by Nicole Fox
“Is that an invitation, Darling?”
“No, I need my rest to keep my mind fresh and clear.”
“You will need rest, little one. I have such plans for you when you submit to my needs. I’ll take you to the heights of dark pleasure.”
Fear and desire raced in her blood. “I think that I can resist your lesson, Sir.”
“I never lose. If you win, I still get you. So, I’m always the winner.”
“Yes, this contest does have a horrible prize.”
Fire flashed when Keir heard her insults; Tatum slipped into her room and tightened the bolt on the window. “That will fix him.”
Tatum jumped when she backed into a warm, tight wall of muscle. His large hands clasped her shoulders; his breath warm on her trembling night. “Your pulse is racing. Scared or full of desire?”
“Neither.”
She held her body still when he lowered his lips and traced his tongue across her throbbing pulse. Her teeth sank into her lips to conceal a moan. Shutting her eyes, Tatum closed her fingers into a tight ball.
“You taste amazing like sweet young honey. You’re mine.”
“I belong to me.”
“Not for much longer.”
His possessive words broke through into Tatum’s cloudy mind. She pushed herself away from him. Spinning on her heel, she heard his deep laughter floating in her room.
“Rest up, darling. You’ll need it.”
~~~
Silke brushed Tatum’s dark soft hair until it shone. Her strong hands twisted sections of Tatum’s hair into a tight braid. She could not find words to express her dismay at the turn of events. Tatum was such a dear, spirited young woman. She was deeply fond of her. Perhaps, she would be a calming influence on her brother; at best, the balance would be restored.
“Tatum today is your last free day. In the morning, you will wake to find a silk dress, boots, and a backpack full of materials.”
“All I get is a dress and a backpack? I thought the tests would begin later this morning?”
Silke swallowed a laugh. “No, you need an extra day to prepare to deal with my brother, and I overslept. I forget to arrange everything.”
” You forgot,” Tatum asked giggling.
Nodding shamefully, Silke grinned, “My life mate sent a hawk asking if he could provide assistance, and I decided not to leave my bed.”
“Is it bad being married?”
“Not at all. I ignore his messages, and I reside in my own temple. It’s quite lovely.”
“That’s not normal, is it?”
“Enough about me, let’s prepare you to face my brother. The tests are based on your mind and problem solving. Silk is a cool material, and it will flow with your body, and the bag will hold food and water.”
Tatum frowned at herself in the mirror. “So, you’re fattening me up for the slaughter?”
“I believe that you will rise to the occasion. You’re special. Different than the other girls.”
“How am I possibly different? Besides being older than the others.”
“You don’t want power. Your desire for good is my brother’s downfall. Also, the simple fact that you don’t want him to win. Besides, you lived by yourself and hiked around Oceanus. You’re quick on your feet. You possess a wonderful sense of self, and you’re spirited. Your mother chose your name correctly… Tatum means spirited. First person in a long time to questions and maintain her beliefs against my brother.”
Tatum couldn’t disagree with her mistress. Power destroyed, and she refused to lose to Keir.
“What do I need to do?”
“Well, you will enter a mystical area each morning. A cave for fear, a meadow for seduction, and a room for intelligence. You will face three tests: desire, wisdom, and fear.”
“Can’t be worse than herding cats.”
“It can.”
“Lie to me.”
“I have faith in you.”
Resting her hands on Tatum’s shoulder, Silke pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Your day is free, relax. Tomorrow will arrive quickly.”
“Of course, Milady.”
~~~
“Cormac is an idiot. How does water calm your mind?”
Keir rested his body on a tree branch high above a lake near Silke’s temple. He didn’t feel calm or relaxed.
Keir‘s dark hair whipped around when he realized that he wasn’t alone. He quickly scanned the perimeter, searching for the intruder. His groin tightened when he located Tatum removing her tunic next to a lake. Her little fingers untied the knot at her shoulder, silk slithered to her feet. Her dark hair brushed her breasts as she ran into the blue water of the lake. He watched her swimming around the lake, a smile across her beautiful face. Innocence and a bit of sensuality mingled as she splashed around in the cool water, scaring away woodlands animals. He wanted to soar down like an owl and carry her away.
He resisted the urge to disturb her swim. He wanted her like no other. He would take her and mark her as his for an eternity. A smile curved on his handsome face.
“Tomorrow.”
~~~
Keir watched a red gold sun swap spaces with a golden moon when the loud force shrieks echoed around his temple. Instantly, he regretted not confronting and insisting that Maya remove her items from his consort’s chamber. His mind was filled with thoughts over the last day. I didn’t feel like dealing with her pouts and wails. She was the worst gift from Silke, ever.
“Keir, what is the meaning of this?”
Keir counted to ten, and added eleven, before he turned to face Maya. Sighing, he met her furious green eyes hidden by tangled waves of dark red hair. Her fingers dug into her trim waist as she stomped angrily towards Keir, her lips curled in a snarl like a mad dog.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“The Trials begin in a few hours; you need to leave the room. It’s designed for my consort, wife, and the future mother of children,” Keir reasoned calmly. “You lost the Trials last year. You need to leave the room.”
Keir curled his fists into tight balls as he waited for her explosive response.
Maya stepped forward; a brow arched as emotions raced unchecked in her eyes. Keir recognized that had he been a mortal man, he would have called for help to restrain her.
“You brushed your lips along my body, forcing me to lose. You kept me in the lady of the Temple’s room, and now, I’m discarded like a plaything. I will not leave here in shame. You respected me; you never came to my bed. I’m still pure, waiting for you,” she fretted loudly. Tears fell uncontrollably from her eyes, “You respected me! I was different from the others. You didn’t use me,” she shrieked.
Keir wiped his face. “Maya, I’ve never touched any of the maidens from the Trials. I don’t like young girls. Even I have a conscience. You stay here in the Temple. I found you a suitable husband, a nice god flawed with wealth and power. You have your pick of the most eligible warlords and smugglers on Oceanus, and all the other girls are happy. “
“I don’t want this. However, you’re just confused. Just wait.”
He dealt with evil and chaos, but nothing was as frightening as a scorned woman. Warning raised the fine hair along Keir’s wrist when Maya carefully arranged her beautiful face into a perfect mask, calm and serene. Delicately, she patted her eyes with a silk cloth. Breathing deeply, Maya smiled softly at him, “I behaved like a horrible brat. Of course, I will move out. Meet a few of the lords. I’m just so silly. I must prepare for the festival.”
Keir shook his dark head. “No, you should rest. Worry about it later.”
“You’re so good to us.”
Maya hurriedly departed his main living chamber with a happy bounce to her steps.
“That’s why I don’t like young girls. Their heart gets involved. I did the right thing, damn you, Murale. How could you do this to your children to ease your guilt over Mother’s death?”
Chapter Four
Tatum moaned in displeasure when the han
dmaidens arrived at the crack of dawn to prepare her for the first day of Trials. Tatum ignored their soft pleas and gentle nudges as she burrowed deeper into her warm bed. Tatum’s mistake dawned on her when one of them ripped the blanket from the bed, yanking her onto the floor by her ankle. Rubbing her eyes, she looked at the trio of older women; they were deceptive. Forceful hands pushed her drowsy body in the direction of the bathrooms. Sturdy fingers massaged her scalp with fragrant shampoo, her nails were shaped, and her skin massaged with rosewood oil as they complained about her misshapen nails, split ends, and sour personality. She whined when they pulled her long brown hair into a tight braid down the center of her slender back. Finally, Tatum understood that she wasn’t going to win against them when they dropped a flowing white silk dress trimmed in silver over her shoulders. Soma, the meanest one of the three, tied the side gathering of her dress in a tight knot; Tatum was sure that her ribs were broken. Her feet were shoved into a pair of flat silver leather boots. Tatum sighed as she dreamt about running away, far away, from Keir’s piercing dark eyes.
“Hell, I look like a cross between a star and snowflake. Who picked this girlish mess?” she moaned. “You don’t go into battle looking like a virgin offering for a demon.” Tatum slapped her forehand with a hand, “Nope, I almost forgot. This is the perfect outfit.”
“You stop complaining. You need to win, I’m tired of doing this every year,” Soma complained.
Breathing deeply, Tatum grabbed her matching silver leather backpack. Her shoulders hung from the weight of the bag. She didn’t bother to examine it. She desired a moment alone to breathe deeply and reflect on potential changes hovering over her life.
“Stop resisting fate, Girl. Come now,” Soma ordered from a doorway as she used her wide pant to force Tatum from the room.
“You can stop calling me girl, I have a name.”
“Don’t care, Girl, one of many.”
“Stop saying that.”
“Be different than others.”
The bright sunlight blinded Tatum as she stood in the doorway of Silke’s Temple, pausing to take a deep breath to calm her jitters. It’s just an ordinary day with blooming flowers, bugs, and nature just naturing. Why do I feel as though I’m lost?
Tatum stepped back when a black shadow crept in front of her; pausing, it made a dark inky poor near her as it rose into a figure of a small woman.
“You know that creeps me out,” Tatum complained.
"Hey, it’s not my fault; my parents are the Goddess of Moon and the God of Sun. They made me… a child of shadow. It comes in handy. My cretin husband can’t force me to his seashell if he can’t catch me.”
“Just do that in front of him. He’ll end your marriage without question.”
“Think so?”
Tatum shook her head slightly, gripping the straps of her backpack. She walked towards the large crowds of people waiting for the games to begin. People were cheering and waving flags, painted with Keir’s face.
Something is wrong with these people.
“Can you walk slower?” Ruby complained.
“Just turn into a shadow.”
Some of her sisters from Silke’s temple screamed her name in delight as she approached the flower strewn altar where, Murale, Silke, and Keir stood waiting for her arrival. Her remaining friends tossed white flowers at her feet as she walked by. Her back was rigid like a tree, even though she could hear her heart thumping in her chest. Cheering on their friend as she took steps to become the highest female mortal to ascend to the status of a demi –goddess, consort of the Dark Lord.
Why are they cheering? This is not a good thing. Where’s my diversion to escape? I should have told them.
She flinched when a pebble pelted the back of her head. Turning on her heel, she spotted a red-haired beautiful woman frowning and scowling at her. I never knew a person could do both at the same time.
“What’s your problem?”
“You don’t deserve him.”
“Keir?”
“Who else?
“You can keep him,” Tatum roared in distaste.
“He’ll never want you like he wanted me.”
“Can you guarantee that for me?”
Tatum increased her pace to get away from Keir's paramour. A firm resolved clicked in her mind that she wouldn’t end up as his mindless ninny. She didn’t know if she could be the consort to total chaos and darkness, even if he was draped in hard muscle, silky dark hair, and a deeply handsome face. Twigs snapped as she stomped furiously to a podium where Silke stood looking like morning sunshine, her blonde hair below around her beautiful face in the slight morning breeze. Delicate white silk shrouded her firm body as she stared intently at Tatum as the young woman climbed the stairs of the wooden podium shrouded with flowers, wearing a deep frown, arms folded defensively around her chest, and fury reigning in her brown eyes. A smile tugged at Silke’s mouth; the Fates had chosen well for her brother. Tatum would be an even balance to his dark unyielding nature. They might murder each other during the first six months.
Tatum wrapped her cool fingers around the delicate hand offered by Silke. Warmth settled the raging emotions wildly coursing through Tatum’s mind.
“My dear girl, the tests are quite simple. You will enter the cave and encounter your worst fear. You must walk through the cave. I will be on the other side. Your next test will be given by my brother, temptation. Just remember the slightest concession seals your fate. The final act will be administered by our father. If you pass all three, you will be the highest demi-goddess of light in the lands, and answer to only me.”
Tatum looked deeply into Silke's calm blue eyes. Tilting her head, she noticed a slight redness ringing Silke’s blue eyes.
“Have you been crying, Milady?”
Silke’s hand covered her eyes, rubbing slightly. “No, I rubbed my eyes earlier, and I reacted to something on my hands, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Just remember face your fears, the slightest little thing seals your fate, and you’re quite clever.”
“I will do my best.”
“I still get you,” Keir whispered as he sauntered past her. The fine hair on her neck rose to attention as his rich words bounced in her mind. Tatum’s shoulders sank when his warm breath caressed her neck. She ignored a flash of desire that course hotly in her blood.
“Until, I win… I intend to win, milord. You don’t get anything from me.”
Tatum stalked away in a huff. His dark eyes memorized the curve of her slender thighs as she moved near the entrance of the cave.
“Must you push her?”
Keir arched a dark brow at his beloved sister. “Afraid that she’ll win, and you’ll be forced to deal with your husband.”
“If it means balance in your dark chaos. I will perform my duties as the wife to your horrid friend. My husband is an idle threat, Brother. He will not rule me.”
“We will see.”
Keir and Silke stumbled slightly when a great tremor shook the podium. Instinctively, Keir studied his sister; his dark eyes searched for Tatum. He sighed when he located her leaning on a sturdy pillar. His eyes met a disgusted look from his father, Murale.
“Keir, Silke, and Tatum, I refuse to wait. The people are anxious for the test of fear. Would you like to share your idle chatter with us, Silke and Keir?”
Silke’s flat hand on Keir’s chest calmed his anger as he moved to confront their father for embarrassing them in front of the entire populations of the gods, and a portion of humans.
“Father, I wished Keir luck ... for his bride. I wish Tatum to be his wife.”
Murale directed a withering look at his daughter. Keir felt Silke trembled slightly in his embrace. He was about to question her when Murale raised his staff to strike the podium again.
“He’s in a mood,’ Silke whispered into Keir’s ear. “Ignore him, he doesn’t understand his actions.”
“For you.”
Silke beckoned for Tatum to jo
in them. Squaring her shoulders, Tatum sauntered over to join Silke and Keir. She thought something was amiss when Keir didn’t make a flippant comment.
“Nothing to say, Milord?”
“Yes, bow to my Father. Don’t make any flip comments. Leave the podium and hurry to the cave. I say this as someone who doesn’t want you to feel his wrath.”
Tatum nodded at Keir’s whispered message.
“I’ll see you later when you fail. Make it quick.”
Tatum’s lips curled in aggravation as they moved closer to Murale.
“Can’t help you.”
“Do as I say.”
Murale waited until they stood slightly behind him. Raising his hands until they pointed to a blue cloudless sky, he emitted an ear shattering cry like a bat screech cry until the crowd quieted and their eyes rested on Murale.
“Twenty years ago, Oceanus suffered from a great darkness. As your spiritual protector, I vanquished a painful, menacing darkness. The tests were created to balance the light and darkness of my children, Silke and Keir. Today, we start the Trials -- fear, temptation, intelligence -- with Tatum.”
Silke gave Tatum a nudge to step forward. The crowd erupted cheering her name and waving their Keir flags.
Murale waved his hands until the assembly settled into a reverent silence.
“Tatum will be your champion unless she fails. Oceanus offers your tributes to Tatum.”
Tatum bowed respectfully before Murale; she hopped off the side of the podium.
“Tatum,” Murale ordered. “Follow the dirt path into Evergreen Woods until you reach Oceanus Mountain range and enter the cave of dreams. There you will face your fear.”
Really, they couldn’t have built the podium closer to the woods. Just a hike to face my fears.
Tatum, Keir growled in her head.
“Out of my mind.”
“Just bow and start walking. Don’t press him. We are powerless to help you in his rage.”
