I hover like the omen I am, lingering to watch the deities bleed. My sharp canines itch to descend, to morph into the creature that roams wild in the Under Realm. To taste their blood and devour their immortal souls.
The air smells of carnage. I gulp it down greedily as I step over their writhing, mangled bodies. Bloody bootprints mark my path through the once-pristine corridors.
Room after room is the same—more bloodshed, more injured gods—but no Nobus. The Golden Parthenon is doing its best toannihilate each other while their king, the supposed catalyst for this rebellion, is nowhere to be found.
A breeze floats in through a broken window, carrying her smell. I tug on the bond and find Selene still in the palace, and more importantly, uninjured. I follow it, allowing the obsidian bands of my dark magic to search ahead of me.
A burst of light cuts through my darkness as Selene battles a trio of gods who are no match for her power, even combined. One by one, she thwarts their advances, granting no mercy and sparing no injury. Their blood hits the floor, their unconscious bodies quickly following.
A satisfied hum leaves my throat at the sight of my queen. Magnificent, powerful, and all fuckingmine.
I am lost in her, adrift in the golden sunbursts of her eyes, wholly ablaze in her light. I take a step toward her, a depraved desire taking root in me. Every part of me wants to devour her, to strip her bare and consume her in their pools of her enemies’ blood.
Selene’s chest heaves with labored breaths. Even now, my darkness sings to her, a siren’s song tempting her to give into the shadows that hover at the edges of her light. She swallows thickly, stepping away from my advance.
“Sunrise, Drayven. Don’t be late.”
The Goddess of Light turns and runs from the room, pulling me from my possessive fantasy. Her power ricochets off the corridor walls as she continues her fight.
And I must continue mine. The future of my queen and my heir must be my sole focus.
I send out the dark magic again, searching every room until it locates the God King. Moments later, with nothing more than the flick of my wrist, the door to Nobus’ private chambers is reduced to a pile of splinters.
The murderous eyes of the Goddess of War meet mine across the threshold.
“Sister,” I drawl. “Always a pleasure.”
“I don’t echo the sentiment, Death.” Drayca’s vicious eyes echo her curse. As if her own offerings don’t hand me countless souls every single day across the realms.
“I’m not here to see you.”
“I’m not letting you anywhere near my king.” She raises her battle axe, preparing to strike me.
“Your king.” I scoff. “One day you’ll call me that.”
“I would sooner waste away in the mortal lands as a powerless, forgotten god than to ever bow to you.” War shakes with rage as the curse falls from her lips.
My own tip up in a smirk at the sight. It is so much fun to get her riled up like this. “That can be arranged.”
“I will kill you one day,” she declares through clenched teeth.
“I’d like to see you try. Truly. I can’t imagine how fun it will be.”
Drayca swings her axe with every intention to slice me in half. Just before her blade can graze the fabric of my shirt, I evaporate into a mass of shadows.
“I was right. That was fun,” I taunt.
The Goddess of War turns to find me lounging casually on the velvet settee inside the king’s quarters. Fury drips from her every pore. I breathe it in, relishing in how my delight further stokes her blinding wrath.
“That’s enough.” Nobus’ voice booms with authority. “You’re dismissed, Drayca.”
“I am not leaving you with him, my King.”
“War,” he scolds. “I didn’t ask.”
Drayca’s shoulders drop in resignation. A dog reprimanded by her master.
“A delight, as always, sister.” I pick a sliver of wood off my shirt,casually dropping it on the floor without looking at the goddess whose ire still vibrates through the room.
