Page 75 of Queen of Tempests and Sin

Bronte cut him a sly glance. ‘Gods have preternatural hearing, remember, darling. I think he’s tuning into you.’

‘Jealous? I doubt it,’ I scoffed.

Her grin was sly enough to scuttle a ship. ‘Gods don’t like to share their prized possessions.’

There it was again—that damn word. Possession. My spine stiffened, and I shot her a sharp glare. ‘I’m no one’s possession.’

Bronte just clucked her tongue, akin to an exasperated teacher. ‘I think you’re living in an alternate reality, because that god has dibs on you. Big, glowing, neon dibs.’

I opened my mouth, already primed for a fiery rebuttal, but she cut me off with a raised hand. ‘No, no. Don’t say anything. Just let me watch him squirm while you ogle Erebus. Honestly, the god of darkness is a hottie.’ Bronte studied Erebus, then her gaze flicked to Poseidon. ‘Seriously, somewhere a pig has sprouted wings and taken to the sky… the god of the sea hasn’t thrown a hissy fit and lost his shit. What pray is the secret control you have over him?’

Before I could shoot something back, a shadow fell over me. A presence… His presence.

‘Dance with me.’ The words were less invitation, more decree, low and edged in command.

Before I could answer, Bronte tipped back her glass and drawled, ‘Careful, sea god… she’s got two left feet and a mean right hook. Might be the shortest waltz of your immortal life.’

His head tilted, eyes flashing with that tempestuous silver-blue, and then he laughed. His laugh was deep and dark, rolling through me; it was velvet-dipped thunder. I wanted to bathe in it—in those Stygian promises it carried, whispered and wicked.

He smelled of storm winds, of salt and ozone—the crisp bite of air just before a tempest broke the world apart.

I blinked once. Then twice. My legs wobbled under me as an intense throb of desire rocked through me, sharp and merciless.

Oh, for the love of everything holy. I’m a hormonal disaster zone whenever he’s near. Pathetic. I need to get a grip.

‘I’ll take my chances.’ His gaze never left mine as he set his glass aside. Then, with effortless certainty, he captured my hand, the strength of his grip leaving no room for refusal.

My pulse stuttered, and I gave her a “help me” look, but Bronte just smirked at me like she was front row at her favourite movie.

CHAPTER 26

POSEIDON

Icut through the crowd like the sea parting around a ship, fury roiling beneath my skin.

Every nerve snapped taut the moment I caught her eyes lingering too long on Erebus—dark, brooding Erebus—as if she’d forgotten who had already claimed her. Not that I’d mention that fact at the moment. Her anger over it had thwarted me—her eyes had glowed with fury, resembling the blue flames of an unforgiving fire when she questioned the mark… but I would convince her eventually. She would accept she was mine. And only mine.

She might not accept it yet, might curse me for marking her, but that didn’t change the truth. Watching her gaze sweep over another god, even for a heartbeat, had my temper spiking like a storm tide. The air itself trembled, stirred by my restraint.

‘Dance with me.’ The words left me in a growl disguised as civility.

Bronte quipped some sharp-edged jest that might have made a lesser man bristle, but I laughed—low, dangerous—because I was already picturing my hands on Cordelia, erasing any memory of Erebus with every step of the dance. She didn’t know yet, but by the time I was done with her tonight, she’d forget every god but me.

I drew her into my arms, my hand firm at her waist, her smaller one swallowed in mine. The moment her body pressed to mine, heat pulsed through me—sweet agony. She smelled of wine and defiance, a heady mix I wanted to devour.

I spun her onto the floor, controlling every step, every breath, forcing her focus back where it belonged. On me. Her glare was sharp enough to cut, but underneath it her pulse raced—I could feel it beneath my fingers, pounding as if her heart knew the truth her lips refused to say.

A flicker of movement snagged my attention beyond her shoulder—Zeus. Looming far too close to Bronte, his eyes locked on her, like a predator circling prey. She met his stare with pure venom, every inch of her radiating scorn.

My lips curved mid-step. Oh, this was rich… my oh-so-mighty brother, undone by a sharp-tongued witch who clearly wanted to set him on fire. Dangerous? Absolutely, but gods, was it entertaining. The prick deserved every poisoned word she’d inevitably spit his way.

I tightened my grip on Cordelia’s waist, pulling her flush against me as my mouth dipped close to her ear.

‘Keep looking at Erebus, Little Red,’ I murmured, voice thick with emotion. ‘And I’ll remind you who you really long for. I still owe you a punishment, don’t forget.’

Her sharp inhale was music to my ears; that stubborn glare of hers, even sweeter. Gods, she infuriated me—and I fucking adored it. She tried to cover the slip, masking the way her body betrayed her with flames in her eyes, but then… she smirked. That little, defiant tilt of her mouth.

‘Punishment? Please. You couldn’t punish me into forgetting Erebus, let alone make me long for you.’ My Little Red dared to tease me with it, dared to bait me with that flicker of interest she’d shown in another god, and I suppressed a snarl.