Dark Goddess (27 page)
Authors: J. N. Colon
She followed my direction without question, her powers instantly swirling around her once the ring made contact. The reflective surface rippled and churned until a vibrant world shimmered into focus.
A sharp intake of air slipped out of Hartley the same time her fingers pressed against her mouth as if to stop it. She stood frozen for a moment, transfixed by the realm before her. “It’s amazing.”
“I thought we should finally take a trip to true paradise.” I stepped through the doorway and tugged her hand. “You can come any time you’d like. It’s your world too now.”
She followed me through, her gaze traveling over the lush vegetation exploding before us. Towering trees grew toward a canopied sky, leaves of brilliant green stretching out like hands. Bamboo and palms sprouted everywhere, intertwining with snaking vines. Exotic plants and flowers covered the ground and crawled up almost every trunk, thickening the humid air with sweet perfume. Sounds of jungle wildlife and rushing waters echoed harmoniously through the expanse of wilderness.
“Hayden, it’s beautiful.” Her voice was soft, barely a whisper above the sound of tropics. “You
made
this?”
I shrugged noncommittally. “It’s just something I dreamed up.”
She sucked her teeth and wiped her cheeks with her fingertips as tears spilled over. “You created a world within a world—a
paradise
.” She shook her head and peered up at me with undeserving awe glimmering in her watering eyes. “You’re amazing Hayden.”
“Come on before you give me a bigger head than I already have.” I pulled her through the foliage as the sound of washing waters grew louder.
“Where are the souls?”
I glanced over my shoulder. “They’re here. It’s a big place.” I pursed my lips trying to hide my smile. “Plus I asked them to make themselves scarce for a few hours.” My suggestive hint had Hartley’s cheeks blushing.
We finally reached our destination when the trees parted, revealing a shimmering pond fed by a waterfall.
Hartley’s gasp was swallowed up by the cascading water. Her eyes traveled around the small lagoon encased in green. “It’s so—so I don’t think I can find a word good enough to describe it.” Her gaze met mine with a sweet smile. “Or you.”
I winked playfully at her. “Most people just call me the villain.”
She scoffed and nudged my chest. “Hardly.”
“Oh yeah?”
A mischievous expression crossed her face, her lips curling at the corners. “Yeah, because right now I think I’ll play the role of the wicked villain.”
My brows knit at her statement, but before I could ask Hartley snapped her fingers. The humid air suddenly kissed my skin and I looked down to find myself in my black boxers.
Only
my black boxers.
Shock hit me square in the chest and it took several moments for me to shake it off, blinking repeatedly. I glanced up to catch the devilish smirk across her beautiful face.
“I guess I didn’t need you to teach me that little trick after all.” Distant flames of desire lit her eyes as they roamed over my naked flesh.
I shook my finger at her. “Naughty girl. My voice dipped several octaves. “Do I need to teach you a lesson?”
Hartley snapped her fingers again and her clothes disappeared, leaving her in black and crimson lacy underthings.
Flames roared to life in my irises while heat lit my insides like a blazing inferno that never died out.
She gave a noncommittal shrug. “Like I said, I’m done with learning.”
My gaze roamed hungrily over her stunning body bared before me, lingering on every curve and dip. I ate her up and wanted to do the same with my mouth. My hands reached out and gripped her hips, pulling her flush against me. “You’ve done it now baby.”
Her brow arched in challenge, but her breathing was just as ragged as mine, betraying the quickness and depth of her yearning. I jumped backwards with her into the sparkling pond. Warm water glided over my skin and between us as we bounced back to the surface.
Hartley giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck. “You call that a punishment?”
I kissed her quickly. “That was nothing.” I swam for the waterfall, passing through it to reveal a cave. I pulled Hartley up onto the glittering stone, a breathless laugh tumbling out of her sexy mouth. My eyes traced the curve of it, imaging the tip of my tongue doing the same and everything else I wanted to do to her.
As if she knew what I was thinking the crimson in her eyes deepened and her teeth snagged her bottom lip, sending my pulse into overdrive.
With a rumbling growl I picked Hartley up and carried her to a bed of moss and flowers hidden within the depths of the cave, laying her gently back. Her heart fluttered like a humming bird as I settle my hips against hers.
“Hades,” she breathed, her fingers reaching up and gently stroking beneath my fire eyes.
I swallowed hard, a swarm of emotion drawing a lump into my throat. No one in my entire immortal life ever looked at me the way Hartley did—like I was more than the villain of the story. She looked at me like I was the hero. Her hero.
Little did she know she was mine.
Sensing my inner struggle and wanting to alleviate it, Hartley tilted her head in that little way that drove me nuts and smirked. “Well, as punishments go this is pretty nice.”
A warning growl escaped my mouth, which really was a thank you for pulling me away from my impending tear producing fest. Her chest brushed up against mine tauntingly as she breathed heavily, making my body tremble with anticipation.
I crooked a smile and pulled strands of wet hair from her flushed face, both of our crimson flickering eyes casting shadows on the dim cave walls. “Just wait till you see what’s coming.” I leaned down and captured her lips with mine in a slow, sensual kiss that built into an inferno of passion blazing within our bodies.
As Hartley lay curled up against me in the cave fast asleep I wondered if in centuries myths of us would overpower the bad ones I shared with Persephone. My eyes traveled her face as my fingers brushed her hair back, studying her perfection.
No. It would take a lot less time. What I had with Hartley was already legendary.
The first one would probably be how a soul broke out of the Underworld to eventually tame the darkness within its god.
Hartley
My eyes fluttered open to our bedroom in the palace, Hayden beside me in bed. We finally made it out of Elysium, both happy and sated. And tired.
The fire outside the windows and sconces danced across us hypnotically, casting a scarlet glow. My fingers absentmindedly traced Hayden’s bared torso, running along the ridges of his muscles. Once I had welcomed the powers of the Underworld into me and rescued Hayden, my soul finally felt at peace again. The ice melted to nothing and the hole had filled up with not only Hayden’s love, but the power of fire and darkness. This was where I was always meant to be.
I belonged with Hayden and the Underworld. Hera had set the wheels in motion when she killed me, but if not her, then something else would have done it. My destiny had always been to become the dark goddess of the Underworld.
Hayden shifted and snagged my wrist. “That’s tickling the hell out of me.” His voice was sleepy, sexily curling out his mouth and vibrating between us.
I giggled. “Good. Let’s tickle some more hell out of you.”
He laughed as I lightly ran my fingers down his shredded abs once more. He pushed me back and lifted himself up on an elbow so he was looking down at me. “So what are we going to conquer next Hartley?”
My lips pursed. “College.”
His dark brow arched. “You and fraternity guys?” He shook his head, throwing his sinfully dark locks in his gray eyes. “It won’t end well.”
My mouth dropped in mock shock. “I thought you were a good boy now.”
Hayden scoffed. “Please. I might not be a brooding, angry god anymore, but baby…” His voice lowered to a dangerous, skin tingling cadence. “I’ll always be a bad boy.” Crimson flames sparked in his irises, causing mine to do the same.
Then End.
Thank you for reading the Divine Darkness series and I hoped you enjoyed Hayden and Hartley’s story as much as I did.
“Sex on Fire” by King of Leon
“Good For You” by Selena Gomez
“Teardrop” by Civil Twilight
“Ya’ll’d Think She’d be Good 2 Me” C.C. Adcock
“You Rascal You” by Hanni El Khatib
“2 Wicky” by Hooverphonic
“Cut” by Plumb
“What’s Next” by Filter
“Head Like a Hole” by Nine Inch Nails
“Running Up That Hill” by Placebo
“Into the Unknown” by Blackchords
“Magdalena” by Perfect Circle
“Prelude 12/21” by AFI
“Siren Song” by Bat For Lashes
“Stunning” by 8mm
“Burn” by Ellie Goulding
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Read an excerpt from the first book in my new series.
Blood In Iron (The Iron Series Book 1)
Kory has never been afraid to walk down a dark, decrepit street at night for two reasons. One, she can see the villains lurking in the shadows, hear their footsteps as they approach, feel their malicious presence closing the distance. And two, on any given day or night she’s more dangerous than them. Or so she thought.
When the rebellious teen discovers the true evil underbelly of Bishop City, Kory’s life and all she’s ever known is irrevocably shattered. She’s caught between simply surviving and following the path she never knew existed. Rex becomes her teacher and the chemistry between them is both undeniable and forbidden.
Relationships and loyalties are tested and, as Kory falls deeper into this new supernatural world, dark secrets arise, hinting that her destiny might be more than she bargained for. Is she simply another demon hunter? Or is her blood the key to something darker?
My eyes trailed her steps down the cold, neglected street, her feet effortlessly dodging rigid cracks in the concrete. Darkness slithered around her, magnetized and intrigued, yet she is a creature of light. It spills forth from her in iridescent, shimmering waves. She cannot see it. But I can. And like a moth to a flame I’m drawn to her, helpless to fend off the burning danger.
Her eyes are the only windows to her light visible, spotted with embers so brilliant it should dispel any shadow into dust.
She is still so young and unaware yet she senses deep down the power within. From my perch on the rooftop, her pulse beats against my flesh, steady, calm, and strong. She’s brave beyond comprehension. She walks the night, blends in with the enemy without so much as a flinch, a nagging second thought, or a splinter of fear.
Only the purest of
Her
descendants are born with this inherent valor. But she has something they don’t. I can feel her life vibrating with it, taste her blood on my tongue full of it.
My black heart beats anew, spilling my veins with anticipation and bliss I haven’t felt in eons. After searching for nearly a decade I finally found her. There is no mistaking who she is.
I jumped down from the rooftop and landed soundlessly on the cold concrete, my quick steps snaking in her direction. Her senses are sharp, but I can be the invisible fiend. I brushed past her, burying my face in her thick hair.
Ahhh. My pulse quivered with the intensity of life and power thrumming through her veins.
A nail protruded out, slashing across the glossy black silk before reaching the other side of the road. My hand clutched the midnight strands as if my very fate was nestled within each shaft.
It was. In a way.
My head tilted back, staring up at the pitch sky. Through the city smog and clouds I could detect the stars beaming like multicolored diamonds. A boldly brilliant gold one held a dare for me in each twinkle.
This girl is my salvation. Oh yes dear beauty. I at last I will have my redemption.