Page 11 of The Queen & the King

I nod, moving to sit on the bed. Morpheus appears, silently standing at the side of the bed, his fathomless eyes completely dull.

“It’s why I asked for some help. I need someone who has successfully dreamwalked across realms before.”

Mellie frowns as Helios swans into the room. The Titan had informed me that, unlike other gods, he is tied to a celestial object that appears in all three realms: the Underworld, the Dream World, and Olympus—even if the sun in the Underworld is only a mirror of the one in the mortal realm. Mellie snarls at him before dismissing the Titan and focusing on me. Hmm, I thought they were in a relationship. Perhaps they broke up.

“I would like to say that while Morpheus is more than willing to plunge you into this dream, and while Helios claims to have used the sun shining out of his ass to do this before, I am the one with the power that will bring you back safely. You are putting my life in danger along with yours. The second I say we need to leave, we leave.”

I nod again. Fuck, I’m exhausted. How long is this without sleep? Ninety hours? “You know that we’re not getting answers lurking around Olympus.”

Helios rolls his eyes at me. Melinoë had attempted to convince me not to do this, claiming that Helios could get us more information. He had failed.

I have no energy to even admonish him with anything other than a dark stare.

“I mean it, Hades,” Mellie reminds me. “The second I say we’re leaving, there will be not even a moment of hesitation from you.”

I nod at Morpheus as I lie down on the bed.

Mellie rolls her shoulders and then her neck. “You know how to signal me.”

I squirm to get more comfortable and close my eyes. Morpheus sprinkles his sand over my eyelids, and I’m asleep before the last grain falls.

Eight

Persephone

THE GRASS IS SO SOFT BENEATH MY KNEES,softer than I’ve ever felt anywhere in Olympus. It tickles the pads of my fingers as I brush over it again and again. I hear the faintest sound of a brook babbling in the distance. This is true peace.

I’ve never been here before. It’s not somewhere I recognize, and yet… it’s so familiar to me that my heart aches. Every night I have slept over the last week, I have come to this exact meadow. Nothing ever changes. It’s warm but not uncomfortable. The sky is blue with a tinge of light gray, but in a way that makes it look like the most glorious of springs. The sun always shines brightly across the plane, but it doesn’t sting my eyes.

I’ve been looking forward to sleeping every day for this very reason. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so relaxed than when I’m here. This place is my own personal heaven.

My clothes are different here, too. No longer am I wearing that tight cotton nightdress but a short sundress. It’s light pink and covered in daisies, the straps are thin, and the bust has a ruched effect. In this place, my hair is always down. There is no place for the tight buns or plaits in this place. This ismyplace.

“My spring.” The deep voice makes a shiver run down my spine, and I tense as a large hand cups my shoulder.

My skin tingles beneath his touch, and I slowly turn my head, looking up at the latest addition to the dream. My eyes meet his, and my heart races at the sight of them.

Sapphire blue.

I study his face. He is so handsome, but who is he, and why is he here? And why is he looking at me like that?

He drops to his knees beside me, his hand shaking as he gazes at me with something close to desperation. My whole body is on high alert, and I feel like I should be running, but something is keeping me here. My instincts are battling it out.

I just watch him, tilting my head a little as I take the time to fully appreciate him. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a man this handsome, and he’s looking at me like?—

Suddenly, he pulls me into a hug, burying his face against my neck. My entire body goes tense, and I freeze.

“Fuck,” he practically groans against my neck.

I blink, my arms held out at my side, not touching him.

He kisses along my neck. Each touch of his lips feels like a jolt of electricity going right to my core, but there is also a strange barrier between us. “Fuck, I was so worried.” He moans, continuing to kiss me.

Why is my body reacting to this… mad stranger?

I push him away and scoot back. “What are you doing?”

He blinks and tilts his head. “What do you mean?” he asks, his body tensing with unease.

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