Page 39 of Claimed By the Depths

Knees buckling, his shout was the last thing I heard as I collided against something solid, wishing for nothing more than to be nestled against Caspian’s chest once more.

CHAPTER 21

Carnal Temptation

SORVA

Gliding through the throne room, draped in layers of sheer black fabric that left nothing to the imagination, my heels clicked against polished marble. The material flowed from my waist to the floor, moving as if it were the very darkness that crafted my essence. Its ethereal silhouette blanketed me in elegance—the guise I had worn for centuries—but my true form highlighted my intentions.

Desolation.

Under minimal layers, my freshly carved relics pulsed with ancient magic. Inky lineage coagulating each jagged edge, the intricate silver harness that adorned my body only accentuated my power. Ornate filigree pieces framed my chest, connected by delicate chains that draped across my curves before curling around my back. The symbol of Serevalen, the Capital that now belonged to me, rested at my midsection to serve as a reminder to the man I was meeting with.

Chairs vibrated against the floor as those in attendance rose respectfully in my presence. Amongst those who bowed to me stood the king, his human features standing out in a sea of otherworldly corruption. Blonde locks combed and slicked back just as I preferred, I couldn’t help but smile at the man who bowed before me in more ways than one.

Rounding the table his servants had brought in, I trailed my taloned fingers over his chest. Lips ghosting over his pulse point, I hummed with the seduction I knew he craved. “You look dashing, Octavius.”

“As do you, my Beloved Other.”

Forked tongue flicking against my canines, my touch slid down his abdomen before stroking along his waistline. Starved for a taste of him, a purr tumbled from me as I palmed his cock once, preparing myself for what I planned to take after our meeting adjourned.

“Please,” I started, stepping around him to take the chair at his right, “sit.”

One by one, they sank into their seats—Evrexiths, Vrax, Maulix, Kyrn, Octavius—and I joined them. The freshly buffed oak carried our reflections, painting a masterpiece of the anathema we wished to cast on the realms. Our existence grew from the seed of control and the desire for conquest, to rip the gods once worshipped from their thrones and take their place.

And we had.

Divided between veiled lands, the masculine and feminine pieces of each ethereal being would never join again. The only hope the Damned had rested in their Children, part human, part divine, little devils who believed they could oppose us without the other portion of their parent. With the mirror separating them, the chances of reaching their counterparts remained minimal. As such, the realm of Narvaelira would remain ours, and the world we walked below would soon asphyxiate the lands they trusted those we overpowered to protect.

“Respectfully, Dark Goddess Sorva, what have we gathered to discuss?” Vrax crooned, her accentuated grin growing as my infernal stare met hers.

“First, we shall toast to all we have accomplished thus far.” Reaching for the knife to my right, I tapped the crystal goblet once to summon those responsible for bringing us our meal. “Second, with the Divari encroaching on the artifacts, I wished to discuss my thoughts on the matter and what I deem necessary moving forward.”

Before they could prompt any further, the double doors swung open, and the servants wheeled in our dish.

Gagged, the male thrashed against the chains binding him to the contraption that I demanded the blacksmiths create. The hinges were locked on either side, but with a quick flip, the makeshift altar would invert if necessary. Sturdy against his struggle, I couldn’t help but grin as his crystal eyes met mine, auburn hair ablaze to match his continued hostility toward the gods he should’ve been crawling for—us.

Attention downcast, the two women positioned him in front of our dining arrangement. Standing with their hands tucked behind their backs, they waited for my permission to leave, and when I ordered such, they vanished just as quickly as they’d arrived.

Palms flattening against the armrests of the chair I occupied, I pushed myself to standing and snatched the serrated blade from the table. “Humans serve two purposes beneath our rule. Which are?”

“Obedient hounds,” Kyrn giggled as she peered up from her analysis of her nails.

“Or food.” Vrax’s split tongue shot out between her lips, each half working to lap outward to the edges of her mouth. “You are blessing us with such a feast?”

“I am,” I mewled, spinning the hilt between my fingers. “And on the menu tonight is one of Kaelivan’s loyal guards, one who continues to remain defiant regardless of the opportunities he has been given. Brix.”

“Mmm!” Shout muffled, his brows furrowed to display his continued loathing. “Mmph⁠—”

With a harsh kick, my foot collided with the locking mechanism. The hinge flipped, and the flat wood he rested on flipped vertically, the chains tightening to ensure he remained bound to his fate. As he exhaled through his nose, I positioned myself beside the contraption.

“To ensure we can indulge to completion, I will enlighten you all on what awaits our reign.” Tossing the knife into the air, I caught it with an overhand grip before driving it into Brix’s thigh. He screamed, the sound a harmony I knew wouldn’t last much longer as I purred, “Hold that for me, will you?”

“What of our ruling?” my Son finally asked as he leaned back in his chair, arms folding over his chest. Dominance radiated from him in the way I’d always wished it to—a prince to a dark throne, a lord of a realm. “As you are aware, other mystical creatures have infiltrated Wraelira and are working to dismantle all we have accomplished. That damned Shifter proved sufficient in her wielding and weapon handling. If we wish to rule, then we must act fast.”

“My prized prince,” I crooned, dragging my talon over the wood that suspended the man who would soon fill our hollow stomachs. “Your concerns are valid and heard. The report you delivered upon your return from Hollowmere, alongside the change I’ve felt in Caspian’s bind, is why we will be shifting course, if only a little.”

“The tides are quelling a hunger that will not be sustained, Sorva,” Maulix spoke, lengthened fingers folding over each other as he interlaced them to settle his chin on their perch. “With Ellira’s Daughter and Elaros’s Son awakening, it is only a matter of time until the other Divari follow. We must act.”