve heard of our visit to Lycia. Whatever moves he was planning have just been accelerated.”

“You think he’ll attack?” Hecate asked.

“I think we can’t afford to have any weaknesses, not when we’ve been playing a game with half the deck.” Artemis glanced from me to Larkspur, her warning clear.

“I trust him,” Larkspur said, pointedly not looking at me, but Artemis nodded.

“I have funeral rites to bestow on my fallen huntresses once Hecate’s blessing has been given. Afterward, I'll find my brother with the intent of gathering as many allies as possible to end Hypnos and any who stand with him once and for all.”

“You’re sure Apollo will be on our side?” Hecate asked. “He spends most of his time in The Above with the Olympians.”

“We’re twins,” Artemis answered as if the idea they could have differing opinions on something this large was preposterous. “Do you have any idea where Hypnos and Areas might be holding their army?”

“We think Hermes is working with them, too,” Hecate added. “She’s blocked all connections from our realm to The Realm of the Living, except one.”

Artemis grinned, the look more feral than any wild beast I’d seen. “The lost portal of The Nightmare Kingdom.”

Hecate nodded.

“Tell Hades I will meet him there at dawn in three days’ time. I intend to smoke out the traitors among us and then let my arrows fly.”

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