The King of Hearts - Jovee Winters Page 0,29

too tightly together. But she was desperate in her clawing of me as I was of her. The back of my head felt raked by her nails, and I hissed when her hands scored down my back.

The kiss lasted an eternity and ended far too soon.

We both pulled back at the same time, our foreheads pressed together as we breathed in one another’s air.

My hands were still fused upon her hips and her nails were still digging into my back.

“They say I am the ugliest creature alive,” she whispered, voice cracking with sorrow and I shook my head.

“You are prettier than she will ever be.”

“She?” she questioned, but I shook my head.

“It is nothing. And you should not walk the gardens alone. Strange beasts can lurk about. It is not safe for you out here alone, Psyche.”

“But I am not alone. You are with me.” She looked at me, light brown eyes glittering with a secret smile that I felt imprinted upon my own heart.

She’d tasted of mystery and magic. Of fire and ice.

I love you…

She smiled broadly and I knew she had not heard, but maybe she’d recognized the light in my eyes.

“Will I see you again,” she whispered and it was miraculous to me how attuned she seemed to be to me already.

I shook my head. Weeping on the inside. Wishing it could be otherwise but knowing that if mother ever caught me here her brutality of Psyche would be so much worse.

“I am but a ship passing in the night.”

She gasped. “I do know you.” Her brows dipped and her gaze was intent upon me. “It was you that day. The peddler. The one who promised me peace from father’s plans for me.”

I didn’t deny it.

She cocked her head, studying me like a curious kitten, her eyes searching mine as though for any sign of recognition. “Are you a god? You must be, to assume such different forms. But which one are you really?”

She jerked out of my arms, and hugged herself. Looking afraid as she’d not been before.

And I knew why. The gods might be wonderful in the stories, but in truth they were almost all terrible. The good ones were taken. And the only ones left were those like me, with hidden agendas, and wicked games to play.

I had to go.

But before I did. I snapped my fingers and her gardens came alive with creatures only ever seen upon Olympus. Her flowers dipped and swayed from a gentle zephyr rolling in from the ocean and released their pollen. Which also glowed, like little embers of gold in the night. Birds with exotic tail feathers and jewel like plumes flew all around her.

The smile upon her face was worth any punishment I would receive if mother ever learned of this.

And as she gazed upon my gifts in awe I slipped into the shadows. I did not look back as I walked away, because if I did, I might never leave. And I had to go. Mother had transformed me, meaning I could not hide in my own shadows, she could find me if she wanted to. I could not afford a misstep.

Out on the castle grounds I stared up at Nyx’s handiwork, studying the stars, wondering if this was the very best, I would ever get in life. I couldn’t say when it was that mother’s heavy hand had begun to slowly chip away at me, once I’d not minded her constant mothering, but now… I sighed and released my snow white wings.

Psyche was in great danger, whatever it was that mother had planned, I knew it would not go well for her. I had to try and discover what mother had planned without alerting her in the process. There was only one god I knew of that might actually be able to help me out here.

I flew back toward my secret palace. Arriving only moments later and calling out to my Uncle the moment my foot touched soil.

“Dionysus! I need your help. Come. Please.”

Gods were proud sorts, and they hated to be ordered about. I doubted he would show. I also doubted Dionysus wasn’t planning something himself. No one upon Olympus was truly altruistic. Whatever they did, good or bad, was always done with an end game in mind. The question was, did Dionysus’ end game align more with mine or with mother’s?

“Nephew,” I heard his lazy drawl a moment later, “yell any louder and you’ll wake Thanos’ dead.” Then he snorted and chuckled. “Oh,