Azrael: God of the Wolves. Orion: God of the Mages. Draco: God of the Lycans. Ozul: God of the Shadows. Lunette: Goddess of the Moon. Sephtis: God of the Dead. Ismene: Goddess of Knowledge. Kiara: Goddess of Fate.
Draco Fools, I was surrounded by fools. Azrael with his obsession and lack of self-control, Orion with his paranoia and trust issues, and the girl. The sharp-tongued girl with secrets in her eyes. Who couldn’t even manage to take care of herself when it mattered most. Watching her cut into her flesh with no regard tore away the melancholy that long ago seeped into my mind. It was as though she couldn’t even be bothered to be gentle. At the time, the rage had been so strong that I had no choice but to leave. Following several paces back, I watched Azrael and the girl as they walked down the corridor. More than once their hands neared one another’s. So close, yet they never touched. The girl didn’t even notice the way she gravitated towards him. Had it truly been that long for the mortal wolves that they’d forgotten what a mate-bond felt like? Azrael’s frustration sharpened his scent. He wanted to explain to the girl the truth behind his and Orion’s conversation, but he couldn’t
Blakely “I am so not wearing that.” The scrap of fabric clinging to Azrael’s hand was just that, a scrap. It didn’t matter that it was the most beautiful piece of clothing I’d ever seen with my two eyes. I was positive it would barely cover my backside, let alone everything else. With his raven hair tumbling messily over his forehead he smirked, “Oh, yes you are. We must blend in, little wolf. Your hair and mortal features will already attract attention. The last thing we need is to announce where you’ve come from. Entering the city in your current attire would do just that.” I glanced down at my jean shorts and t-shirt combo, then released a sigh. There wasn’t a chance in hell I was going to wear that outfit, but there was also no use in arguing with him. “Fine. Get out so I can change.” The moment he glided from the room (reluctantly, I might add), I tossed the garment onto my bed and waltzed over to the closet in search of something else to wear. Every one of my hopes and drea
Blakely “Deidama and Galen have found a balance of sorts. Well, for the most part. As you can tell, she enjoys pushing his boundaries, but what is chaos if not a rule-breaker?” It wasn’t Azrael’s explanation that had me wide-eyed, rather the sheer insanity of the bustling marketplace. We’d headed here after checking into the Inn, an event I was still trying to process. The seemingly endless maze of taverns, restaurants, townhouses, and stacked apartments had opened into a wide circle packed with stalls and lined with various shops full of raucous patrons. Each building was unique in the fact that it didn’t have a door or windows. Its open front allowed customers to waltz in and out at will. The flashes of color I’d seen in the distance were actually thick bushels of cloth interwoven high above our heads, providing a bit of shade from the blistering sun. A plethora of scents filled the dry air. Smoked meats were being cooked on several skewers, while small vials of spices and perf
Blakely An alluring warmth spread throughout my chest, forming a tether that pulled me straight into his orbit. The rich aroma of a nighttime breeze flooded my senses with every soft pass of his lips over my own. I drowned in his taste, releasing a sharp gasp when his tongue invaded my mouth. All the surrounding chaos melted into the background, leaving me unable to do anything but feel. Much too quickly, he pulled away. Those large hands of his still cradled my face, stroking my cheeks so gently that something deep within my heart lurched. “Tell me what you’re thinking, little wolf. I can practically see the gears turning in your head.” He rasped, an achingly beautiful smile tugging at his now swollen lips. My mind was a twisted mess of indecision. On the one hand I wanted to sink into his arms and take everything I knew he’d willingly give, but on the other I knew this could never work. He was a God, and I was—I was just me. While he wormed his way into my fragile heart, im
Azrael I watched my little wolf glide through the crowd like a miniature goddess. The sweet smiles she tossed here and there had my cock growing hard and my magic swelling with the urge to kill all those within her range. After witnessing that shop keep putting his hands on her, I wanted nothing more than to peel the flesh from his bones and watch as his body slowly drained itself of blood. It’s exactly why I sent Draco back to rid him of his fingers. My mate—two words I would never, ever tire of hearing—worked her mouthwatering body into the crowd of dancing patrons. I could do nothing but watch in awe and obsession as she swiveled her hips and gave in to the pull of the music. Never had I seen her so relaxed—so at home within herself and her surroundings. Despite how hard she fought against me; I knew it was all in vain. My little wolf wanted me. Her body whispered the truth that her mind refused to accept. While I’d never force myself on her, I would toy with the fraying thre
Blakely “I’m coming with you.” I huffed, mentally cursing the Inn for having so many flights of stairs. It would be my luck that the single elevator, somehow powered by magic, was out of order. How did that even happen? Just a few steps down, Azrael cleared his throat. “This time, I’m afraid you can’t. Elias is the God of Sex, little wolf. His allure is almost impossible to resist, and Jade is as vicious as they come. If she coaxes even an ounce of jealousy out of you, she will tear you to shreds.” “I can control myself.” “Somehow, I doubt that.” “You’re not exactly the epitome of self-control, Azrael. For six flights you’ve done nothing but stare at my ass. Besides, you know Draco’s not going to stay behind and play babysitter. What if those faceless people come here while you two are gone?” I pumped my fist in victory when we made it to the seventh floor. “I’m coming with you and that’s final.” My fingers slipped off the doors handle when two giggling women wrenched it open. T
Blakely “Are you sure you still want to do this, little wolf? Draco can escort you back to the Inn if you’ve changed your mind. Neither of us will think different of you.” The genuine gleam in his eyes told me he was telling the truth, but it was far too late to back out now. I wiped my sweaty palms on my thin cotton pants, swallowing past the bundle of anxiety lodged in my throat. “I’m positive, now get out before you’re caught!” With a curt nod, Azrael slipped out of the thick curtains blocking off the employee section of the brothel. If I didn’t know any better, he almost seemed nervous. His playful mood had all but evaporated since this morning, when I awoke to my hands wrapped around his throat. When the fog cleared from my eyes, I almost screamed at the sight. All he did was flash me that devastating grin of his and purr, “I actually think I’m beginning to enjoy this.” When his cock twitched against the thin sleep shorts I wore, I yelped and scrambled off him. Draco stood
Blakely His fingers barely skimmed the top of my thigh when a voice that could only be described as pure unadulterated sin, rippled across the showroom floor. “Azrael, my old friend!” Magic lived within every syllable, tickling my flesh as it delved between my legs. I forced myself not to stiffen, but instead relaxed even further on Azrael’s lap. “Brace yourself,” He whispered in my ear. A flash of white crossed my vision as a muscular form settled onto the sofa opposite to us. Every thought in my head turned to pure static at the sight of Elias, God of Sex. It wasn’t his perfectly bronzed skin, nor his golden hair that caught my eye, but the feathered wings attached to his back. They were so large they took up the remaining space on the sofa, and so white in color that my eyes stung the longer I gawked at them. There was a collective sigh from several men and women in the room as he stretched his arms over his head. Unsurprisingly, he wasn’t wearing a shirt, only a pair of pan
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