Seduction (Curse of the Gods #3)

“Thanks, doll. That’s really helpful.” He popped his eyes open again and wrestled the apple off me, attempting to shove it back into my mouth.

I managed to knock it out of his hand, but that unfortunately sent it bouncing to the floor. I watched as it rolled beneath a decorative side-table, and then I turned to the rest of my sandwich instead. Cyrus was already back to ignoring me, and I paused with my mouth half-full as pain fissured along my chest, sending a flood of darkness to the edges of my vision.

I quickly swallowed the bread that was trying to fuse with the back of my throat, and tried to muster the words to warn Cyrus that I was about to black out, but it was already happening.

Great, I thought, as my eyelids started to flutter. Try to fall forwards, not backwards.

I teetered for a moment, on the edge of luck and balance, before the forces that drove my life eventually won, and I started to tip backwards.





Fourteen





Consciousness returned, and with it came hurried whispers. “There has to be a way to keep her out of this fucking game.” Yael’s rage was palpable. “They’re doing this to punish us. I think we should just war against the gods.”

My throat was dry and my words were raspy when I said, “Bad idea. Gods are bastards.”

I managed to prop my eyes open then, to find myself staring up at a familiar wooden ceiling. Five faces filled the space above me, looking down from an impossible height, and as I struggled up, multiple hands reached down to assist me. I looked around to confirm what I had noticed upon waking. We were in the lower level of the Sacred Sands arena. Off to the right were the stairs that would lead us up into the main arena.

My hand reached up and clasped onto the necklace, feeling some reassurance that it was still in place. I wondered if the rest of the link had been reinstated. I have boobs! I sent that thought out, and when five heads jerked in my direction, I knew that my soul-link was back, and still as strong as it had been before.

I struggled to my feet, somewhat steady as I reached out and wrapped my arms around Aros. My body relaxed as tension I hadn’t even realised was there disappeared altogether.

“Ahh, my soul-link is back!” I cheered.

Aros laughed as he pulled away, his eyes locked onto my face. “You have boobs? That was the thought you decided to share?”

I shrugged, stepping back from his warmth. “It’s a fact. Facts are important.”

His eyes lingered on my face before slowly dropping to my chest. “I agree.”

“If you’re all done screwing around, it’s time for us to deal with the current situation.” Coen was still all business-like, which was annoying.

With a whoosh, a small fire sprung up on the bench I’d just been sitting on. All six of us turned to stare at it. No one said anything for a click, before Coen spoke again. “They’re going to call us at any moment. We need to draw our rounds out so that there’s a good show, that way Willa will have no pressure on her to entertain.”

“What order do we go on in?” I asked.

Coen’s broad shoulders shifted uncomfortably. “I have no idea. They’re doing their best to keep us in the dark.”

The heat at my back was growing more intense, but still no one bothered to mention the small fire in the room. I wasn’t sure anyone thought anything of it anymore, since it seemed to happen so regularly around me.

“So I’m allowed to use my Chaos powers?” I wanted to know the rules; I couldn’t have anyone else getting punished because I didn’t listen this time.

Rome nodded. “Yes, you can use anything at your disposal. Don’t forget that your opponent will probably be a gifted sol, so they’ll also have abilities.”

I heard a small shriek then, and spun toward the sound. A blonde, male dweller had just dashed around the corner and was staring with wide eyes at the six-foot flame right behind us. He started gasping and flapping his hands in the air above his head before he turned and ran off again. I looked behind me, making sure there was nothing else going on that I had missed. Nope, just a little fire.

“I love the way you keep saying little fire,” Aros said, laughter in his tone. “It’s singeing the ceiling, sweetheart.”

Sure, there were a few black marks spreading across the ceiling, but it didn’t look that bad. A barrage of footsteps echoed through the area, and then at least a dozen dwellers dashed down the stairs and hurried to where we were standing.

They all bowed low, before multiple sets of flapping hands were waved at us. “Please leave this area,” one said in a rush.

Another leaned closer and whispered, “There’s a fire behind you.”

My lips twitched, but I fought the smile back. “Thanks, but it’s fine. It’s just a l—”

“Little fire,” Aros said.

I glared at him before letting out a ragged breath. “Okay, maybe it’s medium-sized now, but I’ve seen worse.”

None of the Abcurses looked surprised by this, and I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out. Half of the dwellers were still bowing to them, so I figured that was punishment enough. One even hit the floor in an attempt to get as low as was possible. They weren’t going to stop until we left the room, so to save everyone time, I reached out and laced my right hand with Yael’s, and my left hand with Siret’s. “Come on, we might as well wait over here.”

I dragged them toward the stairs, knowing the others would follow. When we were near the bottom step, an announcement rang through the room.

“Calling to the arena: Coen Abcurse, gifted with Pain.” There was a slight pause, and then the announcer continued. “He will face Leonard Fitzwilliam, gifted with Ember.”

I tilted my head to the side and met Coen’s gaze. “Ember?” I asked.

“His hands can create fire. Not like you do. He has to touch something to use his power.”

I nodded. That wasn’t so bad. That was no match for a God of Pain. Only … Coen wasn’t allowed to use his powers. My heart was pounding with heavy, rapid beats as I gulped in air—but I didn’t have time to panic before my hands were released and strong arms wrapped around me.

“I’m going to be fine, dweller-baby,” he murmured into my ear. Some of my panic dissipated at the sound of his familiar, grumbling voice. He’d been so business-like and serious, and it had bothered me.

I wiggled my arms free and wrapped them as tightly as I could around his neck. “Don’t die, or get burned, or kill the sol.” My strangled words had him chuckling.

“Anything else?” He pulled back so he could stare into my eyes. I shook my head rapidly.

“Nope, that’s all.”