Page 87 of Queen of Shadows and Roses
My shadows engulfed me, and I appeared before Tee. ‘Where is she?’ I spat.
She released a slow breath. ‘I’m sorry, Hades—’ My heart stuttered, and I stepped back. Had she chosen Apollo? ‘Don’t panic.’ She realised her mistake. ‘Sephy is fine. She’s left with Apollo.’ I snarled low in my throat. ‘I’ve spoken to Aphrodite. She had a chat with Persephone, and I’m sorry I stopped you from seeing her. It was wrong of me to interfere.’
‘Where. Is. She?’ I repeated through clenched teeth as my rage simmered.
‘Apollo took her to his stables,’ a small Satyr replied. ‘I accompanied them to keep an eye on her, but he’s taken her off in his chariot to show her his court. He said they’d be back in about half an hour.’ I ground my teeth together at his words. ‘I’m Simos, Persephone’s friend. Come with me; I’ll show you the way, Your Highness.’
He bowed, and I followed him.
CHAPTER 33
PERSEPHONE
‘Oh, my gods!’ I squealed, clapping my hands and bouncing on the spot. ‘A real-life Pegasus!’
Apollo chuckled at my excitement. ‘This is Astra, which means “star”. She is one of my most prized possessions. Or maybe I’m her possession? I’m not certain.’ I giggled at his declaration as I gently stroked the mare’s face. She was pure white, with a small cream star shape between her eyes. ‘Poseidon gifted her to me when he was in a good mood.’
I snorted at his words. ‘A good mood? He’s even grumpier than Hades.’ Mentioning his name made my heart clench. ‘She’s beautiful,’ I murmured, planting a kiss on her velvety muzzle. Her wings were tucked in, and a golden chariot secured her in place. ‘Are we flying?’ My wide eyes met Apollo’s stare, and he cleared his throat.
‘We are… my lady.’ He extended a hand, and I walked around the Pegasus before stepping into the chariot, followed by the godof the sun. ‘Here.’ He draped his jacket around my shoulders. ‘I don’t want you to catch a chill.’
‘Thanks,’ I muttered, heat pricking my cheeks.
Apollo turned to me. ‘Hades isn’t keeping you… against your will, because?—’
‘Oh, gods. No,’ I gasped. ‘I’m there of my own volition.’ He studied me for what felt like an eternity, then gave a slight nod.
He took the reins, and Astra’s hooves clip-clopped as she pulled the chariot into the open air. ‘Hold on,’ Apollo said as he issued a command in Greek, and the Pegasus galloped and launched. Her expansive wings took my breath away—a wonderful blend of cream and gold, speckled with white—radiant, like the colours of the warmest sunset. The smaller feathers blended intricately with the larger ones as they rounded the delicate, narrowing curve towards the bottom tip. Her long white mane and tail fluttered in the warm breeze. She soared swiftly and nimbly through the skies—she was majesty personified.
The court was immense and breathtaking. A mountain range in the distance, beautiful lakes, forests, towns, and villages passed us by as we flew through the skies. ‘I would love for you to be my consort, Persephone.’ Apollo shot me a sidelong glance, and I tried to swallow the boulder in my throat. ‘We were close friends before…’ He hesitated. ‘And the thought of us being more is why I want to be considered.’
‘I really like you, but?—’
‘You still love Hades.’ He smiled kindly.
Did I? Love Hades? I didn’t respond because, if I did, it would be unrequited. And unrequited love is a bitch. He didn’t loveme—he loved the woman I used to be. The goddess he lost, not the one reborn. I knew he felt limerence and lust… but that was the bond’s influence. I inhaled deeply through my nose. I needed to escape this place and return to London and my life.
‘Aphrodite warned me, but a guy can hope, right?’ He smiled sadly, his eyes holding mine for a heartbeat.
‘I’m sorry,’ I breathed. ‘Can we still be friends?’ He nodded and changed the subject as he explained his court to me.
I gasped when a flying ship passed us, the passengers nodding and waving. ‘A ship that flies?’ My gaze was fixed on the vessel, and Apollo belly-laughed at my wide eyes and slack jaw.
He spoke again once he’d caught his breath. ‘Olympus is a blueprint of the Earth, Persephone, in a different dimension. Instead of the sea separating the land masses, we have the sky. Airships serve as a means to travel from one island to another in Cyclades and, sometimes, to different courts. That vessel is a Borasco.’ He gestured towards the large flying ship. ‘It takes passengers. Some more affluent people possess private vessels, such as a Mistral, which is much smaller. Not everyone can teleport, Lady P.’
‘Oh,’ I replied, meeting his eyes. ‘I have much yet to learn about Olympus.’
His megawatt smile returned, and he whispered, ‘Cyclades will always welcome you. I will always welcome you, should you ever need us.’
I dropped my gaze and smiled. ‘Thank you,’ I said as I touched his hand.
As we returned to the stables, a groom came to take Astra and the chariot, but not before I thanked her again with a kiss on the muzzle.
‘That was such fun,’ I said as I turned to Apollo. He raised his hand as if to cup my face, and I felt a sharp whirl of tingles ripple across the back of my neck.
‘If you touch a single hair on her head, you will find yourself in Tartarus… after I’ve disembowelled you.’ Hades stepped out from behind a pillar. His voice was laced with barely leashedanger. Apollo opened his mouth to speak, but Hades’ low guttural growl uttered one word…‘Mine.’
Hades was possessive and vicious, but also kind and gentle, and my stupid little heart fluttered like it was begging to be ruined. I always thought that a man threatening violence on my behalf would be a turn-off, but coming from him, it made me feel embarrassingly giddy. What the hell was wrong with me? I should have been furious at his assumption, but I wasn’t. Go figure.
