The Ash Bride by Paris Alexandra

Author:Paris Alexandra [Alexandra, Paris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Paris Alexandra
Published: 2023-08-18T16:00:00+00:00

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The first time she kissed Pelops was the first time she had ever kissed a boy and meant it. Like all the girls her age she had kissed boys during particularly scandalous dares, and a few had stolen kisses from her without asking, but she had never kissed a boy because she actually wanted to.

Persephone had been searching for the boy who saved her life for weeks. Returning to the same sandy stretch of beach that stretched far into the ocean, sitting in the same spot he had smacked her back into consciousness every day for four months. Giving up less than a week after her mother and friends banned together to tell her to move on, that Pelops was a fluke, a boy sent by the gods to save her life and that was all.

They had never been truly convinced he was real, all three of them positive he was an extension of Poseidon’s, or possibly Oceanus’, powers to save her from drowning. Though Oceanus denied it when questioned, and Poseidon avoided them entirely, so nobody could be certain.

If she was being honest with herself, she agreed with them. It didn’t make sense that a boy his age was a strong enough swimmer to save her while they were pushed and pulled by the currents under the water, her being a dead weight in his arms. Then have enough energy to run back up the main beach before Persephone had even opened her eyes again.

Squishing the sand between her toes, sitting alone, far away from the prying eyes of her mother and friends, Persephone let her shoulders droop in disappointment.

The boy was never coming back.

She’d have to send word to Poseidon and Oceanus both, thanking them for saving her life.

Sitting there, she drew shapes in the sand around her feet until Helios’ chariot was dropping in the sky, quickly heading for the horizon. The sky hadn’t yet turned pink, but the brightness of the blue was diminishing quickly, if she didn’t leave now she would have to face her mother’s wrath.

Dreading the interaction she was going to have with her mother when she got home, Persephone slowly stood up and stretched. She cracked her back and knuckles, bent to touch her toes though she could only reach her heels, and stretch her legs. Buying herself as much extra time as she dared before heading home.

As she began turning back to the mainland, a warm calloused hand grabbed her shoulder.

Screaming loud enough her voice cracked, Persephone whipped her free arm around to hit her assailant, her elbow connecting with the soft skin of their cheek. She only needed them to get far enough away to vanish without taking them with her.

A male voice cried out as her elbow made contact, and she yanked her shoulder out from under his grasp and ran.

Except, she didn’t make it one step. His fingers wrapped around her ankle as she was mid step, the sand coating her skin rubbed roughly against the sand covering her hand.

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