Page 21 of Queen of Shadows and Roses
Seriously? I needed to bleach my brain because there was no way I should be having indecent thoughts about his stacked body and reacting to him like this.
I set my sandwich down, furious at my traitorous, tingling nipples.
‘Why did the gods start the war ?’ I asked as calmly as I could, raising my eyes to his. ‘Why banish magic?’
He stopped eating, his gaze meeting mine again. ‘That’s a conversation we need at another time.’
‘No!’ I raised my voice, causing him to flinch. ‘Tell me. Tell me why your twisted little pantheon slaughtered so many—so many witches and mages. My kin!’ My voice rose with every word, pitch climbing like the storm building in my chest.. ‘And what became of the real Persephone?’ I felt my temper prickling as the darkness within me fought for release.
He slid off the stool and sighed, turning away from me. He raked both hands through his hair as he stared out of a towering window. Anger rose swiftly, and the last little tether on my temper snapped. I cursed under my breath, jumped down from the stool, and stalked toward him. My steps echoed like a war drum across polished marble. He turned—slowly, deliberately—as I drew my dagger, and he eyed the movement.
‘Dangerous things can be kept in the prettiest of places,’ he murmured, voice like smoke. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t move.
I raised the divine blade to his throat. Pressed.
A sharp breath. A trickle of blood bloomed—deep violet laced with gold—trailing down his neck, catching at the hollow of his collarbone before slipping beneath the V of his black shirt.
He looked down at me. Not angry. Not scared.
Resigned… and something else. Something that scared me more than the shadows ever could.
My mouth went dry.
‘Do it,’ he said hoarsely, an angry frown marring his flawless face.
My eyes met his, and my resolve faltered. I saw something new flash in his eyes, and my breath caught. Desperation filled me as I gazed into those bewitching eyes and that beautiful face. Slowly, I lowered the dagger, and it clattered to the floor as I lifted my hand to touch his stubbled jaw. He closed his eyes,and the sensation of his skin sent electricity firing through every nerve ending. Yearning skittered through my core.
‘I know you,’ I whispered. I felt as if I truly knew him—as though I’d known him for a lifetime. It seemed absurd.
He opened his golden eyes. ‘And I know you.’ I could hear the love in his broken voice.
‘You’re beautiful,’ I murmured, inhaling his earthy and spicy scent. My hand journeyed down, resting on his solid chest, and his eyes flashed with hunger… lust.
‘I’ll always want you.’ He stepped closer, pushing me backwards, then pressing me against the wall, his hands resting on either side of my head. For the love of every baby kitten on the planet, I was pretty sure my panties were close to combusting.
His voice dropped to a low rasp. ‘You were the brightest star in an endless night,’ he murmured as he lowered his mouth to mine. As his stubble brushed against my cheek, I contemplated the other kinds of friction I’d like to create with him, and an avalanche of shivers cascaded down my spine. ‘Simply being able to touch you again…’ His breath caressed my lips, and as he uttered the word ‘touch’ like a sin, like a promise, it sucker-punched me straight in the lady parts.
I wanted him. I wanted to grab his face and kiss the ever-loving darkness out of him. And that terrified me.
At the very last second—heart pounding, skin buzzing—I gasped and ducked under his arm. No. Absolutely not. I was not going to be one more conquest carved into the stone of his throne.
I wasn’t going to kiss the goddamn fanged king of the Underworld.
I staggered back, shaking my head hard like it could fling out the desire. When I looked up… He was gone. Just—gone.Shadows and silence where his warmth had been. My stomach dropped.
You were the brightest star in an endless night.
His words echoed, wrapping around my ribs like a chain. My chest tightened, and traitorous tears blurred my vision.
Because I hated him. And I wanted him.
And that combination was lethal.
I stumbleddown the maze of hallways, wiping the tears from my face. I had no idea where I was going. My mind was a sea of confusion. I recognised the god of the Underworld; Iknewhim. Wasit because IwasPersephone? I couldn’t fathom that ridiculous notion or my inexplicable feelings for him. He was absurdly hot, and I was definitely drawn to him, but it was more than that—more than mere attraction.
I needed to get out of this place; I was suffocating.
I came to a large wooden door that I opened cautiously. It led outside to wide steps, the colour and texture reminiscent of polished obsidian. I glanced towards the sky, which glowed an ethereal amethyst and silver hues—there was no sun. Panic surged within my chest, and my hand flew to my mouth. I needed to get out of here and return home. The landscape was desolate—no greenery or flowers thrived in this godsforsaken place. I couldn’t bear to be trapped here for three months. I’d wither. Die.
