Unbound, a Paranormal Romance (Book 2 of the Spellbound Series) by Lola James

heart, as Persephone slit Antonia’s throat with her index fingernail severing her jugular with the swipe. It all happened so fast and in opposite ends of the room. Joanna turned into a million pieces of grey ash that formed a pile at Annie’s feet as Hades restrained Persephone before throwing her to the ground. She released Antonia’s body, which fell forward toward the ground but was caught by Hades before she hit the ground.  
    I was at Antonia’s side in a nanosecond as blood gushed from the deep wound at her neck. I bit into the base of my palm and placed it at her lips in hopes that my blood would save her. I looked into her green eyes, now dull and lifeless. My effort was fruitless as there was no beat of her heart or no breaths that escaped her. I pulled my hand away from her lips. My blood would only help if she was an inch from death and not completely gone as she was. Hades lifted her in his arms. In one movement, Persephone had taken Antonia’s life forever.  
    “If we are done here, I need to say my goodbye to my love.” He turned and slowly walked back down the wide, candlelit hallway.
    “Momma, we have to do something she can’t just die,” Dawn yelled across the room to Circe who was moving to her side. Hermes collected Persephone from the ground to join him, Eris, and Demeter in the front.
    I walked over to the pile of ash to pay my respects to my friend Joanna. I knelt by the remnants of a gold bracelet that Joanna had worn for as long as I knew her. Now, the small hearts that connected around the bracelet would be my only memento of my dear friend. Another man’s sobs added to my somber mood as I gazed up to find Kevin consoling Bion. It hit me again that Antonia was gone.
    I dropped to my knees near the pile of ash as the pain and sadness engulfed me. At no point had I expected this turn of events. I cried out in pain and my chest ached with heartbreak. I loved both the women whose lives were stolen. I felt like dying. I had no point left in this world with the woman I longed to be with, gone.
    The muffled voice and sniffles that belonged to Dawn deepened my sadness. Everyone mourned as she cried in Circe’s arms.
    “My sweet child, our magic cannot save the dead from the hand of a god or goddess,” Circe said as she combed her fingers through Dawn’s golden locks.
    “But…” Dawn sniffled.
    “Shush now. Let us go and say our goodbyes to your friend,” Circe said before they walked down the hallway into the darkness.
    Bion and Kevin followed.
    “Well, I won’t be of use so I’ll be on my way,” Eris stated.
    “Not so fast!” Hermes said as he looked from Demeter to Persephone. “Zeus would like to meet with all three of you for your part in this.”
    “Surely you don’t mean me, Hermes.” Demeter smiled.
    “Especially you, Demeter. Come now, Persephone, Eris. The Mount awaits us.” Hermes waved them on, and in a blink, they disappeared.
    Only Annie and I remained in the mouth of the hallway. She braced the wall, fear painted on her face. A low growl from my throat added to her fear as anger began to resonate. I placed the bracelet into my pocket as I stood to face the killer of my friend and conspirator in the death of my love, Antonia.
    “I didn’t think Persephone’s plan would work, Ben,” Annie said as she inched away with her back against the wall toward the hallway where everyone else had retreated.
    My hands balled up in fist. “You risked Antonia’s life on a plan you thought would fail?” I slowly walked toward her seething. “We have a pile of ash where Joanna lay and pools of blood where Antonia died and yet you’re not sorry.” I closed the space between us as Annie turned her head. I elongated my fangs, ready to take her life when Joanna’s words rang in my ears, “ Ben, that goes against what we believe.” She was right. As much as I hated Annie for taking Joanna’s life and the part she played in Antonia losing hers, I could not kill her or