The Rise of the Underworld Read online

  The demigod could undress me with his mere smoldering gaze, and wearing nothing but a robe didn’t help. If I had on my hunter attire, I’d be in my element and know how to deal with him.

  Right now, I’d never felt more vulnerable than under the weight of his blunt, heated, and assessing gaze.

  Worse, a swirl of liquid fire licked the flesh between my thighs, and my sex became slick and wet.

  My face burned. Goddammit! What had I said about not wearing panties?

  Gods help me if my lady bits got any wetter!

  I lifted my chin, staring back at the demigod in defiance as I tightened the front of my robe.

  An amused, wicked, and possessive smile ghosted his lips before it disappeared as if it had never been there.

  “You were out of my sight for only a few hours,” Axel sighed, “and you’re already causing chaos. I’m starting to wonder if it was worth it to bring you here.”

  My eyes sparkled in hope, and I stepped toward him without his invitation, though he was still twenty stairs away from me. “You’ll let me go?”

  He regarded me darkly, seeming to think about it, and I smiled at him in order to get in his good graces.

  “Nope,” he said, his face turning hard. “You will go through the trial, Marigold, even if I have to drag you through it myself.”

  A wild wind rolled down from the stairs, shuffling my robe and caressing the valley between my thighs. I parted my lips and widened my eyes at the sensation. Then the naughty wind was gone, as was the infuriating Demigod of War.

  Demetra snickered as she rose to her feet. She must believe that Axel was using the ritual as a means to humiliate, punish, and execute me.

  She would be the cheerleader for that, wouldn’t she?

  But she might be right, though.

  I refused to let any of them further crush my spirit.

  I paused at the base of the stairs and turned to the Dominion officer. “May I borrow your boots, Marie?” I asked. At least I could try to improve my current condition as the first step. “You have socks. My bare feet are fragile. It really hurt walking on that long, cobbled path.” I raised my head and peeked at the cobbled stairs leading to the red building where the ritual would be held and lives would be lost.

  Maybe I was stalling. I had no courage left. “Man, just look at those stairs. I don’t think my feet, which aren’t made of stones, can take it anymore.”

  Continue to read MAGIC TRIALS

  About the Author

  Meg Xuemei X is a USA Today and Amazon Charts bestselling author of paranormal and fantasy romance. She finds it delightful to be around drop-dead gorgeous alpha males who are forever tormented by her feisty heroines, unseelie fae, dark vampires, menacing demigods, demon A-holes and fallen angels, fun shifters. and cunning witches.

  She is always happy to hear from readers and welcome new friends on Facebook.

  Email: [email protected]

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