The Dark God's Bride : Book 2

by Dahlia Lu

  Contending with him takes up too much energy. Energy she didn’t have. She felt abnormally exhausted. Too tired to argue with him, she surrendered with a sigh.

  After forcing down two slices of French toast, a couple of strawberries, and half a glass of orange juice, she looked to Noctis for permission to leave. After all, she was his prisoner, and a prisoner can’t afford the luxury of choice.

  She almost forgot about that little fact without the chains and all.

  “I sense something is wrong,” Lizzie whispered to her. Even she could sense the threatening aura he was giving off, and Lizzie rarely ever noticed anything around her.

  “Just be quiet and he won’t bite you.”

  Her friend laughed at the remark.

  The hand on the grandfather clock strikes nine. Elaine and Daisy entered the dining hall to clean up. Amara usually finished her breakfast before eight thirty, but this morning was an exception.

  “We’ll come back later,” Elaine said when she saw that the dining room was still in use.

  “Clean up the spill,” Noctis ordered, waving a hand over the spilled bowl of cereal. And then to Amara, “Eat a little more.”

  “Yes, sir,” Daisy eagerly complied.

  Elaine retrieved a mop from a hidden closet in the wall and began cleaning the milk on the floor. Daisy was wiping the top of the table.

  Amara forked another slice of French toast. She placed it on her plate and doused it with syrup.

  “The soup,” he recommended, although it was every bit an order.

  She pushed the plate further into the table for room. She reached for the spoon and began downing the warm chicken soup.

  “Hey, Amara,” Lizzie nudged her with her elbow. She asked in a discreet whisper, “Is it me or is that bitch trying to steal your man?”

  Amara looked up to see what Lizzie was talking about. Daisy was bending over the table, trying to seduce Noctis with a view of her melon breasts. The girl had assets, and she was using them to her advantage.

  Bitch.

  Oh, god. There were knots in her stomach. The feeling of jealousy was all too obvious. Loathing herself for feeling the way she did, Amara lifted her chin an inch higher and said, “If she wants him that bad, she can have him.”

  She hadn’t whispered, so everyone in the room heard her comment.

  It’s normal, Amara told herself. Female rivalry. That’s all. Amara looked down at her own breasts and felt a pinch of insecurity… and some tenderness. Definitely female rivalry.

  “Don’t say things like that,” Lizzie whispered to her. “She’ll think you admitted defeat.”

  “Ha!” Amara laughed mockingly, feeling up for the challenge. No one can provoke her and draw satisfaction from it. “Noctis, are you going to let me go?”

  “No.”

  “Will you ever going to let me go?”

  “No.”

  “Does that mean I have to spend the rest of my life with you?”

  His signature look of impatience on his face, he replied, “Stop asking questions you already know the answers to.”

  Daisy’s jaw looked as if it was going to drop to the floor.

  In your face, you dairy cow!

  Self-control had set in and stopped Amara from saying that out loud. She swept her hair to the side and continued eating her soup.

  “Amara!” Lizzie giggled fondly. “Where did that come from?”

  I have no idea…

  “I learned a thing or two from you,” Amara whispered back. “You are the biggest bitch I know.”

  “I’m so proud of you!” Lizzie hugged her tightly.

  “…Lizzie… Lizzie… I can’t… breathe…”

  Noctis bolted from his seat. “Unhand her!” he demanded.

  Lizzie released Amara from the bear hug of death, but not before Amara threw up on her back.

  “Sweetie?” Lizzie slowly back off. “Did you just…”

  Amara grabbed a napkin and wiped her mouth. “I’m so sorry…”

  “Oh, gross…” Lizzie frowned, wiping her back vigorously with a handful of napkins. “But it’s my fault, I suppose. I should have known better. I need a shower.”

  Amara watched as her friend left the room.

  Noctis sank back in his seat.

  “Lizzie has class in two hours. Take her back to the university. I’m going to rinse my mouth and then take a nap. I feel really tired.”

  No objection came from him.

  Chapter Twelve

  The mortal slept from morning until late into the night. Her breathing was even, as she was lost deep in her dreams. There wasn’t any sign that she would wake any time soon. She couldn’t keep her breakfast down. She’d slept through lunch and dinner. At this rate, she wouldn’t be able to keep up her strength.

  The mortal was too frail.

  His gaze shifted from her sleeping face to the full moon just outside of the window, seemingly close enough to reach. His thoughts drifted back to the conversation he had with that woman at the hospital.

  Bastard. Ill-conceived.

  A smile curved up his lips. Interesting choice of words, he thought. If they were tangible, they would have impaled him. She knew precisely that they would, and that alone annoyed him to no end. Her tongue was sharp. Her eyes were even sharper. He refused to believe the look in her eyes was that of a female in her twenties. Such a hardened personality could only be the product of enduring many lifetimes of hardships.

  That woman’s manipulation skills were rather impressive. In three simple sentences, she had told him all that was needed to be said. Noctis didn’t know what she was after, but he couldn’t deny that she was right.

  Noctis no longer had his kingdom or his titles, but he wasn’t about to let his child born a bastard. He knew of one person who could see to it.

  Full moon, he thought, perfect timing.

  Noctis removed the layer of blanket covering the mortal’s body and gathered her into his arms. Her sleep was too deep to be disturbed. He searched his set of ancient memories to find his way back to the Sanctuary. After a few missed attempts, he finally found his way. He materialized into an alabaster stone chamber, surrounded by ancient inscriptions. In the middle of the chamber sat a massive ice throne, sealed by an ancient spell, and it was surrounded by a deep pool of water.

  This is the place. He was sure of it.

  He silently chanted a summoning spell followed by the name of the being he wish to summon, “Gaila, Mother of the Seven Seas.”

  The pool of water became still. Then the Sanctuary shook furiously. Dusts and clumps of rocks fell from the ceiling. Noctis bent forward to cover the mortal from the fallouts.

  The water surface bubbled up; from it, Gaila, a massive body of water in the shape of beautiful woman, rose to her throne. Her gentle eyes fell on him. She skipped the ‘why have you summoned me?’ bit and beamed at him.

  “Ah, it’s you.” She seemed to recognize him. “How have you been, Summit?”

  His name. He hadn’t heard it in so long. “Alive,” he answered.

  “That is the general idea of immortality. I’ve heard rumors that you have risen to divinity.”

  “And fell. Religion is a fickle business.”

  “You haven’t lost your charms, Summit. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? You have not come back once to see me after you left my arms.”

  “Drowning was too traumatic of an experience for one to seek it twice, I fear.”

  She chuckled.

  “And I came to ask for a favor or two, if your patience allows.”

  “Well, I am glad to help. You are aware of the laws, are you not?”

  “The only part of the laws I understand is that you want something equivalent in return.”

  “Correct. What is our first order of business?”

  Noctis looked down at the mortal in his arms. “I’ve chosen this female to be my bride. I ask that you bear witness to our union.”

  Gaila leaned forward to have a look at t
he girl. Gaila fell silent for a long moment before she spoke again. “Summit, this girl does not belong to you.”

  His blue eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

  “The girl is destined for Death.”

  “She is mortal,” he presented his case. “That is my second request–”

  “You do not understand, Summit. I already know who she is and what she is. The girl belongs to Death. He will come to her when the time is right.”

  “I truly don’t understand,” he said gruffly. “Amara is just an ordinary mortal.”

  “I do not know of Fate’s plans for her, Summit. I only know that she was never meant for you. It is curious that you two managed to cross each other’s paths.”

  “But we have, and here we are. I only need a simple answer from you.”

  “Not as simple as you may think. Fate is against it.”

  “What do I care about Fate?” He derided, his voice graveled. “I will not yield to Fate. If Fate is against me, then I will bend Fate! This female is mine!”

  The volume of his voice made Amara stir.

  “If the answer is no,” he continued in a softer voice, “then I will find someone else.” He turned to walk away.

  “Wait,” she called him back. “I did not say I will not help you.”

  He halted.

  “I did not say that it is not possible. I am simply implying that the road ahead of you is filled with many hardships. If you can, turn back now.”

  “It’s too late for that,” he conceded grimly, “Name your price. What will it be, an arm or a leg? Any specific organ you have a preference for?”

  Gaila laughed.

  “I wasn’t jesting,” he said with a degree of seriousness that quieted her.

  “Since we are old friends and it is a simple request, I will only ask for a lock of your hair. When I need you, you will answer my summoning.”

  “It is done.” He didn’t need a second to think it over. “Although… I was hoping you’d choose a limb. Get it over and done with.”

  “Worry not. I will not trouble you too frequently.”

  “Let’s hope.”

  “I cannot help you with your second request.”

  “Ask of me what you asked of Lucifer.”

  Her face grew thoughtful. “My answer is still the same. I cannot help you with your second request.”

  “Then I will find other ways.”

  “I am not so sure that determination will always prevail.”

  “You are hiding something from me. Never mind. I do not care.”

  “Wake the girl, Summit.”

  He hesitated to do what she asked.

  She opened her mouth to say something, but decided not to.

  “What?” he asked.

  “The girl is not willing, is she?” Gaila asked suspiciously.

  His chest inflated defensively. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “Oh, Summit,” Gaila sighed. “You want me to bind an unwilling female to you? Are you in your right mind?”

  “I’ll get back to you on that.”

  “Have you tried wooing the girl?”

  “I didn’t realize that was a requirement.”

  “It is not. I was only curious,” she casually admitted. “Now, wake the girl.”

  Amara stirred when she heard her name being called. She opened her eyes, fighting the weight on her lids. His blue eyes were looking down at her. Amara was going to ask if it was lunch time yet, but her body became stiff frozen when she saw a giant woman – made of water – studying her from above.

  Her grey eyes slid to Noctis, only then did she notice she was being carried in his arms. She waited for an explanation, but he remained silent. No explanation was given.

  “What is going on?” She asked in a frightened shaky voice. “Where am I?”

  He let her down on her feet.

  “Do you have the wheat?” The giant woman asked.

  “One moment,” he said and then disappeared from the chamber. He reappeared several minutes later with a handful of wheat. “Stand still,” he ordered. He bent over and scattered the wheat at her feet.

  “What are you doing?” Amara inquired.

  “The wheat symbolizes his promise to you,” the woman spoke again. Her voice was abnormally high, but pleasant, like the sound made by wind chimes.

  Noctis straightened himself to his full towering height.

  “What promise?”

  “That he will provide.”

  “Provide what?” It didn’t seem right – any of it! “What is going on here? I demand to know what is going on here!”

  He produced a dagger and ran it down his palm. She watched in horror as the crimson blood dripped onto the wheat at her feet.

  “Accept my offer,” he commanded gruffly.

  “A-accept what?” She stammered. “What am I accepting?”

  “The man will lay the wheat harvested that year at the feet of the female he wished to take as his bride,” Gaila explained. “If the female accepts, then by ancient law, she is bound to him for all of eternity.”

  She lowered her eyes to her feet, covered in golden wheat and droplets of blood, and then slowly lifted her grey eyes. It all sunk in when she met his unfaltering blue eyes.

  “Just two words,” he goaded.

  “No,” she breathed, appalled at the idea of marriage to him. “No!” She leaped away from where she was standing and looked for an exit.

  Noctis blocked Amara’s way. He closed the gap between them and gripped her arm. She winced at the sudden pain. “Where will you run, mortal?”

  “You can’t do this to me!”

  “I can and will,” he said with an infuriating certainty. He was stating the truth. He’d get the words out of her one way or another.

  “But why?” she asked, breathless. “Why are you doing this to me?”

  It was one of those nightmares that made her feel completely out of control of her own life. That must be it.

  He loosened his grip on her arm, but still held her firmly.

  “I am not doing anything to you.”

  “I want to wake up. I want to go home.”

  “And you will,” he assured her, “but I need you to accept what I am offering.”

  “No!” She strongly protested. “I hate you! You know I hate you!”

  The glint in his eyes told her that he knew.

  “I’m your prisoner for the rest of my life. I already accepted that. But I am not going to marry you!”

  “What’s the fucking difference?” He shouted. She could also see that his patience was thinning.

  “You wouldn’t know!”

  “Then tell me! Tell me!”

  “It’s because I believe marriage is sacred!” She matched his volume. “I’ve believed it ever since I was a little girl!” The shouting wore Amara out. She was glaring at him with labored breaths.

  The rage in his eyes slowly died out. He unhanded her, but he didn’t back down. “Don’t overexert yourself, mortal.” His voice was much calmer now.

  “A couple should get married because they love each other. I know damn well you don’t love me, and I’m sure as hell I don’t love you!”

  “Again, mortal, love is not the thing that binds a marriage.”

  “We hate each other,” she cried.

  He inhaled, and as he exhaled, he breathed, “I don’t hate you.”

  “You sure act like it!” she accused.

  His fists clenched at his sides. “Marry me.” It wasn’t a question. It was an order.

  “No!” she retorted.

  Noctis turned to the giant woman. He cut off a lock of his hair and tossed it into the water. “Bind her to me. Willing or not, she belongs to me.”

  “I don’t remember you being this ruthless, Summit,” the woman commented. It was neither a complaint nor praise, simply stating the obvious.

  “I’m not the man I used to be,” Noctis admitted bitterly. “The man you speak of is dead. According t
o the mortal here, I am only a hollow shell of the man once was.”

  “I do not believe that.”

  “Believe what you will. I’ve lived by honor and that has gotten me nowhere. I’ve lived by righteousness and that nearly gotten me killed. No one remembers the countless good deeds I’ve done or the sacrifices I made over six hundred years. In the end, it didn’t even matter. Nothing matters. Being a good man didn’t work for me. This time around, I will make sure that I get what I want no matter what it takes. Call me ruthless. Call me cruel. I will not have my child born a bastard.”

  “Child?”

  “The mortal has my child.”

  “What?” Amara choked, shock resonated from her voice.

  “That is rather interesting. I am puzzled as to why you came to me. By ancient law, the girl already belongs to you.”

  “I still need you to be the witness to our union.”

  “He’s lying!” Amara said to the woman. “Can’t you tell that he’s lying? He’ll say anything to get what he wants!”

  “The girl is yours until Death has something to say about it.”

  “I’ll shut him up.”

  “What?” Amara gasped. “No! You don’t understand!”

  The giant woman blew a breath of air, whisking the grains of wheat stained with blood from the ground.

  “Why won’t you people listen to me? Don’t I have a say in this?”

  The answer was no. She had no say in anything.

  The grains surrounded her, dancing around her, and formed an anklet on her. Red grains of wheat looked as if they were tattooed on her skin. There was a stinging burning sensation that quickly faded away.

  Amara couldn’t see it for any less than what it was – a life sentence.

  “No…” she muttered. “No!”

  Amara shot an angry glare at him, at the woman, and then dashed out the nearest exit.

  Her world didn’t go down in a spiral or anything so dramatic. Still, it was pretty bad. No one listened to her. No one cared if she objected to marrying a half-mad deity. They just do what they wanted with her as if she were some kind of inanimate object. Her life meant so little to them. Her opinion meant even less – that was to say, nothing at all.

  She stopped running when she ran out of breath and leaned against a stone pillar. She slowly let herself sink to the ground and quietly sobbed into her forearm. She wished it was only a nightmare, but gave that up after bruising her arm with a hard pinch.