Page 37 of Queen to the Sunless Court (Brides of Myth #2)

Mint Under Moonlight

Calliste

As they soared high above the serene countryside back toward the glittering, restless capital, Calliste leaned against Theron for warmth.

In the end, she hadn’t been able to bear seeing how damaged Solon’s body was—not to mention the ruin of his soul. She’d stayed with him awhile, channeling her healing energy to soothe his mind, and even that had been temporary.

“You overtaxed yourself,” Theron remarked.

“He needed it. He wasn’t in a good place.”

“I’ve rarely seen him sober since the funeral. Even so, I could never understand his behavior until he opened up to you.”

Pressed against Theron, she absorbed his warmth as Solon’s words echoed in the silence of the night, chilling her. “It must have been Eris who whispered in his ear.”

His hand rested just beneath her ribs, strong and reassuring. “How would she know to be there at that exact time?”

“Time is something she’d have in abundance.” She stared at where the land kissed the sky. “Morpheus also told me that the gods crave power and drama. So perhaps she was watching your marriage, already drawn to the conflict.”

He shifted in the saddle, his exhale heavy and somewhat incredulous. “Because she had nothing else to do?”

“If she was bored enough? Your House descends from the immortals, and you are under the patronage of a goddess who is Eris’ opposite. It’s not inconceivable that she was looking for an opportunity, but I’d have to ask Morpheus—”

“Morpheus would agree with you,” he muttered. “He always does. It infuriates me that this is just a game to her.”

“It’s not only the gods who play spiteful games, Theron. But it pains me that she’s ruined a life.” She thought back to the desolation of Solon’s body and mind. “You said his wife left him, and his sons moved out, while he remained trapped in his guilt and grief, unable to move on.”

“Or it might be the consequence of keeping the coin.”

She glanced up at his face, sculpted by moonlight. A chill hit her heart as his words registered. “Oh. You might be right.”

“It’s just a thought.”

“But it makes sense to me. You had the coin forged in Hades’ temple and you said it had her name engraved on it, correct?”

“Yes.”

“The coins for the dead that I have are the same—save for the name. We order them from the Priests of Hades, and they are not to be used for any other reason. They’re not for trading or hoarding.

” Calliste exhaled. “Because they are sacred to the Underworld. But this one was made just for her. By keeping it, Solon stole from his daughter, and the gods.”

Theron met her eyes, his expression serious. “Damn. That makes sense. So if we recover the coin and return it to Amatheia...” A shadow crossed his face.

“It might free him of his grief—because surely, he has already paid for his transgression,” she said gently. “Do you know which sculpture he’s talking about?”

“Yes and no.” His eyes were clouded. “I’ve never seen it, because I haven’t visited my rooftop garden since her funeral.

” He paused, sighing. “It was originally my parents’ private garden, and I played there when I was a child.

After they died, I couldn’t bring myself to visit it again, but Amatheia found it and spent much time there when she was pregnant with Kalias because it was quiet and isolated, and I.

..” He cleared his throat. “I forced myself to go there to be with her, to… you know, to try to make our marriage work. After her funeral, I never went back. It’s likely in ruins now, since I dismissed the gardeners years ago. ”

“I can go on my own if you don’t want to face it.”

“No.” He shook his head. “We’ll go together. We have one more day before Morpheus returns for us, and you need to recover until then. Let me take you to your room now so you can rest—you need it.”

She smiled at him, but once again, there was that uneasiness about him she couldn’t quite understand. “Not coming over to my room?”

“You need sleep, and you won’t get much if I do,” he chuckled.

Half disappointed, half uneasy, she had the strangest feeling there was something else behind his refusal, so she settled for the shortest answer. “True.”

“It’s close to midnight, and I must show my face in the Assembly tomorrow morning,” he added with a hint of humor in his voice.

“I’ve left things on Xanthos’ shoulders for too long, and he’s quite unimpressed and cantankerous about it.

” He sighed. “I suppose I can’t blame him.

And I don’t even want to think about the stacks of documents sitting on my desk—I swear the pile swells when I’m not looking. ”

“Of course,” she replied with a faint smile, wondering why it sounded like a list of excuses. “I keep forgetting that you have a kingdom to look after.”

“On an average day, it feels like pulling weeds, Calliste. No joy, but the cost of neglect is too high.”

“Is that why Xanthos is unhappy about it?”

“We usually share the burden. I’d gladly abandon my post for much longer in favor of spending time with you, but I can’t leave him like that.”

She didn’t reply, partly because the palace had appeared in front of them. A sense of disillusionment lingered in her mind, and she already regretted asking. Did I seem too eager?

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said in a neutral tone as soon as they landed on the terrace adjacent to the golden room and dismounted.

His brow lifted as he caught her wrist just as she was about to walk away. “I’m still walking you to your door.” He cast another glance at Nocturne, stroking him, then grasped her hand, walking beside her.

The Sea Corridor glowed with the rich light of sconces casting golden hues on the walls and gilded doors, while distant stars winked through the silken azure curtains in the windows.

“Empty in here,” she observed.

“It doesn’t matter. All the entryways are tightly guarded. I only station guards outside Kalias’ chamber, but Lykos has probably checked your room seven times already. Shall I send Melitta with supper?”

“I’m not hungry.” She fixed her gaze on the carved and gilt dolphins on her door as she placed her hand on the doorknob. “Goodnight,” she said brightly, waiting for him to let go of her hand.

But he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. “Aren’t we forgetting something, nymph?”

His tone sent a slow shiver down her spine, heat coursing in its wake.

Yet she still felt a sting—not just from his refusal, but from realizing, once again, how addicted she’d become to him.

Her desperation for his closeness had eclipsed her common sense and self-control, where she should have known better.

And she would know better now if he wasn’t holding her so close, possessive yet completely at ease and confident. “I’m not certain,” she replied innocently. “ Are we forgetting something?”

He searched her face for another breath, his eyes gleaming like polished bronze. “Oh, my sweet nymph,” he laughed—deeply, warmly. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were insulted by my refusal to come to your bed.”

Now the heat had reached her cheeks. “And that’s amusing?”

“Coming from you…” He shifted slowly so he had her trapped against the door, his voice deepening. “It’s ever so flattering.”

Unruffled silence and neutral expression were her perfect shield.

Theron watched her for another moment, then pressed his cheek to her temple, inhaling deeply.

“Gods. I don’t suppose you realize that when we’re this close, I cling to the edge of self control, and it will certainly snap if I go near your bed again?

” His words were like licks of flames. “And if you beg me like you did last night? I have no defenses against that anymore. You have no idea what you’re doing to me, and if you said yes, I’d have you against this door right now—just the way you said you wanted it after Petrakelis Passage—remember? ”

Her face must have been on fire, for there was no other explanation for the heat on her cheeks. “I’m surprised you do.”

“Are you?” His amused chuckle sent a puff of warm air down her temple, his voice flowing like liquid, heated darkness. “I’ll never forget that look in your eyes… not after you told me what was on your mind—then.” His lips brushed against her ear.

That soft as a rose petal brush, the intensity of closeness, the way his body molded against hers, steely and rousing—all of it together made her blurt out, “You only needed to say a word—then.”

His breath hitched, his entire body tensing before he released a shuddering breath.

“Don’t tempt me, nymph. Just imagining indulging your fantasies has cost me many sleepless nights, and for you—just for you—I would have no shame.

” His hand tightened around her waist, muscles coiling tight.

“But I’m holding back because I’m saving our special first time for my bedchamber, where you’ll let your hair down on my pillow and give yourself to me on my sheets the way I want you: begging me not to stop , just like you did last time—and I promise you, this will be well worth the wait. ”

“What if I don’t want to wait?” she breathed and captured his lips with hers.

Her hand slid up his arm, tracing the steel of his muscle.

That intoxicating sensation surged through her again, ignited by words she would never forget: you, bare underneath me, arching and coming wildly with my name on your lips .

Her world had shrunk to his scent and the image of his massive, honed body atop hers, undone, enveloping her in the softness of the bedsheets. She channeled that heat through her kiss, her lips battling with his, her tongue taking no prisoners.

The deep, stifled groan in his chest was her victory.

She couldn’t tell how much time had passed because kissing him obliterated time, turning moments into sweet eons… until she heard someone clearing their throat discreetly, prompting her to break the kiss, flustered.