Goddess of War
Date: 2015-11-02 05:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Fantasy
Description: Stripped of her empire, one goddess is forced into exile in this fast-paced young adult fantasy romance.Astride a dragon, Raina--the Goddess of War--and her twin brother escape persecution to the world of the humans. It'll take years to reach their Enlightenment, when their power is strong enough to fight the goddess who seeks to destroy them. With the help of a demi-god, Raina and Allan disguise themselves as part of the mystical sect who uphold the laws of the gods. But, when they are stationed in the palace, the royals become their new masters.Danger lurks in every corner, and Raina finds h
Publisher: The Book Nymph

K.N. Lee

Copyright © 2015 by K.N. Lee

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

www.knlee.com

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

Goddess of War/ K.N. Lee. – 1st Ed.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank everyone that has supported me on my writing journey. Thank you, as always, to my fairy god-mother, Colleen M. Albert, my mother, brother, and father. Thanks to my amazing husband, and to my little angel, Jensen.

Dedicated to my younger brother, Desmond Allen James Williams. Thank you for always listening to my stories when we were children.

THE SCREAMS OF the dying would have been better than the silence of that morning. Kellian was used to battle.

War was his profession. As a general in the Aden army, Kellian thought he had seen it all.

Fighting demons and shadows from other worlds had hardened him.

Seeing his home in ruins was something he was not prepared for.

Vultures feasted on the dead.

In heavy boots, he walked along the blood-covered pathway. Eyes wide with panic, he ignored the dead soldiers and kept his gaze fixed on the entrance to the manor.

As he ran through the golden doors, nothing mattered at that moment but making sure his beloved family had not passed on to the world of the dead.

When he reached the living chambers, the door was already broken down, and the stench of death filled his nostrils despite the frost that seeped in from broken windows.

Frost? In this weather?

Preeti. His daughter. She must have used her power on whoever did this.

Kellian froze at the archway when he saw his wife’s body nailed to the wall. Snow covered everything in the room.

His eyes lowered to his blood-covered boots. The image of her bruised corpse would never leave his memory. The body of her personal bodyguard lay beside the door to the secret exit with a gaping hole in his chest.

Who dared to harm his family?

Did they know what kind of revenge he would exact upon them?

The manor was surrounded by a wall with sentries and archers equipped with the best weapons made by the Dreamweavers. No one could enter his home without proper authority.

Whoever did this must have been known by his guards.

Litha.

Kellian balled up his fists. Heartbroken and filled with rage, Kellian crossed the room to pull his wife from the wall. He yanked the thick nails out one by one and clutch her to his chest.

Was this his punishment for defying the Council of Order?

He now realized how deep the betrayal went. Litha called him away to meet with the Council so that she could do this.

Kellian searched the room for any signs of his children.

“Preeti?” His voice carried along a chilling wind that swept into the room and out the broken window. “Vineet?”

There was no reply. His heart raced as he searched the entire manor, checking every room and calling their names.

Neither were anywhere to be found.

Unable to look upon his wife’s body, he covered her with the evergreen bedsheet.

He opened the door that led to the secret passageway. Once he stepped through, he paused.

He heard something. A faint shout.

Kellian stepped forward and strained to hear. The howling of the wind seemed to follow him, and he knew that Litha was still there somewhere.

A muffled cry of what sounded to be a young girl came to him.

His eyes widened. He dared to hope.

“Desi?

“Master!”

She’s still in the chest.

Kellian ran down the dark hallway.   Once he reached the end of the hall where it forked in two directions, he pushed another secret hatch in the stone wall right before him. This is where he kept his valuables. No one, not even his staff knew about it.

Another door was revealed.

Pulling the door open, he looked down into a hole in the ground that was four feet deep and three feet wide. Inside the hole was a beautiful golden chest adorned with intricate black symbols engraved by the holy clerics of Latari.

Kellian pulled the chest from the ground and set it on the stone floor.

“Master?”

He stared at the chest, relief flooding his body. There was still hope.

He knelt to the chest and inserted the key. One turn of the lock and a sharp clicking sound resonated in his ears. The lid opened on its own.

“Master Kellian,” Desi called as she stretched her small arms, and flew out of the chest. She rubbed her gold-colored eyes with a yawn.

Her face looked up at him with and joy.

“You’re late, Master,” she said as she hovered before his face, the size of his hand, with white wings.

He watched as gold tendrils of light raced up and down her skin and through her green hair, making her body light up the entire hallway.

“Tell me what happened.”

Desi’s smiling face turned sour.

“Everyone was killed. They didn’t have a chance. The Goddess of Law had the Red Beast with her.”

Litha left nothing to chance.

“Where are the twins?”

“The Goddess of Law took them.”

Rage started to rise within Kellian. He wanted to smash a hole in the wall, but restrained himself. He needed to get his children back, before Litha discovered what they could do.

He should have known that he would never truly find peace. Even as a god, there were always those that sought to ruin him.

Not with Litha still living and breathing. The woman would not be stopped until she got what she wanted. The only problem was that she wanted something he couldn’t give.

Kellian listened to the howling of the wind, his rage building with each mention of Litha. “Where did she take them?”

“Oh, Kellian,” a familiar voice said from behind him.

Kellian clenched his jaw as he turned to face the woman with the long lavender hair, brown skin, and white tattoos.

Litha, the Goddess of Law.

Desi pointed to Litha, her thin black eyes narrowed. “Can I kill her, Master?”

Kellian shook his head. “No, Desi. I will.”

Litha lowered her eyes as she circled him, her hands folded behind her back. “Did you think I would let you use your children to ruin me?”

“You killed her.”

Litha nodded. Her face was without emotion. “I did. I told you I would.”

“I loved her.”

“Yes. I know,” she whispered. “I’ve only just begun to destroy everything you love.”

“Why did you have to kill everyone? They were innocent.”

A small laugh made him glance up at her. It was easy to remember why he once loved her. She was beautiful beyond words. Long lavender hair flowed down to her naked ankles. He swallowed as his eyes went up the length of her shimmering gown.

“They were in my way,” Litha said. The bitterness in her voice made every word more and more powerful.

Kellian shook his head. “You’ve really lost all of the qualities I once loved in you.”

“Perhaps,” Litha said, her eyes darkening.

“My children were chosen to rule. I had no part in the decision.”

“I no longer care,” Litha said. “I will not be ruled by children. Not in this life or the next.”

“Please, Master,” Desi whispered. “Let me kill her. I can do it!”

“Shh,” he said, waving her away.

“You deserve a slow death.”

The glow of her blue eyes hurt his, but he didn’t back down.

“No, Kellian.” Litha said, pulling an orb from behind her back.

A smirk came to Litha’s face, and Desi started buzzing around Kellian’s head, blocking his view.

“Run, Master,” Desi shrieked.

Litha released the glowing orb, letting it hover before Kellian’s face. Within it he saw nothing but black.

“You do.”

FROM INSIDE A cage, the world seemed bleak.

Especially for the children of a god that had been sent to his eternal slumber. Even if their father was one of the lesser gods, the twins were meant to rule them all.

Now the Vault was their home, with all of its dark and dismal glory.

They couldn’t even grieve the loss of their parent’s in peace.

Preeti could barely lift her head from resting on her brother, Vineet’s lap when Pavvi entered the dungeons.

Dressed in leather armor made in Pollos by the Dreamweavers, he was too skinny to even be considered for any occupation in the army other than prison guard.

With wild red hair and freckles scattered all over his cheekbones, Pavvi reminded Preeti of a ragdoll she used to have as a child.

Vineet smoothed Preeti’s hair. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “It’s time.”

Pavvi pressed his smug face to the bars as he looked down at them.

“Supper time!”

Preeti winced as he poured their soup onto the already damp stone floor. As she watched the thin liquid splash and trail though the floor’s creases, her stomach grumbled. Neither of the twins had eaten in days. Pavvi only fed them their meals once a week, and that cycle had gone on for months.

“Just leave us alone, Pavvi,” Preeti said, her bright gray eyes glaring at him.

“Why? You’re so fun to watch suffer. Come now. Just lick it off the floor. I won’t tell anyone the infamous Latari twins eat just like dogs.”

Preeti’s face heated. If only she could get her hands on her swords. She imagined grabbing his lips with her fist and slicing them off with her sharpened blade.

Closing her eyes, she imagined his cries of agony.

One day…maybe today.

She’d never killed anyone, and had never wanted to until she and Vineet were charged with treason and imprisoned by the Goddess of Law.

Preeti coughed, the back of her throat dry. She and Vineet would have to conserve their energy if they wanted to escape.

“Bastard,” Preeti said under her breath.

Pavvi kicked the bars with his thick boot. “What was that?”

Preeti sighed. It took everything in her to stand, even more to hobble over to the bars of her cell. She wrapped her hands around the bars, standing right before him.

Pavvi jumped back, fear in his eyes.

“Get back!”

“Why do you have to be so hateful? What have we ever done to you?”

He grabbed a long, silver pole and stabbed her through the bars with it.

Hope filled her body even faster than the agonizing heat that entered her belly.

Despite the pain from harnessed lightning, Preeti grabbed the sharp end of it, and ripped it away from Pavvi’s grasp.

A triumphant grin came to her face as she flipped the pole to point its end at Pavvi.

It worked.

His face turned ashen as he looked down at the sharp end, sparks of lightning racing up and down the steel.

“Good job, Pavvi,” Preeti said. “You can be so predictable.”

Vineet came to his feet. He stood as tall as Preeti, which was about a half foot taller than most humans. They shared the same straight black hair, large gray eyes, and identical intricate black tattoos on their light bronze-colored flesh.

Vineet was built much more muscular, but Preeti had a slim, athletic build that made her a formidable opponent even to men. Nonetheless, Pavvi looked ready to soil his pants at the sight of them not looking half as downtrodden as he’d been led to believe.

They were gods after all.

Vineet stood beside Preeti, his eyes piercing into Pavvi as he reached a hand out to Preeti. “Go on. Hurry.”

Preeti glared at Pavvi once more. For weeks he had wasted their daily rations of food, pestered them, and poked them with the lightning stick any chance he got.

Revenge was not something father condoned, but it was so hard to not retaliate now that they had the chance.

Preeti’s lips curled into a snarl.

“Stay still, or I will send you shooting to the moon, you pathetic piece of filth.”

Pavvi nodded, his eyes wide, body tense.

Preeti placed her hand in her brother’s, and together they took to lightning into their bodies. The shock nearly blew Preeti to the floor, but Vineet grabbed her, holding her steady.

“Good girl,” he said. “Now get us out of her!”

Preeti could barely hear his voice over the shouts inside her own head. Pavvi took her hesitation as a chance to escape. One step toward the door, and Vineet opened his left hand, sending black lightning into their tormentor’s body.

Like a hand, the black lightning wrapped around Pavvi’s neck, and yanked him back.

Eyes black, Vineet grinned as he closed his fist.

Pavvi let out a raspy gasp as his body flew into the ceiling, and back to the ground in a crunch of bones.

“Hurry, Preeti. Don’t second guess yourself now.”

Preeti clenched her teeth, the vibrations of her bones shaking her to her core. She fought with the lightning and the pain, Vineet’s hands keeping her from breaking down completely.

A female voice shouted at them from the other side of the wall.

Go!

Go!

Go!

Preeti opened her eyes with a screech, and with a release of all of that power, the prison walls crumbled to dust that lingered in the air like soot from the volcanoes back home in Latari.

They had seconds to Leap. Preeti didn’t waste any of them.

“Ready,” she shouted over the calls from the guards as they ran to capture them.

Vineet nodded. Face set with purpose, he wrapped his arms around Preeti, and together their bodies were catapulted into the sky.

Every sense was heightened as Preeti held onto her brother, praying that they would survive this night.

A glowing orb caught them mid-air, holding them in its warmth.

Desi, their pet fairy, smiled at them with her green hair floating in the air.

“Good job,” Desi cheered, her power lifting them higher and higher into the sky. “You did it!” She pointed to the stars. “Hold on now.”

Hope was theirs once more as they soared like a shooting star from Aden, the land of the gods, to the one place where they could hide from their captor.

The Abyss; also known as the human world.

THE ABYSS WAS not how Preeti or Vineet imagined it to be. It wasn’t the bleak wasteland they’d been taught about in their studies. Aden made it seem as though the human world was a place where evil was born, full of weak beings that needed to be under strict rule.

Despite what they’d been taught, there was a beauty to it that astounded them both.

The landing had been brutal, knocking Preeti and Vineet unconscious. A hole the size of a mountain now stood as proof that two young gods had invaded the land of the humans.

It was only a matter of time before Litha located the evidence and sought them out.

Did she care that they were innocent…that neither of them wanted to rule?

Of course not. All she wanted was to rule in their stead.

“I found water,” Preeti shouted from a rushing river that cut through the lush forest that they had slept the night in.

She wasn’t sure exactly how long they’d slept, but she was glad for it. Her body was taxed beyond imagination. She’d only practiced harnessing the elements. Never had she actually used them.

The cold, crisp, water was better than anything she’d drank in all of her sixteen years. Such freshness was not common in Aden, where the gods mostly drank wine and other crafted brews.

But human water…that was divine. Preeti slurped it from her cupped hands, languishing in the feel of it soothing its way down her throat, rejuvenating her from the inside out.

“I swear it’s like pure magic,” she said.

Vineet joined her on his knees, getting his fill. “Amazing,” he said in between gulps.

Preeti dipped her entire head in the water, scrubbing her scalp. “I just want to be clean again. My skin feels awful.” She ran her hands through her long black hair, fighting through tangles. “I wish we had a bottle to take some with us.”

Once Vineet was satisfied, he stood and took account of their surroundings.

“We actually did it,” Preeti said.

Months in the Vault had nearly broken their spirits. It would have been much worse if they’d been separated. It was as if the Goddess of Law wanted them to watch each other suffer.

How wrong she was. Her plan did the opposite. The twins gave each other strength.

Preeti rung her hair out of cold water and braided it down to her waist.

A grin spread across Preeti’s face. “Father would be proud.”

Nodding, Vineet returned the grin. It was a bitter sweet triumph.

Now they were exiled to a land that gods should never walk upon.

“Good job,” she said. “You saved us.”

He gave her a pat on the back. “It was all you. I couldn’t have Leapt worlds if you weren’t there to harness the lightning.”

“Well then. We did it together, as a team.”

“Yes.” He folded his arms across his broad chest. “I suppose Desi had a part of it as well.”

A bright light zipped past them and landed on the grass.

“Desi!” Preeti knelt down to hug the fairy. “Thank you for helping us get out of that awful place.

“Yes,” Vineet said. “Thank you.”

Desi beamed, pressing her body to Preeti’s chest in the best embrace that she could accomplish with her small stature.

“I would do anything for my sweet twins.”

Preeti chuckled. Desi had always loved to call them her sweet twins. Having something from home gave her even more confidence. Maybe they would find their way back home someday.

“What’s the plan?”

Preeti stared at Desi. “We thought you had a plan.” She’d been wondering the same thing since the moment her eyes opened from their long slumber.

Desi smirked. “I was joking, sweet Preeti. I will find you homes to live out your lives until you reach the age of Enlightenment.”

“Then we can go home?”

“Yes. It is then that you will be strong enough to stand against Litha and claim your rightful place as rulers of Aden.”

“That’s it? Simple enough. Right, Vineet?” Preeti glanced back at her brother. She chuckled and pointed at him.

He lifted his shoulders. “What is it?”

She motioned to her clothes. “Look at us,” she said. “We look ridiculous.”

Both of them had on tattered prison uniforms.

Preeti’s white uniform was caked in mud and soot, as was Vineet’s, except his shirt was ripped across the front as if a dragon had used its sharp claws on him.

“We need to find some new clothes, quickly.”

“You’re right,” he said.

Desi looked at their faces for a moment, examining them with her thin golden eyes.

“It shouldn’t be too difficult to blend with the humans. You don’t look much different. But your tattoos will give you away.”

Memories of receiving a new tattoo every year of their life since birth came to Preeti. The pain was a symbol of growth and what it meant to hold such power.

Preeti rubbed her bare arms, the black symbols stark against her bronze skin. They were a part of her that she was proud of.

“We must hide them.”

“Yes. I have an idea,” Desi said. “I know someone that can hide you. Another exiled god.”

“Good,” Vineet said, hope in his eyes. “It’s good to know we aren’t the only ones in this world.”

“He’s a lesser god like your father, but he is wise and just. We must be quick. My power is weak here. I will need to rest. Just listen to my instructions,” Desi said, curling into a small golden ball. She landed in Preeti’s hand.

Desi’s tiny voice came from inside the golden ball that resembled the floating spores of the spitfire flowers.

“Follow the river to a small farm. There is a monastery there. That is where you will find the god named, Errison.”

“One second.” Preeti knelt down for one more drink of water. Wiping her mouth, she nodded. Whatever awaited them on their journey, they would face it together.

“Ready.”

THE ENTRANCE TO the Rhene monastery was quiet. Night had fallen, and the air was still as Allan and Preeti entered the sleeping village that surrounded the rectangular shaped building made of brown stone.

Such silence made Preeti nervous. She was used to the constant chatter of pixies, the howl of the night wind, and the sparkling song of the flowers in her garden outside her window.

Home.

Preeti missed it dearly.

Something about the human world intrigued her despite its strange sun and landscape. What enchanted her most of all was the fact that water fell from the sky.

She looked up at the black sky as that delicious liquid she loved so much splashed onto her face and into her eyes.

“Look at this, Vineet,” she said, opening her mouth to catch more of the water.

Vineet glanced upward and grimaced. “It gets into my eyes.”

“It doesn’t hurt,” Preeti said. “It feels good, doesn’t it?”

“No,” he said. “It’s making me feel cold.”

Preeti continued collecting the falling water into her mouth while Vineet knocked on the door four times and took a step back.

Desi had shrunk herself into a golden ball that Preeti kept in her pocket. They couldn’t risk their fairy being seen by people that knew very little of fairies and magic.

Preeti slid her hand in her pocket and closed it around the ball. Holding it gave her reassurance that their plan would work.

A tall, bearded man in a long black cloak opened the wooden door. Standing almost a foot taller than them, his head was bald and smooth, and his eyes were wise. Preeti hoped they could trust him.

“It’s late,” he said, looking them over. “Beggars can wait until morning to be fed.”

Vineet held a hand out, stopping the monk from closing the door.

“Wait,” he said.

The monk looked annoyed, his thick eyebrows furrowing. “How dare you? Step aside before I set the dogs on you.”

Preeti stepped in front of her brother. “Are you Errison?”

The monk nodded. “I am. Who are you?”

Nervously, she looked from side to side, and then lifted her shirt to just above her navel. The reveal of her mark of the gods, seemed to catch Errison off guard.

Errison’s face morphed from anger to bewilderment. When his eyes rose to Preeti’s, there were tears in his eyes.

Preeti bit her lip.

Please work, she thought.

She watched Errison examine her tattoos. When he reached a finger out to touch it, she pulled her shirt back down and wrapped her arms around her body. Now she knew what Vineet meant about the falling water making him cold.

Her clothes became soaked, making her shiver.

Preeti and Vineet waited in silence as Errison looked from one to the other, finally noticing all of the other tattoos going up and down the exposed skin on their arms, necks, and faces.

“The Goddess of War,” he said looking to Preeti, then turned his gaze to Vineet. “And the God of Peace.”

Vineet nodded.

To their surprise, he fell to his knees, arms bent and head pressed to the ground at their feet.

“Forgive me. I did not know who you were.”

Errison looked up at them, his face gone pale.

“I just haven’t seen another god in centuries.”

The twins followed Errison into the torch-lit monastery. The air was quite close inside. Raina crossed her arms, hugging herself.

Humans were around. She could sense their sleeping bodies, and it intrigued her along with everything else they had come to experience in the Abyss.

“What was the falling water called out there?”

“Rain,” the monk said.

“Rain,” Preeti repeated. “It sounds beautiful.”

“Why yes. I suppose it does,” he said. “Now, tell me what I can do to help you,” he said, motioning for them to sit down on the long wooden bench inside a large room with sculptures of all of the founding gods, and a fountain in the center.

Preeti cleared her throat. She glanced at the sculpture of Litha, imagining her looking down at her with hate.

“We need help hiding from—” Preeti lowered her voice to a whisper. “The Goddess of Law.”

Errison raised his brows. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against a pillar. “Well, that is quite a task.”

“I know,” Preeti said. “But we only have to hide until our Enlightenment. That’s only thirty years from now.”

Errison stroked his beard. “That makes three human years.”

“Oh,” Preeti said. “Even better.”

Errison sighed. “Maybe, but what you’re asking me is dangerous work. Even three years of hiding fugitives can cause great harm to the work I’ve done in this world.”

“We were told you could help us,” Vineet said. “Please don’t send us back out there.”

“No need to worry,” Errison said. “I didn’t say that I wouldn’t help you.”

Preeti reached for her brother’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

Please let there be hope.

The thought of returning to the Vault where Litha could do whatever she wanted to them turned Preeti’s stomach. The next time might not be a prison sentence.

Death awaited if Litha found them.

“Come now,” Errison said, leading them out of the room. “Pardon the meager accommodations. You two will have to sleep with the other young recruits.”

“Thank you so much for helping us,” Preeti said.

“It is my pleasure. It’s not every day that I get to save the world.”

Vineet smiled. “Is that what we are doing?”

Errison nodded, glancing back at them. “It is. With Litha in charge, everyone suffers.”

The monastery was massive. It was built in honor of the Goddess of Health, but all worship was welcome. Four stories above ground resembled the castles of Pollos in Aden, but the two levels below were more like catacombs. Walking those corridors gave her an eerie feeling.

Rubbing her arms, Preeti glanced at a painting of Tawni, the Goddess of Health. They’d met a few times before at the annual feast her father held at their manor. Tawni was a beautiful and kind woman.

If only all gods and goddesses could be as kind and loving. Just thinking of Litha gave her chills. It was only a matter of time before she found them.

Preeti scratched her arm. She couldn’t wait to bathe and change out of her prison uniform.

He stopped and turned to them.

“What are your names?”

“I am Preeti, and this is Vineet.”

Errison nodded, then his soft green eyes went wide. He waved his hands before them. “We will have to change those. No one can suspect who you are.”

Vineet raised a brow. “We have to change our names?”

“Yes,” Errison said.

Preeti cracked a smile. She loved her name, but how often do you have the freedom to choose a name for yourself?

She nudged Vineet. “Errison is right. It will be fun. I already have a few names for you, Vineet.”

“Like what?”

“Glutton, Sleepy, and how about Arrogant?”

Vineet pushed her forward. “And I can call you Ridiculous,” he said. “Let’s just get to our rooms. I’m exhausted.”

Preeti covered a snicker with her hand. It was grand to smile again, but the memory of why they were there crept back upon her. She straightened her shoulders, her smile fading.

As they walked down the dark corridor, she glanced at the many doors on either side where others were already asleep.

“Are you sure this is okay?”

“Yes. I am the head of the monasteries in this region. No one will question me. We receive new recruits every week. There are always young folk seeking refuge and truth. You’ll fit in just fine.”

Preeti was pleased by his answer. Desi was right to send them there. Preeti gave her pocket a little pat.

Once they stopped at the door on the end, Errison pulled a long key from his cloak’s inner pocket. He opened the door and held it for Preeti.

“This one is yours,” he said.

Preeti stepped inside and glanced at the single cot, and a chest. The walls were so close that Preeti could almost stretch both arms out to her sides and touch the slick stone at the same time.

“Where will Vineet sleep?”

She became nervous about leaving Vineet’s side. They’d never been more than a wall apart, and in the past few months they’d been constantly by each other’s side.

“He will be in the male quarters on the other side of the monastery,” Errison said. He nodded to the chest beneath the rectangular window. “You’ll find fresh clothes inside. I’ll have one of the other monks hang a cloak and Seer gear outside your door in the morning. You’re to wear it everywhere. Only top ranked missionaries wear that uniform, but it’s the only one that will make sense.” He lowered his voice. “No one can see those tattoos, and it covers the entire body.”

Preeti nodded, wondering what a Seer was.

“And have a new name picked out by breakfast,” he added. “I’ll see you then.”

Watching them leave left Preeti feeling cold. When the door closed, the emptiness started to settle in. She already missed Vineet, but when she flopped onto her wool-covered cot, Desi flew from her pocket.

A smile came to Preeti’s face as she watched the fairy twirl and light the small room with her bright glow.

“Good,” Desi said. “This is very good. I told you Errison was one of the good ones.” She landed on Preeti’s lap, sat down and crossed her legs. “Now, what are we going to call you?

THE NEXT DAY Preeti put on her new Seer uniform. A loose blouse was tucked into her flared skirt that reached her ankles. Her waist was pulled tight by a draped red sash that circled around her waist and over her right shoulder where it tied in the back.

She’d needed another girl to help her accomplish the intricate presentation of such elaborate new clothing.

Olia was trusted by Errison. A girl of seventeen, she was quiet, obedient, and friendly.

With short brown hair that barely went past her chin, Olia was beautiful to Preeti. It was her green eyes that captivated her.

Something about green eyes always left her enchanted. But Olia always seemed to keep hers lowered, as if she was too unsure of herself to look upward and into the eyes of others.

Olia helped Preeti pull her calf-length boots on and secured the cloak to the hooks on her blouse. Lastly, she pulled her cloak’s hood over her hair. Leather gloves completed the uniform.

Everything from her eyebrows up, and chin down was covered which was fitting considering her favorite tattoo was on her forehead. The same woman that helped her get dressed had also chopped her bangs for her, covering the tattoo.

Now she would blend in with every other human.

“You look lovely, goddess,” Olia said in her soft voice.

Preeti smiled at her, wishing she had a mirror to see herself. She’d just have to trust Olia’s account of how she looked.

Vineet waited for her outside the female quarters in a uniform of his own. He wore black pants, a stiff white shirt that was tucked in, and a black cloak.

Preeti noticed how Vineet’s eyes lingered on Olia as she walked down the stairs and away from them on the thin path between two rows of rose bushes.

She glanced back at him before disappearing into the crowd of monks and recruits.

Preeti held back an amused smile, not wanting to embarrass her brother for being attracted to a pretty girl.

Still, it was difficult. Vineet never looked at any other girls like that before.

Preeti and Vineet were meant to be opposites. They were once in training to rule all of the gods, meant to be the balance Aden desperately needed.

War and peace were now impersonating human missionaries of the gods.

Ironic.

Sometimes Preeti wished that she could have been the Goddess of Peace instead of War, but her father had explained to her the reasoning to why the world needed war. Sometimes people had to fight for what they believed in. War had its very own piece in the greater scheme of things.

Balance was key. Now that balance had shifted with Litha in charge.

Goddess of Law or not, Litha was corrupt.

Preeti grinned when she approached Vineet. “No one even suspects anything,” she whispered to him.

His eyes scanned the crowds of young men and women as they filled the inner courtyard. “It feels quite odd, doesn’t it?”

Preeti shrugged. “I kind of like it. What freedom we have.”

“I suppose,” Vineet said, still sounding unsure. “So. What am I to call you now?”

Preeti leaned forward, her eyes bright. “Raina.”

“Raina,” he repeated. “Like the falling water from last night?”

She nodded.

“I like it.”

Raina giggled. “And what about you?”

“Allan.”

Raina’s smile faded. She straightened up. “Like mother,” she said in a voice so soft that she could barely hear it herself.

Just thinking of their mother, Allana brought a pain to her gut that threatened to make her burst into tears.

Allan hugged her tight. “We will avenge her murder. I promise.”

They broke apart when Errison approached them, sucking his teeth. “Public displays of affection, even for siblings, is not allowed. You won’t see any Seer’s embracing in view of others. You are to emulate warriors of wisdom, piety, and courage.”

Raina and Allan nodded.

“Apologies,” Raina said, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

“You two fit in even better than I anticipated.” He stroked his black beard. “And what are your names?”

“Allan.”

“Raina.”

“Lovely,” he said. “Now let’s get you two stationed.”

“Stationed?” Preeti had hoped that they could just stay in the monastery where it was safe.

“You need to work.”

Allan asked Preeti’s question before she could. “Why?”

“For the anonymity or it. You can’t wear the uniform and not earn your keep. Trust me, do as I say and no one will suspect who the two of you really are. Come.” Errison motioned for them to follow.

Raina gripped the front of her cloak, feeling for the chain Desi had created. Desi now hung around Raina’s neck, beneath the cloak, in the form of a beautiful silver and crystal necklace.

“I can get you into the capital city where you’ll be hidden even better than out here in the countryside.”

“Capital city,” Raina said, putting her hands in her pocket. The prospect of seeing more of this world started to intrigue her. “I admit, I do like the sound of it.”

“As do I,” Allan said.

“Good,” Errison said with a nod. “Because I figure you’d do well in the Royal Mission.”

Raina slowed her pace.

“Royal Mission?”

Errison glanced over his shoulder.

“Are you not up for it?”

Allan nudged Raina. “We are up for anything. Aren’t we, Pree—Raina?”

Raina pursed her lips. “Of course. I just figured we’d stay more hidden.”

Errison stopped walking and turned to face the two of them. He folded his hands in front of him.

“Do you trust me?”

Raina nodded slowly. “Yes. We trust you,” she said. “We will do whatever it takes.”

“Good,” Errison said, turning away from them once again. “Because the crown prince could use some extra protection.”

After supper, Allan walked the gardens. Each blooming flower reminded him of home where their mother loved to plant only the most rare of plant species. None of them were present in the monastery’s garden, but he enjoyed looking at them and smelling their scent.

The girl from earlier, with the short brown hair and green eyes sat on a bench with a blank piece of parchment on her lap and a quill in her hand.

“Evening,” he said to her.

Her eyes flickered up to catch a glance of him, and then went back to her parchment.

“Evening,” she said softly.

Allan put his hands in his pocket and stepped closer to her. “Any chance you know what the white flowers are called?”

She didn’t even look up. “They’re called gardenias.”

Allan nodded. “Oh. Thank you. Peculiar name for a flower. What’s yours?”

She lowered her quill and looked up at him, her eyes worried.

Allan couldn’t make sense of why she would look at him in that way. He turned away from her.

“Never mind,” he said. “Have a good night.”

“Olia,” she called after him.

Allan paused.

“My name is Olia.”

Smiling, Allan glanced back at her. “Now that,” he said. “Is a beautiful name.”

THE JOURNEY TO Rhene’s capital city was longer and colder than Raina and Allan anticipated. Neither had experienced such a bitter chill and kept their fur cloaks pulled tight. In just a few days they’d seen so much of the world they’d been led to believe was a desolate place. Despite the cold, it was still the most beautiful place Raina had ever seen.

Littered with giant birds and sweet pink fruit that hung low from white trees, The Meadows of Balston were Raina’s favorite. Somehow seeing all of those new things helped ease her sorrow for the loss of her mother and father. The fact that she would never see their faces again still hadn’t settled in.

On the ninth day, Raina and Allan were exhausted from riding since dawn. The horses were tied to a tree while Errison, Olia, Raina and Allan sat in a clearing around a fire.

While Allan read from the tiny journal Errison gave to them to study, Raina warmed her hands as close to the flames as she could risk. Pulling her cloak closer to her body, she watched Errison who seemed unaffected by the cold.

Errison ran his fingers through his long beard as he stared into the flames, without blinking.

“Is it done yet, Errison? I can hear my stomach yelling at me.” Raina eyed the skinned rabbit that was settled on the fire. The smell was driving her mad. Her stomach grumbled so loud that she was sure Errison and Allan heard it.

Errison seemed to snap out of his thoughts.

“I believe it is,” he said.

“Oh don’t worry,” Olia said. “I’ll check it.”

Olia scooted closer to the fire, and unwrapped her wool blanket from around her arms. She pulled the cooked rabbit from the fire.

“It’s ready,” she said. She pulled the meat from the bones, and handed it to everyone in clay bowls.

“Thank you.” Raina eagerly accepted the bowl with both hands. “I still can’t believe you caught all of those rabbits, Olia.”

Allan glanced up from his studying at Olia.

She blushed. “It was nothing, really. My father taught all of his children how to trap their own dinner. We spent a lot of time traveling,” Olia said, settling back down in her spot nestled by a tree. “He was a traveling musician. He played for all kinds of people.”

Raina wasted no time before she began eating. “That’s nice,” she said, focusing her attention on savoring every bite of this new kind of food. They hadn’t eaten anything but bread along with the preserved fruit during most of their journey.

“Eat, Allan,” Raina said, handing him a bowl. “You’ve barely eaten anything today. You can study later.”

Allan nodded. He sniffed the rabbit meat. “We are supposed to eat flesh while we are here?”

Olia’s face turned pink.

“It’s nothing against you, Olia. Honestly,” he said, reaching a hand out in apology. “We just never ate things like this in Aden.”

“Yes,” Errison said. “Humans eat meat. You’ll like it.”

Allan made a face of disgust. “I’m not sure about that.”

“Try it,” Olia said with a smile.

“Go on, Allan. It’s good. I promise,” Raina said, licking the seasoned oil from her fingers.

With a sigh, Allan tasted a piece. The lines in his forehead relaxed and he ate another piece. “I suppose it’s tolerable,” he said, returning Olia’s smile.

That girl could probably get Allan to do anything. Raina smiled and held out her bowl for more.

Errison gave her another chunk of juicy meat.

“You’ll get used to it,” Errison said. It’ll give you the energy you need to survive in this world.”

Raina stuffed a piece of meat into her bread. “How long have you been here, Errison?”

Errison ate a chunk of hardened bread. “Too long to remember. I stopped counting the years a long time ago. Maybe two hundred years.”

“That’s an awfully long time. Do you miss your home in Aden?” She unbraided her hair so that it could rest against her cold ears. She pulled her fur hood back over her head and rubbed her hands together before the fire once more.

Looking up at the clear night sky, Errison smiled. “Yes, Raina, very much. “I miss my friends.” His eyes lowered. “And my family.”

Raina looked from Olia to Allan, and back to Errison. “I think we all miss our loved ones.”

“True.” Errison checked the broth he’d made from dried onions and potatoes. Nodding for them to hold out their bowls, he dipped a cup into the delicious smelling broth.

Raina slurped soup as soon as her bowl was full. She winced as she burned her tongue.

“You’ll need to let it cool,” Errison said.

“I’m so tired of being hungry,” Raina said, looking into her bowl at the steam that rose.

After months of being nearly starved to death in the Vault, their time in the human world was only slightly better. She missed the freedom she had at home to eat when and how much she wanted. She’d never take a full belly for granted again.

“In the capital city you’ll have plenty to eat,” Errison assured her.

Allan set his bowl beside him, only bones left inside of it. He pulled his cloak tight and settled back against a large fallen tree trunk.

“I was reading about what Seers duties are,” Allan said. “Raina and I are to tutor the royal children?”

“Raina will tutor. The royal family has three children. There are two princes, Eryon and Aric. They are older than the two of you by a few years. The eldest has a small trace of an ancient bloodline from one of the lesser gods of the old days when the gods used to live amongst the humans. Then there is the youngest, Arela. That’s who you will tutor, Raina. The royal family has been trained and tutored by the Seers since the nine tribes broke off into kingdoms.”

Raina swallowed a gulp of hot broth. “I can do that. Sounds easy enough. What better person to train you in the matters of the gods than an actual god?”

“Precisely,” Errison said.

“And what will I do?”

“I have something very special in mind for you, Allan. I can tell you like to study and read.”

Allan nodded.

“It’s all he used to do back in Latari,” Raina said. She’d always ran and played outside as a child, while Allan stayed inside with his countless scrolls and stories.

“Well, how do you feel about translating the ancient scrolls into the human tongue?”

Allan’s eyes brightened. “I’d like that very much. How many are there?”

Errison shrugged. “Hundreds, probably.”

Raina laughed. “You probably just made Allan the happiest god alive.”

Her heart warmed at the smile on her brother’s face.

“Olia will remain in the city to help you with anything you need when I leave for the monastery. She will set up a dress shop,” Errison said.

Olia smiled. “Mother was a dressmaker. She taught me everything.”

“Sounds like you have quite a few tricks up your sleeve,” Raina said.

Olia nodded.

“Get some rest now, we have much ground to cover tomorrow morning.” Errison covered himself with his cloak and settled down on his pallet made of leather and wool.

Raina followed his example and pulled her fur over her as she bunched up a portion of the pallet beneath her head.

As she stared up at the stars, she pictured her mother and father, and how they used to smile at Preeti and Vineet.

She wondered if they approved of their new identities.

Were they proud of them for surviving Litha’s treachery?

Desi stirred, warming Raina from the necklace against her chest.

You’re not quite free of her yet.

Each day that brought them closer to Rhene, left Allan feeling less and less connected to the place of their birth. Two weeks had passed and the realization of how massive this world was astounded both Allan and his sister.

Aden was their home, but the Abyss…this beautiful place with its ever changing landscape and even lovelier women called to him.

Before they reached the shining silver gates of Rhene’s capital city, Allan had already read the journal Errison gave them.

Twice.

He knew everything there was to know about the duty of a Seer. Retaining knowledge was one of Allan’s greatest strengths. There were times that he had to help Raina when they were quizzed by their tutor. Raina was always the free-spirited one, the one that found joy in their weapons and tactical training.

Fighting wasn’t for Allan, but he kept that knowledge in his reserves, for when he needed it.

“Raina,” he said as they led their horses on a slow trot along a heavily trafficked path that led to the gates.

“Yes, Allan?”

“Look,” he said, nodding to the distance. He looked in awe at the palace that stood out against the background of other buildings and a mountain that towered behind it.

“It’s stunning,” Raina said.

“I’ve been here at least ten times by now, and it only gets more enchanting each time,” Olia said, her eyes fixed on the palace. “I’ve never had the pleasure of staying at the palace though. You two are lucky for the opportunity.”

Allan hoped that wherever her dress shop would be located wouldn’t be too far from the palace. “Don’t worry, Olia. We will visit you often.”

She smiled, her eyes brightening as she looked at Allan. “I hope so.”

“Representatives from the nine kingdoms are all assembling in the city for the annual spring festival. So the two of you need to blend in more than ever,” Errison told them.

“Shouldn’t be a problem,” Allan said. “They’ve descended from our race, so I honestly don’t think the humans will suspect a thing.

He had everything he needed with him. With his sister by his side, he was confident that they might actually be able to wait out their three years to Enlightenment.

“Not at all,” Raina added. “We will be good.”

“I hope so,” Errison said. “For your sakes.”

“WHEN WILL YOU visit Brenton,” Princess Pria asked Prince Aric while he licked cream and honey from her navel.

Aric looked into her eyes with a wicked grin. “When you break your engagement with that old man you’re to marry.”

Pria rolled her eyes. “He is not just an old man. He is the king of Lhionaire, the second biggest kingdom of the nine. It’s even bigger than yours,” she said, grabbing a fistful of his long blond hair. “Now get back up here.”

Her lips tasted as sweet as the honey they shared on the tiny toasts his servant had placed on the floor next to Aric’s pallet.

He deepened the kiss, exploring the soft wetness of her tongue. He bit her lower lip. “Its fine if you won’t leave King Ellid for me. You’re too old for me anyway.”

Pria’s face reddened. She extended her arm between them, pushing him away.

“You are such an insufferable bastard,” she said climbing up from the plush blankets and pillows.

Aric rolled over onto his back, his head resting on his folded arm.

“I was joking,” he said. You’re not that old.”

She glared at him. “You better be ready tomorrow,” she hissed, putting her simple green dress back on.

“I’m always ready,” Aric said, grinning.

“Good,” she said as she tied her bow around her waist. “Because I plan to grind your face into the coliseum floor. With my boot.”

Laughing, Aric came to his feet. Naked, he walked over to her. She was angry. He couldn’t let her leave with a frown on her face.

What would people think? What would that do to his reputation?

She huffed as he approached her.

“Get away from me, you brute.”

“Come now,” Aric said, unfolding her arms from across her chest. “You have to know that I was only joking. I adore you.”

Pria glared up at him, but as planned, his charming smile softened her face. She sighed and kissed him on the cheek.

“How can I stay upset when your eyes remind me of the sky on a summer day?”

Aric tilted his head. “When did you become a poet?”

She grinned at him as he leaned down to kiss her on the lips.

“Goodnight, Pria,” he said. He opened his door to let her out into the corridor of the east wing of the Rhene palace.

Her guards waited outside his door, ready to escort her to the west wing where all of the royal guests were staying. Two burly men in the customary blue and white armor of Brenton. They averted their eyes from Aric’s nude body.

Aric nodded to them. “Make sure she gets back safely.”

Once Pria turned the corner, he closed his door and hurried to change into his clothes.

If he was quick enough, he could head to the tavern in the Lower City for a mug of mead.

Aric quickly pulled on his brown leather pants and a white blouse. With his pants tucked into his boots, he was prepared to blend in with the common folk. He pulled his long hair into a sloppy ponytail and put a cap on.

The night was still new for Aric, despite those in the palace preparing for bed. They’d all wake up early for the last day of tournaments, but Aric didn’t need a full night’s sleep.

He needed excitement.

And possibly another girl to keep him warm for the night.

The night air was fresh and slightly cool as Aric stepped from the side doors of the palace.

He paused when he saw a guarded procession of Seers entering the palace courtyard.

Lifting a brow, his attention went to the female Seer with the bright eyes.

Even in the pale light of the moon, he was astounded by her delicate features. No Seer he had ever seen looked like the maiden before him. Standing only a few feet away, she would hear him if he spoke to her.

What would he say to her, and why would he try?

Seers were chaste and committed to service. There was no point trying to have a conversation with them other than to be lectured on the gods and their history.

But when she glanced at him, he felt the wind change. Something eerie was hidden in eyes. He felt it in his soul that she was special.

She held his gaze for a bit longer than was acceptable for strangers, but Aric didn’t mind. He could revel in her beauty until the end of time.

When she broke their gaze, Aric let out a slow breath.

What had come over him? He turned to continue heading to the Lower City. Brows furrowed, he put his hands in his pocket.

Somehow he felt as if he knew her.

Aric glanced back and nearly lost his footing when he saw her gazing back at him, a glow in her eyes.

A glow?

He shook his head as he left the palace grounds.

It must have been the lighting.

ARIC STOOD AT the center of the grand arena, waiting for the match to begin. The ancient stone coliseum was in excellent condition, as stunning as when it was created thousands of years ago. Comprised of nearly a hundred aisles it reached to the clouds.

Gods had once fought in that same arena.

Being in line for the throne, Aric had always felt the pressure to be the best. The hundreds of spectators cheered him on when he drew his sword.

The crowd wanted a show. He’d give them one that would go down in history.

With his red and gold shield in one hand, his sword in the other, Aric watched as his mother and father arrived.

The cheers rose to a thundering roar as Queen Nevah and King Lavi entered the coliseum.

Aric looked across the platform at his opponent, a female warrior from the western kingdom, Brenton.

Princess Pria watched him, a cocky grin on her beautiful face. She winked at him and turned her attention to his parents.

If they only knew how sneaky their innocent daughter was.

There was no way that he could let that woman beat him. He hid a grin of his own. He’d beat her and bed her again later that evening.

Good plan.

The cheering continued as his parents walked hand-in-hand to the balcony that overlooked the coliseum.

In a slim white gown, Queen Nevah still looked as young as a woman of her late twenties. Aric and she shared the same pale blue eyes and blond hair. Her hair was braided and twisted into a bun that had a golden comb stuffed into it to hold her hair in place.

King Lavi was a stark contrast to his beautiful wife. With olive skin, dark brown hair, and a large muscular frame, he towered over the queen. His thin brown eyes cast a look across the crowd.

He made a slight gesture with his large hand for everyone to quiet and the spectators sat in their seats in obedience.

“Good citizens of Rhene,” Queen Nevah said, loud enough for all to hear her, yet with a voice as soft as a child’s. “As part of our final battle of this day of celebration, the king and I are pleased to present you our son, Prince Aric the Valiant and Brenton’s own, Princess Pria the Swift.”

Pria the Swift, Aric thought to himself with a laugh. She had indeed made a name for herself in the arena before arriving for their annual winter festival. He grinned, remembering her moans as he pleasured her just the night before.

The crowd clapped and shouted encouragement to the young warriors.

Aric loved the attention, and soaked it all in.

The crowd’s cheer elevated as the princess pulled free her sword and readied them with a slash through the air with in a sharp whistling sound. Her black hair was pulled into a long ponytail, her silver light armor glittering in the sunlight.

His grin vanished. It was time to get serious.

Aric became focused as he readied his sword and shield.

King Lavi took a step back, and raised a hand.

“Begin!”

Pria ran at him with such speed that Aric was taken aback.

Aric raised a brow as he held his golden shield against her tirade of strikes. He staggered backwards at her surprising strength. The loud crashing of her two-handed sword resonated in his ears.

Pria may have been slim, but it was apparent that she was composed of pure muscle.

He quickly found himself fighting as seriously as he had against all of the other assembled princes from the surrounding kingdoms. The winter festival was one of the few events that kept the kingdoms from war.

It soon became obvious that this show was about more than entertainment for Pria. Aric saw the determination and intensity in her gaze.

Pria fought as if her life depended on it. She was skilled beyond her years and the clashing of their weapons could be heard well by the spectators on the higher levels. Sparks flew all around them from the impact of their steel against steel.

Aric swallowed, sweat slinging off his forehead. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he also didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of the entire kingdom. He took a deep breath and held his sword a little tighter.

His thin eyes went from pale blue, to a silver glow.

He saw Pria lose a little of her color when she saw the glow in his eyes, and her stance changed to one of defense.

“Not fair,” Pria said. She wiped a fallen strand of hair from her face and readied herself.

“Come now, Aric,” Queen Nevah shouted from her spot above the battle. “Show the Brentons what real power looks like.”

Aric chanced a glance up at her, and Pria made a quick kick at his legs. He grabbed her leg and tossed her across the coliseum. She flew yards away and landed on her rear.

Aric frowned up at his mother. She hid a grin as she folded her hands before her. He may have been a cocky young man, but he was against an unfair fight.

Pria wasn’t a descendant of the gods that used to walk their world. With only a small part of the bloodline, Aric had certain abilities.

Unsure of whether he should heed his mother’s command, or trust his own judgement, Aric watched Pria push herself to her feet. Instead of taking a defensive stance, he relaxed his shoulders and lowered his weapon.

Pria paused her approach when she realized what he was doing.

“Have it your way,” she said.

She charged at him with all of her speed and strength.

Aric sighed. He hated to do this to the princess.

Ripples of power flooded his body and he closed his eyes. The crowd gasped, as Aric’s shield knocked Pria’s sword from her hand.

All sounds faded and all light went with it. Aric felt as if he was alone.

No one knew what it felt like to just vanish in plain sight. Apparently the power skipped his father and grandfather’s generation, reappearing in Aric, making him a nothing more than a prized possession.

Aric took in a breath. He saw Pria standing there with a look of fear on her face. She swirled around, searching for him. She scrambled to pick up her sword and resorted to slashing at nothing but air.

In this moment, she was the enemy, and for as long as his power lasted, she was defenseless against him. The wind swept in from the open ceiling. The sky was a dull yellow, as the sun shone its face. Such was rare in these times. The golden rays spilled on Aric as he closed his eyes to the warmth on his cheeks.

It was as if the gods spoke to him in that moment.

Aric enjoyed that moment of solitude. It was a rare occasion to have a moment of peace, and ironic that he found it during a sword fight.

Aric’s arms felt heavy and there was a pressing pain in the forefront of his head. He could feel his energy draining. It started to flee his body with each breath and step he took.

He wanted this to be over.

“Here,” Aric whispered to Pria, giving her a clue as to where he was. She spun on him and brought her sword down across his. Relief flooded her face.

It didn’t last long. He knocked her down to the ground and pinned her on her back.

In the end Aric had his knee in Pria's chest, his sword at her smooth chestnut-colored neck. He reappeared and she closed her eyes. She worked to control her breathing.

“Bastard,” she shouted at him.

That stung.

“So this is why I was called out here,” Pria said once she opened her eyes once again. “All of my years of training, and you made a fool of me.”

Aric stood and held a hand out to help her up.

Pria glared at him. She came to her feet and turned on her heels to walk away.

She didn’t even glance back at him.

Disappointed, Aric watched her leave.

So much for bedding her that again that evening.

THE PALACE WAS much more intimidating than Raina anticipated. Her eyes rose to the high stained glass ceiling. Not even their home in Latari was as lavish as the Rhene palace.

Mother and father lived simply by god standards. They kept a small staff and had only increased the number of guards on their property when Raina and Allan were named as the next to rule Aden.

As Raina was led to her new sleeping chambers, her mind would not let her forget the young man she’d encountered outside the palace.

There was something about him that left her feeling unsettled.

Errison and Olia were allowed to stay in the palace for the night, but Olia would have to leave in the morning to set up her new shop.

So many new opportunities had presented themselves that Raina felt a giddiness in her gut.

One day, if she and Allan survived, they would live in the Aden Imperial Palace. They would be the most powerful beings in all of the five worlds. Raina already took note of what she’d want the palace to be decorated like when she was made queen.

Just like the Rhene palace.

Two guards led her to her room. When she opened the door she lifted a brow.

Impressive, she thought. It was much bigger than the room in the monastery, but smaller than her room back home in Latari.

Still, it was beautiful, even in its simplicity.

The moment she closed and locked the latch on her door, she called for Desi.

“Are you well, Desi?”

The fairy transformed into her normal form, but her skin looked odd. There was a gray tinge to her skin, and a droopiness to her once alert eyes.

Desi rested in Raina’s lap the moment she sat on the bed.

“I am so tired, Raina.”

Alarmed, Raina hugged Desi to her. “What can I do to help you? Will you be all right?”

Desi’s breath was shallow. “This world,” she began, closing her eyes. “It does not agree with me. I cannot stay out long, sweet Preeti.”

Raina nodded. “I understand,” she said. She gave Desi a smile. “I’m going to miss our games. When we return to Aden, promise me we can play them again.”

Desi smiled wide, her eyes brightening. “Of course sweet Preeti.”

Raina kissed her tiny forehead.

Desi looked up at her. “Do you know your name means beautiful here?”

Raina nodded. “Isn’t that something?”

“It is, because you are,” Desi said and started to transform back into the necklace, where she could rest.

“Good night, Desi.”

“Good night, sweet Preeti.”

The next evening, Errison, Raina, and Allan sat for dinner with King Lavi and his family; a beautiful wife, Nevah, his middle son, Eryon, and one young daughter named Arela. Prince Lavi had yet to make an appearance.

Never did Raina dream that the humans lived in such beautiful places. Even their clothes were worthy of the royal court in Aden. Perhaps they remembered more of the ancient times when gods roamed the Abyss alongside them.

Still astounded by the beauty and elegance of this large kingdom, Raina absorbed the festive atmosphere.

Raina enjoyed sitting next to Princess Arela. She was a pretty child, with hair the color of straw and hazel eyes full of joy and innocence.

Food.

There was so much of it spread out over the table. It was the night of one of Rhene’s annual festivals, and guests filled the seats of the long table that stretched between both ends of the massive room.

Raina chewed her roasted chicken and listened as Arela listed off the many toys she had back in her room.

“When dinner is over we can play with my dolls.” Arela lowered her voice and leaned close to Raina.

Raina leaned in, intrigued.

“They are talking dolls.”

Raina smiled at the child. “I haven’t played with dolls in so long, dear girl. They sound delightful.”

Arela nodded. “Father gets many special toys from merchants all over the world. Eryon and Aric both have those special horses that can fly. Father won’t let me have one until I get a little bigger.” She sat back in the high back wooden chair. Her eyes examined Raina’s face.

Raina looked away, hoping the girl wouldn’t notice her tattoo beneath her bangs. She wore her Seer uniform and was covered from head to toe, but the fear of discovery lingered in the forefront of her mind the entire time they were in the presence of so many people.

“I like you,” Arela said. “You have pretty eyes, and a funny accent.”

“Do I?” Raina never realized she had an accent. She decided to try to emulate the speech of the Rhene people a bit better.

“My birthday is always during the annual spring festival. Maybe you can take off that cloak and wear a pretty pink dress for my party tomorrow. I will be eleven, and eligible for my first Pegasus.”

“Maybe,” Raina said. Only three years of being little more than a governess and she and Allan could return home. It seemed so far away.

“How old are you, Raina?”

“Sixteen.”

Arela nibbled on her sweet roll and lifted a brow. “You aren’t that much older than I am.”

Everyone’s chatter ended and was replaced by loud cheering when a young man dressed in a white suit with golden buttons and a red sash entered the room.

When everyone stood, Raina and Allan followed their example and stood along with them.

Raina’s mouth parted as she looked at him. He took a moment to bow before his adoring admirers.

“That must be Prince Aric,” Allan whispered.

Raina swallowed when the young man’s eyes lifted and went directly to hers. It was the young man from the night before.

Her words came out soft. “Must be.”

Never had a simple look ignited such new and exciting sensations within Raina. His blond hair was long and pulled back into a ponytail. Raina’s eyes followed him to a seat across from her at the table.

She wished she could hide her reddening cheeks when he continued to stare at her with those intense eyes. His lashes were long and dark, tipped with a shade of blond lighter than his hair. He had perfectly arched brows, and a strong chin.

And he was tall. Raina never realized how much she valued height in a man. She’d never thought of a man in that way before that night.

Handsome didn’t begin to describe the young man before her.

He nodded to Raina and Allan, his eyes lifting to the king’s as everyone settled back into their seats.

“Who are the Cloaks?”

Raina figured he referred to her and Allan.

“Call them by their proper name, Aric,” King Lavi said. “They are Seers. This is Raina. She will be Arela’s tutor and Allan is the new translator of the ancient texts. They will be staying in the palace.”

Raina struggled to take her eyes off of him, but it was impossible. She couldn’t even compare his beauty to anyone back in Latari or all of Aden.

Pull yourself together, she thought as she realized that while everyone else had sat back down, she was still standing.

She flopped back into her chair, and lowered her eyes to her plate. She no longer had an appetite. When he sat in the seat across from hers, she avoided looking at him.

“Raina, is it?”

Raina tensed at hearing him speak to her.

She nodded, looking at him as he drank from his wine goblet.

“I don’t think I’ve heard a more beautiful name,” Aric said.

A smile came to Raina’s lips. “Thank you.”

“Welcome.”

Something stirred in Raina’s belly. There was no way she could eat now.

Somehow Prince Aric’s gaze frightened her more than the thought of Litha finding them. Not because she feared him, but what he made her feel.

Something awakened within Aric as his eyes met those of the new Seer once again…something that frightened and intrigued him.

A need and a desire. One that went beyond his usual urge to simply seduce a pretty girl.

Seers weren’t supposed to have eyes like that; eyes that threatened to bend him to their will. Princess Pria and the battle earlier faded into the forgotten recesses of his mind as he drank his second goblet of wine.

Aric sat back in his chair and sighed. There was no use getting fixated on a girl had committed her life to the teaching of the gods.

Something about her presence commanded his attention. Father spoke to him. He barely heard a word, but knew better than to ignore the king.

“What was that?”

King Lavi pursed his lips. “The ship sets sail in three days. You make sure you have everything ready for the journey.”

Aric nodded, turning his attention to his father. “I will be ready.”

“Good,” King Lavi said. “Because you’ll need to be prepared for the weather and customs of all of the nine kingdoms. I remember when I went abroad for the first time. There were so many different kinds of people and cultures that I simply couldn’t appreciate without experiencing it for myself.”

“I’m certain it will be an enriching experience,” Aric said, taking a bite of smoked ham. “But do I really need to bring so many guards with me? You’ll have everyone thinking I am weak. Don’t I make it clear that I am capable of protecting myself every year during the tournaments? No one has ever defeated me. Ever.”

“It is precisely why you need more guards. Many will want to test their luck against you. You never know if a friend can turn into an assassin. There are very few people left with traces of real power, Aric. Having you rule Rhene someday poses a great threat to the other kingdoms.”

“But we are at peace right now.”

King Lavi lifted a finger. “Exactly. Right now.”

Aric sighed. His appetite was ravenous after constant battle in the arenas all week. He looked forward to a relaxing voyage.

But her.

The Seer with the gray eyes that reminded him of storm clouds, took his mind off of what was to come.

Aric was drawn to her.

He had to be near her.

RAINA AND ALLAN waited for Errison outside the banquet hall in the wide corridor.

“I’m going to check on Olia,” Allan said. “I can’t believe she couldn’t dine with us.”

Raina nodded, grinning. “Someone is smitten.”

Allan’s face turned serious. “Don’t be ridiculous. I just want to make sure she is okay waiting at that inn with all of those strange men.”

“Of course,” Raina said.

“Just wait here for Errison,” Allan said and left her.

“Sure,” Raina said to herself. “Go make sure Olia is safe with all of those strange men. Leave me here with all of these strange people.”

“So,” a male voice said from behind her.

Startled, Raina turned to face Prince Aric.

“He must be your brother,” Aric said.

Raina nodded, her eyes widened.

“I figured as much. You two look remarkably alike.”

“Yes,” she said. Her mind raced to think of something else to say, but as her mouth parted, words refused to form.

The corners of Aric’s mouth lifted into an amused smile. “Are you blushing?”

Raina straightened her back, trying to hide her embarrassment. She was a god.

Gods don’t blush.

“No.”

Aric chuckled. He ran a thumb across his bottom lip as he looked at her.

“Come with me,” he said, reaching a hand out.

Raina stared at his hand. Then she looked at her own gloved hand, not understanding.

“Why?”

Aric took two steps forward and took her hand into his. “You’re not going to deny the future king your charming company, are you?”

Raina’s brows furrowed. “Where are you taking me?”

“Patience. You’ll see soon enough.”

Raina didn’t fear for her safety with the prince. She could break him in half, after all. Besides that fact, he intrigued her, and she desperately wanted to go wherever he led her.

She quickened her pace as Aric led her down the corridor and up a flight of carpeted stairs. Soon they were farther and farther away from other people. Eventually they were all alone in a tower.

Raina’s eyes widened in wonder when she saw the open arches all around the tower’s circular wall. She stepped to one of the arches and looked out upon the entire city.

“This is incredible,” she said as her eyes took in the wonder before her. She could see far over the capital city, and even past it where the mountains stood in the distance.

The silence behind her made her turn around.

Prince Aric stood right behind her. She took a step back, her bottom pressed against the wall, the cool breeze from outside billowing her cloak.

His eyes. They were green.

She could get lost within them.

When he reached out to touch her, she tensed. It was as if her body refused to move, and so she stood there as he brushed her bangs from her eyes.

Her heart thumped when he narrowed his eyes to get a better look at the tattoo on her forehead.

“Interesting,” he said as he traced the symbol with his finger.

Tears stung Raina’s eyes. Panic filled her. “Please,” she whispered. “Don’t tell anyone.”

Aric’s brows furrowed as he looked down at her face. “What is there to tell?”

Raina turned away and wiped her eyes. For a moment she remembered the horrors of the Vault, and what Litha could do to them if they were found.

She and Allan couldn’t afford to grow complacent and forget their goal.

Home. They had to get home.

“Nothing,” she said, sniffling. She had to compose herself.

Aric’s voice came out a bit gentler than before. Less suave. Genuine.

“I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he whispered, moving to stand beside her.

Raina glanced at him. She struggled to make sense of why he paid her any attention at all.

“It’s okay.”

“No,” he said. He looked out to the city. “I had no right to touch you. I really don’t know what came over me. I assure you I didn’t bring you up here to seduce you. I simply wanted to learn a bit more about you before I leave.”

“You’re leaving?” Why should she care? He was a human. He had nothing to do with their plan.

Except…Raina remembered Errison mentioning that the prince needed their protection. He did have god-like power that made him a target from others as well.

Raina couldn’t tell if she was rationalizing being alone with the prince for his sake or her own.

He nodded. “Yes. I start my travels in a few days.”

“How long will you be away?”

He sighed and leaned his shoulder against the wall. “The journey takes three years.”

Three years?

Raina tried to hide her disappointment. “That’s a long time.”

He smiled. “You look as though you’ll miss me.”

“I don’t even know you.”

“But I’d like to change that,” Aric said. “If that is all right with you.”

Before she could stop herself, Raina nodded. “Yes.”

“There’s something about you. Something draws me to you…like we’ve known each other much longer than just today.”

“I feel it too,” Raina whispered.

Her heart thumped in her chest as Aric moved closer to her again. He took her hand in his.

Oh my. What is happening, Desi?

Get out of there, Raina. Desi’s voice seemed to come from far away. Stay focused.

“Can I get to know you, Raina?”

Involuntarily…she nodded. Desi’s voice faded.

He put an arm up above her head, steadying himself as he leaned down to her. He tilted her chin with his finger.

“Can I kiss you?”

Kiss?

“Yes.”

Her eyes fluttered closed as his lips pressed against hers, sending electric shocks more powerful than the harnessing of lightning bolts.

Pure magic.

The kiss deepened, and Aric caught her in an embrace, holding her tight to his hard chest.

Raina couldn’t breathe. She didn’t want to. All she wanted was to kiss Aric into the late hours of the night, and never leave his side.

When he pulled away, he lingered, pressing his forehead to hers.

Together they caught their breaths.

“Raina,” he said.

“Yes,” she replied, desperate for more of his mouth upon hers.

“Promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“In three years, you and I can get to know each other better. Can we? I’ve been with other girls before…I won’t lie to you, but I’ve never felt such a need to be near someone before you.”

“I feel it too.” Raina swallowed. In three years she and Allan would need to leave this world.

How could she keep such a promise?

She spoke before she could think the situation through.

It didn’t really matter.

She was infatuated with him the instant their eyes locked the night before.

She clutched her necklace as she looked into his eyes. “I’ll be here.”

THE YEARS SEEMED to pass as quickly as a spring storm. Life in the human world was much more tolerable than Allan and Raina ever anticipated.

With their approaching birthdays brought a sense of urgency and excitement to the twins.

But their birthdays weren’t cause for celebration just yet. A grand party for Princess Arela’s fourteenth birthday awaited them in the evening. With the annual festivals occurring at the same time, all of Rhene was in a frenzy of joy and excitement.

Ambassadors and royalty from the nine kingdoms were assembled, all with their champions set to compete and bring honor and glory to their homelands.

“Is this the one you wanted?” Eryon held up a beautiful mask, the sun’s rays catching on it, making it glitter.

“It is,” Raina said.

Raina, Prince Eryon, and Allan stood before a cart filled with rolls of exotic, silks and masks made specifically for Arela’s birthday celebration. She declared that everyone must wear costumes and masks. Not because she was particularly keen on dressing up in disguise, but she wanted to make sure Raina and Allan could attend her party without defying their oaths to conceal their looks.

She touched the smooth texture of the silver and crystals on the mask.

“Look, your gray eyes are almost silver. They will match the jewels perfectly,” the shopkeeper said.

Standing little more than four feet tall, the woman smiled at Raina. “You would be the most beautiful maiden at the princess’ party this evening.”

Allan nudged Raina, grinning. “The most beautiful maiden indeed,” he said with a smirk.

Raina returned the grin.

The idea of attending the party as Eryon’s guest brought a smile to Raina’s mouth. She imagined blending in with the elite in the beautiful silk gown Arela commissioned Olia to make for her.

Her little pupil was growing up. She’d grown to love Arela like a sister and a close friend. The princess would be greatly missed.

The shopkeeper held up the mask in both hands. “Three gold coins and it’s all yours.”

Raina looked to Eryon. “Thank you for this,” she said.

She knew that three gold coins was an expensive price for something she’d only wear once, but she could not attend without one, and she wanted to pick out her own.

Eryon didn’t flinch at the price. He handed the shopkeeper the three gold coins from his waist purse. At a year older than Raina and Allan, Eryon was also a close friend, one that related to Allan more than she due to his love for knowledge.

Beaming with joy, Raina watched as her new mask was wrapped and placed in a pretty purple box. She took Eryon’s hand into her own gloved hand and gave it a squeeze.

“Thank you,” she said, giving him a quick peck on the cheek.

A quick nod was all he gave her. He cleared his throat, avoiding eye contact but not letting her hand go.

“Let’s go. I don’t want to miss Aric’s appearance at the coliseum today,” Eryon said.

It was apparent that Prince Eryon looked up to his older brother, trying to emulate him in all that he did. He’d even grown out his auburn hair the same length as Aric’s, and wore styled the same way.

“Thank you,” Raina said to the shopkeeper as they walked away. She glanced up at Eryon, pulling her hand away as they stepped along the stone walkway along the side of the road.

Seers don’t show affection in public. She recited Errison’s words to herself.

Allan walked a little ahead of them. “I wish I could have seen more of the world.”

“You can,” Eryon said. “Won’t you have a chance to change stations soon?”

Allan shrugged, glancing at Raina. “I suppose.”

Going back home was the only change they foresaw for themselves. Standing up to Litha and reclaiming their rightful place as rulers awaited them.

Somehow, neither option seemed as appealing as when they’d first started their time in the human world.

Raina looked at the shop fronts they passed along their right, wishing they could linger awhile longer and browse the beautiful things that were sold. She had visited one of the shops earlier; one that sold more than jewels and garments.

Parties and festivities weren’t the only thing on her mind.

Prince Aric was returning to Rhene after three years abroad.

There had to be more than just passing looks between them. Even though she was leaving for Aden soon, Raina had to be sure.

Her heart deserved it.

She had a plan that would definitely get his attention.

“I will meet you at the palace at sunset, and we can all go to Arela’s party together,” Raina said before turning to walk the other direction.

Allan frowned. “Where are you going?”

Raina avoided his eyes. “I need to make sure my dress is ready. I won’t bother you men with such silly lady tasks.”

Allan watched her hurry away. She was sure he didn’t believe a word she said, so she didn’t linger and give him the chance to stop her.

She bit back a smile as she heading toward the shop.

They held something for her.

Something that would help her reconnect with the power she suppressed, the power that begged to be set free.

Be careful, Raina.

Raina clutched her necklace. “I know what I’m doing, Desi. Trust me.”

I really hope you do.

FULL ARMOR SHIELDED Raina from the eyes of the crowd. So far everything went according to plan. No one knew who she was. Her helmet covered her face, only revealing her eyes.

No one suspected a thing.

Except Prince Aric.

She could see the doubt in his eyes. He knew that something wasn’t right.

He stood in the colliseum across from her, sword and shield in hand. Loose strands of his blond hair were caught with the swift breeze, whipping around his face as he stared at her.

When their eyes met, Raina almost turned the other way and left. Something about them made her feel torn between getting lost in his gaze or hiding from it.

“Who are you?”

Raina swallowed as he searched her eyes.

He was as handsome as she remembered from that special night years ago.

Too late to back out now. She gave him a wink and drew two swords that crisscrossed behind her.

The crowd roared when she ran the steel of one along the other, sending sparks into the air.

Aric eyed her swords.

“Come now, Prince. You aren’t afraid of a woman, are you?”

His jaw clenched. “Of course not. I’m just thinking of how much I don’t want to hurt you.”

Raina grinned, and readied herself. “Funny. I was just wondering the same thing.”

He straightened his shoulders at her words.

“Begin,” King Lavi said, his voice echoing along the entire colliseum.

Raina didn’t waste a second. She charged at Aric with every ounce of energy and strength that had been bottled up for far too long.

Aric’s eyes widened at her skill as she spun and swung her swords in ways the humans had never seen.

“Show me, Aric,” she said in between strikes. “Show me the power you’ve inherited.”

“What? What are you doing?”

Raina closed her eyes. “Practicing,” she said, and kicked him in the chest with one long powerful leg. She sent him crashing into the floor.

Queen Nevah shot to her feet. “Show the crowd your power, Aric. Do not hold back!”

Raina grinned. The queen did not sound pleased with her son’s performance.

To her surprise, Aric didn’t hesitate to heighten the intensity. His body vanished before her eyes.

For a moment, Raina had to straighten up and focus on finding him. It didn’t take long. Her senses did the work. She heard him, felt his presence, and before long she saw the outline of his body against the air.

She stretched her neck, and with a surge of power she crashed into him, sending him flying across the colliseum and into one of the walls. She pressed her breastplate to his and looked him in the eyes.

“Thank you,” she said.

Breathless, and stunned that she had beaten him, he looked down at her with widened eyes.

“For what?”

Raina closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest. “For reminding me of who I am.”

NINE MEN HAD been defeated by Raina and her specially crafted swords.

The satisfaction of a successful day was apparent on her face, but mistaken for excitement for Arela’s grand party.

Raina, Eryon, and Allan headed to Olia’s dress shop. Allan led the way, already dressed for the party. He kept his cloak secured over his elaborate suit.

Eryon did the same. They didn’t want it known that the prince was out in the city without a guard.

“You really didn’t have to come all the way to the Lower City with us, Prince Eryon,” Allan said.

“It’s fine. I wanted to make sure you made it safely. This part of the city can be quite dangerous.”

Raina smiled up at him. “I’m lucky to have such a nice prince to protect me,” she said.

He gave her a sidelong glance, the corner of his mouth lifting into a half smile. “You are lucky.”

Eryon scanned the crowds with his eyes.

“In just an hour’s time we will be dancing the night away with royalty from all over the world,” Raina said, her mind only on Prince Aric.

Her eyes looked upward at the Upper City. She liked to call it the silver city because it seemed to glisten under the sun’s light. The palace was prominent toward the back of the enclosed stone circle, seeming to look down on them from its spot on the raised plateau.

Soldiers patrolled the roads but crime was more prominent in Olia’s part of town. Raina didn’t care. She wanted her dress to be made by the best, and to her Olia’s gowns seemed to be spun from pure magic.

The path to Olia’s dress shop was crowded with excited young folk as they headed from their studies in the trade school at the end of the alley. Raina smiled at them as they passed her by, missing a time when she and Allan could go about their lives without worry.

Past the groups of students Raina saw someone watching her. She tensed when their eyes met. He was tall, and wore a black cloak that matched the same shade of his long hair. His eyes studied her, unashamed that he’d been caught staring.

She didn’t say anything to the others as they walked past him. She looked away, feeling that something was wrong, but unsure of what exactly bothered about him.

Once they reached Olia’s shop door she figured the stranger was just another citizen of the Lower City. That was until she glanced over her shoulder to see him standing right behind her.

Raina stopped and turned to him.

Her eyes narrowed as they stood face to face.

Eryon stopped beside her, looking from the stranger to Raina. He put his hand on the hilt of the sword that rested at his hip. “Is something wrong?”

The stranger didn’t break his gaze with Raina, but a thin-lipped smirk came to his face.

Raina’s body went cold as she looked into his blue eyes. They were so blue that they mocked the sky on a clear summer day.

He took in a breath, as if smelling her, and his smirk widened. His eyes flickered up to Eryon.

“No, Prince Eryon. Everything is completely right,” he said and walked away as if nothing odd had just happened.

Raina stood there, a sick feeling entering her stomach as she watched him walk away and blend into the crowd.

She folded her arms and rubbed them against the sudden cold she felt.

“What was that?” Seeing that she was cold, Eryon risked being recognized and took his cloak off. He wrapped it around Raina, and smoothed it over her arms to warm her.

“That was odd,” Allan said, his eyes following Raina’s gaze. “Do you know him?”

Raina still shivered despite wearing Eryon’s cloak. She looked to Allan and Eryon.

“No,” she said. “But I have a feeling we will.”

OLIA LOOKED UP from her scrolls when they entered her shop. The shop was empty of customers. Bookshelves filled with scrolls, pots of herbs, flower petals, and various spools of fabric, thread, and needles were everywhere.

Olia’s grin faded when she saw the looks on their faces.

“What is it?” Her thin blue eyes looked behind them. “Has something happened?”

Raina closed the door behind them, glancing out the window that looked out to the alley where she’d encountered the stranger.

“I’m not quite sure what just happened,” Allan said, sniffing the various herbs Olia had on her work table.

Eryon still had his hand on the hilt of his sword. “I’m not either. Maybe we should hurry to the party. I didn’t like the look of that man.”

Olia looked alarmed. “What man is he talking about, Allan?”

Raina turned to her. “No need to worry,” she said, shaking her head. “We are fine. Everything is fine.”

“Are you sure?” Olia’s eyes questioned Raina about more than she could say in front of Eryon.

“Yes,” Raina assured her. “But Prince Eryon is right. I need to hurry and get dressed so we aren’t late.”

Olia smoothed her brown hair down. “I’m already ready,” she said, giving a twirl of her maroon gown. “Do you like it? I made it this morning.”

Raina smiled.

“It’s beautiful,” Allan said.

“Thank you,” she said to him. “Your dress awaits you upstairs, Raina.”

“Great.” Raina grabbed Olia by the hand pulling her toward the stairs that led up to Olia’s bed chambers.

Upstairs Olia quickly changed out of her Seer’s uniform. Olia helped her slip into the gown. The fabric was softer than Raina remembered from when she picked it out.

She glanced in the mirror that stood in the corner of Olia’s room.

Raina paused at her reflection. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at herself.

It had been a long time since Raina had worn a gown that fine. She’d have to thank Arela again for buying it for her. The high waist of the lavender gown had a shimmering black bow that Olia tied for her. It rested below her full bosom that was hinted at by the draped bodice. With long sleeves to cover her tattoos, and the hem brushing the tops of her black shoes, no one would suspect that she were anything but a normal human girl.

“You look amazing,” Olia said as she stood beside her. “Prince Aric won’t know what to do with himself when he sees you.”

Raina blushed. “You weren’t supposed to know about that.”

“I see more than you think,” Olia said.

Raina turned and winked at her. “I do too,” she said, pointing to a pair of Allan’s socks on the floor beside her bed.

Olia’s face turned beet red. “Raina. Please don’t tell anyone.”

Laughing, Raina rubbed Olia’s arm. “Who would I tell? Your secret is safe with me. You’ve kept Allan’s and mine for so long. I would never betray you.”

Olia hugged her tightly, her face pressed to Raina’s chest.

“Thank you, Raina.”

When she pulled away, Raina saw tears in Olia’s eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

Olia sniffled. “I love him…and soon the two of you will leave us all behind and never return.”

Raina’s smile faded. She lowered her voice. “It’s okay, Olia. Who says we can never return?”

The thought had come to her many times, and each time she felt the pain of the truth. Olia was right. Soon they would have to leave, and all of their friends and loved ones would be forever gone to them.

Raina turned and used one of Olia’s combs to break through the tangles in her waist-length black hair.

“Do you really mean it, Raina?”

Nodding, Raina pursed her lips. She couldn’t bring herself to voice the lie once again.

Olia hugged her again. “Thank you,” she said and gave Raina a quick kiss on the cheek.

The thought of falling for Prince Aric filled her with both grief and excitement. She started to doubt even wanting to experience love. She didn’t want to feel the pain Olia would soon feel.

Raina gripped her necklace in her fist.

What are we doing?

When Desi’s voice didn’t answer her, Raina felt the worry start to rise from her belly to her throat. Desi was always there. Was she too weak to even speak now?

She looked down at the necklace and gave it a shake. “Desi?”

Olia stood beside her. “Is the fairy okay?”

Raina sighed. “Yes. I’m sure she’s fine,” she lied. “Let’s go.”

“Yes! Let’s get going. I don’t want to miss anything,” Olia cheered.

Raina forced a smile. She didn’t want to ruin Olia’s night amongst royalty. Prince Eryon was kind enough to bring her as a guest.

Together they made their way from Olia’s bed chamber and down the stairs.

Raina’s eyes met Eryon’s as she walked down to the shop floor. He looked up at her with a look of surprise and adoration. Wearing a golden mask, and revealing his rich evergreen waist coat and black pants, he looked handsome.

Almost as handsome as his older brother.

His lips parted as his eyes followed her every move.

“Do you like it?” Raina eagerly awaited his reply. His approval meant Aric would like it as well.

She hoped as much.

She walked directly to him, feeling Olia and Allan’s eyes on the two of them.

Eryon swallowed, nodding. “You look nice.”

Nice? She hoped that was enough.

Eryon licked his lips as his eyes went to her bosom. Abruptly, his eyes left hers. He cleared his throat. “Is everyone ready?”

Without looking back he spoke to Allan and Olia. “Let’s go.”

Raina stood in the doorway, watching Eryon walk ahead of them, his cloak lifting from the dusty stone streets with the gentle night breeze.

“I think you’re going to break his poor heart tonight,” Olia whispered to her, her eyes saddened.

Raina’s mouth parted. What did she mean?

She tried to make sense of Olia’s words as they walked together through the dark roads of the Lower City to the outdoor garden hall near the Upper City.

The moon shone above them as the sky went black.

Raina glanced up at the sky. Her brows furrowed.

Where were all of the stars?

ARIC STOOD ON the balcony above the crowded courtyard, looking down at the people of Rhene. After so much time abroad, they all looked odd to him. He was still amazed by how differently the rest of the world dressed and styled themselves.

Also, the pungent scent of magic didn’t exist in his kingdom. Aric had been to lands where magic could be felt in the air. Being without it made the air taste stale.

He’d been farther than most people would ever go in their lives. He’d seen things that had changed him forever, and he missed the freedom he felt when he was away. Now that he was home, nothing felt the same.

After that stunning loss in the coliseum earlier, he was in a foul mood.

How did a woman defeat him?

He’d trained with some of the best swordsmen in the entire world. The shame of such an embarrassing loss would cling to him forever.

“Why the solemn face, Aric? You’re supposed to be celebrating with me,” Arela said.

His sister was right. Aric was supposed to be enjoying himself, or at least pretending to enjoy himself. He gripped the stone of the balcony.

“I’m sorry, Arela. I really am glad to have made it home in time to celebrate with you.”

The truth was, just three weeks ago, Aric had killed his first man. Father was right. There were those out there that wanted him dead. Being born with even a tiny measure of god-like power, and he was hated by those that didn’t even know him.

Aric had never been hated before. He’d also never been ran into with a dagger.

The wound was healing, but the memory would hurt him forever.

“I am so glad that you’re home,” Arela said, hugging his side.

Aric smiled at her and turned his gaze to the guests that poured into the courtyard in the center of Rhene’s gardens.

They all wore elaborate masks just as Princess Arela requested.

“Well,” Arela said putting her hand into his. “Let’s go down there and meet some of the guests.”

Aric nodded, and led his sister down the stairs from the balcony.

Aric did enjoy the smell of the food being prepared, and the scent of flowers once they were outside. He started to feel at home. Tall covered torches lit the area, and musicians played soft music with their instruments.

“They could use some drums out here,” Aric said.

Arela nudged him. “You complain too much. Did you know that? I know you saw a lot out there during your travels, but you are home now. Enjoy what home has to offer.”

Aric’s brows furrowed at his younger sister’s keen assessment of his attitude, but he kept silent as they stood on the stairs that led to the courtyard.

Arela was right.

Besides, he needed to prepare himself…for her.

It didn’t take the people of Rhene to notice them. People started making their way closer to get a better look. They smiled up at him, eager for him to come down to their level.

With a sigh, Aric took the last few steps down.

“Hello, Prince Aric,” an older woman with too much red rogue on her lips said the instant she was in his range. She pushed her daughter before him. “This is my daughter, Liza. She just turned sixteen this summer.”

The girl looked younger than sixteen, with long brown hair and a body that was much thinner than his preference for women.

Aric nodded. “Good to meet you. You’ll excuse me,” he said with a nod to Liza before sidestepping her.

“She wasn’t that bad, Aric,” Arela said as they made their way through the crowds that bowed their heads in his presence.

“She’s too young.”

Arela snorted. “You’re only twenty-one. The gap isn’t that noticeable.”

“Then she wasn’t pretty enough.”

“No one is pretty enough for you.”

Right. No one except the girl with the eyes the color of storm clouds.

“Mother and father will find you a wife if you don’t hurry and find one of your own,” Arela said with a grin. “They might just choose Liza.” She laughed.

Aric stopped walking. Arela stopped beside him.

“What is it?” Her eyes followed his gaze.

Aric heard the arrival of Prince Eryon and his guest. He glanced up at them, but his eyes fixed on the girl at Prince Eryon’s side.

There she was. It had to be her. Dressed in a lavender gown and mask, nothing could hide her from him.

He urged her to look at him. It was all that he had waited for those past three years.

That kiss.

Aric had dreamt about it almost every night.

When her gaze met his he felt that same powerful connection that made the hairs on his skin stand on end.

Before he realized what he was doing, he was walking directly toward her.

Her eyes widened when he stood before her, Arela quickly following to stand beside him.

Aric glanced at Prince Eryon. “Hello, Eryon. You look smashing,” he said to the prince, and his eyes went back to the beauty at his brother’s side.

“Good evening, Aric. Welcome home,” Prince Eryon replied, his jaw tightening as he watched Aric look the girl up and down.

“Raina, is it?” He took her hand within his.

She was warm without the gloves.

She beamed at him, her eyes seeming to sparkle. “Yes, Prince Aric. I am Raina.”

Aric didn’t let go of her hand, but nodded for her to come with him.

“You’ll join me for a moment,” he said.

It wasn’t a question.

She looked back at her brother, Eryon, and the plain girl at his brother’s side, as if asking them if it was okay. They all looked stunned by what was happening.

She didn’t tell them about that night.

It was their little secret. Now, he didn’t want any secrets between them anymore.

He didn’t care what anyone else thought. The only one that seemed pleased by Aric’s bold actions was Raina, and Arela.

When neither of them gave her the permission she sought, she made the decision on her own.

“Yes,” she said, and allowed herself to be led away.

Aric didn’t let go of her hand. He never wanted to let her go ever again.

There was something special about this girl, and he would not sleep until he found out what that was.

HE DIDN’T FORGET me, Raina thought with a grin.

Raina still held the hand of her prince. Her cheeks felt warm as they walked through the path made by the crowd of guests. They all stared at her with curiosity.

She’d barely had time to notice the incredible decorations and the gowns and masks of the other guests. She tried to take it all in, but her heart pounded in her chest as she glanced up at Aric’s face.

His blond hair was cut a little shorter, and his face was smooth and free of facial hair. He had grown older, but even more attractive.

Raina stared at him curiously.

Something had changed about him, now that she had a closer look without slamming her swords into his shield. A hardness that wasn’t there before.

He had seen things.

Done things.

Her heart went out to him. She wanted to hear about everything that had occurred while he was away.

She glanced back at her brother, her eyes catching on Prince Eryon’s face.

He watched her, his face stern.

Oh, she thought, realization filling her. He has feelings for me.

She swallowed, unsettled by that notion.

It didn’t matter at that time, Prince Aric was back. That was all that mattered. She’d smooth things over with Eryon at another time.

“You kept your promise,” Aric said, giving her hand a squeeze.

She beamed up at him. “I told you I would.”

“That you did.”

“How was your journey around the world?”

Prince Aric led her inside the banquet hall and up to the balcony. Inside servers handed them goblets of wine.

Raina peered into her cup, seeing the red liquid ripple with each step they took further into the hall. The strong aroma made her raise her eyebrows. She’d never had wine before. Allan warned her against it.

Excitement to try it filled her, making her grin as she took her first sip. It was strong, but had a pleasant flavor of blueberries and cherries.

She took another long sip before looking back up at Aric.

“Not as exciting as this moment with you,” he said.

Raina blushed. He was even more charming than she remembered. Three years hadn’t changed him too much. Perhaps there was hope for something to develop between them.

“You’re too kind.”

Raina stood on the golden crested balcony and gawked at the amount of food being set in the banquet hall. She was excited. Tonight she could dance, laugh, and drink wine.

Raina simply wanted to be a normal girl. Just for one night.

She gripped the gold railing and her jaw tensed when she saw the man from that day on the street outside Olia’s shop. He entered the room, walking slowly, his arms held out at his sides.

Her stomach dropped. She nudged Aric in the forearm.

“Have you seen that man before?”

She glanced at Aric and noticed a how his face went ashen at the sight of the man.

“Yes,” he sputtered, leaning forward to get a better look. When he looked back at Raina, his eyes were widened with terror.

“What is it?” Raina was almost too afraid to find out what could make Aric look that afraid.

“That’s the man I killed.”

Raina searched his eyes. He was serious. She swallowed, a shiver running up her spine.

A loud explosion gave Raina a start. One of the walls of the banquet hall was blasted through by a large stone.

Aric pulled Raina to him. She gasped when two servers tried to run from whatever had caused the damage.

It was him. The stranger did it.

The servers were lifted from the ground and thrown into the air by an unseen force.

Aric drew his sword. “Stay back,” he shouted to her. “It has to be magic. I killed that man!”

Raina heard the servers crash to the ground, their screams cut off the instant their bodies made impact. The blood drained from her face.

Her own scream was caught in her throat when she saw the stranger from earlier that evening fly pass the opening of the banquet hall.

It’s him. Desi! What do I do?

Silence.

“I have to do something,” Raina said.

Aric put an arm out, stopping her.

“No,” he said, drawing his sword with a ring of steel. “This is my fight.”

The black blade was covered in silver symbols, the language of the gods. He glanced at her, his green eyes glowing.

“Stay here,” he said.

Before Raina could protest, Aric vanished.

ARIC CREPT THROUGH the broken hole in the wall, sword ready, eyes glowing with the god’s power of his father’s bloodline.

Completely unseen, he peered into the courtyard of panicking people hurrying to escape the attack. Now he could use his abilities for something other than fighting for sport in the coliseum.

If one looked closely, they’d see the ripple in the air around Aric as he stood there. His adrenaline rushed as he sought out the man that had caused such a commotion.

Was this another assassination attempt?

Aric was anything but an easy target.

He stood up straight when he saw the same man fly across the courtyard, his long hair flying behind him like a thick cloak.

Magic.

Odd, Aric thought. Who was that man?

He made sure to keep the man in his sight as he held onto his sword, trying to figure out a way to strike the man from that high above him. The chill in the air seemed to cling to his flesh, eating at it like insects.

He clenched his jaw, feeling his hand grow colder and colder. It was difficult harnessing his power in more than one place at a time.

Clasping a black gauntlet on his wrist, Aric breathed out with relief. The sensations faded as the gauntlet charged, turning red as his power concentrated into the jewel embedded into the steel.

One blast of searing hot power shot through the air and into the flying man.

He stopped abruptly, his eyes shooting to glare at Aric as his power shifted from the going invisible to his gauntlets. Too bad that he couldn’t use both powers at the same time.

He didn’t need both. With his hands wrapped around the hilt of his sword, he prepared himself for a battle.

With lightning speed, his target swooped down and caught a girl by her hair.

Princess Arela.

Aric swallowed, lowering his sword.

“Just put her down,” Aric shouted, his heart pounding in his chest. His voice came out strained. Nothing frightened him more than losing someone he loved.

“Put down your sword, and all of your clever gadgets, boy.”

Boy?

The level of disrespect threatened to make Aric lash out with everything he had. Seeing his sister in distress, as she hung from her hair, a dagger placed at her white throat, forced him control his temper.

Arela’s life depended on it.

“Put it down now,” he shouted once again. “Or the princess joins the land of the dead.”

Aric nodded, lowering his sword to the ground.

What happened next mystified Aric.

Raina.

She ran out of the banquet room like a cat of the jungles of Sabourn. Her face was still beautiful, but there was something more there.

Hate.

Rage.

Power.

In a funnel of wind and glowing tendrils of gold, she swept through the courtyard, knelt to one knee, and shot into the air.

Taken aback, Aric’s mouth parted as he watched her fly straight to the man that threatened the princess.

He blinked once. Raina had Arela and set her on the stone ground so quickly that Aric’s eyes widened.

Is this a dream?

Princess Arela was back on the ground, screaming with her shaking hands covering her mouth as she looked up at Raina who flew back into the air.

Blood sprayed everywhere as Raina used the man’s own dagger to stab him in the throat.

Aric caught his breath. His heart thumped as he watched her.

When she landed, she was covered in blood. She looked to him, her face unapologetic for what she had just done.

She was no ordinary Seer.

Witch?

Monster?

God?

He didn’t know what she was. But what she’d just done took his level of interest to heights no other girl had ever made him feel.

THE WORLD FELT much different somehow.

Raina had never killed anyone before. Covered in blood, her hands shook as she looked down at them.

All sounds faded, yet her thumping heartbeat filled her ears.

When her eyes lifted, she saw that everyone in the courtyard stared at her in awe. The panic and frenzy had ended, but the aftermath was somehow scarier.

Raina was exposed.

Arela stopped screaming, but her eyes held something Raina never wanted to see directed at her.

Fear.

That terror in Arela’s eyes twisted Raina’s stomach. Raina took a step toward the girl that she had grown to love like a sister.

Arela scrambled away, her dress in tatters as she climbed to her feet.

“Don’t touch me,” Arela shouted as she ran into her brother's arms.

“But I saved you,” Raina said, breathlessly. Tears stung her eyes. Somehow she couldn't catch her breath as she clutched her chest.

“I did it for you.”

Allan took off his cloak, and then his gloves, revealing the tattoos that stretched across his fingers.

His eyes fixed on his sister in the center of the courtyard. Those that remained encircled her, gawking at what she had just done.

Even the guards stood back, unsure of what to do.

Were they safe?

No.

Raina had exposed them.

Everything was falling apart, before his eyes. He put a hand out to Olia when she reached for him.

“Please stay back, Olia. This is not your fight.”

Olia nodded. “Be careful, Allan.”

He leapt from their place at the other end of the courtyard. As he soared above what remained of the crowd, he looked to the sky.

It was night, and somehow it began to turn white.

Every hair stood on end as Allan landed beside his sister.

No use hiding who they were now.

Litha had already found them.

A WOMAN IN white floated into the center of the courtyard, and the sky turned red.

She certainly didn’t waste any time.

“She’s here,” Raina whispered. Raina knew the moment that she saw her in the sky that this might be the day that she and her brother would finally die.

Litha landed in the center of town with the sound of thunder crackling across the sky. Long lavender hair floated with the cool breeze. With dark brown skin covered in white tattoos, she was a beautiful specimen to look upon, but Raina had seen, and felt her evil.

Litha’s blue eyes regarded the guests with cool disinterest.

Humans were beneath her.

“It’s time to go,” Raina whispered to her brother.

Allan shook his head. “No,” he said. “We can’t let her win.”

Raina shook her head as she tightened her fist around the dagger.

“Listen to your sister, Vineet,” Litha said, her lips curling into a cruel smile. “You are out of time. Come with me now, and I will let these pathetic humans live.”

King Lavi approached her first. Queen Nevah tried to pull him back, terror in her eyes. The king turned to calm her.

“It will be fine,” King Lavi said.

Raina clenched her jaw.

He had no idea how wrong he was.

There was no mystery to who Litha was. There were sculptures and statues all throughout the land in her honor.

“Goddess,” he said to her, bowing to one knee.

It was odd to see King Lavi bow to anyone, but he had the right idea. If anything was going to work on Litha, it was humility and praise.

“You’ve been hiding my prisoners, King Lavi,” Litha said, gazing to the blood red sky. “I really don’t appreciate it.”

“Who do you refer to?”

She glared down at him. “Who do you think? Don’t feign ignorance with me. I want the twins with the black tattoos.”

“We didn’t know who they were. I swear it,” King Lavi said. “Please spare us, and take those whom you seek.”

Raina shook as her eyes lifted to meet Litha’s. Shock filled her body, leaving her unable to move. She glanced at Aric.

Her lips whispered goodbye to him, and panic filled his eyes.

“No,” Aric shouted.

Litha’s attention went to him and Raina felt her stomach lurch.

“Stay back, Aric,” she shouted.

“Yes,” Litha said. “Stay back,” she repeated and with a flick of her hand, Aric’s body went soaring into the stone wall that enclosed them in the banquet hall’s courtyard.

Raina cried out. She ran at Litha only to suffer her first blow.

Litha’s black lightning entered Raina’s body, seeming to rip through her insides.

She prayed that Aric was okay.

Doubling over, she tried to catch her breath. She reached out a hand, weakly, but not ready to give up.

“No,” Raina shouted when Litha turned her attention to Allan. “Stop.”

She clutched her chest, the pain threatening to elicit a scream of agony. Raina held it in. Not in front of Aric.

“Leave him alone,” Raina shouted. “Please, kill me, and let Allan live.”

Litha’s brows rose, as did the corners of her lips.

“What is this you propose? I kill you, and let the God of Peace live?”

Raina bit her lip, her heart thumping in her chest. Everything hurt.

“Yes,” Raina said, nodding, tear streaming down her cheeks. “We can’t rule without the other. We can only rule together. Aden can be yours.”

Raina’s face drained of color when Litha let out a chuckle and sent her black lightning into Allan’s body. The jolt sent him crashing to the ground.

Eyes wide, Raina screamed as she watched her brother lay there unmoving.

Raina forgot her own pain and scrambled to reach for her brother’s hand.

They’d been foolish to think they could win again a god much stronger than the both of them.

Now, Raina could feel herself dying.

“I’m surprised you’re still breathing,” Litha said. “The reports must have been true; that you can truly absorb any kind of blow, physical, mental, or magical. I am impressed.”

Raina rolled onto her back, her eyes staring into the white sky. She held onto Allan’s hand.

“Please, goddess. Spare my people,” King Lavi said, his eyes fixed on Allan’s body. “We are not a part of this.”

“King Lavi,” Raina whispered, drawing his attention.

He looked to her. Everyone did.

“You brought this terror to my kingdom,” he said.

Raina felt her face heat. She turned her head to glare at him.

“You might want to get out of my way,” Raina said, her body lifting into the air.

King Lavi scrambled to his feet and backed away.

Litha watched her, her face without emotion.

Time was at a deficit. Raina had only seconds to retaliate, and so with the power of the wind, she cast a funnel over Allan’s body, protecting him from any further harm.

“Clever,” Litha said, her arms out to her side as she lifted herself to Raina’s level. “But you’ll pay for that with your life force.”

Raina shot her a glare. “No, Litha. I saved some just for you.”

Like an arrow, Raina darted into Litha’s body, crashing through her protective aura, and wrapping a hand around the woman’s neck.

Litha gasped, her blue eyes peering at Raina with shock.

“I thought you were willing to die,” Litha hissed from clenched teeth.

Raina squeezed her neck.

“I lied,” she said.

IT TOOK EVERY ounce of energy for Raina to keep her grip on Litha’s neck. Fueled by more rage than energy, she tightened her grip.

Litha reached a hand around Raina’s arm and pressed a finger to Raina’s forehead, blinding her.

The people of Rhene took this moment to flee. Screams of terror and filled her ears.

No one else had a chance to for Litha’s patience was thin. With a violent push to Raina’s face, Litha sent her back to the ground so forcefully that Raina found herself in a deep crater that broke through the stone of the courtyard and made way to moist soil.

Raina cried out as she fell face-first into the ground, the dirt barely softening the impact. Weak from the drain on her power, she looked over her shoulders at Litha.

Good job, Raina thought. All you did was make her angrier.

If only she had reached Enlightenment, she could have had a chance. They were foolish to think they could win against a goddess that had been around since the beginning of time.

The Goddess of Law lifted both arms, and a force of air rippled through the dusty ground. The power of that ripple sent all of the surrounding buildings outward.

The sound overwhelmed Raina as she tried to pull herself from the hole in the ground. The destruction was unlike anything Raina had ever seen. Dust and debris rose from the ground, and upward to encircle Litha’s frightening frame.

Enraged, Litha shot lightning into everything in sight.

Raina’s hair whipped around her face as the world around her turned to chaos.

She wished she could save the humans she had grown to love.

She’d failed them all.

Raina tried to climb to Allan’s body. She had to reach him and take refuge in the funnel she’d created. Together they could escape this world gone mad and walk into the land of the dead hand-in-hand.

Something grabbed Raina by the hair, jerking her to the surface.

“Don’t give up, Raina,” Desi’s voice said as she lifted to the surface.

Raina grunted as her body hit the stone beside Allan.

“Desi,” she cried as she watched the fairy stumble to her knees.

“I can’t stay, Raina,” Desi said in between gasps for air. “This world cannot sustain me.”

“Go back into the necklace!”

Desi shook her head. “No, Raina.”

Raina sucked in a breath as she watched Desi turn herself into a golden ball of light wrapped in black tendrils that increased her glow.

“Live, Raina,” Desi said in her tiny voice.

Raina cried out as Desi shot into the air. Her eyes followed the golden light as it cut through the destruction.

Desi shot through Litha’s body, leaving a hole the size of Raina’s fist.

“Desi!”

Her hands shook as she reached for the fairy. She prepared to fly when Allan grabbed her by the wrist.

“No,” he said in between ragged breaths.

Torn between Allan’s awakening, and Desi’s actions, Raina turned back to watch as Litha’s body trembled.

Within a blink, Desi exploded inside of Litha’s belly, sending blood, bone, and guts into the air.

Allan kept a firm grip on Raina’s arm.

“Run, Raina,” he shouted.

Through burning tears, Raina made a fist. “Why? She’s gone. They are all gone.”

Allan pulled her up to her feet.

Stunned by his strength, Raina stared at him.

“You can’t kill a god like Litha, Raina,” Allan reminded her. “She will be back.”

Raina wrapped her arms around her brother’s middle, and sobbed into the front of his shirt.

“And next time she will bring the Red Beast.”

“No,” Raina said, her face set with determination.

“Next time we will be ready. For her, the Red Beast, and any evil that comes our way.”

Allan ran his thumb across her cheek. He looked at her with pride.

“That’s right. That’s the Preeti I know.”

An Exclusive Excerpt from God of Peace, the second installment of The Tales from the Abyss series.

FEAR DOMINATED RAINA’S thoughts. Rhene no longer existed. Allan was missing. All she had was her power and her golden-haired hero.

This could not be real.

Desi!

“We failed,” Raina mumbled through the bone-searing pain. Her blood dripped all over Aric. She dared to hope they could survive.

Raina gripped Aric’s hand and stifled a cry as the pain ripped through her thigh. The noise of the falling city filled her ears as the pain burned through her muscles.

She shrieked and without pause, he threw her over his shoulder and continued running through the snow covered forest.

Wolves howled and warned their pack that creatures more dangerous than themselves were in their territory.

The pain threatened everything.

“Calm yourself, Raina,” Aric growled as ran with her. “We will lose her and you will recharge. Trust me.”

Raina felt herself losing her grip on her power. So much blood dripped onto his chest from her wounds. Raina’s eyes rolled into the back of her head.

“Trust me,” he begged in between labored breaths. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Raina nodded. A chill ran throughout her entire body, making her eyes pop open in alarm. She expected to see the moon, but the cloak of a massive shadow blocked its light.

She was getting closer.

Cold, and bleeding, Raina began to cry. This was not the first time, nor the one hundredth. She knew that they weren’t going to make it out of the Abyss.

Not with their souls.

Stay Tuned for the next installment of Tales from the Abyss.

God of Peace.

Coming January 2016

Love and Law

Coming February 2016

K.N. Lee is an award-winning author that resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. When she is not writing twisted tales, fantasy novels, and dark poetry, she does a great deal of traveling and promotes other authors. Wannabe rock-star, foreign language enthusiast, and anime geek, K.N. Lee also enjoys helping others reach their writing and publishing goals. She is a winner of the Elevate Lifestyle Top 30 Under 30 "Future Leaders of Charlotte" award for her success as a writer, business owner, and for community service.

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Six races. Four realms. One human girl who can bring them together in peace... or war.

Lilae has been hunted since the night of her birth, for she is heir to a god’s throne. But everything that her surrogate family has done to protect her may have been for nothing. After Lilae is stripped of her powers and enslaved by the emperor of the Mithrani, she finds herself desperate to survive in a strange new world.

On the other side of the world, Liam leads his army across the realm to protect the Tryans and the fairies from those who would do them harm. But when their odds of survival become next to impossible, he must set out on a journey to find a dragon, a child, and the blessing of a fallen god to aid him in the inevitable realm war.

The path forward for both Liam and Lilae seems clear, until their dreamscapes collide. But while they draw strength from their connection, Lilae may be falling for the emperor who should be her greatest enemy.

Available on Amazon

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Introducing Koa Ryeo-won, a half-blood vampire with an enchanted sword, a membership to the most elite vampire castle in Europe, and the gift of flight. If only she could manage to reclaim the lost memories of her years in The Netherworld, she might finally be able to move forward.

A Netherworld serial killer, targeting little girls for the power they give him, threatens everything Koa has worked hard to protect. Not even Halston and his legendary infinity gun can stop him, but Koa’s mother might be strong enough to do it—if only her curse can be broken. First stop, the Ivory Tower, where only the most notorious supernatural killers are kept. But even that won’t be enough. Koa must prepare herself to return to the place that nearly killed her. The Netherworld.

Available on Amazon

Wizards. Shifters. Murderers.
Welcome to Woodland Creek, where one family of wizards gives new meaning to organized crime.

Evie Scarlett is a shy college student. She also happens to be a wizard. She wanted two things: marry Parker Drake and leave Woodland Creek and her crazy family behind.

But when Hugh Prince, a dangerous crime boss, is mysteriously murdered while awaiting trial for her father's murder, all eyes turn to the Scarlett family.

The arrival of Hugh's youngest son, Avalon brings a century-old feud to a dangerous climax. From the Old World of magic, this vengeful wizard is more powerful than anyone in her family, and gives Evie's older brother a choice: die or give Evie to him.

When Evie's plans for escape are broken by familial duty, she must find a way to protect those she loves and win back her freedom. What she finds is an ancient power that she never knew she had...and an unmistakable attraction to the man that threatens to ruin everything good in her life.

Available on Amazon