Read Online Vala Eminence by J. F. Jenkins - Free Book Online Page B

explained a lot about why Persephone thought she owned him.
    â€œIs that the only reason you're displeased with me?” Lucien asked. He traced the outline of her ear and leaned his lips in to nibble on her lobes. She pulled away from him before he had the chance.
    She closed her eyes, and Denver saw how old she was then. Or rather, how old Persephone was. Tired, worn, lines crinkled around her eyes, and there was a sense of defeat in the way her shoulders hunched forward. She seemed so sad, and he felt a tightening in his chest that could only be described as heartbreak. His soul mate needed him, and he was currently powerless to stop her pain.
    â€œMy lady?” Lucien pressed.
    â€œI don't feel ready,” she said. She faced him, and the two held each other’s gaze. “I'm displeased because I don't feel the same way for you that you do, me. I wish I could figure out what was off, so we could move past the problem and be together again. I miss my dear, sweet, Hades so much. This loneliness is unbearable.”
    Lucien trailed a few fingers along her jawline, down her neck, and over her shoulder. She shivered, but it was hard to tell if that was because she enjoyed the gesture, or loathed it. The demon brought his lips to her ear once more.
    â€œI can cure your loneliness,” he whispered. “All you have to do is trust me. I can give you the world. Did you know that is my desire? To give you everything from the living realm and place it here in our domain? Then we would never have to be apart. You would have more than a garden. You would be surrounded by life and beauty.”
    Cheyenne's jaw dropped. “How? That's not possible. The two worlds can't combine. This is spiritual, and the other is—”
    â€œNot? The realm of the living has plenty of spirits. They inhabit bodies that still function. Then their vessel expires and they move on to here. But physical bodies can be here just as spirits can be there. It's not impossible, just nearly unheard of. Wouldn't it be nice to not have to say goodbye to your loved ones after their bodies die? To live forever on the Earth you so loved and enjoyed?” Lucien kissed her cheek. “That is what I want for you. The ultimate of all gardens.”
    Wow, he's crazy. Not like I'm surprised, but this is a whole different kind of crazy than I originally thought. Denver had only known a few of Lucien's plans. He knew the demon wanted to become one the Divine so he could gain control of the underworld. What he didn't know, until that moment, was why. The thought of the physical, living world combining with the spiritual one made Denver's stomach churn. It sounded an awful lot like the end of the world to him.
    Cheyenne closed her eyes, but Persephone kept hers open. A strange sight if ever there was one, because it appeared as though she had two faces. Persephone's black eyes were wide with hope. “It sounds too good to be true. I'm not sure what to think. What made you think of creating such a world?”
    â€œYou,” Lucien said. “You're the inspiration for everything.”
    A quiet scoff escaped Denver, and he hoped neither of them heard it. Something tells me the inspiration was endless power and world domination. Because if something like that happened, all of the rules would be reset. I'm pretty sure Lucien would be making the rules up, and that sounds scary. He frowned. And I helped him do this. Am I a good guy now if I'm repenting?
    Lucien was kissing her, deep and sensual. He moved his hands to her hips, caressing her tenderly like any loving husband would. The gesture made Denver's blood boil. There was no way Lucien really loved her. The creature was an excellent liar and Persephone was buying into it, practically eating out of his hand. Cheyenne would have been smart enough to not follow along. She knew exactly what he was capable of. Why couldn't she be more conscious in the underworld?
    Persephone let out a soft moan