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Chapter 106
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2022-01-01 08:16:04It was Dain’s steady hand that brought me back to the present, gently prying my fingers from where I had grabbed hold of his shirt. My mouth shut with a click, and I blinked back the splotches of orange light that lingered in my vision.
“That is a dragon.” The stars in his eyes twinkled with excitement and just a hint of his usual madness. He held up the package in his hands, “And this is a mooncake. They have a long history in this kingdom, and in my family.”
I couldn’t pull myself away from his eyes, not when they traced over my face, studying my every reaction. I had to force myself to look down as he peeled back the sparkling paper, sending it careening into a bin with a nod of his head. It was a pastry, but one I hadn’t seen before. I was certain I hadn’t tried it during my time in Iridian.
“You can only get them here, during the festival of Night.” He explained, again maneuvering us away
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Iridian Chapter 107
“Alright, who pissed the dragon off?” Apollo shouted seconds before another deafening roar sounded, making the trees surrounding us groan and creak. His eyes were trained towards the night sky, but mine were focused on his suit, and the magic so clearly radiating from its fabric.“Who thought it a good idea to bring a dragon to a festival anyway?” Helios frowned, his stance tense and waiting.I had seen Helios fight firsthand, and while I hadn’t witnessed any of his magic, I knew the mountainous warrior was a force to be reckoned with. My eyebrows furrowed a little more when I realized Apollo’s suit wasn’t the only one shimmering. Helios and the others, theirs were too.Erebus, with his wheat-colored hair and striking lavender eyes, gave Apollo a pointed look.Cain brushed the midnight locks from his forehead whilst snarling under his breath, “reckless idiot.”Apollo scoffed, offense ma
Last Updated : 2022-01-04Iridian Chapter 108
Cain stretched his arms out at his sides, a dual sword in each hand. The pommels were silver, swirling and curving like crescent moons as they inched down the obsidian blades. His dark hair cascaded down his shoulders. When paired with the armor and swords, Cain looked as deadly as a warrior for the House Viotto should.The darkness seemed to gather at his feet, coating his body until he faded into every shadow. It was like a dark smog had been erected around him. I could see the glitter of magic along with his hazy form, almost invisible to the eye. He veered towards the largest dragon, slashing at its feet with his swords. She screeched and tried swiping with one of her wings, but she couldn’t see where her attacker was.Erebos, with a quiver of silver tipped arrows on his back, darted through the crowd so fast that his body blurred. All I could make out was a streak of silver as he rushed to the pavilion being terrorized by the other smaller dragons.
Last Updated : 2022-01-04Iridian Chapter 109
I stumbled out of the way, my skin still warm and humming from whatever it was I had done. I couldn’t tell if I had become fireproof, or if some sort of invisible barrier had formed between myself and the flame. I had definitely felt it against my hands and face, but my clothes remained unsinged.Dain’s eyes were glued onto my face until the last minute, when the battle once again begged for his attention. Instead of feeling drunk off of adrenaline, I felt tired and just a tad cold.I was swallowed by the crowd so quickly that I hadn’t noticed the man with white splashed across his eyes staring at me. Like someone had swiped a paintbrush across his face, it coated his eyes and eyelids, until two black holes ringed with blue, stared at me.It happened so quickly that what scream I could produce was swallowed by the crowd. Calloused hands grabbed my arms as something hard and invisible slammed into my mouth, smashing my lips together until even t
Last Updated : 2022-01-04Iridian Chapter 110
“She stabbed you. No, she wouldn’t do that…” Adley shook her head, using her trembling fingers to comb through the knots in her hair. The blonde strands were coated with so much dirt they looked ash brown. Her brightest feature were her eyes, which flitted around the great hall of Dain’s castle with unrepressed curiosity. She no longer sounded sure of herself, “…not without telling me, at least.”I knew without asking, both Dain and I were convinced his block to the moon’s energy had everything to do with Ally’s kidnapping and the men with white slashed across their eyes. Just minutes after I found them, Dain was able to transport all of us to the castle. Not a spec of exhaustion crossed his face, even as he sent Adley, Cain, Helios, and me liquifying into shadow and night.“You know it’s not always that simple.” The last person I would’ve expected to have any sort of soft si
Last Updated : 2022-01-08Iridian Chapter 111
It was too late to take back what I said, but now there were more pressing things to worry about than snooping through one of Dain’s old journals. With how long he’s been alive, there had to be hundreds. I knew what made this one special, even though it failed to answer the question I desperately wanted to know.I’d made a huge mistake, I realized as Dain’s shoulders tensed and he turned my way.“You saw those memories during Iridian because of your progression in the game and how close you were to unraveling the curse…but I made sure no one would ever uncover that particular memory. How do you know of it?”The stars in his eyes blinked out, taking with them his sanity. I could hear his voice in my head. The voice of the man who had scribbled relentlessly in that leather-bound journal until the tip of the pen broke through the page. Ranting about the slippery voice in his head, like the sharp edge of a razor. S
Last Updated : 2022-01-11Iridian Chapter 112
I wandered the halls for a solid fifteen minutes before giving in and calling for Leslie. The onyx gems dangling from my bracelet reminded me my bedroom was one door away, but I needed the time to pull myself together.There was something about arguing with Dain that made my heart race and hands tremble. Not only did I hate the taste it left in my mouth, but how my feet kept leading me back to his study. Everything about him affected me in some way, even the bad parts. I wished I could turn it off the way he could, shove my emotions so far down that their nagging voices could never again be heard.“You’re sure I can stay here until we get Ally back?” Adley asked just seconds after I came into the room. She was curled up on my bed with one of the fuzzy blankets wrapped around her shoulders. I replied over my shoulder as I ventured into the walk-in closet, hearing her muffled sigh of relief. “Thank the goddess. I don’t know what I’d do
Last Updated : 2022-01-11Iridian Chapter 113
I was still amped up from last night when I went to train with Helios the next day. Being knocked onto my ass was a taste of payback I could have lived without, and it hurt a lot more than I thought.Helios mistook my ferocity for enthusiasm and continued to spar with me, stopping every couple of seconds to show me a new offensive move. Even though I doubted I’d develop hardcore warrior skills, it was becoming easier to keep up with him.He swung his beefy arm out much faster than he had the last four times. My curls blurred into ringlets of flame as I ducked and jabbed a fist into his ribcage. I didn’t use all the strength coursing through me, both from Rayna and my magic. Helios hadn’t hurt me yet, though he’d come close a time or two swinging his fists like a madman.Twenty minutes into sparring, when my lungs began to ache and my muscles burned, I felt a pair of eyes latch onto me. They turned the sweat coating my body ice cold until
Last Updated : 2022-01-13Iridian Chapter 114
I bottled every single pesky emotion and shoved a cork through the neck. They wouldn’t stay down for long, but all I needed was a good ten minutes without getting distracted by the way his hair fell or the beads of sweat on his chest and abs.Dain and I launched back into sparring, only this time I was ready for him. I made no mistake, there was no way I’d win. Cockiness would only make me lose faster.Even Rayna cleared her mind and pushed our mate-bond with Dain aside, giving into instincts she had never indulged before. We were hyper analyzing every movement we made, watching Dain’s tells before he punched and kicked with a ferocity that made my adrenaline spike.“Wonderful. See how much easier it is to hold your own once your head is in the fight?” I heard Dain say but gave no reaction.“Woohoo! Go Rachel!” Adley shouted.I couldn’t pay attention to Adley, Helios, and whatever it is they were murm
Last Updated : 2022-01-15
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Iridian Epilogue Pt. 3
I stumbled over my words, forcing them into the space between us where they hovered like a noxious gas. “What—what do you mean? I killed Nadia…I don’t—” The Moon Goddess cut my rambling short by placing the palm of her hand against my cheek. It was something my mom had done whenever I was upset as a child, and somehow the Moon Goddess’s touch held that same level of comfort. She smiled sadly, but it was an expression of pure love and understanding. “Do not punish yourself, daughter. What was left of Nadia’s essence has returned home and rejoined that of her wolf, but her death does not mean Evil is gone from the world. Us celestial beings aren’t allowed to meet our creations, but this situation…it is unique. I’m afraid I cannot tell you much, but there is one who can.” Jumping at the chance to get some answers, to preserve the peace Dain and the warriors fought so hard for, I asked, “Who? Who can?” “It is time to awaken, daughter. It’s in the world of the living where you’ll find
Iridian Epilogue Pt. 2
All I could do was stand there and gape at him. Honesty shone in his eyes like newborn stars, but all it did was leave me confused. I replayed the last twenty-four hours in my head, searching for the moment where I’d won the game between us.When I came up empty handed, I stammered, “I did?”Dain nodded, staring down at me with hooded eyes. “You did.”“How? When?”“As for how, that’s the part where I cheated, I’m afraid. I didn’t admit out loud what I felt for you, but I felt it nonetheless.” He admitted, a sheepish tilt to his lips. “I realized I loved you the moment those doors opened, and you appeared at the top of the steps. I’m not sure I’ll ever forget the way you looked in that gown, which I’ll have to thank Adley for when she returns. You could’ve been an assassin here to put a dagger in my heart and I would’ve gladly let you.”There was an explosion of butterflies in my chest, their wings beating so frantically that the sound of my heartbeat was drowned out.Leaning into Dain
Iridian Epilogue Pt.1
Epilogue – Part OneIn every book, in every movie where a great battle is fought and won, they never show what happens after.I’m not talking about the following weeks or months, but hours and days. I’m talking about when the dust has yet to settle and the ghosts of the dead still linger in the walls, when every gust of wind or insignificant sound sends you freefalling through time. When every shadow bares the face of someone you know—or worse, someone you killed. When all that’s left is this numbing sense of disbelief that tries to trick you into thinking this new reality isn’t real—that it’s all some pitiful hope conjured up by a dying, fear-riddled mind.According to Dain, it’s a time to mourn what was lost while holding those we love near, a chance to silence the ghosts that haunt us by thinking of the future we’d create. When I asked this question, my mate wasn’t the only one with an opinion. In Apollo’s not so humble words, it’s a time to get absolutely plastered and to celebrat
Iridian Chapter 213
The elongated claws tipped with old blood were hers. I couldn’t forget the sight of her gnarled fingers, which had once been slender and elegant, even if I tried.With a loud smack, she flattened her palm against the stone floor. A second arm shot out of the water, followed by another wet smack.‘That puddle’s not nearly big enough for what she’s trying to do…’ Rayna pointed out, her voice just as sickly as I knew my own would be.Both of Nadia’s arms were bent at odd angles as they rose from the water, but that was the least disturbing thing I witnessed as this day began to quickly unfold. Next to appear were her eyes, the whites much too large to be considered normal, followed by the jagged slash that was her smile. In the memories I’d seen, her smile had been coy and playful, with the same softness as a flower’s petals. This one was of malice and envy, both deeply disturbing and in dire need of some chapstick.Her shoulders rose from the water at the same time but were bent awkward
Iridian Chapter 212
It took everything within me not to flinch at the sound of her voice and how close it truly was to my ear. Only when I felt her icy talons meet my skin did I act.‘It’s showtime.’ Rayna murmured, lending me all of her strength as I willed the floor to crumble beneath my feet.Together, my wolf and I fell.Since I was prepared for the impact, it was easy to call on my magic to lessen the blow. Warm air rushed beneath my gown and outstretched arms, acting as a safety net that slowed my fall and kept me from toppling over. It wasn’t the graceful landing I’d been trying for since Nadia was doing something to block our magic, but it kept me from breaking both my ankles on the way down.I didn’t wait for the dust to settle. The moment I felt solid stone beneath my feet, I took off running.Nadia’s snarl was one of surprise and outrage, strong enough that it made the castle tremble. I didn’t repress my grin or the laughter I spewed into the air, knowing both would entice her to follow—to con
Iridian Chapter 211
Nadia launched herself at me, and as she did so, her hair and dress billowed out at her sides. The movement was slow and lazy, almost like she was submerged in water and not hovering a solid three feet in the air. Even though her form was translucent, and she seemed to be neither here nor there, I had a sickening feeling she could still do significant damage if I let her reach me.Instinct took over, and for once in my life, it wasn’t telling me to run.I launched the orb in my hand like it were a baseball, and watched as it spiraled through the air, a small halo of light surrounding it. When it hit its mark, square in the center of Nadia’s face, I silently thanked Aidan for teaching me all those years ago. I had hated every second of his baseball phase, but he’d been so passionate about becoming a professional athlete and whisking us away that I couldn’t resist helping him practice. After a dozen scraped knees, a handful of bruises, and one broken arm, we both called it quits.The in
Iridian Chapter 210
For the longest time all I could hear was the sound of stone grinding against stone.There was a painful burn in my lungs, but I didn’t dare exhale. Instead, I held my breath and watched as the corridors around me shifted. Walls slid left and right, forming new pathways that hadn’t existed before. Many changed angles, creating sharp turns that you couldn’t see coming until it was too late.Some of the windows began to close, melting away as though they’d never been there, while others grew larger. The ones that grew in size turned into arched doorways narrow enough for but one person to slip through.While the castle itself wasn’t a sentient being, every brick and inch of tiled floor was alive with Dain’s magic. I could feel it’s alluring touch within everything I altered and couldn’t help but smile at how eager it was to please me. Even the paintings responded to my call, changing forms until each one was exactly the same.The brash strokes of oil paint shimmered as they changed colo
Iridian Chapter 209
“My sisters, are they safe?” Aidan asked, his voice low.Even with a side view of his face, I could see the way it twisted into a concerned grimace. With eyebrows knitted tightly together and jaw clenched, he pivoted his head from left to right, peering down each corridor as we crept through another intersection. The sword he clutched in his hand, it’s metal an impenetrable black that shimmered with blood, was raised and ready for use.“Is anyone truly safe?” I asked, eyeing one of the windows warily. It would be all too easy for Nadia or one of her monsters to slip through now that the hallways were conjoined. “They’re hidden away. The fight won’t reach them.”His shoulders slumped as much as they could with the defensive stance he held, and a sigh of relief escaped his lips.“Thank the Goddess. Even though I’d see them when I got back, I’m not sure I’d be able to handle it if they were dead.”He didn’t have to explain why, not when the answer hovered in the space between us.There w
Iridian Chapter 208
Selfishly, I tried to call on Helios, to summon him to my side like I’d been told I could. It was what he would’ve wanted, it was why we completed the bond in the first place. The issue was that no one told me how to do it.There was a sense of awareness that settled over me, followed by a wave of understanding that told me Helios was very much alive. He was feeling it too, a subtle tug that let him know I was still here. I concentrated on my golden-haired warrior harder, imagining him as a sword sheathed at my side, ready to be used at moment’s notice.I felt that tug turn into a harsh pull, but there was no smile of victory on my face, because the milky-eyed creature at the end of the hall let out a blood-curdling wail and charged.I’d never been afraid of horror movies, not with their make-shift gore and fake blood. The knowledge that the creepy monster on the television screen wasn’t actually real was enough to smother any fear I might’ve felt. As I scrambled to get away from the
