Page 27 of Summer’s Seduction (Sinful Seasons #2)

MORPHEUS

P ine needles crunched beneath our feet as we drew nearer to the ring of night children in the clearing ahead. The group looked exhausted. Judging by the large portion of people wearing the same clothes as last night and the tired rings beneath their eyes, I’d guess Camilla and Megara hadn’t allowed them to rest.

“So nice of you to join us, Morpheus.”

The sharp, feminine voice rang through the trees, causing my wings to reflexively extend behind Larkspur, ready to shield her immediately. Larkspur’s fingers brushed the edge of mine, not quite reaching for me but reassuring both of us that the other was here.

The group of dark ones parted, revealing the cluster of bleeding men at the center and the silver-haired goddess looming over them. Violet eyes stared down at me as she twirled a small dagger, her movements quick and concise.

“Camilla swore the rumors of you being a flippant boy obsessed with sex were false.” Her shrewd gaze cut to Larkspur at my side, a single brow lifting as Larkspur stiffened. “Perhaps she was mistaken.”

Camilla lifted her chin as Artemis spoke, her brown eyes fixed on the ground of men huddled in the center of the clearing. Megara was further back, sticking to the shadows as dusk unfolded, but one glance confirmed Artemis had heard what had happened and intended to enact justice. Well, she would just have to get in line.

“Artemis, goddess of the hunt and moon.” I dipped my chin, honoring her but maintaining my ground as any ruler would. “Thank you for keeping an eye on my subjects while we rested. As you can imagine, a journey from The Realm of the Living to The Dark Palace and then being whisked away to The Darklands can be quite taxing. Especially after being treated so horribly.”

My voice shook with a deadly malice as I strode forward, my heart humming as the pathetic creatures before me cowered. Larkspur kept pace with me, her long legs matching my strides. We were clothed in white, the symbol of cleansing among our people. Larkspur’s gown was not unlike the short tunic worn by Artemis herself. But where Artemis donned a belt of silver as bright as the moon’s light, Lark’s tunic was cinched in at the waist by a band of onyx bearing my crest.

I should’ve warned her what it meant and what others would think when they saw it, but I couldn’t risk her rejecting it, not after what could have happened last night if I hadn’t been there. The memory of her paralyzed and helpless while that creature had his filthy hands on her—I couldn’t stand it. We would discuss everything another time—but for now, I needed her to stay safe so I could take care of matters.

“Yes,” Artemis drawled, stepping around the cluster of whimpering dark ones as she approached us. “Camilla and Megara have informed me what happened.”

Larkspur swallowed as the goddess stopped before her. Artemis was shorter than her, her dark skin and willowy frame packed with lean muscle more accustomed to quick dashes than hand-to-hand combat, but it made her no less deadly. It was only when the goddess of the hunt and moon looked upon another woman did her harsh exterior soften.

“Camilla also relayed what happened to you, Lady Larkspur.” Artemis tilted her head to the side, like an eagle studying a mouse. “Men are vile creatures. They hardly have the ability to think, and when they do, it’s either with a sword in their hands or the dangly bits between their legs.”

A deep chuckle rumbled from my lips at the disgust dripping from her words.

Artemis quirked a brow as she glanced my way, and I swear the edge of her lips twitched. “Well, at least most of them. I’m hoping Lord Morpheus will prove me wrong today.”

I let my fangs show as I inclined my head. The sweet scent of fear emanating from the vile dark ones clustered at her feet caused a spike of anticipation to shoot through my veins. “It would be my pleasure.”

Artemis stepped back to join Camilla and Megara at the edge of the clearing, watching and waiting to see if I would buckle under her observation. Sometimes, I hated how good I was at hiding my true nature.

Taking a step forward, I looked upon the pile of low lives waiting for their execution and turned to face Larkspur. “May I honor you with their blood?”

Her cheeks flushed as I waited for her permission, showing the greatest level of respect that I could in front of my people. My little monster didn’t disappoint. She lifted her chin as the cowards began begging for their lives, meeting their pleas with a look of disgust.

“Paint my clothes in red, Dark Prince.”

“As you wish.” My wings flexed as my fangs extended, the thrumming of my pulse kicking up as the promise of death hovered.

“Morpheus,” Larkspur called. I glanced over my shoulder, marveling at the hungry look in her deep, green eyes as the first stars winked into life. “Make it hurt.”

Larkspur

M orpheus flew through the bodies. Their screams echoed in my ears like the sweetest lullaby. Splatters of red decorated the trees and the flowers, great spurts of it spraying across the clearing to stain my gown. A head flew, flinging blood and bits of tissue as it rolled toward me. I stopped it with my boot, a smile cracking across my face as I stared down into unseeing eyes.

Each of these men had abused someone. Each body lying in pieces before me was guilty of destroying a life—many lives. It was only fair for them to repay their debt.

And then the screams stopped.

Morpheus stood amid the carnage, his white garments now a dark shade of scarlet. Blood dripped from his outstretched wings, his dark hair damp from slaughter. He looked like a fucking god of revenge—a crazed, primal entity who relished vengeance as much as I did.

“Thank you Camilla and Megara for tracking all those who smelled of the abuser’s blood,” Morpheus said, chest heaving as blood dripped from his body. He looked like an avenging demon who’d crawled out of the darkest nightmare to unleash justice, and fuck if I didn’t want to drop to my knees for him. “I understand a great many more were feasted upon last night. I took pleasure in shredding the remaining souls. Unfortunately, my work here is not finished.”

A hush settled across the clearing as the horrified gazes of all present stared back at him.

Morpheus arched his neck and inhaled deeply, seeming to drink in their fear. When he opened his eyes, no trace of the arrogant royal was left, only the unhinged Dark Prince.

“A man was killed.” His boots squelched over chunks of muscle and fat as he prowled like a panther scenting a hog. “He had white, feathered wings and a pure soul.”

Some of those in the crowd shifted uncomfortably. Morpheus grinned, the gesture all threat.

“Most have been dealt with. You see, The God of Death can’t die. Thanatos took his revenge, but he was too lenient.”

Small clusters of heartbeats spiked as the bitter tang of panic caught on the wind.

Morpheus lowered his chin, red-ringed eyes fixed on where the most potent scent of guilt came from. “You will find no mercy here.”

“Please,” a man begged. The moment he spoke, those nearest him leaped back. “I didn’t touch him. I only watched?—”

Morpheus’s hand was in his chest before he could finish. There was a wet tearing sound, like meat ripped from the bone, and then a red, still-pumping lump fell to the floor.

The Dark Prince flitted through the rest of the crowd, ripping apart a handful of others that I had no doubt earned their deaths. It was like every thought I’d ever had about destroying those who’d hurt me had come true–And Morpheus, my Dark Prince, was the one who made it happen.

“To be silent is to be complicit,” he said, panting, towering over the trembling crowd with his black wings stretched wide as drops of blood linked together, dripping off of him in torrents. The waxing moon was rising, sitting low in the sky, and acting as the perfect backdrop for my righteous prince. Morpheus’s low voice was lethal, the bright ring of scarlet around his irises unnerving. “You’ve been warned.”

With that, the haunted crowd scurried into the trees, kicking up the scent of pine in the early evening air.

I waited until they had all left, leaving just the five of us before I spoke. “That looked personal.”

Camilla and Megara were discussing something with Artemis, but Morpheus held my gaze. His face was guarded as if I’d be anything other than proud—than honored—at what had just transpired. He stalked toward me, a vision in red, fangs gleaming in the growing moonlight.

“This is who I am, Larkspur.” His gentle words were spoken as if in a plea, begging me to see him and understand, willing me to stay.

“I see you,” I breathed, because I did. Maybe—just maybe—Morpheus was as deranged as I was, and fuck if that didn’t lessen my fear of rejection.

“And?” he purred, taking another measured step, looking as if he’d give chase if I ran.

At that moment, I wanted to. Running would turn it into a game, triggering the beast before me to hunt. My eyes dropped to his blood-splattered lips, thinking of the wicked bite of his fangs, of all the places he would mark.

A deep growl rasped in his throat as he closed the distance between us, moving quicker than I thought possible. His fingers tangled in my hair, jerking my neck back and causing my lips to open on a gasp. Morpheus halted inches from my mouth. I breathed him in as he exhaled, cheeks flaming as heat pooled between my thighs. “Careful, little monster. Or I might just eat you up.”

“Promise?” I whispered, leaning into him.

“Eww, gross,” Artemis huffed, her subtle scent of moonflowers swirling around us.

I blinked, drawing away from Morpheus. The goddess stood outside the ring of bodies, arms crossed and looking like she was seriously contemplating putting a dagger into our chests just to be done with us. Her gaze settled on Morpheus first.

“You did well in avenging her. Asking for her blessing before making such an offering was truly inspired, but I don’t need to see all of… this . We have important matters to discuss.”

“My apologies, Lady Artemis.”

“Matters?” I asked at the same time. “Is this about Hypnos?”

She nodded slowly as Morpheus and I picked our way over slabs of meat, tendons, and bits of bone. Camilla was near Artemis, looking as if she’s seen worse than the massacre that just occurred, but Megara was further behind, shifting uneasily in the darkening shadows.

“Should I send for men to dig graves?” she asked nervously, looking to where the last of the southern faction disappeared into the trees.

“No,” Morpheus cut in, causing Artemis to quirk a brow in his direction. “Leave their bodies unburied and cursed to wander without rest. They don’t deserve peace.”

“I agree with Lord Morpheus.” Artemis grinned at his anger, linking her arm with Camilla’s as they turn toward the west, away from the cavern. “Besides, the night is short, and we have far to travel before my brother wakes.”

Sparing a questioning glance toward Morpheus and me, Megara led the way after them, pressing through thick pine branches. The stiff needles scratched my arms, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t prefer being in the woods with the cool, crisp air around me than being stuck in a palace.

Inhaling deeply, I let the fresh aroma of the forest fill me, banishing all of the heaviness that had dug itself beneath my skin in the last few weeks. I had Morpheus beside me—a dark one who’d just proved he may be even crazier than I was—and we had a goddess helping us track Hypnos, which meant we were that much closer to finding my sister.

I wasn’t sure when my thinking had switched from ‘me’ to ‘we’, but I realized I didn’t mind the change. For the first time in a long time, it felt like I could finally breathe.

Twigs snapped beneath Morpheus’s boots as he followed behind, and I looked ahead, wondering where Artemis was taking us.

The witch in me worried this could be a trap, but Artemis was entirely focused on Camilla. They weren’t overt about it, but the silver-haired goddess needed to be near her huntress—touching her hair, stroking her back, weaving her fingers with hers. And Camilla… her face lit up. She was glowing, that soft, warm love that builds you up from the inside out.

I wondered if I would ever feel something like that. Sparing a glance over my shoulder, I wondered if Morpheus would ever look at me the way Artemis looked at Camilla—like the stars and heavens failed compared to her beauty.

“This is why we needed to hurry.”

Artemis’s voice drew my attention forward as we followed her through branches and into a field before a small freshwater pond. And there, at the water's edge was Hecate with a herd of shimmering white pegasi.