Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 111898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
He wouldn’t lean down and lick her there.
He wouldn’t.
Daisy’s morose countenance turned defiant. “Whatever,” she said, standing. “Quick reminder. I’m a guest in your home, so you gotta protect me and deal with any baddies who show up. Agreed? Good. I’ll be busy building a machine you’re not gonna ask me anything about.” She marched closer to the throne.
“Hey, Red.” Neeka popped to her feet and jumped on him, winding her legs around his waist. “You wanna talk about Lore’s accusations against me?”
Instant, frothing desire consumed him. By sheer will alone, he kept a portion of his gazes on Daisy as he gripped Neeka’s backside, saying, “There’s no need. If you plan to steal me away, give it your best shot.”
“You don’t think I can succeed?” she asked, grazing the tip of her nose against his.
He savored the sweetness of the action. Her slight weight and soft curves. Her tantalizing fragrance. Her everything. “I think I would rather discuss the shadow monsters.” A much safer topic. Because if ever a female could succeed in such an endeavor, it was this one.
Could a male be blessed with two fated mates? The very idea left him sputtering internally. Impossible!
“The monsters show up within minutes after Lore revives,” Neeka said, cautious. “They eat harpies, Astra and even you, sparing only Erebus.”
Hmm. A new type of phantom, perhaps? “I will research once we finish here.”
“Silence,” Daisy barked. “Let me concentrate.”
He flashed his oracle in front of the harpy to better supervise the situation. Daisy stared at the throne, her dark eyes lightening, a glow rising from her flesh, growing brighter and brighter until spreading to the throne and the floor, wrapping around them from left to right, front to back. Everything but Rathbone and Neeka. The second the golden illumination covered every inch of gold and marble, the light exploded.
As soon as his eyes adjusted, he realized he stood upon a dirt floor, the marble gone. A small round orb waited where the throne had perched.
The harpy succeeded? Rathbone gave Neeka a swift peck before sitting her on her feet and—no, he stole another and another peck before finally flashing over to swipe up the little round ball. Any remaining tension drained as he studied the perfect translucent circle, a miniature throne room visible inside it, Lore’s remains intact.
“So?” Daisy tossed her arms up. “Where’s my room?”
Needing a moment to figure it out, Rathbone transported his companions to a sitting room upstairs.
“Hey! I know this place. I’ve been here.” Neeka looked around, her eyes widening again. She gasped. “The wallpaper. How could I forget I’d seen it before?”
Pink, yellow, and blue flowers abounded. So what?
Her focus snapped to him, her pupils expanding in a show of desire. He went still. She had gotten hot for him? Because of wallpaper?
“You’ve been here?” he asked.
“Yes. In person and in...” Nervousness and anticipation molded her expression, making his chest ache. “A vision.”
How interesting. He glanced at the wallpaper, then Neeka. The wallpaper. Neeka. She squirmed, and growls erupted in his throat, setting off a chain reaction. Hardening. Heat. Need. Everything flared anew. What had she seen to cause such a primal reaction?
Lowering his chin, he took a step toward her. Will have her now and demand answers after.
“Go on.” Her cheeks flushed as she shooed him off, and he growled again. “Show Daisy where she’s staying.”
Daisy. Their audience. Right. Though his insides lathered, he retreated.
“When we’re alone,” Neeka continued, breathless, “we’ll discuss the boon you owe me. I didn’t find another bone, but I did save those you already possess. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you enjoy what I demand.”
She’s greedy... for me? He barely stopped himself from rubbing his throbbing erection. Time apart might be wise. He could think. “What will you be doing while I’m gone?”
“Waiting eagerly.” With the coyest of grins, she blew him a kiss. “Miss me.”
He wasn’t sure he’d be able to do anything else.
“You guys are embarrassing,” Daisy muttered.
With more force than necessary, he stuffed the orb inside his pocket, grabbed the harpy by the arm, and flashed her to the farthest room in Hades’s fortress.
“Behave,” he said, stalking off. He’d forgo his ‘betray me and suffer’ speech for once. Right now...
He moderated his pace as he made his way to Neeka, who had all but admitted to wanting him for herself.
Why did she have to be so beautiful and soft? Smell so sweet. Rouse his smiles. Be so brilliant. Look at him as if she admired him as much as he admired her. His ever-increasing hunger for her complicated things. He should be strong enough to resist.
But.
He wasn’t.
What would she demand as her boon? Sex? A dozen climaxes? His fingers flared and relaxed of their own accord. Whatever her request, he must do it. Honor demanded it.
Rationalizing to give yourself permission? Or thinking clearly for the first time in centuries? Rathbone didn’t know and wasn’t sure he cared anymore.