Charles knew the attack would come before the spear appeared. She had just enough time to block his thrust with the staff he gave her as a wedding present. The tip of his spear scratched her exposed skin; however, it did not draw blood. The spear must taste her blood to activate her worst nightmare.Jasper was very strong and precise with his attacks. Charles had only bested him a handful of times over the ages. Those times were only for play. This time it was her life or his.She had chosen her life when she discovered his infidelity; however, she had never been able to resist a plea for help from those she protected. Her daughter and the earth were in extreme danger and needed her to return. It seemed her husband desperately needed her as well.Jasper attacked fiercely, using his spear to drive Charles toward the nearby farmhouse. Charles refused to retaliate and feed his rage. She only defended herself until she could break through his madness.Charles ’s back hit the wall to the h
“Father?”“Yes, Sha’ní. I am here. If the demons feed on the souls, they will become too strong for us to fight them.”Sha’ní glanced at Lilene, who stood silently with a smirk on her face. Jasper placed a hand on Lilene’s shoulder in confirmation of her silent question."Are you with Lilene? Have you forsaken us?”“I have not forsaken you. It is you who has forsaken me. My army fights for you, and the souls have begun following you. I will not allow you to rule my domain.”“Father, I...”Sha’ní paused and looked at the succubus. This was a lie. Jasper would not side with a demon no matter his feelings toward his daughter.“I will take your kingdom for my gain. You will be a slave at my feet!” She growled and thrust Death to kill Lilene.She raised her red sword to block Death; however, Death hit the crystal blade and shimmied down to her arm, nearly severing it.Lilene cried out and clutched her arm. Her wide eyes locked onto Sha’ní, and Jasper vanished.Lilene began attacking Sha’ní
The only good in her life was a vampire-who-was-not. Yet even he deceived her. The reasons for his deception no longer mattered. It was too painful to face.Ra’s finger lifted her jaw to look him in the eyes. She expected to see his madness, but it did not stop the shiver.“You have lost, child. Did you think you could overpower me?”“No, my Lord.”“You will be the first to fall.”“Yes, my Lord,” She mumbled.Nothing mattered. Sha’ní would not fight him. She wondered if she died in this reality if her body would actually die.The only way to kill a god was to destroy the soul. If her mind believed her to be dead, would she wake up from her nightmare or remain in the dark?A cold and dark power went through her forcing a scream out before her lungs locked. Her heart fluttered in her chest, fighting to keep her alive. The darkness continued further down until it reached her soul. Sha’ní’s body went rigid, and a silent scream was etched on her face. It would not be long now.The cold gri
Charles refused to believe he would kill her. He never lied to her or said anything he did not mean. Jasper was an honorable jackal and always stood by his vows. He vowed to protect her and love her for as long as he lived. She must remind him of it.“Mother! He is lost. You must stop him!” Sha’ní’s shrill voice cut through the silent battle of wills and distracted Jasper .He whipped his head toward their daughter and growled a warning. The fool girl would get them both killed.“Silence, child!” Charles growled.Sha’ní’s skin paled as she gaped at her. Charles had never spoke to her in such a cruel manner; however, she could not afford to show any weakness in front of her master and husband. Love was a weakness his rage abhorred and would madden him to destroy.“I am here, husband,” Charles whispered for only his ears to hear.In a blink of an eye, Jasper ’s spear appeared and thrust toward her chest with lethal intent. Jasper blocked her from his thoughts; however, Charles knew this
Charles sat staring at Atumn with her jaw unhinged. She could not believe any of what he said. Her mind simply could not file the information.Ra’s soft eyes peered at her with concern, “Speak, Charles .”She blinked and opened her mouth, but no words came out.“Why are you telling me this?” She finally asked.“It is time you know the truth. Releasing Lilene was treason to the gods and I must atone for it. You judge the living. You must decide my fate.“If you choose death as an acceptable punishment, I wish you to know everything and answer all the questions that you have been asking since your birth as a human before I meet your husband.”Charles ’s anxiety and rage fueled a storm that demanded a release. She stood and started pacing to help relieve the energy.“It is not my place to pass judgment on you. You are the lord of the gods.”“You are my daughter and heir. My failure rests in your hands.”“Lilene cannot be my mother. The human that went by the name Parnell gave birth to me
The power in the amulet flew toward Ra and consumed him with Charles ’s pain. He cried out as his heart shattered. His soul screamed as his blood turned into liquid fire and burned through his entire body. He had never known such anguish.“You sent my son to the demon realm? You sent a pure soul to damnation!“Do you have no love in your heart? Do you have no love for your gods?“The god of the dead almost lost his will to live. He protects your souls, your creations, and you care not of his suffering?“Jasper ’s heartbreak has caused a rifted in his family. His daughter has suffered and grew to believe her father has no love for her. Do you not care?”The pain in Ra’s body locked his lungs, and his face started to turn red. His entire body was ridged from the fire that burned in his veins. He never understood what female vampires went through when they grieved. It was no wonder they willed themselves to death, and their souls were in great distress when they faced Jasper . In some ca
Her soul cried out for its master, and her heart tugged on her to touch the god. Her entire body hummed with thrilling anxiety.It was as if they played a game in the Queen’s Chambers, and she was tasked with taming the beast. Charles would not tame this beast. She would encourage it and enjoy its ravaging hunger.“Leave us, Jasper ,” Autumn commanded.Jasper slowly stood and took one prowling step toward Charles . His nose flared as he breathed in her arousal. His mind was closed; however, his eyes burned with passion. He could not hide his desire for her. Behind his lust was the burning question of whether or not she forgave him.He stood frozen in place for a brief moment; however, in that single moment, the entire world disappeared, leaving the two of them. He was hers to command. She must only speak, and she would have that fantasy and many more.When Jasper vanished, Charles let out the breath she was holding out. At times the trance she fell into was not beneficial. She was sup
She rubbed her eyes and then blinked them open, expecting to see her parents looking down at her in her room. Instead, she met Charles ’s concerned gaze, and she was still in the underworld with evidence of a bloody battle surrounding her.“All is well, my sweet daughter,” Charles ' voice caressed her mind as she approached her.Sha’ní peered deeper into her mother’s eyes and sought her soul. She had never seen her mother’s soul before. The gray demon could not possibly duplicate that, right?Charles froze when she felt her power. Sha’ní was shocked to see a gray, solid, soul. It was littered with scars. One scare zig-zagged down the middle. Souls did not look like that.Tears burst out of her eyes as she sobbed. She was still in a nightmare. “What you see is true,” Charles projected. Her mother’s love and her scent of wildflowers caressed her like she used to do.“A god’s soul is different from a mortal’s soul, and mine is more so. It was tested by divine fire and survived only to be