Chapter One
The Gods Above
The Realm of the Gods is as captivating as I always imagined it would be. We stare up at the entrance from our meager little existence. Thousands of stairs tower up, taunting us to journey forward. I take the first step, and Ryder, Darrio, and Daxdyn hold their gaze on me even after I pass them. Nefarious gives a little smoky exhale as if he’s reluctant to follow after me. But he does. His hooves beat hard against the granite.
The hollow echo of my boots against the ancient stone fills the air until one after the other they trail behind me. The repetitive sound of the soldiers’ steps consumes my mind. It’s a nice, steady beat. Strands of my long blonde hair blow across my face on the cool breeze as I trek higher into the heavens.
The gods are really just above here? Do they know we’re coming? Do they know what our futures hold?
It’s an endless and quiet hike. An hour passes in heavy silence. It’s as if everyone else is thinking the same stream of anxious thoughts that I am.
When the air thins out with a drifting layer of fog guiding our steps, I see it. A shining, golden gate is just ahead. My steps become faster, tapping quickly against the stone.
The gates part upon my arrival, gliding open and letting the heavens greet me as if they’ve been waiting for me my entire life.
Soft ground meets my feet, the fog thickening around my calves.
A long white desk sits in the middle of an open and empty space. Everything is white and hazy. It feels like my mind’s playing tricks on me, not letting me fully see what’s around us. I blink rapidly to clear my gaze but nothing helps.
Daxdyn’s warm hand slips into mine, his lips skimming the corner of my jaw as he leans into my body.
“The gods aren’t ... as honest and helpful as you might think.” I peek up at his serious look. “Be careful with your requests.” His lips press to my temple before he pulls away.
I should be careful? They are the ones who said this would be the best route back to the mortal realm.
“Next,” a woman shrieks to no one in particular.
My spine stiffens from her tone and I stand on the toes of my boots to see a small woman seated behind the enormous desk.
“Next,” she beckons again.
I hesitantly walk forward. Darrio’s arm skims mine as he keeps a protective pace with me.
Hundreds of soldiers stand quietly behind us as I step up to the desk.
My fingers run over the smooth surface. I look down at her. Glossy brown hair is tied tightly back from her porcelain features. She’s young. Pretty. Beautiful really.
Seconds pass as I wait for her to tip her head up at me. To acknowledge me in some way. Still, she just sorts through her stack of papers, signing her name at the bottom of some and shuffling others into a separate bin on her desk.
It’s all very mundane.
Not very godly at all.
“Can I help you?” Her eyes never leave the documents in front of her. For a moment, I look up at Darrio. He passes me a stern but annoyed look.
“Yes, I—we’d like to speak to someone within the Realm of the Gods. There’s a war c—“
Her bland tone cuts me off before I can even consider my words fully.
“Do you have an appointment?”
A line creases her thin brows. A beat passes with the scratching sound of her pen as she signs off on another paper.
An appointment? Do I look like the type of person who has their shit together enough for appointments?
“Um, no. No, we don’t, but it is a matter of importance.”
Desperately, I cling to the most professional persona I can.
