Tempted by Darkness (Bound to Hades #1) - Lillian Sable Page 0,3

as words on paper or paint splashed angrily across canvas.

People probably thought the weird girl who was always the last one to leave the art studio at night and the first one to arrive in the morning just had a crazy work ethic. But really, I was compelled to produce, and when the studio closed down for the night, I’d stay up until dawn writing in my room. I’d initially been an art major as an undergraduate then switched to the drama program when I discovered they had a screenwriting and producing track for graduate students.

It was Adonis who had pressured me into producing this play, based partly on my own imaginings but also on the book I’d read over and over again at least a thousand times.

Lament of the Underworld.

Although, it was both fascinating and appalling to watch Adonis transform into the terrible ruler of the dead, dark elves, and all other manner of creatures inhabiting the underworld. He was all light, and the character was all darkness, but his acting skills were more than enough to pull it off.

From the stage, Adonis smiled down at me in a way that made me feel warm and comforted, like sliding under the covers between soft sheets.

“Will you just quit with the armchair directing and say your lines.” I pointed at his mark on the stage floor and gestured for him to start again. “You are not offer-only, buddy. Someone else might get this part if you don’t start taking it seriously.”

As if I would ever in a million years want someone else playing that role. Screw that. But Adonis doesn’t need to know he’s been the only one I envisioned as the star from the very beginning.

“Oh, please. I’m the best thing that ever happened to this theater department.”

I rolled my eyes, fighting off a smile. “At least the size of its collective ego.”

“Bitch.”

“No talent hack.”

“You wound me.” He knew damn well I would never give the part to someone else, but made a show of rushing to get back into place. “Just don’t spank me. You know, since you’re the master and all.”

My lip quirked, but I forced myself not to laugh. “Spankings have to be earned. Now, start from the top of page twenty.”

Adonis launched into character as the magical and maniacal Hades with gusto. His claims about being the best weren’t just bravado, the man could act. This play was only going to be performed at a student showcase, but he treated it like we were weeks away from going on Broadway.

“Good job,” I told him, yawning as I glanced down at my watch. We’d been at this for two hours. I was always tired, but it was difficult to sleep these days, dreams woke me up all night long. “We can probably break for the day.”

He swiped at his forehead, where beads of sweat dotted the skin, both of us overheated under the bright lights. “When are you going to let me in on who you picked for the female role?”

I hadn’t found the right person to play the kidnapped orphan-turned-princess fighting for her freedom. None of the other girls in our program felt like a good fit, and it had to be someone I was willing to spend dozens of hours working alongside. That alone excluded most people, let alone the handful of good actresses in our program. I’d always struggled to make friends with girls. Hell, I struggled to make friends with anyone, but girls were a difficulty setting on Insanity mode. Aside from Adonis, most of the other students treated me like the resident crazy person who should be avoided at all costs.

Wisps of dark hair fell into my face, and I pushed them away impatiently. My hair refused to stay in the messy bun on my head, no matter how many times I redid it. It had always had a mind of its own, and now it wanted to flow free down my back no matter how much that might get in my way.

Okay, I knew my hair didn’t have sentient thought processes or a will of its own, but still. I’d always been prone to flights of fancy.

“You must have read a lot of Greek myths when you were a kid.” Adonis flipped through the script before casting a sly glance at me. “Although parts of this read more like an erotic fairytale.”

“I like to think of the sexual aspects as subtext,” I replied primly. “Maybe you should keep your mind