Short upload today, but the upcoming chapters are about to be a rough ride, so buckle up.
Knowledge is power…everyone knows this.What people neglect to mention is the burden that follows suit. Imagine knowing every possible choice each person will make before they’ve even learned there is a decision before them… it’s a powerful thing. But being the one to guide each person, to ensure they follow the right path and preserve the future…well, THAT is the burden I bear.For thirty thousand years I have worked tirelessly to unite these people under one banner, to allow them to come together and fight as one mighty force, and now it’s time for me to break my silence. It’s time they all learned of the peril that awaits them so they may prepare themselves for battle.I appear before the grand, ornate doors of the Kartheca’s meeting hall, feeling the magic radiating from within and hearing the whispered conversations clear as a bell. I push open the doors and step into the large, stone chamber, breathing in the serene energy of the room.As I enter, each of my daughters, and our g
I take my place, standing at the table as the others take their seats and Oshmin comes to stand behind Yildiz with his hands on her shoulders. Right on time, Morrtemis, Merlos and Ezillus arrive. Sebastian and Lemuel understandably tense at Merlos’ presence and her smirk doesn’t help matters so I do my best to release an extra wave of tranquillity over the room, the others look upon each God in surprise and reverence.“Mother Morrtemis,” Amelia whispers in awe as she, Marcus and Chris lower their heads respectfully.“What a warm welcome, and a hello to the six of you,” Morrtemis greets, acknowledging the presence of their wolves, their eyes glowing in acknowledgement of their maker.“We’re all here, so this better be good,” Merlos says with disinterest.“Lighten up, Merlos. When was the last time we were all gathered like this?” Ezillus teases, nudging her arm playfully.“We’ve never been gathered like this,” she says brusquely.“Exactly! That’s what makes it exciting.”“Hey, all we n
Mei slowly raises her hand, politely waiting her turn to speak. What an absolute sweetheart she is!“You can speak, Mei, you don’t need permission,” Oshmin assures her with kind eyes.“But the nagata aren’t immune to the eyti either,” she says, chewing on her bottom lip with worry.“They aren’t, but you are,” I tell her.“Me?!” she shrieks.Oshmin looks from her to me with wide eyes. “Fucking hell Zarseti, is there anything you haven’t thought of?”“I don’t understand,” Mei says in confusion.“The nagata aren’t immune to the influence of the eyti, but the Golden Snake of Healing and Onyx Snake of Death are,” Oshmin explains gently.Mei’s frown only deepens across her delicate features. “But that doesn’t help my people. They’d be left defenceless.”“Mei,” I say gently, “Do you recall the battle where you took back Longsang?” She gently nods. “How did you save your people?”Her brows furrow as she looks deep in thought. Shaking her head when the answer doesn’t come to her. Chris gives he
The timer goes off, so I grab my kitchen towel and open the oven. The vegetables look juicy and caramelised in the pan and the chicken looks crispy and golden roasted. Using the towel, I grab the pan at both ends and remove it from the oven, but as I carry it to the counter, the towel slips off the edge and I feel the pan searing my hand.“Shit! Ow! Motherfuck!” I resist the urge to toss the pan and quickly place it down on a cooling rack, move to the sink and place my hand under cold running water.Before I even register the shift in the room, the burning of my hand is replaced by a soothing burn as Jartre appears out of nowhere, pulling my hand out from under the faucet, his touch immediately easing the stinging burn of my hand.“You’re hurt,” he frets, examining my hand with a furrowed brow. “What happened?”“I’m okay, I just didn’t secure the towel I was using and burnt my hand on the pan,” I comfort him. “It was just an accident.”He sighs, lowers himself as he raises my hand to
We’re panting, heaving chests and quivering limbs tangled in my bed sheets as we reel from our combined climax as the sun rises. My head is spinning, my lips are dry, and my throat is parched, but deep inside is that yearning once again; the yearning to be at one with him.“Jartre?” I say, gulping to lubricate my throat.“Yes, my love?” His hands glide up my back as he places sensual kisses upon my heated, dripping flesh, his hard length still firm and twitching with need inside me.“I want you to make me yours completely.”He turns to stone on top of me and I can feel the mix of elation and apprehension waging a war inside him, though it’s subtle, I’m getting better at picking up on it. He slowly lifts his head to look at me, his purer than snow, white hair a tangled mess from all my playing with it.“You want to complete our bond?” he almost whispers.I nod. “I’ve thought about it, more than you know and I know beyond a doubt that I can’t live being so close to you but so far. I wan
“You know, I haven’t had this much fun since Qin’s war of unification,” chimes Morrtemis with a dreamy expression on her cocoa face. “There used to be an art to war. There was intelligence and even respect for your enemies. Humans don’t fight with honour anymore and it takes the fun out of it,” she sighs in disappointment.“This isn’t meant to be fun, Morrtemis,” Oshmin chastises her.“Well it better be something, because all this waiting is going to put me into a coma,” Merlos complains in her usual apathetic tone.“It won’t be long now,” I calmly tell them, my eyes fixed on the tree line before us. I can sense the eyti hiding among the shadows, their malice seeping through the trees like a dense fog pushing against my serenity as they await the return of their master.Everyone has gathered, waiting for the battle to start. Tension is high and the weight of trepidation hangs so heavily in the air it could rival gravity itself. Not even my daughters can counter each poor soul's unease
Piercing, glowing, purple eyes fill my mind as a wave of energy hits me more powerfully than a thousand bolts of lightning, shocking me into consciousness. My eyes fly open, and I bolt up in bed, my heart pounding and chest heaving. I can taste the malice in the air; thick and suffocating like being buried alive.He’s free…I don’t know how he’s free, but I can feel it like an electric charge running through me; a charge filled with every dark thought and emotion I once possessed. Somehow Azadou has been freed from his cage. Nothing good will come of this. I have to put a stop to him.I look down at Gabriella’s flushed face, my heart choking in conflict. I don’t know what completing our bond has done to her, and I know she needs me more than ever. I can’t abandon her…but I can’t just stay here knowing my own evil is roaming free.I reach out, gently stroking Gabriella’s cheek, the once pleasurable burn from contact with her skin now a far more intense soothing and almost erotic blaze
“You couldn’t have seen that coming?” Merlos huffs as we all get to our feet, shaking off the mud and water. Merlos waves her hands returning her dress and hair to their pristine state.“What do you say we do this in style?” With a confident smirk on her face, Morrtemis steps forward as her deep, cocoa skin slowly turns into a violet crystal-like substance. The crystals continue to spread, replacing her hair and clothes until there’s nothing left but walking amethyst.Our vessels are just that, vessels. Forms that allow us to blend in with humans a little easier, and ones we find a little more appealing to the eye. These, however, are not our true forms. All Gods have two forms. There’s our true physical form that looks more like a sentient humanoid-gemstone, and then there’s our purest form, consisting of celestial energy; energy so pure and powerful it would destroy every human here if they looked upon it.One by one the others follow Morrtemis’ lead. Oshmin’s appearance morphs to h