Scorn of the Sky Goddess

by Tara West

  When white-hot pain lanced through her chest, she hunched over, crying out. The stab was so sharp, she thought she’d die from it. This was just a glimpse of the pain she’d endure should she go back on her blood oath.

  She sucked in a harsh breath and hesitantly fluttered toward the boy hunter. He looked much the same as before, only his face was more angular, and there was a haunted look in his dark eyes that hadn’t been there before.

  He fought his restraints. “Stay away from me, you cursed witch!”

  She took a chance and sat beside hm. “I’m not Madhea. I’m an Elemental. My name is Kia.”

  “Kia?” He froze, eyes widening. “You helped me once. It was after Madhea killed Jae.”

  She nodded. “I did.”

  The shadows lifted from his eyes. “Will you help me now?”

  Her heart was so heavy with sorrow and regret, she feared it might detach from her ribs and spatter at her feet. “No. I’m so sorry. My mother has cursed my heart, and I’m bound to obey her.”

  His eyes shone with fear. “You must resist. Fight the curse!”

  She didn’t know if the loud pounding in her ears was coming from her own heart or Markus’s. “I can’t.” She hung her head, shame washing over her like a tidal wave. “No more than your father could have fought his curse or you could fight the hunter’s mark. I’m sorry, Markus.” She placed a hand on his arm, feeling the dark magic pulse through her veins like venom. “I’m so, so sorry.”

  DIANNA MARCHED INTO Mari’s small hut, cracked open a palma fruit, and drank the sweet liquid. Not only was the drink cool and refreshing, but it washed away the taste and feel of Ryne’s lips on hers. Bleh!

  “You’re in quite a predicament, having two men fighting for your favor.”

  Alec was in the doorway, flashing a teasing grin. “I’m in no predicament,” she spat. “They’re in predicaments if they think I’d return their affection.” Especially Ryne, she thought, still unable to believe he’d kissed her without so much as asking permission. The more she thought of it, the more her indignation caused her internal temperature to soar.

  Alec folded his arms, casually leaning against the doorframe. “You don’t love either of them?”

  “Immortals can’t enjoy the luxury of love.” Though Dianna wished she could.

  “Kyan loved.” Alec shrugged. “Feira loved.”

  She rolled her eyes. “And look where that got them.” Kyan turned to stone, and Feira was overcome by evil mages because she let love for her husband weaken her magic.

  “Having experienced love firsthand,” Alec said as he closed the distance between them, “I can tell you it is worth dying for.”

  She gritted her teeth. Alec, being mortal, could never understand her position. He and Mari would live mortal lives, most likely passing to the Elements within a few years, not a few thousand years, of each other.

  “I understand love is worth dying for, brother,” she said through a groan, “but is it worth living for?”

  He tilted his head, reminding her of Des’s dog Brendle when he passed loud gas and looked for the source of the sound. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

  Of course he didn’t. That was exactly her point. “Any man I should give my heart to will not live as long as me, the daughter of a goddess, and I shall be left a widow before my first gray hair.”

  His mouth fell open. “So you are to never love a man at all?”

  “I love three men.” She paused, expelling a shaky breath. “My brothers. The devastation of losing you will tear my heart to shreds. I will not torture myself with yet another man to grieve.”

  She couldn’t imagine being the last of her family. She would most likely have nephews and nieces after her brothers died, but those children would die, too. Was she to give her love to each new generation, only to suffer the heartache of loss time and again?

  “But think of the years you could spend together,” he pleaded. “Any children you may have.”

  “Children I will most likely outlive, given their father is mortal.”

  “So Ryne would’ve been your choice?”

  “What?” She shrank back, memories of his lips on hers causing an uncomfortable shiver to steal up her spine. “I didn’t say that.”

  “You said their father would’ve been mortal, and Simeon isn’t mortal.”

  “He has the magical ability to charm. That’s it,” she answered. “To me, he’s a mortal.”

  His brows vanished beneath his pale bangs. “So Simeon’s your choice?”

  She turned her back on him. His tedious questions were making her head hurt. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Of course it matters,” he said. “Please tell me, if Simeon and Ryne were both gifted with eternal life, which one would you choose?”

  She spun around, tossing up her hands. “Alec, this is foolish.”

  He grasped her shoulders, searching her eyes as if all of life’s happiness hinged on her answer. “Tell me, sister.”

  “Simeon.” She silently cursed her brother for forcing her to speak the sand dweller’s name.

  I knew it, Sindri squealed!

  We all knew, Neriphene answered flatly. It’s so obvious by the way your heart quickens wherever he’s near.

  Or whenever he takes off his shirt, Aletha teased.

  Dianna stomped a foot. “Now look at what you made me do!” She wagged a finger in her brother’s face. “These nosy stones will be teasing me for weeks!”

  “Why Simeon?” Alec asked, ignoring her outburst.

  She sighed, sliding down the wall and landing on her rear with a grunt. “Because he makes me laugh, he loves his sisters, he defends my honor, and if you must know, his smile makes my knees go weak.”

  He knelt beside her, taking her hand in his. “You should tell him how you feel.”

  She swore again. “Have you been listening to a word I’ve been saying?”

  “I’ve been listening to your heart,” he said with a wink. “You should, too.”

  THE ELEMENTS MUST HAVE been smiling on Madhea this day. The weapons storeroom had been closed for almost a century, ever since all her soldiers had been killed in that humiliating defeat against Eris’s army. Madhea had never wanted to visit the depressing room again, until now.

  She’d gone merely to retrieve a bow, arrows, and armor that would fit the broad-shouldered boy hunter. What she found was a miracle. Not only were there several magnificent cuts of armor and weapons ready to fire, but there were dozens of barrels of love potion, enough to quench the thirst of thousands of men, or in Madhea’s case, enough to feed one man for thousands of days. How had Madhea forgotten about her precious stores? She tapped a solid wooden barrel, tasting just a drop, and was pleased the brew hadn’t gone sour.

  She placed a hand on her stomach, which burned slightly as she sampled another barrel. She need not worry about potency, for each sample was as strong as the first. But why was it upsetting her gut? Her stomach burned again, the sensation wrapping around her waist and spreading up her ribs. She pulled back her robe, looking at her reflection in the underside of a reflective silver shield, shocked to see the belt of thorns that wrapped around her waist had now spread upward, twisting and turning like an ugly, mangled vine.

  What was happening? How had the dark magic gotten loose? And when would it stop? Elements forbid if the hideous tattoo were to spread to her beautiful face! Perhaps the potion would convince Markus to fall in love with her, despite her scars. But she wanted more than love. How would she convince Markus to desire her if her beauty was marred by an ugly curse?

  “SIMEON!” DIANNA HOLLERED as she stormed to the barn.

  He climbed down the ladder, hammer in hand, sweat beaded on his brow, down his neck, and across his glistening chest. Great goddess! He was the epitome of masculine beauty, and fool that she was, she admired him like a love-struck pup.

  He set the hammer down, closing the distance between them in a few long strides. “Are you okay?”
<
br />   At the risk of acting like a complete dung-faced troll, she rose on her toes and feathered a soft kiss across his lips.

  When she pulled back, he clutched her shoulders, his body as rigid as the planks he’d been hammering. “W-What was that for?”

  “I’ve decided not to wait until after we defeat Madhea.” She paused to clear her throat, the realization of her brazen action pounding her skull like a mallet. “Just in case,” she added.

  His full lips pulled back in a wicked grin. He cupped her chin and kissed her back, this one a lot longer than the timid peck she’d given him. “You’re going to defeat her,” he breathed against her lips. “I know you will.”

  His kiss turned her knees to porridge, so she threw her arms around his neck, leaning against him for support. “I’m going to live a lot longer than you.”

  “My Oaňa. My destiny,” he murmured, gently stroking her jaw. “I’ll make sure to cherish every moment we have together, and I’ll wait for you when I pass to the Elements.”

  The thought of him waiting for her, of having to wait for him, made a knot of regret well in her throat. But it was too late now. She’d committed to this man, and she was not letting go. There was only one thing that could come between them now. She desperately searched his golden eyes, wishing he could reassure her, even if ’twas a lie. “I’m frightened Madhea will kill us before we even get a chance.”

  He ran his hands down her arms. “What can I do to soothe your fears?”

  “Kiss me again,” she pleaded.

  And so he did, right there in front of her brothers and the ice dwellers and even the barking dogs. He kissed her until her legs gave way and then he carried her to the shade of a palma tree and kissed her again. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, she thought she heard Ryne swearing and stomping past them, but she didn’t care. Her heart belonged to Simeon now. It had always belonged to him. She’d just been too stubborn to admit it.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Markus, my love.” Madhea buzzed into her chamber, doing her best not to drag the heavy weapon across the ice. She was pleased to see him smiling at her and sitting up in bed. “I have a gift for you.”

  She had already removed his bonds. After she’d forced him to drink an ample amount of the potion, he was no longer combative. He had such a doe-eyed look of admiration whenever he gazed at her, she felt it was now safe to present him with his new bow.

  She heaved it into his arms and dropped the quiver beside him.

  He turned the bow over in his hand as if it weighed no more than a few stone. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”

  She pulled her robe tightly around her neck, concealing the ugly scars which had wrapped around her, choking her beauty like a noose. “What else here do you see that’s beautiful?” She coyly batted her eyes. Thank the Elements, her fair face was still preserved.

  He brushed a hand across the soft fur of the quiver. “The arrows and quiver are beautiful as well. Such fine workmanship.”

  Why didn’t he think her beautiful? Had he seen her hideous scars when she wasn’t looking? She hadn’t let him see her without her robe. Had he looked under the folds of her collar during the few times they’d shared kisses? She hoped not. It was becoming clear he didn’t find her attractive, and it had to be the scars.

  This left her with only one option—she needed to free Ariette, for her daughter had talented healing powers. If anyone could remove the scars, she could. But how would Madhea force Ariette to do her bidding? Her daughter was selfish and cruel. She wouldn’t want to help her mother unless Madhea agreed to some sort of bothersome pact.

  “Mother,” Kia rasped, her cane making an ear-piercing grating sound as she scraped it across the floor.

  Madhea sneered at Kia’s hideous face. Her once youthful daughter looked centuries old now, just as Madhea had once looked after cursing Rowlen. Kia looked even worse though, bent over, her eyes milky with degeneration. No longer able to fly, she was forced to rely on a cane, moving as slow as a slog lest she slip on the ice and break her neck. Kia’s powers had faded as well, rendering her quite useless.

  After the girl had finally dragged herself to the center of Madhea’s chamber, she cleared her throat, a hacking sound filled with phlegm. “May I have a word with you?”

  “Of course,” Madhea said, turning up her chin and forcing herself to play the role of the doting mother. “Darling,” she said to Markus, “would you please excuse us?” Without waiting for his reply, she latched onto Kia’s arm, dragging the feeble girl out of the chamber. “Why do you look at me that way?” she snapped, hating the level of hatred she saw in her daughter’s eyes.

  “He’s just a boy.” Kia slumped against the gnarled cane she used to hold her bent frame upright.

  “He was a boy.” She flashed her daughter a wicked smile, hoping to shock her into silence. “He’s a man now.” Though she still hadn’t spent the night in Markus’s arms, she hoped it wouldn’t be long. As soon as she found a way to erase the scars.

  Kia’s red-rimmed eyes widened and then she shuddered.

  “I will have no more of your judgment, daughter.” She jutted a finger in Kia’s bony chest. “Do you understand?”

  Kia hung her head, a lone tear slipping down her leathery face. “Yes, Mother.”

  “Well,” she snapped, “what was so important you had to interrupt a tender moment with my true love?”

  “Mother, when will you free my sisters?” Kia looked at her with a trembling lip.

  She heaved a weary sigh. “In due time.”

  “But I did as you asked.” Her voice splintered like brittle ice. “As you can see, his heart is cursed.” Kia touched her hideous face.

  She turned up her nose. “Not cursed enough, daughter, for he still will not tell me he loves me or share my bed.”

  “Look at me.” Kia struck the floor with her cane, the sound ricocheting down the cavernous halls. “My beauty is gone. I cursed him, I swear.”

  Madhea was so aggravated with her pestering child, it took all her willpower not to smack her to the ground. The only thing preventing her from tossing her daughter over the side of her mountain was that she had one more task for her to complete. One more final act of revenge against the children who’d so cruelly betrayed her.

  “So you say, but since the curse didn’t work properly, you will need to do me another favor before I set your sisters free.”

  Kia clutched her cane with whitened knuckles. “What?”

  She eagerly rubbed her hands together, licking her lips. “You shall learn soon enough.”

  DIANNA WOKE WITH A scream.

  Simeon tossed his furs aside and scrambled to her side. “Dianna, my love. What is it?”

  She sat up, trying to make sense of her surroundings. Her memories slowly filtered in like sediment from a cool stream trickling between her fingers. She’d fallen asleep in the hearth room of Alec and Mari’s hut. The dying embers of the fire flickered beside the cot she shared with Des. Simeon had made a bed of furs beside them.

  She looked at Des, who, surprisingly, was still sleeping soundly. She slid off the cot and into Simeon’s arms, needing the reassurance of his strength to chase away her nightmares. They snuggled together.

  He kissed her forehead, murmuring in her ear. “Was it a nightmare?”

  She silently nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks. “It felt so real. There was this old woman. I believe she was my sister. She was begging me to save her. She said Markus’s heart has been cursed against me.” She ended on a sob, covering her face with her hands.

  Simeon smoothed his hands down her arms. “Do you think the dream was real?”

  “It felt real,” she breathed.

  It was real, Sindri said, her voice a hollow, dark echo in Dianna’s skull.

  She shot up. “Sindri says it’s real.”

  Simeon leaned up on his elbow, his forehead marred by lines of worry. “Does she know what we should do?”

  Speak to Dafuar, Sind
ri answered.

  With a groan, she staggered to her feet. “We have to go see Dafuar.”

  Simeon’s face fell. “And he’s supposed to have the answers?”

  She shrugged. “Sometimes he makes sense.”

  He jumped to his feet and put a hand on her back. “Let us hope we understand him tonight.”

  THE MOON WAS FULL AND heavy, like a giant glowing thumb pressing upon the sky. Simeon held Dianna’s hand, leading her down a path that led from Mari’s field of vegetables and grains to the jungle forest behind it. Not a forest creature made a sound, though that wasn’t surprising. They’d all gone eerily silent after the dragons arrived. They tiptoed past Lydra and Tan’yi’na. The ice dragon slept in a stream, slowing the flow of water as it turned to icy mush. The entire stream would have most likely frozen if it hadn’t been for the heat radiating off the fire dragon sleeping on the bank beside her. His tail was entwined with hers in such a sweet display of affection, her heart expanded with joy.

  Dafuar had formed a makeshift tent of animal skins in a clearing in the woods. Where he’d gotten the hides, she had no idea, but the prophet had always been resourceful. A fire burned brightly within the tent, casting his crooked shadow eerily across the hide.

  When Simeon pulled back the tent flap and she ducked inside, she was surprised to see ‘twas not a fire burning at all, but a glow from a raised pool of swirling mists.

  “Come.” He waved her forward. “I’ve been waiting.”

  She sat beside him on a low stool, staring into the mists. How odd that they flowed out of a raised pool of water, as if there was a source of clouds somewhere under her feet. She didn’t know what magic the prophet had used to create the mists, though ’twould be good to know. One day she may find her own swirling mists useful. She looked at Simeon, disappointed he still stood on the threshold. There was little room inside, so she could understand his reluctance to pack in like they’d done in the boats.

  Dafuar took a long pull from a pipe, his eyes nearly crossing before he set it on the ground beside his feet. “Look.” He nodded to the mists.