She snarled down at her swollen belly, hating the life growing inside her. It was a child of darkness, not the prince of royal blood she had waited for. She had always known Hugo would break the curse that had made her barren, though it had not been he who enjoyed the carnal pleasures of her flesh, but Erebos. Whilst Hugo had been alive, he had refused to take any pleasure in her.
The Lord of Chaos smirked as if sensing her disgust. “You did not find me so repulsive when I put this child in your belly, my queen.”
“That’s because you looked like him. My beautiful warrior. Now look at you,” she sneered. “You look like one of those rotting monsters you control.” She eyed the key to the ankle chains that sat upon the table, just out of reach. He had put it there to taunt her, of course, but if she could just reach it…
Erebos followed her gaze, his bloodless lips stretching wider. “Are you strong enough to take it, I wonder?” he asked softly. His dark, endless eyes studied her. “I doubt it. And remember, that child is mine. He will inherit all the power in this universe and beyond. Eternity will be our throne—and you, my queen, will bear him many brothers and sisters. He will fight beside me and become the conqueror of all worlds—my ultimate general, born of flesh, blood and the agony of souls; even the creators of the guardians will quake at his existence.”
Her hate-filled eyes speared him. She had worshipped this lord for a thousand years. She had killed and maimed and waited patiently for the one person who would be strong enough to bring this god back from the Chaos realm. Hugo’s body, blood and soul had done just that—but Erebos had betrayed her.
She lay a cold, shaking hand upon her belly. Warmth seeped through the thin remnants of her dress and the baby kicked her again. “You will never claim this child,” she sneered. “Unless you release me and give me all that you promised, I will kill it,” she promised him.
Erebos merely smiled and leaned in, his nose touching hers. Dark serpents of shadow held her wrists and body still, his icy breath caressing her cheek. “No, my queen, you will not. For if you do, I will personally see to it that you suffer unimaginable pain—over and over again. And then I will make you bear me more children, until I have an heir by my side.”
Griana screamed as agony writhed along her bones, ice freezing the flesh of her arms and legs.
Erebos clicked his fingers and the pain disappeared. Griana could not suppress her groan of relief.
“Now, my dear, ensure you eat your food and maintain your strength.” He turned to the ugly woman hovering in the doorway. “I want my heir born healthy and your queen able to bear me more children,” he informed her.
The woman nodded, keeping her eyes downcast.
“Good. Do not fail me in this. Now, I have a war to prepare for.” He turned back towards Griana, rage simmering in his eyes.
Her stomach tightened despite her hatred. Here was the real reason he had come to her cell today.
“That girl you allowed to escape is planning to wage war upon my new kingdom, and she does not do so alone. I must find the remaining keys and the gateway which—even in one thousand years—you have been unable to locate!” Erebos took a deep breath and calmed himself. “Tell me what you know of the hidden city—of Catava.”
Griana gave a rasping chuckle. “There is no such place. I have searched for it for years; I tortured and threatened and killed to find that rebel stronghold, but never did. There was never a mention of it. It. Does. Not. Exist,” she enunciated slowly.
“And that is why you are good for nothing but breeding my offspring. Catava has always existed. It is hidden in the minds of your very own people. Someone more powerful than you has cast an enchantment over them. Even their souls cannot tell me where it is, but I will find it, for that is where the gateway to the guardians is to be found. Then I will make the guardians pay for locking me away.”
An icy ribbon of darkness caressed her swollen stomach.
“Eternity will soon burn and the souls of the Eight Kingdoms will fall to their knees before me. I will end the rebellion of these mortal creatures and kill their saviour. They will beg to serve me their souls for blessed release from the agony I will inflict upon them.”
With that, Erebos turned and left.
Griana snarled at the provost. In turn, the provost smiled her most vicious smile. The woman was more evil than Griana had ever given her credit for. Her dark nature had always proved useful, but now the woman served Erebos, she was a force to be reckoned with.
“Now, my queen, are you going to eat and care for our lord’s baby—or shall I force this food down your throat?” the provost asked in a smiling, deceptively soft voice.
Griana gave her a cold flat stare. “You’d better hope I don’t break free from these chains.”
The provost smiled placatingly, but the glint of satisfaction in her eyes was unmistakable. With deliberate calm, she picked up the soup and took a step forward. “Oh, good,” she purred.
Part I
Unity
Chapter 1
Diamond’s feet thudded into the blue sand, sending dust to drift away on the hot, dry breeze. For a moment, she winced at dismounting and rested on her head on the saddle, letting the pain settle.
“My queen, you really should have your wound seen to,” Attion suggested for the hundredth time. Worry and frustration coloured his voice.
“No,” replied Diamond—not harshly, but with determination. It had been three days since Erebos, the Lord of Chaos, had attacked. Her presence in these lands had led him here, and hundreds had died because of it. She knew the shoulder wound he had inflicted was infected, but a part of her knew she deserved to suffer, as others still suffered from that battle.
“Do not waste your energy, my friend,” rumbled a deep, disapproving voice. “Our queen is determined to suffer alone for something that wasn’t her fault.”
Eryanth’s voice was laced with such meaning that Diamond flushed beneath the protection of her headscarf. She suspected he wasn’t referring to the warriors and soldiers who had been wounded or killed by Erebos but rather something else entirely.
Their son.
Did he know? She had not told him. These past days Diamond had avoided any meaningful conversation with Eryanth. It was possible someone else had told him.
Diamond’s fingers grasped her saddle as a wave of nausea and dizziness assaulted her. Despite the relentless desert heat, she shivered. She wanted to ignore the weight of Eryanth’s stare, but it was impossible.
Slowly, Diamond lifted her face to the glaring sun. With shaking hands, she unwrapped her headscarf, letting her waist-length hair fly free and the fiery heat bathe her face. The hot desert breeze was enough to caress her sweaty skin and give her welcome relief from the heat. Her tongue scraped painfully against her dry mouth, but she would not ask for a drink. She would wait until all those who deserved it more had been seen to.
For a moment she did not move, almost hoping that when she opened her eyes, she would be alone to wallow in the guilt that consumed her. All those deaths—her son; she squeezed her eyes shut. These past days she had stayed constantly busy helping with the injured, anything to keep her distracted from her grief, but now her body trembled weakly.
She jumped when a voice whispered in her ear.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
Her violet eyes flew to Eryanth’s. “Yes, it was,” she whispered back. “He came for me.”
“That isn’t what I’m talking about, and you know it,” he replied gently, lifting his hand to brush her hot cheek before letting it drop loosely to his side. “But neither are all those deaths on you. They were warriors fighting for a cause—a person—they believed in. Heal your shoulder, my love. Please, before the infection makes you grievously ill.”
Diamond lowered her gaze from his, her heart squeezing at the endearment and the concern in his voice.
“Diamond? Is everything alright?” asked Rayan. His eyes shone a startling blue from beneath the folds of his blac
k headscarf. Two of his wizard warriors flanked him, all of them wearing light leather armour over loose tunics and pants. The wizard prince looked formidable. He narrowed his perceptive gaze on her.
Diamond gave him a watery smile. Rayan had taken the role of her protector too seriously whilst she was in his lands. “Yes, everything’s fine, Rayan. Eryanth was suggesting I get my wound healed, that’s all. I guess he’s right. I am no good to anyone if I am ill.” She gave Eryanth a small smile.
Eryanth raised his eyebrows in surprise. She had been distant with him since he had escaped from Chaos and returned to her side. All he wanted was to reunite their souls and fight Erebos together. Now, avoiding him had become her daily goal.
Just another thing to feel guilty about, she thought dismally, unsure how to bridge the gap she had created between them. Eryanth frowned and muttered a curse as her eyes dropped to the fine blue sand and she swayed again.
“Goddess above, you’re as stubborn as ever. Enough is enough. Attion? Please help your queen with that green magic of yours,” Eryanth demanded.
Attion bowed his head. “Of course, prince,” the green-winged fae replied, clearly relieved.
Diamond cringed. Attion had once called Hugo his king. But Eryanth was no longer Hugo. Erebos had taken Hugo’s body and thrown his soul into torment in Chaos. The person who had escaped that realm of agony was Eryanth, a perfect copy of Hugo and a prince of the Fire Mountains, but until Diamond publicly acknowledged him as her soul-bonded, this confusion about who and what he was would continue. She swallowed hard, her gaze absorbing his gleaming blue and black hair, his unmarked face, his strong jaw and that fiery glint of determination that lit his sapphire and silver eyes. His wings shimmered, armour clattering across them as he stretched them wide. That metallic coating caught the light, silver whorls igniting like rivers of fire.
Her chest tightened almost painfully. She had seen those wings hacked from Hugo’s back and dropped into the ocean. She had watched the light of life fade from his mutilated face before Griana had taken him.
Bile burned Diamond’s aching throat, a familiar panic trying to grip her at the thought she might lose him again.
It didn’t matter what awful things had happened whilst they had been apart; she knew without a doubt she still loved him—with all her heart and her soul. She opened her mouth to speak—to tell him so, but snapped it shut as Attion spoke.
“Though there is a far easier way to heal flesh wounds and infections like my queen’s. I will visit Clarissa and request some petrified fire toad.”
“Urgh.” Diamond rolled her eyes. “Why can’t you use your magic? You’ve never struggled with it before,” she commented. “And where is Firan? He could heal me,” she stated, eyeing the group of red-winged fae who surrounded her. Their faces were protective, their body language and armoured red wings telling her and everyone else that although the Lord of Chaos had been ripped to shreds by Eryanth, they were ready for his return.
“Because, my queen, Lord Firan has gone ahead with his mermen. Many are dehydrated with being away from the sea for so long. They need water to rest in. Besides, using magic to heal you and treat the infection in your blood will tax us both. The fire toads, however, are already dead. It will not tax them at all to heal you.”
“Hmm, well, it will tax me drinking that vile stuff,” she muttered in disgust.
“Yes, but I wish to keep my strength to fight for you if necessary,” Attion replied, his voice taking on an edge of stubbornness.
Diamond held his imposing emerald stare, wondering if she should order him to use his magic. “Fine,” she muttered petulantly, not willing to fight with her friend over it.
Eryanth cracked a grin and Attion turned away, a satisfied smile on his lips. She watched him head towards Clarissa, who was scowling darkly from where the healers’ wagons had halted.
Diamond smiled tentatively at Clarissa but was rewarded with an even darker scowl. She sighed. Clarissa’s brother had been so young, too young to die. She could only hope Clarissa wouldn’t decide to poison her tincture in an act of revenge.
Rayan stood tall and looked around the camp. “Diamond, I must go and organise my men and the camp,” he told her before turning to Eryanth. “I will instruct your tent to be erected first. Food and drink will be brought to you. Perhaps, Prince Eryanth, you would be so kind as to stay with Diamond whilst the tincture works? It can be very unpleasant.”
“I know that,” grated Eryanth, his eyes flashing and fire burning across his wings. “Remember, Diamond is mine to protect, not yours. She is my mate.”
Rayan grinned challengingly. “Oh, I’m well aware of that, prince. But I have taken a vow of protection for her that means that whilst she is in my homeland, she is my responsibility.” His grin disappeared, replaced by a mask of seriousness. “If a wizard vows to protect you, that is a vow he can never break. If you die in his lands, so too must he…”
Diamond’s stomach flipped. Wait. What!? He hadn’t shared that piece of information when he had cast his spell and the little star tattoo had appeared on her wrist. Even Eryanth looked nonplussed.
“I can stay with her,” piped up Rose. “I’ve been with our queen when she’s taken it before.”
Eryanth frowned but remained quiet, clearly leaving the decision with Diamond.
“Erm, Rose, I think perhaps our queen and Prince Eryanth need some time together—alone,” Elexon ventured.
“It’s nothing to do with you,” snapped Rose. “If a woman wants a male’s attention, she’ll ask for it. And I didn’t hear my queen ask Prince Eryanth for his company; it was suggested by another man.”
The red-winged warrior closed his mouth, his nostrils flaring even as he gripped his fingers into fists. His eyes flared red as he stared at Rose, but he kept his wings folded into his back, trying not to show his hurt and frustration.
Diamond released a slow breath.
Rose had become fiercely protective of Diamond, almost as if using her queen as an excuse not to interact with anyone else, even Elexon. Diamond’s heart hurt for both of her friends and hoped that time would heal the rift between them. It was apparent, though, that Rose needed to work through her ordeal with someone before that could happen. Diamond had tried, but Rose still refused to talk about her captivity and abuse.
Diamond watched Clarissa returning with Attion. The healer clearly hated Diamond for her brother’s death, but perhaps she could be a friend to Rose, someone to talk to and maybe confide in.
“Rose, I’m really grateful for your offer but I should like Eryanth to stay with me this time.” Diamond needed some time alone with her soul bonded. They had to work through what had happened to them both. It was unfair to make him wait because she was too cowardly to face him.
Rose flushed, her lips thinning into a tight line. “Oh, well, of course, if that’s what you want.”
“Yes, Rose, it is,” Diamond replied uncomfortably, with yet more guilt in her heart. She didn’t want to alienate her friend, but Diamond knew she did not have the knowledge or skill to help Rose.
Clarissa stopped in front of Diamond. Stern-faced and silent, she thrust out a phial.
Attion rumbled low in his chest and knocked her foot with his, sending a plume of blue sand skittering up their boots.
Clarissa gave him a filthy look and huffed. “Here, queen. Take it all,” she managed to say between gritted teeth.
“Thank you,” Diamond said graciously. Then, as the healer turned abruptly away, she asked, “Clarissa? Would you give me a moment of your time?”
The healer regarded her suspiciously. “Why?”
“I should like your help with something,” Diamond said quietly and looked meaningfully at Rose, who was staring at the blue sand under her feet.
Clarissa followed her gaze, then nodded curtly.
Diamond took Clarissa off to one side and explained Rose’s history.
“I will help, of course, though I am no expert on dealing with such t
rauma. Still, if you are too busy to help your friend, I will certainly try.” With that, the healer marched up to Rose.
Diamond purposefully ignored that barbed statement.
“Come,” Clarissa said to Rose. “I could do with some female company. Being surrounded by so many males all the time is hard on anyone. Besides, I understand you were taught by one of the best healers in Catava. Perhaps we could learn something from each other?” she suggested, taking Rose’s hand and leading her away.
Elexon tensed as if he might follow.
“Elexon, you will guard our queen’s tent tonight,” ordered Eryanth.
Elexon swallowed and nodded, almost gratefully.
Diamond did not show her relief but opened her bond with Eryanth just a little—a thank you. Elexon needed time away from Rose too.
Eryanth nodded in response.
Elexon’s shoulders relaxed but his eyes drifted to where Rose and Clarissa were now decanting bottles of medicines and herbs from the back of the cart.
Diamond sighed, hoping Rose would one day realise how much Elexon actually loved her. Without thinking, she tipped the phial to her lips and swallowed down the petrified fire toad tincture.
Eryanth gasped and gagged at the same time she did.
“Shit, that’s hideous!” he hissed. “You could have warned me.”
She laughed. “Yes, it is,” she agreed and grabbed a water skin from Attion. After taking a big gulp, she passed it to Eryanth. “Sorry, I forgot to close the bond. I’ll do it now.”
“No!” he said forcefully. “Don’t. I—er...just—don’t. Please,” he whispered, his beautiful sapphire eyes begging her.
Diamond nodded and took a breath. Bravely, she reached out and took his hand. His body instantly stilled. Diamond didn’t know if he was still breathing. By the goddess, it was difficult enough to force air into her own lungs.
The Goddess and The Guardians Boxset: The Complete Romantic Fantasy Quartet Page 103
