I could have handled that a lot better. She was asking me questions she had every right to ask and instead of saying I’m terrified if I bite you I’ll rip your throat out, or given the uniqueness of what I am, I have no idea what that would do to you if I completed our bond. It’s literally never been done. I could have said that; I should have said that and because I didn’t I got kicked out of her room and a door slammed in my face. Two things that have never happened to me before. “So when are you going to tell her?” a voice says from my right. I turn to see Yildiz’s sister – Nuray I think her name was – leaning against the wall with her arms folded and giving me a death stare. I was so distracted from getting kicked out I didn’t even notice her approach. “Excuse me?” I ask in irritation. I don’t have time for her issues, I have an angry animai to deal with, and I’m shirtless. “I know who you really are, and I know you haven’t told Yildiz because if you had, she would have told me,”
I’ve spent hours weeping despite my best efforts to stop. Just knowing I’m crying over a guy has left me feeling pathetic, and that’s not something I’ve ever felt before and I hate it. It’s like it says in that Lee Marvin song, ‘mud can make you prisoner, and the plains can bake you dry. Snow can burn your eyes, but only people make you cry.’ What’s worse is I can’t shake these feelings in the back of my mind. I’m certain they’re not mine, which can only mean they belong to Osiah. I feel rage and a kind of fog. There’s something behind the fog but I just can’t pick up what it is, but it’s dark and if I’m honest, scares me a little bit. I would know for certain what it was if our bond was completed but Osiah made it clear that won’t be happening, not that he bothered to tell me why. I finally decide I’m done crying over him and jump in the shower in hopes I can clean off the feeling of rejection that is seeping into my skin like poison. I turn up the heat in the shower and will the s
“And this has been happening every night?” Ceren asks in concern. I take a sip of my Turkish coffee and bite into some freshly baked bread with sweet butter on top and swallow before I speak. “Not every night, but it has been getting more frequent.” “And you believe mother knows what’s going on?” “She has to. She sounded afraid for me, either because she didn’t see this coming, or she has seen something terrible happening to me. I don’t know which,” I shrug. “You’re taking this awful well,” says Ceren sceptically. “Hardly. I just acknowledge that it is happening.” I sit back in my chair, leaning my head back and let the afternoon sun warm my skin. We’ve been sitting at one of the dining spots in the garden so I could fill Ceren in on all the latest drama that has unfolded in my life recently. Including last night’s events. “But you said Osiah somehow shielded you last night. Any idea how he did that?” she asks curiously. I shake my head, “Not a clue. I would have asked him, but
Time seems to be standing still. I don’t know if it’s been hours or minutes sitting in the infirmary. It doesn’t even seem to matter. I can hear the movement and conversations of my sisters, but I can’t make out the words. I can hear the sounds of sobbing as my sisters grieve our loss, but the loudest cries come from Aulen. She hasn’t stopped wailing since I brought Nuray’s body into the infirmary. She keeps trying to heal her, but healing the dead is beyond her abilities. I just continue to sit by the bed holding Nuray’s hand in mine, and as time goes on her hand grows colder and colder, but I can’t let go. She was always there for me; I can’t leave her now. I won’t abandon her like that. “There. Took some time but she’s completely healed now,” says Arthwin. I breathe a sigh of relief knowing my sister Ece will be okay, but the pain in my heart doesn’t go away. If I had gotten there sooner, Nuray might still be alive. “Thank you, Arthwin,” says Feray. “Any idea what did this?” he
With slow, calculated movements I get myself dressed for Nuray’s funeral. Two words I never imagined I would ever say. We’ve hosted funerals at the Kartheca in the past, but never for one of my own sisters. I know mother will be there. Though we haven’t seen or spoken to her I just know inside that she will be there to oversee it. She may not be in our life that often, but she has loved and cared for each of us since the day she brought us into this world. I don’t have to see her to know she’s grieving too. I step into my gown and pull the material up my body and slide my arms through the shoulders of the gown. I untuck my hair as the collar of the dress brushes against my neck. “Let me help,” Osiah gently offers. I listen as he walks up behind me and gingerly pulls the zip up the back of my gown. “You look beautiful,” he says, squeezing my shoulders. “I don’t think I’m supposed to look beautiful for a funeral,” I say sombrely. “You’ll always look beautiful to me,” he promises, pl
We have all tried to resume normal life at the Kartheca. Many of us are diving into our duties to distract us from the emptiness left by Nuray’s passing. Osiah comes and goes, though I still don’t know where he vanishes off to. I really should ask, but I keep putting it off. I’ve just finished my twelve-hour shift guarding the Orraikam and to say it was the longest 12 hours of my life is an understatement. Standing in the chamber where Nuray died and Ece clung to life is painful, to say the least, so I’m glad to be out of there. I guess I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going because suddenly I’m colliding with a soft but sturdy body. “Je suis désolé!” cries a known French accent. I look up to see the familiar ivory aura with a dusting of French violet. “Manon,” I say in surprise, “What are you doing here?” I ask. “I summoned her,” says Arthwin, who I only just noticed standing beside Manon. “Yes, Arthwin told me that he and Aulen are certain that it was Isolde who broke in
The thunderous sound of a heart beating has my eyes snapping open and I can feel my irises burning bright. Tunnel vision is setting in and on instinct, all ten canines take form in my mouth. I turn my head and look down at the glittering beauty in my arms; a distant voice in my head telling me not to touch her, but it’s drowned out as I watch the movement of the pulse in her neck. I can hear the blood moving through her body and smell the way it sweetens the perfume of her scent. My vision turns into a red haze, and I find myself leaning in to brush my nose against her neck and inhale her scent deep into my lungs. The moment I feel the burn of her skin against mine it snaps some sense into me, just enough to make me leap out of bed. I have to get far away from Yildiz and her sisters. With so many blood banks destroyed and me not willing to feed on a living soul, I’ve gone too long without blood and now it’s the threads of the bond tying me to Yildiz that are the only thing allowing me
In a flash, I lift Yildiz and swing her around and feel my heart thump in my chest at the sound of her giggle. It’s even more glorious than the sound of all the bleeding hearts in the world. I set her down and push her hair back as I look in her golden eyes as she smiles up at me. “You are truly the most magnificent being I have met. What you did was so stupid and so dangerous,” I say shaking my head. “And I would do it again. I’m nothing without you, Osiah. I can’t lose you, not now, not ever. That includes losing you to your blood craze. If I have to feed you my blood every time it comes on then I’ll do it, I have plenty to spare. No more running, okay?” she says, holding my face in her hands. I smile a bright smile down at her, “No more running, Firefly. I give you my word.” “Why do you call me ‘firefly’?” she asks curiously. “Because you look like one to me. This beautiful ball of light glittering in my darkness,” I answer as I caress her cheek. She smiles wide, “I like that.
Thank you to everyone who has joined me for another instalment in the Queen Among series. I have enjoyed all of your comments with each passing day. Seeing you all connect with the story and characters truly touched me. I truly hope that if you are in the mood you will consider donating gems, and most importantly, leaving a review of this book on the book's main page. It would do me and my book a huge favour and will also allow me to hear your thoughts on the story. Speaking of story... Here is a breakdown of the series so far, what currently exists and what is to come! Currently Available: Book 1 - A Queen Among Alphas (completed and also available on paperback) Book 2 - A Queen Among Snakes (completed and coming soon to paperback) Book 3 - A Queen Among Blood (completed and coming soon to paperback) Bite-Size Luna - A prequel spin-off to A Queen Among Alphas (completed and coming soon to paperback) COMING SOON IN THE SERIES: Book 4 - A Queen Among Darkness Book 5 - A Queen
Oshmin POV Time slips away as I hold Yildiz in my arms, but soon she is springing up on her feet and quickly undressing before me, which I am not complaining about. “What are you doing?” I ask, as my eyes remain glued in captivation as I watch each piece of fabric disappear from her body leaving only exquisite, glittering mocha curves behind. “If you think I’m just going to sit and stare at a stunning, magical oasis like this and not get in, you’re out of your mind,” she says with glee and promptly dives into the water. The golden glitter of her skin now looking all the more stunning under the twinkling aquamarine waters. Eager to join her, with a snap of my fingers my clothes are in a pile beside me, and I am diving into the water with her. We both break the surface and instantly she begins splashing me. “Oh, you want to play it like that? Game on,” I smirk as I use a fraction of my energy to send a decent-sized wave of water at her. “Hey! That’s cheating,” she pouts, wiping the
Oshmin POV The last few days have been filled with more drama. I used to think my life was very dramatic, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I spent eons reliving one dramatic – or traumatic – experience and believed it followed me everywhere, but after what I’ve experienced in the last few weeks while being with Yildiz, I realise my life was incredibly mundane. We Gods do the bare minimum and then call it a day, Yildiz and her sisters are trying to solve a hundred problems at once and trying to save thousands, if not millions, of lives a day. The miraculous thing is they never complain, and I mean REALLY complain. One bad thing happened to me, and I never shut up about it. Irshiusts see the worst in people and the world around them, take care of the sick, wounded and mistreated and are witness to horrors no being should ever witness, and they do it all with compassion and tolerance – to a degree. They save lives every single day and hardly get so much as a thank you, but they cont
As I make my way down to the cells that reside deep under the Kartheca, I can already hear the voices of my sisters deep within the earthly confines. I take my final step and begin walking down the corridor when the sound of someone’s approaching footsteps gain my attention. “Let me the fuck out of here!” screams the inhabitant of the cell to my right. I stop and turn to face the dim lime-green aura with its faded olive-green hue now standing before me. “I see the concept of a life sentence still confuses you,” I say casually. “I’m an Alpha! Who the fuck do you think you are to treat me like this?” he says as I hear the sound of him hocking up phlegm. I tilt my head to the left just as I hear the wad of phlegm fly past me and hit the wall behind me. That is beyond disgusting. “You were an Alpha and a despicable one at that. Ivan, allow me to remind you that you lost your title the moment you were brought into our custody and a new Alpha was appointed of your pack. Not only are you
Oshmin POV “Are you done with your inner thoughts, or would you like a little more time?” Yildiz asks in a bored tone. I roll my eyes, “Anyone ever tell you how annoying that is?” “Truth be told, I didn’t come here to bust your cosmic balls. I know you and Yildiz have hashed it out and you have been brutally honest. Things are looking up for the two of you and for that I am thrilled. What happened is in the past. Actually, all of that isn’t why I’m here now,” she admits, her tone becoming serious. I sit forward and give her my undivided attention, “I know that look. That’s the look of you’re about to drop a cryptic bomb on me.” “Am I that transparent?” she says with a wry smile. “No, I’ve just known you a long time. What’s going on?” I ask, cutting to the chase. “When I told you I gave you an animai because I wanted you to be happy, that wasn’t a lie.” “Never thought it was…” I say tentatively. “That being said, I had additional reasons for wanting you to be happy.” Her face
Oshmin POV I lay back with my arms under my head already missing Yildiz being wrapped in my arms. As I stare through the glass walls of her room at the stunning view outside, I can’t help but become frustrated. I’m a cosmic being with the power to give Yildiz all the answers she seeks, but because of my own idea to prevent us Gods from meddling, I’m stuck laying here unable to do a single thing to help her. I feel like I shot myself in the foot before ever even realising it. “You made the right call, Oshmin,” I suddenly hear Zarseti’s voice. I look over to see the fuchsia-haired Goddess standing off to the side in a rather stunning purple kaftan with gold beading across the bust and shoulders and lined down the arms and framing the sleeves. “What is with you and the kaftan collection?” I enquire. She walks over and leans against the window, ignoring my question. “Even my daughters need to learn life is not about cutting corners or taking the easy way. We all have our own destinies
The sound of urgent fists pounding against my bedroom door pulls me from my wonderful sleep, but as my senses wake up one by one, I take in the pleasurable heat brought by being nestled in my animai’s arms and his intoxicating scent. I want to stay like this forever, but the pounding is relentless. “I get the feeling they won’t go away until you answer the door,” says Oshmin in a sleepy voice. I groan and bury myself deeper against his side. “Make them go away,” I grumble. “They’re your sisters, you make them go away,” he argues, turning his back to me and depriving me of my cosy snuggle spot. I pout and land a jab to his back that causes me to wince and shake my hand as my finger throbs in protest. Stupid indestructible God. “I bet that hurt you more than it hurt me,” he lazily mocks. “Smartass,” I mutter. Begrudgingly I fling off the covers, get up and make my way to the bedroom door. I open it and finally bring the pounding to a halt. “Was all of that really necessary?” I ask
Oshmin POV I lay in Yildiz’s bed captivated by her every move as she changes into very fitted sky-blue satin shorts and a matching camisole for bed. I could watch her do the most mundane things for all time and never get bored. Is that because of the bond or simply because I love her? I guess I don’t care really. “I just have to take off my makeup and then I’m done.” “I could help,” I offer. “You want to take my makeup off for me?” she asks with a questioning eyebrow. I shrug, “Only if you want me to. I would be more effective though,” I point out. “Hmm. Good point. Okay, time to become the God of Makeup Removal,” she says as she saunters to the bathroom. I let out a loud laugh at her new title for me. Morrtemis would love that. I get up and follow her into the bathroom and look at all the products laid out on the counter. It’s like a chemistry lab in here. “Um, maybe I could just use magic,” I suggest. “Nope. You’re going to do it like I do. Now get to work,” she orders, but
Oshmin POV She wraps her elbow around mine and escorts me out of the door. This is a literal case of the blind leading the blind as Yildiz navigates our way through the Kartheca effortlessly, since I don't know my way around, before arriving at two gigantic doors. I can hear the voices inside that have now dropped to a whisper as we began to approach. Yildiz is right, people who can speak telepathically should just do so and save themselves the embarrassment. Yildiz pushes open one of the doors and guides me into the vastest dining hall I’ve ever seen. Pristine white marbled floors, with square marble pillars lining either side of the lengthy room. The spaces between the pillars are open and blanketed by curtains of white chiffon that dance gently in the breeze from outside. The vaulted ceiling is intricately carved and depicts the origins of every single supernatural being that exists. There are carved statues of women powerfully posed at the top of each pillar and it takes me a mo