Chapter 18
CORDELIA
Gods, that man is an asshole. A sexy, tempting asshole.
Visions of him “punishing” me with those big hands flashed across my mind, and I squashed them immediately. And his laughter? Oof… deep and husky; it heated my blood. I wanted to record it just to play it back later like some unhinged fangirl. Which was deeply, deeply disturbing.
I stomped down the hallway to go and rouse Guinn, noticing Ajax loitering by the main door of Drakos’s villa. ‘Hey, Ajax.’ I smiled smugly at the grim-faced man. ‘Still being a stalking creep?’
‘Your sense of humour is irritating.’
‘And you’ve got the frowniest fucking face I’ve ever seen.’ His glare could've cracked concrete. I sighed. Why did people never find my sarcasm charming?
He stepped closer, voice low and venom-laced.
‘Once he’s had his fill of you, he’ll discard you like the trash you are.
’ His words hit hard, almost fracturing my heart.
A small, treacherous part of me already feared that might be true.
That’s why I couldn’t succumb to Si Thalassa. Couldn’t let myself feel.
He leaned in, voice now a rasp. ‘And when that happens, I’ll be waiting.’ His vicious eyes held my gaze.
‘Do you work at being a buzzkill, or does it just come naturally?’ I asked, arching a brow as I held his hostile glare. His lip curled, but I turned on my heel, refusing to give him even a hint of satisfaction. Even though his threat had rattled me, I wouldn’t show him one ounce of vulnerability.
Yeah… I definitely needed to keep my beady little eyes on Ajax.
When I walked into the bedroom, Guinn’s bed was empty, but the sound of running water came from the bathroom. I sat on the bed and pondered on Ajax’s words—about Si; about me. About being discarded. I reckoned he was most definitely on Team Lets Kill Cordelia.
‘Cordie?’ Guinn’s voice snapped me from the spiral. ‘Are you okay?’ She padded out in yoga pants and a fitted white crop tee.
‘Yeah, I’m fine. Oh, I got you a present.’ I grabbed my backpack and tossed her the cutesy purple crop sweatshirt with the dolphin motif.
‘Oh, dolphins! My fave. Thanks, Cordie,’ she said as she slipped it on, before flopping down beside me.
‘We need to go into hiding, until all this shit is sorted out.’ I held her gaze. ‘We’re going to the Underworld—’
She interrupted me, screeching, ‘What the fu—’
I raised a finger, cutting her off. ‘Nope. Nope. No swearing.’
She scowled at me. ‘The Underworld? Seriously? Why can’t he hide us in the Maldives or somewhere? Are we really in that much danger?’
I could feel Guinn’s agitation—it wrapped around me like wisps of smoke—I needed to protect her. She was my responsibility; she was smart as a whip, beautiful, brave, and somehow still full of spark even after everything.
I stared at her and smiled.
‘Your eyes are serious, but you’re smiling weirdly. What’s up? You look kinda creepy.’ Guinn frowned at me.
My smile vanished. ‘Listen, Guinn. Ixion are ramping up their stand against the gods, and we’re mere casualties of their resistance.
They’ll be tying up loose threads, and that includes me, and most probably you.
Si, erm Poseidon, thinks we’ll be safer in the Underworld, just until things cool off. ’
‘Si, huh?’ Her brows inched up her forehead as a smile twitched on her lips. ‘You sure you’re not banging him?’
‘Come on, let’s pack.’ I stood without justifying an answer to the nosy little shit. ‘The safest place for now is the Underworld. It’s a temporary measure… But we will get back our lives, and the school, if you want to return there. Or we can live wherever you want, eventually. Alright?’
Guinn’s lips pulled to the side before she nodded thoughtfully. ‘Okay. I guess it’ll be an adventure, if nothing else.’
We met Perseus waiting outside the room and popped the bags on the floor. His stance was relaxed but alert, the way a predator watches from the shade.
‘What’s the plan?’ I asked.
‘Waiting for the boss to return from Genesion. Then we move.’
‘Genesion?’ I tilted my head and frowned.
‘His kingdom.’
Guinn’s good eye widened like a cartoon character. ‘Under the sea?’
‘He is Poseidon.’ Perseus smirked.
‘Brutal!’ She grinned, then pouted. ‘Now I really want to visit Genesion.’
‘I’m sure you’ll get the chance, one day, little Guinn,’ he said. ‘Anyways… You hungry?’
Guinn bounced on her toes. ‘I’m starving!’
‘Good.’ Perseus grinned. ‘Because I just rustled up hummus flatbread with balsamic vegetables, and a jug of vanilla milkshake.’ Guinn actually swooned, hands clasped to her chest, and fluttered her long, dark lashes at the demigod, and that mega-watt smile was back on his stunning face.
‘Not just a pretty face, huh?’ I quipped.
A pink hue crept up his cheeks, but he recovered fast. Leaning in, he whispered in my ear, ‘I’m a dab hand in the kitchen… and a stud in the bedroom.’
‘I heard that,’ Guinn said as she skipped past us. ‘Let’s test out your culinary skills first, hey?’ Perseus barked out a laugh, and I shook my head at my fifteen-going-on-fifty-year-old sister.
‘Keep it in your pants, Mr Smiley,’ I warned with a grin.
‘Or I’ll be putting an end to your abilities in the bedroom.
’ I gave my knife a fond pat, and Perseus clutched his chest in mock horror, making me laugh.
Gods, laughing felt so good—I hadn’t done enough of it in a very long time.
Perseus snatched up our luggage and then followed me to the kitchen.
* * *
After we’d eaten and cleared up, Si returned, looking as debonair and as dangerously edible as ever. His gaze snagged on mine, eyes glimmering with something that made my stomach flutter.
‘Thanatos and Erebus have already left, Majesty,’ Perseus said, and Si nodded.
‘Ready?’ His gaze locked onto mine, and I gave a half-shrug.
‘As I’ll ever be.’ I wouldn’t admit it, but I was a mess of nervous funk at the thought of going to the Underworld before I was dead. Guinn, however, appeared unruffled.
‘Ajax is staying up top with Theseus,’ Si continued. ‘Perseus, take Guinn, and I’ll bring Cordelia. We’ll meet in the kitchen… Apparently, Hades is cooking.’ His eye-roll was theatrical. Si grabbed my bag, and Perseus did the same for Guinn. ‘Let’s go, ladies.’
When Si wrapped me in his big arms, that unfamiliar, alien feeling of safety settled over me again—warm, strong, and undeniable. As my feet hit the ground, the aftereffects of travelling through the aether were less, like my body was adjusting. Guinn, on the other hand, looked ready to barf.
‘Oh. My. God.’ she groaned, hand covering her mouth.
Perseus rubbed her back, laughing. ‘It gets easier.’
‘Gods,’ a voice said behind us—deep, disapproving, and unmistakable. That voice made us both stiffen. As we turned around, Hades stood with a raised brow. ‘Gods, Guinevere,’ he corrected coolly.
‘S—sorry, your Highness.’ She dipped into an awkward curtsey, and I stifled a snort-laugh, while Si huffed a breath.
The kitchen was vast and light—an opulent blend of modern elegance and mythic charm.
Chequered dark and light grey tiles stretched across the floor, and a massive island dominated the centre of the space.
White marble countertops shimmered faintly, as if imbued with stardust, catching the pale silver-amethyst light filtering in from the tall windows.
A long table nearby held an enormous vase of asphodels, the pink and white blooms swaying gently as if they were alive. I smiled.
‘Pah! You’re really cooking?’ Si asked his brother, smug disbelief colouring his tone. ‘Never thought I’d see the day you traded your crown for an apron.’
‘Baking,’ Hades corrected smoothly, unfazed. ‘Someone has to show Persephone that I’m more than good looks and damnation.’ Si’s eyes widened, his jaw dropping open. For once, he seemed at a loss for words.
‘Baking?’ Guinn whispered, sneaking over to peer through the oven’s glass door. ‘Mm, chocolate cupcakes!’
‘Yes. Persephone’s favourites,’ Hades said with a fond look.
‘Whipped bastard,’ Si muttered under his breath, and I elbowed him in the ribs.
Hades ignored his brother. ‘Persephone should be here any minute. She will show you to your suites.’
The door opened with impeccable timing. In walked a vision—a woman who could make statues weep.
A striking beauty with vivid green eyes, wavy, long blonde hair, and plump lips—she had the type of face that would give Cupid a boner.
Her skin was luminescent, almost glowing, as if a subtle golden aura had wrapped itself around her.
Persephone’s sleek curves and ample bust were displayed to perfection in leather pants and a matching halter neck crop top, while a knife holster graced her toned thigh like it was jewellery.
She was small—think Thumbelina meets Jessica Rabbit—but something about her was intimidating, and I had an inclination she’d be happy to dole out fat lips.
She was quite possibly the sexiest scary woman I’d ever seen.
I’m not into girls, but I stared at her like a goober and tried not to drool.
‘I think I have lady-wood,’ I muttered to Guinn.
‘Me too,’ she whispered. ‘Plus, I want some of whatever godly lotion she uses. Her skin is legit glowing.’
‘Hi, Perseus,’ Persephone crooned with a flirtatious grin.
The demigod beamed and bowed. ‘My lady.’
‘Hey, favourite brother-in-law.’ She grinned at Si, and the line of his jaw turned rigid.
‘Persephone. Thank you for letting us stay for a short while.’ His voice was composed, but I felt it—an undercurrent of irritation humming in my solar plexus. I blinked. That wasn’t my irritation. It was his. I could feel him. What the…
‘Hello, my favourite shadow daddy,’ Persephone teased, sauntering over to Hades and rising on her toes to kiss him. Her lips brushed his, soft and slow.
The shift in Hades was instant. His hard edges melted as his hands slid to her hips, returning the kiss with reverence. ‘Agapi mou,’ he whispered, his face softening as he regarded her.