Page 264 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
Levi presses a matching kiss to my crown.
A little more tension bleeds out of me.
Azrael’s hand slides over my shoulder as he bends, brushing his lips against my neck. “We’re going to have so much fun.”
There’s a wicked edge to his words that renews my confidence and reminds me that we are indeed fucking gods and my father will face our wrath.
Akash be with us.
I takea step forward and my males follow.
The water walls widen almost imperceptibly as we step between them as if beckoning me forward. The sides of my neck itch with need to shift. To swim. To return to the depths in which my soul belongs. To the home I’ve always denied myself.
My heart hammers harder.
The cool, wet sand hugging my feet grounds me; soothes something in my soul.
As does the sight of the sea’s life swimming beyond the partition.
The water behind us seals us in with each forward movement.
I imagine this is meant to intimidate my father’s guests, but for me, thanks to my mer form, it sends a thrill up my spine.
The further we travel, the more emboldened I become.
If not a little bored, because dear fuck how much further could it possibly be?
Eventually, we travel so deep, the walls become an ombre of black and blue. Amber orbs line each side to illuminate our path. Levi studies the creatures swimming beside us—some of which I’m certain he’s never seen before—but he says nothing.
When I’m certain so much time has passed that another wrinkle has creased, we’re finally able to see the glowing dome of my father’s city–Sinsól. My breath catches in my throat.
Fuck, this is it.
The culmination of all these years waiting, procrastinating, deliberating, plotting, lamenting...
And when I see my father’s towering figure in the distance, guards posted on either side of him, I wonder if I’ve made a horrible mistake.
VIOLETTE
“My darling daughter, Raia.” My stomach churns at the sound of his sonorous voice. I feel like I’m nine years old again. Crawling out of the impoverished hovel I grew up in to chase the father who never wanted me. His expression is wooden. That dark, lightning streaked gaze–even from behind the sliver of mask–is as sharp and penetrative as I remember. His grin just as shark-like. And he hasn’t aged a day. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he were only a few years my senior. The only thing different about him is that he is shirtless, adorned in some ornate gold and bejewelled chestpiece that matches the twin cuffs on his wrists. His long black hair is tied back. More gold glints along the shell of one ear.
Weaver of lies.
Murderer.
Master manipulator.
These are the words I yearn to spit at him.
Whatever words might form a sensible response clog at the back of my throat as panic throttles my heart. As if he can sense it, and it pleases him, his grin widens.
“I heard you’d be attending this year,” his eyes flick a cursory glance to my males, “Along with your many concubines. I can’t tell you how pleased I was to hear it.”
Who in Akash’s name would tell my father we were coming?
Who else knew?
Surely, Somnus wouldn’t betray us?
