Looking up, I see dark eyes staring down at me.
“Princess?”The word is unsure, but I know exactly who it is. A grin splits my lips.
“Rivern.”I sag in relief, finally hearing his voice. I may be able to feel him through our bond, but it will never replace the relief that encompasses me when his words hit me. My stress is no longer for my own being, but the fae prince I’m bonded to. Hearing his voice is a sweet kind of ecstasy.
“Oh, my love.”The relief in his voice is palpable.“I wanted to jump down there as soon as I saw your body, but the silvers were holding us at daggerpoint. The wolfand I were about to rip their heads off. It was about to turn into a bloodbath up here.”
“I’m glad it’s not. What is going on?”I don’t release Gideon as I continue my internal conversation with Rivern, slowly letting our pressed bodies comfort each other until I hear a purring grumble move through his chest.
“Moyrie just kept saying ‘Seraph’ over and over. I gather this is the test. I don’t fucking like it.”He doesn’t have to tell me. This is a strange way to verify that I’m the Seraph.
I’m just a woman from the Kingdom of Haven. The only reason these snakes are frozen around us right now is because they, too, feelthe power from Fury within me. I am not the God here. My doubts of whether I’m even still worthy of being bonded run deep.
“You are.”The words wrap around me.
Who was that? Rivern or Fury?
Suddenly, the hissing resumes within the pit—this rhythm with more vigour—and my thoughts are forgotten. I peek out from the black-furred chest I’m buried in, finding sharp, green faces staring at us. They don’t look happy. Gideon picks my body up so I’m no longer standing on the sandy, slightly wet floor. With my head now near his, I can’t help but trace the outline of his wide, snouted jawline. His teeth snap, making me flinch back before a loud growl releases from his lips.
The snakes cease their hissing.
I blink my eyes a few times to take in the sight before me because not only did they stop hissing, but they are moving on top of each other before us, no longer making circles around us.
They stack on top of the other to form a creature larger than the wolf I’m currently plastered to.
“Oh my Gods,” I exhale. I like all creatures. They all have their place, but this is… This is beyond intimidating. The emerald snakes form a large, slithering beast much like their own smaller bodies, but this stretches far beyond Gideon’s shifted form.
Thump.The sound comes next to us. I whip my head over to see Rivern crouched on the ground next to our bodies. His head flicks up, golden locks fall down his back, his violet eyes raging violently. I don’t think I’ve seen him show such anger before. The bond screams toprotect. It’s coming from him. Fury’s line is a simmering wrath, but Rivern is pure violence.
“Get her out,” his lilting voice is gravelled, shooting a menacing stare at Gideon. I want to refuse, but those eyes latch onto mine, making me quiver. It’s like the fae prince has been replaced with an angel of vengeance—a very naked angel. His golden markings glow in the dim, flickering light from above. Even in our dire situation, his body calls to me. A clawed palm grips my naked arse, leaving little pointed sparks flying towards my clit. Turning towards the wolf, I rest my head against his shoulder and moan.How is the utter intensity of this situation making me tremble with want for my bonded?
I can feel Gideon almost pull back, not wanting to leave Rivern. But with a flick of the fae’s hand, my wolf is slinging me over his back and hightailing it towards the opposite wall, using his claws to fissure into the dirt and rock so he can climb upwards.
As my beast continues our upward movements, my eyes trail over to Rivern, who is eyeing the large snake. His stance is wide and ready to fight, the looming creature at least three times his size.
The sight is excruciating, the bond calling out to stop him. To do something to save my bonded from being eaten alive by a giant snake. I have every faith in Rivern, however this situation is new to both of us. He may be a being who lives thousands of rotations, but Riven is not impervious to a mortal wound.
That knowledge sends a new fear racing through my heart as Gideon crests the pit. Silvers make way for the bulk of my beast. Looking out around the pit, it looks like the whole city has shown up for this spectacle.
It brings back memories of times when I felt helpless as a child. A particular memory finds me, my chest cracking open to my fatherpushing me to the ground, villagers walking around us, ignoring my soft cries.
The bystanders of the Silver Sands make me see red.
A tug comes from the bond—the one with my God at the end. Rage flames down the tether, filling me to overflow. Power descends over me. My hands crackle and zip the fur before me, a growl coming from beneath me.
“Put me down, Gideon,” I say with a steady voice. I cannot let this go any further. Pulling Fury’s power for a third time is easier than I expected. When I latch onto the rage within, it’s like a direct link to my God. Argus is eagerly awaiting the use of my flames.
A grunt comes from the wolf carrying me as I’m carefully placed on my feet. I barely make out the sounds coming from the silvers around us. They don’t make a move to stop me or my companions, which is all the permission I need.
The people of this land watch on, my rage continuing to boil. Knowing this is their fault only makes my fire grow. From across the pit, I make eye contact with the ice-blue, slitted eyes Moyrie. I think I see her gulp when she catches my wrath.Good.
The next movements of rhythm catch me off guard. I rapidly see the large snake fall upon my prince—a wash of sea green overtaking pure sunshine and bronzed skin. My breath catches, but before I let any gloom set over me, Fury’s power finds my anger. I jump back into the pit.
It may be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my mortal life. But this time, I’m no mortal—I’m the wrath of an immortal God, and this creature has just attacked my chosen bonded.It will bow before me.
Unlike the two males who jumped into the pit before me, I don’t slam into the ground. No, my feet almost glide to the dirt below, stopping before the ground and gently placing me down. It’s a euphoric feeling, having this power course through my limbs. It’s a challenge to understand where it ends and I begin—to find my humanity.Does Fury always feel so torn?
The serpentine creature stops moving. Its large body curls around Rivern, who is trapped in the middle, his golden locks all I can see poking out the top.
