“Oona acts like she is the purest of them all, but deep down, her heart is as dark as the rest of us.” A frenzy washes over his face. Fury does not like the Goddess, but truthfully, I cannot blame him if she and the other Gods locked him up here.
“But why did they leave you here?”
The laugh spirals upwards from the murky depths of Fury’s heart. “I did not love her the way she wanted me to.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Life doesn’t make sense, pet. You know that especially the life of a God.”He is right. I do know that. Out of all the people within this plain of existence, I know that. Life has landed me blow after blow, and mostof the time, I feel like I am drowning. The only thing that has held me together for so long is the voice in my head and the creature in my heart.
Not willing to take all this information at face value, I ask, “What’s your plan, then? What do you need from me?”
Forgetting our distance, Fury strides forward in his leather pants, smooth chest in full view. I close my eyes to collect my peace as he begins to speak.
“You see, I have a deal for you. You give me a little something, and I give you a little something.” His jovial voice adds lightness to the atmosphere.
Regardless of his proposition, I must take it. Leaving Saff’s egg behind is not an option, and if he can help me wipe out the king, I will give this daemon anything he wants—including myself.
forty-eight
Dove
Fury continues. “Bring mea blooded heir of each God’s people to this island, and teach them Oona’s song.”
“You want me to release you from this prison?” I counter, stepping closer to him.
“I want us to work together. Help each other. I’ve spent the last twenty rotations watching over you. I am on your side here, Dove.”
“You have a funny way of showing it, Fury.” Clenching my fists by my sides, knuckles surely turn white as I give him my best glower.
Fury’s lips twitch up, and he starts to move forward, getting close enough without touching. My blood boils. “I see your rage. You seekjustice, and I can give that to you. I want to give that to you. But first, you need to help me off this island.”
It frustrates me to no end that this daemon knows what is inside of me. He has touched my darkness and keeps pushing forward. If he had not weaselled his way into my mind the many times that he has, there’s a strong possibility I wouldn’t be here right now. He can do things I cannot. I owe him, in a way, for keeping me sane—somewhat. But I was not born in the last shower. More will be coming.
“What else is there?” I place my hands on my hips, looking up at the imposing, starry-eyed male in front of me.
I notice the air visibly expel from his blackened lips as he says, “I will require you to bond to me.”
There it is.The bomb.
My heart sinks.
The blood drains from my limbs.
I have one bond too many already, and now, Fury wants to share a bond tie with me. Without further assumptions but the intoxicating claim of otherworldly tendrils slithering through my veins, I exclaim, “Why, how?”
“I am an original God of this world. I hold power you can only dream of. Creating a bond is as easy as breathing for me,” Fury responds. The lines on his cheeks move up as he shows off his incisors. “The connection we currently hold only surfaces when you are experiencing times of great despair. I do not wish to look on as you are brought to the breaking point any longer. If we are bonded, you will be able to communicate with me, no matter the distance, and benefit from some of my powers. I’m unsure of the full extent, as this existence does not have the capacity to hold the same power my other form takes.Plus, the island is designed to drain my powers. I can only do so much.” He grasps my hips, and the thin fabric of my dress does nothing to separate us. “I have charged Gideon with your safety, and I know you are safe with him, but this is just extra protection.”
The last of my sanity hangs in the balance as I start to connect the dots.Is he saying he’s a God? This dark daemon before me is part of the light that exists beyond the veil.
“And if I don’t want the bond?” My hands stay firm by my sides, even though my light-headedness tempts me to reach out and grasp Fury’s smooth forearms.
His gaze showcases a savagery I have not yet seen. “The choice is yours, Dove, but once the bond is in place, it will not be undone,” he answers.
“But how can I be bonded to two people?” My voice is a mumble, but he hears it. The whirlwind circling in my mind is a cacophony of jumbled thoughts.
“Love is infinite. Bonds are similar. They just require more intention and a little helping hand from the Gods,” he explains, having an answer for everything.Well, I guess he would, considering he is a God.Argus bucks in my chest at this new development.
This is the last thing I expected this morning, but I decide to take this new knowledge in stride, telling Argus to calm his temper.What’s another mythical creature to add to my growing collection?Nodding my head, my body simmers down, the heat slowly decreasing notch by notch. “And what do I get in return? I guess the bond will be mutually beneficial, though you said you would help me.”
