Page 49 of Queen of Tempests and Sin

‘Is amethyst and silver, with no sun, I know,’ Persephone smiled kindly. ‘It’s strange, but you’ll get used to it.’ She strode off into Guinn’s suite.

‘It’s beautiful. Not at all what I expected,’ I muttered to myself as I stared out at the scenery. Trees and wildflowers peppered the landscape, bathed in silvery, ethereal light. Everything shimmered, as if a high-end magazine had caught nature mid-laugh, fluttering and dancing on the breeze. In the far distance, a river glinted like liquid moonlight.

‘Genesion is just as beautiful.’ Si’s hot breath brushed against my cheek, making me startle. Gods, he was quiet, like a silent stalker—the perfect predator… A shiver ran the length of my body. ‘I’m looking forward to punishing you,’ he whispered, that sinful voice curling low around my nerves. ‘Then fucking you. Hearing you scream my name, Little Red. I’ll spend the whole night educating you on just how talented I am in bed.’

‘Eww. Keep it in your pants, dude.’ I scowled, but my thighs betrayed me—a pulse of heat tingled between them, as if my damn vagina had taken up cheerleading. Say yes, Cordie, say yes, the needy little fucker whined, only making my temper flare harder. Maybe I should say not on your freaking life, and perhaps I would after I’d punched that smug smile off his face.

Knowing I couldn’t cause a scene in front of Guinn, I grabbed a blade from my belt and began spinning it between my fingers, letting the sharp edge glitter in the soft light. ‘I’ve told you…. we’re even. Now back off.’

He chuckled—deep and dark—and took a leisurely step away, sly satisfaction written all over that perfectly sculpted face.

‘The bedroom, dressing room, and bathroom are through that door,’ Persephone said as she walked back through the adjoining door, pointing, and Si walked away, taking my luggage through, then returning to grab Guinn’s and depositing hers through the connecting doors.

‘I’ll see you later.’ His voice wrapped around me like a promise—and a threat. I gave him a tight nod, jaw locked, and then, with a burst of sea spray and mist, he vanished into thin air.

‘Guinn!’ Persephone hollered. ‘Let’s get going. The sooner we move, the sooner we eat!’

Guinn rushed back into the room, a wide grin on her face. ‘Persephone, this place is unreal! I love it.’

‘It’s also full of dead people,’ I grumbled, unable to stop the sarcasm.

Persephone gave me a side-eye tilt of her head. ‘There are many places in the Underworld, Cordie. Don’t worry. You won’t be bumping into any dead souls… and please, call me Sephy.’ She beckoned us. ‘Come on.’

We trailed after her, falling into step like good little ducklings. Honestly, she had the bossy thing down—had me beat, and that was saying something.

We weaved through the labyrinthine halls of Hades’ estate. I seriously needed a map or a trail of breadcrumbs. Eventually, Sephy pushed open a tall black door, revealing a wild meadow that stretched for miles, cloaked in pearlescent silver light.

We descended broad black steps that sparkled like onyx laced with starlight, and I looked back at the dwelling. Calling it a house felt laughable; it was a damned castle. Massive and foreboding—like something out of a twisted fairytale. Ominous, yes… but so beautiful it made your breath catch.

As we turned to join Sephy, a ferocious woof caused us both to hesitate amid the swaying blooms. It wasn’t a bark—it was a deep, thunderous sound that could've shaken bones loose.

‘What the hell—?’ I started, freezing in place.

Cerberus.

A massive, three-headed hellhound, black as the void, came charging across the field like a freaking freight train, each paw-fall a ground-shaking boom.

‘Holy crap,’ I muttered, my eyes glued to the hellhound, yanking a knife free from my belt as Guinn let out a squeak and ducked behind me, grabbing my arm with a death grip. My heart beat a rapid tune as the hound tore closer, all snarling teeth and rippling muscle.

‘You’re packing weapons and fear nothing,’ Sephy called over her shoulder. ‘I thought you were a tough assassin?’

‘I am.’ I bristled. ‘But have you seen the size of that thing? It’s like an Irish Wolf Hound crossed with a grizzly bear on steroids… and it has three freaking heads!’ I tried not to screech the words—but honestly, restraint was a stretch right then.

Guinn whimpered softly behind me as the hound skidded to an emergency stop before it could barrel over Sephy. It whined, all three heads lowering into a play bow—backside in the air like an oversized, nightmarish puppy, each head tilting to the side, blood-red eyes gleaming with curiosity.

‘Hello, my baby!’ Sephy threw her arms around one of the hellhound’s necks, and all three tongues ravaged her with sloppy kisses. Guinn edged out from behind me, her face filled with childish delight as she hesitantly placed a hand on the monstrous creature. The heads turned to her, and began an onslaught of sniffing and licking, making her screech with happiness. I stayed back, but re-sheathed my knife… I’m no coward, but an enormous hellhound with six blood-red eyes was pushing my limits.

After ten minutes of enthusiastic slobbering, Sephy waved us along, Cerberus and Guinn trailing behind as she tossed a ball the size of a cannonball, and the beast galloped after it, eager as a puppy, making Guinn whoop with delight.

Sephy and I fell into casual chatter as we walked, her energy like soft sunlight through clouds. I found myself telling her about my mother, Drakos, and everything in between.

When we reached a tall gate, Sephy paused and kissed Cerberus on each of his noses. ‘See you later, boy. Wait for us.’

Cerberus huffed, then trotted off with surprising grace, curling up where the meadow met the castle path, his three heads tilting in unison as he watched us go.

My mouth dropped open as we stepped into Sephy’s garden. There were no words. It was a breathtaking expanse of flowers, the air saturated with honeyed fragrance and earth and magic. A copse of tall cypress trees bordered the space, and vibrant blooms exploded in every colour imaginable—many I couldn’t name, though the roses and narcissi were unmistakable.

‘Roses were my mom’s absolute favourite,’ I murmured.