In this Chapter: Draco: God of the Lycans. Orion: God of the Mages. Azrael: God of the Wolves. Lunette: Goddess of the Moon. Solana: Goddess of the Sun. Adira: Goddess of the Hunt.
Blakely The back door swung open without so much as a creak. Inside, the scent of charred flesh, now stale from our time away, hung in the air. As Orion had said, the phoenix flame hadn’t touched the house or furniture. No, it only cared for the living. I stared down at two—no, three—piles of ash. One of them had a few teeth sticking out. ‘That’s disgusting.’ Aris sneered. We’d just stepped into the main hall when Orion’s voice slipped into my thoughts. ‘The enchantment I put on the place is still intact. If there’s anyone in here, they won’t be able to leave.’ I was once again caged between my mates as we wandered throughout the house, checking rooms and closets to ensure there weren’t anymore assassin’s lurking in the shadows. By the time we made it to Orion’s study thin beams of sunlight were spilling through the windows. In the center of the room, perched atop an old pedestal, sat the very book that held the prophecy of Lunette’s disappearance. Azrael strolled over and snatc
Blakely At first there was darkness. The darkness of night, of unending pain, of loss so sharp and bitter that it left my soul in tatters. At first there was darkness, and then—then there was light. A tide of silver pushed and pulled within my veins, controlled by a force so much greater than myself. I drowned in a sea of it, swallowed by the moon’s unfathomable power. Unable to hold my breath any longer, I sucked it into my lungs. Hot and cold, soft and harsh, it invaded my body in a torrent. I could feel it rushing through me, delving into muscle and bone. I could feel it changing me. Changing me into what though? In the dark a voice called out. One that gleaned no hint of recognition, and yet I knew it as well as I knew my own. Sister, daughter, ancestor, and friend… Her voice was a melody I’d heard a thousand times. The voice that sang within my dreams, that whispered in my veins, that curled around me in the darkest of nights when I had only the moon to light my way. E
Blakely Early that morning the four of us, Lina included, sat around a hand-carved coffee table, with one of Orion’s ancient texts sprawled out before us. I glanced over at my sister, who I’d caught staring at me several times over the last hour. Her words still rang in my ears. “You died…I saw your body on the ground. I saw the blood.” Her lungs rattled as she sucked in a sharp breath. “You died and now you’re—now you’re a Goddess—our Goddess.” Understandably, she was struggling to wrap her head around it. I would’ve been as well had I not been able to feel the magic in my veins and see the difference through the lens of my own eyes. “So, this…” Lina frowned, her brows gnashing together as she surveyed the book on the table. “…this prophecy, it’ll tell you where the Moon—I mean, Lunette, is imprisoned?” “Not exactly,” Draco murmured, “Prophecies are rarely ever cut and dry.” Orion thumbed through the pages, his arm brushing up against my own. My breath hitched, remembering last
Blakely Since we were out of stardust and had no time to make more, we were forced to travel on foot. With my body now reborn into that of an immortal, I couldn’t complain. Each step, be it uphill or down, was as easy as breathing. There was no strain in my muscles, no soreness, even after several hours had passed. While we walked, my mates helped me practice my magic. “Lunette never spoke of limits to what she could do.” Orion explained, his eyes scanning the forest for hidden threats. “I know she was more powerful at night, but she was no weakling during the day either.” I took turns listening to each of my mates, learning the constraints of their powers. Moonlight was similar to any other light and could be manipulated at will. I practiced with Draco, calling the shadows and bending them, twisting them into hiding us from view. I wielded light with Azrael, blending us into our surroundings for seconds at a time. Even Lina had stopped her complaining to watch and throw out tip
Blakely My immortal reflexes worked something fierce, because my first instinct when I awoke was to start swinging. Before I even managed to pry my eyelids open, my fist made contact with a scruff-covered face. A familiar yell pierced my ears. I blinked, clearing the fog from my eyes to find Rocco of all people just a few feet away. He clutched his nose, blood spurting from the broken bone. It seeped into the raggedy tunic and breeches he wore, soaking into the dirt at his feet. “You blue-haired bitch!” He sputtered, gasping and sputtering as I stared at him. “Well, what in the hell was that for?” I stood from the wooden bench I’d been placed on and quickly scanned my surroundings. There were four walls around me, all comprised of hard packed dirt. A few rusty lockers sat on either side of a wooden door set with thick metal bars. “You kidnapped me.” I snapped, “Did you expect me to hug you for it? Call me a bitch again and I’ll break more than just your nose.” Rocco cocked his h
Blakely Now was probably a really bad time to mention I had to use the bathroom. With a wave to the crowd, Ulrich strode over to the stone wall caging me in. A single leap was all it took for him to clear it, landing in the box with the other Gods and Goddesses. A snarl slid past my lips, which only made his grin widen. My eyes darted to the left, latching onto a familiar face. It was Deidamia of all people, the Goddess of Chaos. She was as stunning as ever, wearing a gown of multi-colored fabric that wrapped around her curvaceous body. An identical strip covered her head, secured around her neck. Her eyes danced like two gold coins, and as she tipped her head to the side, I swore I could tell what she was thinking. Wreak some havoc. Cause chaos. Show them all. Those in the stands began to stomp their feet, creating a beat that sent adrenaline coursing throughout my body. Azrael, Draco, Orion, and Lina sat on the edge of their seats, practically hanging over the wall of the
Blakely Held in place by dozens of shimmering chains stood the biggest snake I’d ever seen. It was the size of a school bus. No, even bigger. Ulrich stood and raised his hand, silencing the crowd. “The Goddesses final opponent of the night is the mighty—the fearsome—Basilisk!” The crowd roared and cheered as I fought to keep from pissing myself. ‘Control your bladder, woman.’ Aris huffed, ‘I refuse to die covered in urine.’ ‘Your priorities are ass backwards.’ “As you all know, one glance into a Basilisk’s eyes will kill you instantly. As an immortal, our dear Goddess need not worry about that. However, it’s stare can still cause terror. Terror that paralyzes.” Ulrich swept a hand through the air and two Goddesses I did not recognize stood to their feet. Both took a stand on either end of the box and proceeded to raise their arms. Magic flowed from their fingertips, spreading along the crowd. Within seconds a dome formed high above my head, blocking the patrons from the carnag
Blakely After my victory, the metal gates blocking the entryways lifted. Rocco stood in the mouth of one, motioning for me to follow. There was a slight tug in my gut as the spear and armor I created melted back into silver wisps of moonlight. They floated off the sand floor and into the open air before vanishing. Staring at the back of his leather vest as I trudged after him, I huffed. “If you’re not leading me to my mates, and then a scalding hot bubble bath, I’m going to feed you to my wolf.” He snorted, his shoulders shaking as he chuckled. “Someone’s a cranky Smurf.” “This someone just killed two mindless zombies, a beefed-up scorpion, and a snake the size of tour bus. I think I’ve earned the right to be cranky, Rocco.” “Touche, but I think you’ll change your mind.” I never got the chance to ask why. Rocco led me through the locker room, to a door I swore hadn’t been there earlier. We headed down a flight of steps that delved into the earth, then walked down a tunnel that
Blakely One Year Later “They better not be late.” Orion huffed, ever the grump. “I don’t know why you thought it a good idea to let them galivant off together.” I crept up behind him as we passed a copse of trees a mile or so away from the mansion and leapt onto his back. Of course, the man was built like a damn pillar, so it took a harsh burst of my magic to send us toppling over into a nearby field of wildflowers. As we rolled, Orion wrapped his arms around my body, protecting me from harm. No matter how many times I told them I was an all-powerful immortal now, my mates never failed to protect me. I propped my elbows on Orion’s chest and watched as the scowl marring his beautiful face was replaced with a begrudging smile. He never could stay angry when I was around. I craned my head to look at Draco. On his back was a pack full of all our things. “Here seems like as good a spot as any.” His eyes flared with heat as I shifted myself onto Orion’s lap, straddling him. When I mov
Blakely I listened with open ears and a wounded heart as Ulrich went over the casualties on both sides. Mara, Goddess of Wrath, and Rosalind, Goddess of Beauty, had both been taken down in the fight. Even though they fought on Solana’s side, it was still life lost. I couldn’t help but wonder who would step up to take their place. Vasu, God of Serpents, had escaped during the chaos. Ulrich announced that he’d likely lay low for a few decades until the memories of the battle weren’t so raw. Amora broke into tears as Dhara announced Nyssa’s death. She and Casimir had died within seconds of one another. Whilst Nyssa met her end blocking a blow meant for Dhara, Casimir succumbed to his injuries at the hands of a corrupt beast trying to attack the stream of families evacuating the city. I was relieved to see Ozul, a thick bandage wrapped around his head and a dazed sort of smile on his face as he sat next to his father, Cielo. Both regarded Lina and I warmly. Aspen, whose attitude was
BlakelyEven as the hours passed, I didn’t move from Lina’s side.As I went to take her hand, I realized there was something tucked within it. Prying her fingers away, I found our dad’s compass resting in her palm. Agony consumed me as I cried until my voice gave out.That was how Lina had found me. The compass that was meant to always point towards home led her right to me.To her, I must have been home.I could feel the other Gods and Goddesses approaching, entering the courtyard whilst the wolves—my people—remained a comfortable distance away. I could feel them mourning for me and knew that somewhere deep down they and their wolves felt a whisper of my pain.Orion knelt at my side and quietly explained that Sirona had arrived to heal my injuries. It killed me not to let my mates pull me away, to console me like I knew they wanted, but I simply couldn’t leave Lina’s side.I had failed her. It didn’t matter that I needed to defeat Solana. I was a Goddess, for fucks sake, and I couldn
Blakely I turned my attention to Solana and lunged. Shifting mid-air, I managed to rake my claws across her shoulders before she swung her staff, nailing me in the side. I had severely underestimated the force of her blow, because it sent me skittering across the throne room floor. As I rolled, I shifted back into my human form and unsheathed the sword at my hip. Power cascaded through me, turning the blade black as night. I swung it at Solana and watched as the metal glittered with flecks of stars. The Sun Goddess stepped to the side and caught my blow with the middle of her staff. Sparks of silver and gold flew and the world around me blurred as I met Solana’s movements. Lunging and dodging, gritting my teeth when she managed to land a blow that seared straight through my armor. I could tell she was toying with me, pinning me beneath her paws like a cat having caught its dinner. She had thousands of years’ experience on me, but I had so much more to lose. It was sheer desperati
Blakely I was in the middle of beheading a sentry, their pale blood splattering across my face and slicking the blade of my sword, when Azrael returned to my side. Orion quickly followed, finishing off the last few enemies surrounding him. More and more sentries were pouring in from the adjoining streets. Fear claimed me because I knew sooner or later our forces would be overwhelmed. One look into Orion’s eyes told me he knew this already, but we had no choice but to press forward. The four of us took off down the street, leaping over craters blasted into the stone by Cielo’s lightning. As we ran, the sound of fighting slipped into the distance. Here and there sentries would pop out at us. Only a select few had magic, but that didn’t make those with weapons any less dangerous. I hissed in pain as sentry hurled a small, skinny dagger at me. It clipped my shoulder, carving a slice deep enough to make me wince. Flinging out my hands I morphed the moonlight into razor sharp threads. T
Blakely Ulrich led the way down the tunnel. Within the hour we saw glimmers of light streaming through the darkness. A set of stairs carried us up into the basement of a vacant home. The walls were made from smooth stone, illuminated only by Orion’s cerulean flame. Pushed against the wall were bits of furniture, each one covered in thin white sheets. My mates crept up the stairs, scoping out the place to ensure no one was inside. As they waved us forward, ushering us into a living room, I couldn’t help but drink in our surroundings. It took some time for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, but when they did I realized the furnishings weren’t too different from what one might see in the mortal realm, only sans technology. I made it a point not to look at the framed pictures hanging on the walls. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stomach seeing what family might have lived here in the past. It would only make me wonder where they were now. Two large windows made up the front of the house
Blakely When I awoke, it was to the gentle rustling of the curtains blocking off our alcove. Rubbing my eyes, I twisted around in Draco’s arms, nearly mashing my face into Azrael’s chest in the process. I yelped when Amora’s face appeared from in between the slats of the fabric. The others awoke at the sound of my surprise. Her mahogany hair was braided over her shoulder. As she spotted us her heart-shaped lips tipped up into a smile. “Oh, you four are just the sweetest.” She cooed, “Look at you all cozied up and in lo—” Orion’s snarl cracked across the room, “Amora, out.” With a dreamy sigh she set a stack of clothing down on the floor and gave us all another dazzling smile, “Ulrich wants me to let you all know we head out in one hour.” The second she left I scrambled to my feet. I dressed so quickly that the others were still half-naked by the time I finished. None of them commented, which I knew they wouldn’t. My mates understood that this time I had with Lina was precious, an
Blakely Draco brushed my hair over my shoulder with gentle fingers, his lips coasting along my neck. My eyes fell shut as a shudder worked its way down my spine, and my body came alive. Even after all we’d been through, I still couldn’t believe these men—these Gods—were mine. Draco with his never-ending support, Orion with his cold fire, and Azrael with his playfulness. They were each a part of me now, and while I still knew so little about their long lives, I was determined to spend the next century learning. “Amora was very insistent we spend what might be our last night together.” His chest rumbled with a growl. “Elias threw out a few ideas, of course.” Azrael’s lips tipped up as he dragged his eyes down my body. I returned the favor, my core clenching when I spotted his hard length straining against the seam of his breeches, “She was nice enough to conjure these blankets for us.” “Did we mention Elias placed a silencing spell over this room?” Orion chimed in with a husky purr.
Blakely My mates and I met up with Shax, who was standing in a group with those accompanying us into the city. Dhara had already started working on the evacuation tunnels, and while her magic would’ve been useful in tunneling to the tavern for us to grab provisions, we couldn’t risk draining her. What mattered most were getting these people out of the city. I had studied the map time and time again, memorizing our route. Katya’s friend, who happened to be a Sphinx, knew the owner of the tavern personally. They had been corresponding with letters, slipping them past Solana’s sentries. He knew we were to arrive tonight and had several crates of food prepared. “Alright, kid. You ready for this?” Ulrich clapped me on the shoulder with so much force I nearly toppled over. Of course, that led to Orion snarling in his face. Azrael had crept around his back, his claws lengthened and poised at his throat. Even Draco hovered nearby, ready to remove the God of War from this world. I waved al