In This Chapter: Azrael: God of the Wolves. Orion: God of the Mages. Draco: God of the Lycans. Casimir: God of Trickery. Drefan: God of Madness. Emmett: God of Truth. Kobah: God of Lies. Nunzia: Goddess of Trade & Messages. Briel: Goddess of Justice.
Blakely The ballroom shone in an array of colors, each one a blur as we entered at the top of a grand staircase overlooking the crowd of gawking patrons. Orbs of faelight hung suspended in the air, swirling around the room without rhyme or reason. One-by-one our names were called, followed by the titles belonging to each deity. I couldn’t help but notice as they approached the stairs, they were handed their own individual envelopes, sealed with an oval of crimson wax, along with a mask. I’d thought it was odd that Casimir and Drefan would host a masquerade, but prohibit the guests from bringing their own masks. As it became our turn, I finally saw the method behind their madness. Not only did the masks they handed us match our attire, but each one was embellished with details that seemed tailored to who we were. Azrael’s had wolves leaping along the silver material, howling at a moon just out of sight. Draco’s was similar, though his wolves were larger, interwoven with wisps of da
Draco One look at the tiny goddess and I could tell she knew that someone—a soon to be dead someone—was after her. I stepped closer to her side, watching from the corner of my eye as Az and Orion vanished into the crowd, off to complete their respective tasks. Fucking Casimir and Drefan. Of course they’d turn a night of celebration into a dangerous quest. We were fools for thinking they’d tell us where their mother’s library was without jumping through hurdles in return. With their collective magic woven into the air and into the very papers clutched in our hands, I had to choose my words carefully. Placing a finger beneath her delicate chin, I turned Blakely’s face to meet my calm stare. “I will keep you safe.” I promised her, praying to Lunette she’d understand. Her smile was soft, and so blindingly beautiful that I had to blink to clear my mind of her influence. “I know, big guy.” As much as I hated putting distance between us, I had to if I were going to complete my task. P
Azrael Turning away from Blakely, allowing her to walk into the mouth of the beast with only Draco as back-up, was harder than the year I spent in that dark, dank cavern being tortured half to death. And being tortured royally sucked. Every muscle in my body was coiled, tense beneath the suffocating silken shirt I had on. The beast prowling beneath my flesh stretched, it’s hackles raising as it fought the urge to protect our mate. Despite what I wanted—what we both wanted—we had a task to complete. Swiping a goblet off a passing tray, carried by a fire sprite, I brought it to my lips and winked at the tiny, flaming being. It glided away, releasing a giggle that sounded like crackling embers. Downing the contents in one gulp, I skimmed my tongue across my teeth and peered down at the paper fisted in my hand. It read: “God of Wolves, there is something you must do. An item to recover, a stone so bright and blue. Be swift, be careful, tread light on your feet. For your target i
Orion I wiped my mind of all things poison—or at least, I tried to—as I turned and waltzed across the ballroom in search of my target. Fuck, why did she have to look the way she did? Countless Gods and Goddesses here, all of them ancient and ethereal, and she somehow managed to surpass them all. Just looking at her gave me the urge to blink, as though I were staring into pure moonlight. Never in all my years had I been so conflicted. Poison—Blakely—was my mate. I could feel the truth of that statement reverberating in my chest. Mine, mine, mine, my wolf snarled. Only, she wasn’t ours. I’d ruined things between us. Monumentally fucked up what could’ve been. On one hand, I wanted her. I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted anything. More than I’d craved the freedom of having my curse broken. On the other, I knew I didn’t deserve her. Besides, what did I have to offer? Who in their right mind would want the broken, jagged pieces of a pessimistic God’s heart? What could I give someo
Blakely Oh Gods. All I could think about as I raced across the ballroom, towards the glittering doors that were my only salvation, was the fact that I’d intentionally slammed into a Goddess. Not just any Goddess, though. No, the fucking Goddess of arachnids. Did I mention I hated spiders? Fuck. A shudder rolled down my spine at the sound of Aranea’s voice, her shrill screech as she scrambled back from the clumsy mortal that dared plow her down. “You wretched girl! Do not run away from me!” Like I was going to stay and chat? Hah, no thanks! My hands were so clammy that they slipped off the curved handle as I yanked the door open. I couldn’t wait for Draco to catch up, not when I had an angry Goddess wailing at my back. I clenched the small object I’d fished from her glass in my hand, not daring to open it until the castle doors clicked shut behind me. Releasing a sigh that was short-lived when I realized I was utterly alone, I unfurled my fingers and frowned. It
Blakely “You may ask us one question each,” The first twin grinned, rocking back on his heels. The second snickered, “Best of luck.” I chewed the inside of my cheek. There were several ways I could go about this, but what if I were wrong? Worst case scenario, I had a fifty-fifty chance of getting it right, but did I really want to risk my life on a guess? “What if I don’t want to choose? Uh, wait. Actually, don’t answer that. That’s not one of my two questions.” Smooth, Blakely. Real smooth. Both twin’s shared a look of utter confusion, as though I were an idiot for asking such a thing. Following through on a hunch, I turned around. Sure enough, the door I’d entered through had vanished. Well, at least the murderous woman chasing me down couldn’t get in. Either way, I was left with no other choice but to play along. Tapping my foot, I silently juggled all the questions I could ask them. Could it be as simple as asking which door was safe? No, that wouldn’t work. Emmett, God of
Orion “Let me in, Orion. Let. Me. In.” Upon hearing the voice in the flames whisper my name. Upon seeing it control the shadows, willing them to coalesce into a human form, I did the only reasonable thing. I ran. It wasn’t my finest moment, but I’d be lying if I said it’s voice didn’t strike fear into my very heart. Years and years the truth of what I’d done to my brother devoured me, tormented me just as this terrible voice had. The halls of the tunnel twisted and turned, branching off into thick darkness before plunging me back into the crackling light of the fiery torches. All the while I could hear that voice whispering, as though it were hovering over my shoulder. It sang my name. Sang the names of my brothers, and even poison herself. Minutes ticked by as I ran. I slowed, scanning the arched tunnel for any sign of writhing shadows. Choosing a patch of crumbling wall, I pushed my magic into the brick, willing it to fall beneath my hand. The castle seemed to reach back in r
Draco As I watched Orion sprint after Blakely, I prayed to Lunette I didn’t make a huge mistake in letting him go. Our mate could handle herself, but that didn’t mean I’d allow him to hurt her again and again. Something would have to be done if he didn’t stop punishing himself for what happened with Genevieve. Clenching my jaw, I turned back to the dance floor where Rosalind and Azrael swayed within the sea of twirling bodies. Bands of iridescent magic oozed from the goddess whose hair had turned a deep shade of blue. As I carved through the throng of dancers, I realized her features were shifting to that of Blakely. For that alone, she was lucky I did not tear her limb from limb. Azrael continued to hold her in his arms, his eyes lit with desire, obsession, and a thin sheen of magic. I was now close enough that I could hear Rosalind’s voice above the symphony. What she said made me pause. “All of us Gods know that the tide is turning, that something big is happening. So many of
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