Page 24 of The Queen & the King

“Morpheus,” I command.

The God of Dreams appears at my side a moment later and bows his head. “My king.”

I step around my desk and head out the door. They follow me to the guest room and stand beside the bed as I lie down.

“Once Hades is in, lock the dream,” Mellie orders Morpheus, then focuses on me. “No external forces will be able to wake either of you. You’ll be trapped there until I unlock it.”

I scan her eyes again, hesitating.

Helios grabs her hand. “She’s got this.”

“It’s extremely dangerous,” she continues as if Helios hadn’t spoken. “But you need time with her. You think I haven’t noticed your arms?”

I tense, forcing myself not to glance at them.

Mellie’s eyes flash, and she yanks her hand from Helios’s again. “Touch me one more time, sunboy, and I will remove your fingers and shove them up your ass.”

Helios smirks. “There’s my hellcat.”

I lay back on the bed, and Morpheus steps forward.

Mellie glares at Helios. “I don’t care what you have to do to me. Get them out of the dream before I spiral.”

Helios nods, winking. “Fuck, you’re hot when you’re threatening me.”

Mellie rolls her eyes and nods at Morpheus. The God of Dreams picks up some sand and sprinkles it on me, sending me into the dream before locking it behind me.

Seventeen

Hades

SLIDING INTO THE DREAM IS EASIER, AS MELINOË SAID IT WOULD BE.There's little resistance as I arrive in the meadow. I raise a brow when I see her pacing furiously back and forth. The flowers reach for her as she walks past them but retreat once she’s too far away.

I breathe in the sight of her. Fuck, it has been seven days. An eternity.

“Persephone,” I call softly.

Her head snaps up, and I snarl at the sight of her face. Bruises mar the side of her face. I close the distance, my rage making the dream shake.

“Who did this to you?” I demand, gently lifting her chin.

Persephone holds my gaze, looking for something. “My mother says you’re the worst kind of evil. A monster.”

The bruises tell a story. Someone struck her with the back of their hand. Hands that would decorate my office, a warning for all who would dare even look at my queen with the intent of harming her.

“And what do you say?”

Her eyes drop to my lips. “You’re gentle.”

“The worst kind of monsters never look like them. Instead, they wrap themselves in innocence and lull you into a false sense of security.” I keep my eyes on her. “Trust your instincts. What do they say?”

Her eyes sear me, seeing me stripped to the bone. The sun around her pupil glows as if shining through the darkness clouding my mind, crowding against my soul.

She smiles softly before turning and walking away. I chase after her. “I missed you.”

She glances at me over her shoulder, smiling coyly. “It’s been a while.”

Six hundred four thousand, eight hundred minutes, actually.

---