Page 61 of Queen of Shadows and Roses
When Ares had manhandled her, I spat, ‘I’ll fucking kill him,’ as fury consumed me. It took Charon, Thanatos, and Erebus to hold me while Tee spoke to me as if she were trying to calm a wild animal. I knew they were guarding me, not leaving my side, worried about the outcome of Zeus’s ridiculous circus.
I watched Persephone stare up at fucking Adonis, and when that scum kissed her hand, rage surged through me like a category-five hurricane. Again, Charon had placed a warning hand on my arm. My burning gaze poured into Adonis’s worthless soul like boiling lava. He was an abomination—one of the most tainted souls I’d ever encountered. I’d kill that bastard one day… but she didn’t linger long with him, thank the Fates.
Now, Apollo was making his move. The little cock. He was making her laugh, chatting with her for longer than any of theother assholes. I could sense her attraction to him, and my stomach twisted into raw knots as unease blossomed in my gut. I seethed… Was hesingingto her? Fury coiled inside as red-hot tendrils of rage cascaded through my body. I looked away, my jaw working as icy talons of jealousy dug deep. Closing my eyes, I tried to steady my breathing.
‘Are you alright?’ my old friend Hermes mumbled as he placed a glass of nectar in my hand. ‘You look like you want to kick someone in the balls.’
‘He’s trying to process his emotions and stop himself from destroying Aphrodite’s court,’ Hecate said softly.
‘Huh?’ A somewhat inebriated Dionysus wrinkled his nose as he slurped his wine.
I huffed out a breath. ‘I’ve got to have her. She belongs to me. She’smine.’
‘Then you’re doing a shit job of it,’ Hermes growl-whispered as he watched Persephone laughing at whatever Apollo was saying. ‘Better figure out if she’s worth fighting for, and fast. You have some tough competition, particularly Apollo, and if she thinks you don’t want her, she might choose someone who does.’
I growled softly in my throat.
‘That’s what I keep telling him,’ Hecate agreed, and I cast her a withering glance. ‘Pull your head from up your arrogant ass.’
‘My patience is wearing thin, Titan,’ I fumed as Hermes and Dionysus both choked with laughter.
‘Well, someone has to push your buttons and set you straight. Now, grow a vagina and go and ask her to dance before pretty boy Apollo makes his move.’
CHAPTER 23
PERSEPHONE
Simmy handed me another glass of wine as yet another god approached.
‘Oh, for Fate’s sake,’ I muttered.
‘That’s Adonis. Watch yourself, Lady P,’ Simmy loud-whispered before making himself scarce. Hmmm, Adonis, the god of beauty and desire.
‘Lady Persephone. My name is Adonis.’ The god bowed low.
‘A pleasure to meet you, Adonis. You look very sophisticated this evening,’ I said, my fake smile plastered on like war paint. I extended my hand, and he pressed his lips to it with a long, slow kiss, which made my skin tighten in a way that definitely wasn’t pleasant.
His topaz eyes lifted to mine, glinting with lazy amusement, as if he were in on a joke I hadn’t heard. He was every inch the sculpted ideal—tall, broad, auburn hair cropped short at the sides and longer on top; his features so classically handsome it was almost offensive. Definitely a man you’d look at twice.
‘Oh, we’ve met before.’
‘I know, but?—’
‘I am aware. It’s a shame you can’t recall the marathon sex sessions we used to have. Gods, I miss your body, Persephone,’ he whispered close to my ear, his breath coasting across my cheek like a winter breeze.
‘Sorry? What?’ Tiny bumps spread across my arms.
‘You and I were lovers, Persephone,’ he muttered. ‘You adored visiting Phoenicia. You cherished the beauty of my court.’
I released a strangled laugh at the absurdity of the situation.
‘No way. There’s no way I’d cheat on my husband,’ I snarl-whispered.
He completely ignored me. ‘If you were to choose me this time and become my wife, we wouldn't have to sneak around.’ He flashed me a smile, dimples and all; they were nowhere near as lovely as Hades’ dimple, and my heart fractured. Was he telling the truth?
Oh, crap.
‘I used to love watching you sleep and?—’
