Page 57 of Summer’s Seduction (Sinful Seasons #2)
LARKSPUR
S moothing out the black, silky fabric of my dress, I took a deep breath and opened my eyes to see Morpheus staring at me with wonder in his gaze. His golden eyes darted from my wings on full display with the low back to my black-tipped claws, to my clearly longer fangs framed by a red tint I’d coated my lips in. My amethyst was poised on the top of my head, and I felt every bit the queen I was— goddess , I reminded myself.
I’d thought Morpheus was out of his mind when he’d first suggested on the battlefield, but Hecate and Hades had agreed. My woven life thread had changed, or rather it was allowed to glow as it was always meant to before it was bound and shrouded.
“You are stunning,” Morpheus growled, his golden eyes growing dark as he stalked across the newly redecorated room in The Slumber Palace—a room that was only ours.
My palace still needed repairs. It had only been a month since the war, but everything had changed.
We’d lost a significant number of dark ones, and many souls would need to be put to rest, but the huntresses suffered only minor wounds, Psyche was safe… and Hypnos was dead.
“Absolutely not,” I said, shaking my head with a playful grin as I scented his arousal spike. “The coronation is in just a few minutes, and I look perfect right now.”
Morpheus’s smile tilted as he dragged his nose up my neck, pressing teasing kisses over my pulse. It took all the control I had to ignore the hard press of him against my back and step away.
“I want you smelling of me,” he purred, dark wings flexing as he crept forward. “I want to watch you kneel as you accept your place in The Darklands and know that every being knows you belong to me.”
Heat pooled low in my belly, my thighs clenching as slickness built. “Morpheus,” I started to say, but then he dropped to his knees, staring up at me from between my legs, and I couldn’t speak.
“We can’t have you messing up that pretty face just yet, little monster.” Morpheus’s hands grazed the back of my calves, the smooth fabric of my gown pooling as his touch trailed up. “But there’s nothing to stop me from getting dirty.”
He pressed a kiss to the inside of my thigh, causing me to squirm with need. “Tell me you want me, Larkspur.” His hands drifted further, cupping my ass as I opened wider for him, tilting my hips for him. Morpheus licked higher, nearly to the place I needed him most. “Tell me how you want me buried between your thighs and feasting on your sweet pussy.”
“Yes,” I begged. “Morpheus, please.”
He pressed a kiss to my pussy, inhaling a groan before he licked his lips. “Your wish is my command.”
Morpheus
L ucius was the first to drop to a knee as my little monster rose. She joined my side, her left hand holding the amethyst-stone dagger of Melinoe while her right was clasped in mine. I held The Cornucopia in my other hand, the ruby poppies glinting under the light of the full moon as we greeted our people.
“All hail the king and queen of the north!” Lucius shouted loud enough for those in the back of the hall to hear.
Furies, gorgons, dark ones, and even some lingering spirits echoed the cheer, bowing to pledge their allegiance.
I looked to Larkspur, unable to hide my smirk. Just a few months ago, we’d been strangers, ones who had thought there was no future for us, at least nothing worthwhile. But now we were here. Crowned and anointed by the fates.
Dipping my head for her to proceed, I watched Larkspur’s smile grow to reveal her fangs peeking out beneath her red lips.
“Rise,” she said, her wings fluttering as all followed her command.
“My queen,” Lucius said as the crowd dispersed into pairs.
The music started, and the dancing began. Lucius never attended parties, but I wondered if he would make an exception for Psyche. She’d insisted on staying in The Underworld until Larkspur’s castle was restored and her title secure. I couldn’t see how anything could threaten us now that Hypnos was defeated and Aphrodite taken back to The Above once more by her husband, but I’d long since learned that despite being blind by normal standards, Psyche saw far more than most.
“It’s beautiful,” Larkspur said as we took a moment to appreciate the joy surrounding us.
“It is.” Glancing around the ballroom, I couldn’t help but agree. The cold, cruel space from my childhood had been completely transformed. Hecate and Persephone helped decorate, brightening up haunted corners and clearing it of past horrors, but it was Larkspur’s presence that allowed The Slumber Palace to become a home.
She’d seen every part of my battered, ugly soul and had somehow found a way to love me. Larkspur saved me from a pointless existence, showing me that I could be broken and still beautiful, have darkness within and still enjoy the warmth of the light. My little monster wasn’t just a powerful goddess who could whisper in the minds of her enemies and speak to wild beasts; she was capable of changing the entire fucking world.
“Stop looking at me like that, or we won’t make it another hour here,” Larkspur breathed, her pupils dilated.
My lips twitched as I led her down the dais toward where dark shadows swirled. Hades had given his blessing for Larkspur and I to be crowned and granted leadership of The Darklands. He was still Lord of The Underworld, but by allowing us to tend to the needs of the North, he was granted more time to care for the souls of his realm.
Persephone was at his side, a ray of life among the shadows. Green vines were woven into her gown, her fiery red hair was left down, and she was beaming with pride.
“Lord Hades,” I said, echoed by Larkspur as we inclined our heads. “Thank you for attending.”
Hades opened his mouth to speak, but Persephone was there. “We wouldn’t have missed it. The amount of work you two have done to stabilize the north and restore balance is commendable.”
“Thank you,” Larkspur said, a blush rising to her cheeks. My lips quirked at the rosy color. She still wasn’t used to compliments or praise, but she would be. “How are the souls?”
Persephone’s brightness dimmed. “Hecate had restored all that she could. The rest have been cleaned with the waters of The Lethe, some passing on to the great void to be crafted anew.”
“The spirits from Cocytus who heeded Ares’s call have been chained to the shores of its icy lake,” Hades added, anger flashing behind his blue eyes.
“Have you heard any more from him or Aphrodite?” Larkspur asked.
Persephone shook her head. “Thanatos has had his hands full reaping souls, but Hecate had visited The Realm of The Living to check on the covens and saw no signs of either.”
“Not surprising, given that my brother is the epitome of a coward,” Hades said. “Aphrodite shouldn’t be an issue for some time either, not with Hephaestus keeping her.”
“He won’t… hurt her?” Larkspur asked, shifting uncomfortably.
Hades raised a brow. “I would’ve thought you wanted her dead after her part in the war.”
“Death is one thing,” Larkspur said, her eyes darting between the three of us, asking us to understand. “But being kept by an angry husband—one who literally bound her and dragged her back to The Above… it doesn’t sit well with me.”
Hades tilted his head as if seeing Larkspur in a new light, reforming his opinion of her. “Hephaestus and Aphrodite have a complicated relationship, but I promise he isn’t hurting her, at least not in the way you think. They poke at each other, and every few centuries, one of them breaks, mostly Aphrodite.”
Larkspur didn’t look convinced.
“Artemis confirmed as much,” Persephone added. “She and the huntresses have gone now, off on their next quest, but she basically said the two of them needed to work their shit out once and for all.”
“Sounds like her,” Hades grinned.
“And nothing from Zeus?” I asked, needing to make sure this was done. That there were no lingering strings that could get tangled and unravel all that we’d worked for.
“Nothing as of yet,” Hades confirmed. “My brother is paranoid and jealous by nature, but for now, all is quiet. The realms are saved, and we’ve welcomed two new gods into the fold.”
“Let’s hope the peace lasts,” Persephone said, snagging a few glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and passing them to us.
“We’ll ensure that it does,” Larkspur said, raising her glass. “Together.”
I slipped my hand in hers, watching as Hades did the same to Persephone. There was much still ahead of us, years of damage under my father’s control that needed to be undone, but we would meet whatever challenges the fates threw at us.
“Together,” I echoed, clinking my glass with hers. Larkspur smiled at me, the pure joy and love thrumming through the blood we shared.
“Together,” Persephone cheered, the light radiating from her too bright for Lord Hades to deny.
Begrudgingly, he grinned, looking uncomfortable with the gesture but willing to do it for his queen. I glanced at the goddess beside me, knowing there was nothing I wouldn’t do to see her happy.
Her smile softened as if she heard the thought before turning toward where our four glasses were raised. “Hades?”
Persephone nudged him, causing more shadows to recede as his blue eyes brightened. He glanced between us before his eyes found Persephone.
“No matter what the future brings, we will face it together.”
“I love you,” Larkspur whispered as we stepped toward the dance floor. The words were soft enough for only me to hear, allowing a wave of warmth to pass between us.
I intended to give her everything she’d ever dreamed of and to grow our kingdoms and our family however she wished. More than anything, I vowed to love her with every fiber of my being until the realms fell, and we were sent back to the great void. Even then, our souls would find each other, seeking one another through any timeline.
“You’re mine, little monster. From now until forever.”