Page 37 of Queen of Tempests and Sin

When the flight attendants appeared with the breakfast trolley, her eyes lit with unmistakable joy. She ate like a two-hundred-and-fifty-pound warrior, devouring two helpings of omelette with spinach, bell peppers, and mushrooms alongside a blueberry & banana power smoothie. As she chewed, my gaze fixed on her lips, the way they moved, soft and sensual, and my cock stirred to life.

What in Hades was this woman doing to me?

When she finished, she sipped her coffee and buried her nose in her book again. As he ate, Ajax’s eyes drilled into the side of Cordelia’s head, glaring at her like she’d pissed on his grandmother’s grave. He’d questioned me, again, about allowing her to live, but had dropped the subject when my fingers closed around his throat in warning. He backed off, muttering something about betrayal. I understood his concern, but if he laid one hand on her, I’d rip out his heart and hand it to him on a plate.

He knew without a doubt not to touch her.

‘What’s the book?’ I asked, lifting my coffee cup to my lips.

Her eyes shot to mine, her cheeks flushing slightly. ‘Erm, a fantasy romance.’

I raised my brows. ‘I do believe you’re a secret romantic, little assassin.’

‘Pfft. Not a chance. Book boyfriends are great. Real men? Not so much.’ She shrugged. ‘I read them for the sex. This one’s a reverse harem or “why choose?” trope. They’re my favourites.’

‘Why choose?’ I had a sinking feeling the answer was about to piss me off.

‘Yup. One woman and three men.’ She gave me a satisfied grin, and my jaw clenched.

‘Is that a fantasy of yours?’ I tried to keep my voice even, but the thought of another man laying a hand on her made me question my sanity for a moment. I’d rip his cock off and choke him with it.

‘Nah. Not really,’ she said, wrinkling her nose. ‘It’s just fun to read.’ My temper abated, and I grunted, sipped my coffee, and let the subject drop as she went back to reading.

We landed in Greece a couple of hours later, and a black limousine was waiting on the tarmac. Cordelia appeared with her luggage, a backpack, and a knife in a holster strapped to her thigh. Her hair was braided over one shoulder, wisps of flaming-red framing her face. Gods, I hoped I wasn’t drooling—she looked magnificent. She was so damned beautiful.

My angel of sin. My angel of death.

As we descended the steps and walked onto the runway, I tuned to my acolytes.

‘Perseus, Ajax, take the limousine and luggage to my house. I’ll meet you there.’ They bowed and departed. As I reached for Cordelia’s hand, she stepped away.

‘Are we walking?’

‘Nope.’ I gave a predatory smile. ‘I need some time alone with you, Little Red. You still need punishing.’ I murmured darkly as I grabbed her.

‘Oh, no you don’t…. argh—’ Her words were silenced when a vortex of swirling mist and seafoam engulfed us as I flashed us through the aether to my home.

She stumbled as we landed, looking rather green around the gills. ‘What the godsdamned-deep-double-fried fuck was that?’ She pulled her blade from the holster with a shaky hand and pointed it at my throat.

‘Travelling through the aether. Like teleporting,’ I said, laughing, but the grin vanished when a roar shattered the stillness.

‘Assassin!’ My brother’s voice.

Shit.

CHAPTER 14

CORDELIA

The blinding white light and popping sound sent me reeling, falling, and twisting as nausea gripped my throat. I was about to gut this man, god or not, until a familiar voice bellowed “assassin”.

My hand fell to my side as I turned my head.

Hades… Fear surged like poison flooding my bloodstream, swift and paralysing. His hulking form danced with shadows, some of which crept towards me like venomous serpents. The two men flanking him added to my dread. One guy—massive and as black as a moonless night—was surrounded by snarling wolves… that seemed to be made from shadows. Freaking shadows! The other guy was also huge, with muscled arms and sharp cheekbones, holding a scythe in each of his big hands.

My legs started to shake, and my heart rate ramped up as panic washed through me. I swallowed—not an easy task seeing as my mouth was like the Sahara Desert. I’m so dead… bury me here. I couldn’t breathe.

Si stepped in front of me. ‘Don’t fucking touch her.’ His voice—rough, guttural—vibrated through my bones. It struck low in my core like a war drum.