Page 112 of Poseidon's Island Flower

Ah, desperation.

“And that gave you the right to steal her?” I snapped. “We are beyond kidnapping, Zeus. This isn’t the ancient times. What if Lani was damaged while being transported from the sea to the island? Humans cannot withstand such power!" I stood up, my heart pounding with fury. “What if someone came to snatch her away from you? There are always demons and angels angry with the gods about something trivial. If something happened to her—” I quickly yanked the tray that hung off the table, sending it crashing to the ground. Food and drink flew into the air, landing on the floor, the once white rug now stained with red wine.

I growled, running my hand through my messy hair. “You wouldn’t understand. Your emotions are catered to yourself. To your selfishness. You risked someone else’s mate because yours had a tantrum. Could you not send a message to me? You are a fucking god!”

“Oh, he cursed,” Hermes murmured, his fingers playing on his lips. “You got the tender one all riled up.”

“Damn straight he did!” I yelled. “So, I did what any other god would do, Zeus. I am giving you a taste of what you gave me!”

The room fell silent, Hermes grabbing the grapes from a nearby table and popping them into his mouth. His eyes went back and forth, gazing at each of us like animals in a zoo.

“What did you do?” he asked.

“Candice has been stripped of her memories of gods and magic, but I certainly left her resentment for you,” I chuckled. “She has been sent to the mainland, and you will have to find her.” I smiled wickedly.

Zeus lunged forward, his hands gripping my neck. Outside the window, a jagged bolt of lightning illuminated the night sky, followed by the roar of the crashing waves on the shore. The water rose between the floorboards of the home, flooding the room with a sound like thunder.

Tentacles uncoiled from my torso, trapping Zeus against me as he attempted to strangle me. I grabbed his wrists and removed his hands from my neck.

I had never been one to use violence as a means of resolving conflict, but I would protect myself, I would protect my mate and give pain to those that made me suffer.

Zeus wasn't thinking. He was being powered by rage and possessiveness over Candice, his mate. I would do the same if someone banished my mate from my presence. But he did this to himself, I felt I should give him no mercy.

My deep blue tentacles slithered around Zeus, wrapping around his body. I threw him to the floor with my tentacles, they writhed in the air over his body.

“You cannot defeat me, not when I am bound to my soul mate, you fool. You have lost your mate. She has purposefully hidden herself from you because of your foolishness.”

“She knew who I was?” He gasped, trying to wrestle the tentacles from his neck. “She knew she was my mate?”

I shook my head. “I told her, before I wiped her memories, she was destined to be yours. Her reaction was quite interesting. Despite all those years of being celibate, you still don’t know how to talk to a woman. And a woman as stubborn as her is going to hold a grudge.”

As my tentacles clattered to the ground, Zeus released a menacing snarl. He wrestled with himself as he stood up and backed away.

“I get it, I do,” he said. “I know you’re angry about what I did, but I was thinking of my mate. You would have done the same.”

I scoffed. “No, I would have sent a message requesting a presence. Not kidnapping.” My gaze went to Hermes, still munching on grapes in the corner. “Luckily for you”—I nodded to Hermes—“you are already bonded, so punishing you will be more interesting.”

“He’s the King, I couldn’t say no!” Hermes cried. “Come on, man, give me a break!”

I huffed and waved my hand away from him. “You will owe me a favor in the future. I will call you when I am ready to claim it.”

Hermes stomped his food. “Damn, all cryptic and shit. Hades doesn’t do that. Why are you?”

“Because my brain is larger than the god of the underworld. Now get out of here before I change my mind.”

Hermes vanished, and when he did, the bowl and grapes spilled out over the wet floor. I would have to clean before Lani woke up.

Zeus stomped to the door, opening it, and I watched as the door hit the wall with a bang.

“I’m truly sorry,” Zeus said over his shoulder. “I know I was not thinking.”

Obviously.

However, it was surprising. After his attempt to choke me to death, I thought he would harbor more ill-will. I had moved his mate to an undisclosed location, after all.

“Is she at least safe?” He turned to face me. “Can I at least know that?”

I pursed my lips, annoyed he would ask such a thing. I would never put his mate in danger. I was just going to make him hunt for her, work for her.

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