The darkest seduction

Punish…

A whisper rather than an urge. For some reason, Wrath had been on his best behavior lately, never trying to overtake her, his hunger under control though she’d done nothing to feed him.

“Sie

“I would love a ride.” She needed a few minutes alone with the woman, so this was actually perfect. “I’ve been looking for you.” No longer did she bear any ill will toward the woman. After all, Sie

But having done all of that watching, Sie

“Well, hop on and stop standing there all lost in your thoughts. I don’t want to miss the good part.”

Sie

“Well?” the goddess prompted, stomping on the pedal. They jolted into motion, cutting corners, honking at nothing, flashing their lights. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

To begin: flattery. “As intelligent and powerful as you are, you’re the only one capable of helping me.”

“Well, of course I am. Here’s a well-known fact. I’m more than made of awesome. I am the original awesome.” From behind the wheel, Viola flicked her pale hair over her shoulder. She wore a gown of shimmery gold, the material cinched just under her breasts and flaring at her hips. Red-carpet worthy, for sure. “Soooo?”

“I’m trying to figure out how best to ask for what I need.”

“Try opening your mouth and forming words. That’s what I do, and I can assure you my methods are always stellar.”

Sie

And there was the main reason for her recent string of temper tantrums. Her time here was ticking, ticking away. Soon she would have to leave. Not just because she had heard some of Paris’s friends plotting her downfall, and not just because those same friends hated her guts and would never trust or forgive her, but because she really was going to Galen, keeping him away from Cronus, so that Cronus could keep Rhea away from his throne, no matter how sickening the tasks she had to perform.

“Do you want me to buy you more time?” Viola asked, as if such a thing were possible. They reached the stairs. Without pause, she took them. Bounce, bounce, bounce. “You’d have to pay me back. I mean, with two-hundred-percent interest, but—”

“No, I…well, when I leave, Paris will weaken.” Her head slammed into the roof of the vehicle. Oh, please, please don’t let my next death be in a tragic golf cart accident.“I don’t know if you know this, but he has to have sex every day or his body shuts down. His demon is…needy, you know.”

“Yada, yada, boring.” Landing smoothly, the cart erupted into full speed. (Twenty-five miles per hour.)

She bit her tongue to hold in her retort. “When I leave I want you to make sure Paris sleeps with the women Lucien brings him, and that he keepssleeping with them.”

And there was the second reason for her temper tantrums. Due to pressure from Sie

While Paris could easily ignore his friends, the persistent and determined Viola would find a way to get her way. Otherwise, she would be a failure, and the goddess would never allow herself to be a failure.

“What I’m hearing is, I’m the only thing standing between your man and his certain death,” Viola said. “So what’s in it for me if I save him?”

For a moment, Sie

He was everything to her. Her light when things became too dark. When she cried, he comforted her. When she laughed, he laughed with her. He treated her as if she were a special treasure. He protected her, cared about every ache and pain she might experience.

She would tear the world apart to keep him safe. She would willingly suffer without him, as long as she knew he was out there, alive.

“What would you like from me?” Sie

“You’re Wrath, right? Well, when I call on you to slay one of my enemies, you have to slay him. No questions, no hesitation.”

“As long as the enemy in question isn’t someone Paris or his friends know and like. Or want alive.”

The goddess thought for a moment, nodded. “We have ourselves a deal.”

“Good. Now, I have one other request for you.” She outlined what she wanted.

Viola shot her a sly smile. “Wicked, and quite shocking coming from you. I had no idea you were into that. You look so mousy. But it’s always the quiet ones, isn’t it?”

“Will you do it?”

“You’ll owe me two slayings, same conditions.”

“Done.” It was done.

“Now, hold on tight because I’m cranking this baby up. I’m just certain they won’t start without me, but these Lords sometimes defy logic, so you never know.”

“Oh, good.” A woman with curly dark hair, a face as i

Viola slammed on the breaks, and the cart skidded to a stop mere inches from crushing the newcomer under the tires. “What’s with all the ladies jumping in front of me and keeping me from where I want to go? Jealous much?”

“I seek Sie

“Me?” Sie

“Yes, you. I’m Olivia,” the angel said with a sweet smile. A white robe draped her from shoulders to ankles, making her look as if she’d just stepped from a dream.

Viola jumped out of the cart and hurried past Olivia. “Have fun girls, I’m needed elsewhere.” Pale hair streaming behind her, she disappeared into the ballroom about a yard ahead.

“I recognize you,” Sie

Olivia’s smile went full-on sunshine as she scratched Sie

Wrath purred like a kitten.

“He’s, uh, good.”

“I’m glad. He really is a sweetheart, isn’t he?”

Wrath?

The demon rolled to his back, kicked up his legs and shook as great tides of rapture swept over him.

“Let’s you and me chat later, all right?” Olivia said, arm dropping to her side. While Wrath pouted like a toddler, the angel added, “Aeron sent me to find you. He wanted to speak to you himself, but he can’t see you and conversing with the woman who has his Wrath through a third party would be a little too painful. Maybe one day. But I digress. He’s ready to leave this castle and hunt for Legion, but won’t because Paris is about to have an aneurism. At least, that’s what Aeron said, and he thinks you’re the only one who can calm his boy down.”