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October 19 - October 23, 2021
My mother placed the Veil of the Chosen over my head.
“You may not be Chosen, but you were born into this realm, shrouded in the veil of the Primals. A Maiden as the Fates promised. And you shall leave this realm touched by life and death,” my old nursemaid Odetta had once said. But, once again, I looked like the Chosen—those third sons and daughters born in a shroud, destined to serve the Primal of Life in his Court.
Celebrations would be held throughout the lands in preparation for the night of their Rite, where they would Ascend and enter the realm of Iliseeum to serve the Primals and the gods. What I was destined for was the most closely guarded secret in all of Lasania. There were no celebrations and feasts. Tonight, on my seventeenth birthday, I would become the Primal of Death’s Consort.
But because of his claim to the throne, he was one of the few who knew the truth about King Roderick—the first King of the Mierel bloodline and my ancestor—whose desperate choice to save his people had not only sealed my fate but had also damned future generations of the very kingdom he sought to protect.
And when he’d granted King Roderick’s request, this was the price the Primal of Death had requested: the firstborn daughter of the Mierel bloodline as his Consort.
They had one fatal weakness that made them vulnerable enough to be killed, and that was love.
see that she was before me. “What happened?” “I…I don’t
slap came as a shock. I hadn’t expected it—hadn’t even prepared myself for her to do something like that. Hand trembling, I pressed it against my cheek, standing there stunned and incapable of processing what had happened—what was happening. Her dark eyes were
s slap came as a shock. I hadn’t expected it—hadn’t even prepared myself for her to do something like that. Hand trembling, I pressed it against my cheek, standing there stunned and incapable of processing what had happened—what was happening. Her dark eyes were
pale shade. “What did you do?” She pulled her hand back to her chest. “What did you do, Sera?” I’d done nothing...
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Chapter 1 Three years later… The Vodina Isles Lord strutted down the center of the Great Hall of Wayfair Castle, the soft, steady thud of his polished boots echoing the silent tap of my fingers against my thigh. He was handsome in a rough-hewn sort of way, skin baked by the sun and arms honed from wielding the heavy sword at his hip. The smirk on Lord Claus’s face, the arrogant tilt of his fair
“I do.” Lord Claus shifted his attention back to the dais. “And do you have an answer?” the Queen asked as a rust-colored stain spread across the bottom of the burlap sack. “Does your Crown accept our allegiance in exchange for aid?” Two years’ worth of crops. Barely enough to supplement the farm’s loss to the Rot. “I have
step, but he was quick to regain his footing, swinging out with an elbow that would’ve landed if I hadn’t ducked. He spun, thrusting out with the sword as I whirled to my
acts of impulsivity and recklessness over the last three years. And he said this, not even knowing
His teeth. Fangs. Oh, gods, I’d somehow forgotten about that.
“Just because I’m not mortal doesn’t mean I run around murdering people or allowing them to get themselves killed.”
to do with.” “Princess Kayleigh is very ill and had to return home to be cared
hold it as he’d taught me. There was no space for air. “I think about it every time someone takes one of our ships or there
“Well, aren’t I lucky that you’re a polite pervert?”
Never by nature. But, sometimes, I look at my brother and
but I thought of my gift and its source. It must have come from him.
“Those who chose to take the dual life were called draken
“They weren’t the only ones this young Primal gave a dual life to.”
Her brother now raised a hand. “I have questions, too.” “And I don’t care,” Ash replied. Rhain coughed under his breath. “Do you two have nothing to do? If not, I am sure there is plenty you could be doing.” “Actually, we were about to take little Reaver-Butt here out for some airtime.” Lailah grinned as the draken let out a squawk of agreement.
These were full of heart-shaped leaves. Leaves the color of blood.
my decision just as you did. If you came back, they would’ve either
“Can Primals and mortals have children?” She shook her head. “A Primal is an entirely different being in that way.”
“It all depends on whether a god assisted the godling,” she said, reaching up to toy with the chain around her neck. “That is the only way a godling survives.” “And how would a god assist them?” She grinned, a mischievous sort of look filling her golden eyes. “You may find such information to be quite scandalous.” “Doubtful,” I murmured. Aios laughed again. “Well, all right, then.” The hem of her flared sweater swished around her knees as she drifted closer. “They need to feed from a god.”
Seems a lot like Atlantians
t?” “It all depends on whether a god assisted the godling,” she said, reaching up to toy with the chain around her neck. “That is the only way a godling survives.” “And how would a god assist them?” She grinned, a mischievous sort of look filling her golden eyes. “You may find such information to be quite scandalous.” “Doubtful,” I murmured. Aios laughed again. “Well, all right, then.” The hem of her flared sweater swished around her knees as she drifted closer. “They need to feed from a god.”
Seems a lot like Atlantians
most Primals and gods know better than to harm a Consort, some simply do not follow the rules or have common decency.” “Is it a rule? To not harm a Consort?” He nodded. “It is.” “And has that rule been broken?” “Only once,” he answered. I started to ask who, but he continued.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “The secret of the act is highly guarded.” Faint wisps of eather seeped into his eyes. “The act of Ascension requires a mortal’s blood to be drained from their body and replaced by that of a Primal or god.
father, struck dead while I was still in her womb.” Every part of me froze upon hearing his words. Even my heart. “That is why I am called the Blessed One. No one knows how I survived that kind of birth,” he said, and pressure clamped down on my chest. “Love caused their deaths long before either had taken their final breaths. Before my father even met my mother. Love is a beautiful weapon, often wielded as a means to control another. It shouldn’t be a weakness, but that is what it becomes. And those most innocent always pay for it. I’ve never seen anything good come from love.”
couldn’t spend another moment in the dusty, sad library, my chambers,
unseen as I did in Wayfair. And that was silly. I only needed to
them in, curious. I’d never seen a leaf such a vibrant shade of red before.
them this color? I walked forward, just a few feet into where I was
skin underneath. Was this a Shade? If so, Davina and Ash had failed to mention that they were in the godsdamn ground. Carefully backing up, I tightened my grip on the dagger as more of these things appeared, climbing out of the ground so unbelievably fast. Too fast for something that looked really, really dead. I saw four of them, and they all were crouched, staring up at me as their nostrils flared. They…sniffed the air. A low, guttural moan came from one of them. My gaze shifted as I continued putting more space between us. It was a woman.
of the tree. “Is the punishment what causes their blood to turn the leaves?” “In this case, yes.” I lifted my brows. “Wherever a god or Primal is entombed, or where their blood spills, you will see a blood tree. It serves as either a memorial or a warning,” he explained. “Either way, it is not land one should ever disturb.”
Ash approached the bed. He didn’t sit in the chair. Instead, he sat on the edge of the bed beside me.
tracked slowly over my face. “How are you feeling? Minus the whiskey?” “I feel…normal.” I lowered the
Ash stated flatly. “What you know of the Rite and the Chosen is nothing but a lie.” A muscle ticked along Ash’s jaw. “The Rite you celebrate—the one you hold feasts and parties in honor of? You’re celebrating what will ultimately be the death of most of them. It wasn’t always that way. At one time, the Chosen were Ascended. They did serve the gods. But that is not what it is now, and it hasn’t been for a very long time.”
when I lifted my mouth from his. To just live in that sudden breath he took when I kissed his scar and then the skin under his chin. I followed the line of his neck with my lips and tongue, pleased when his head fell back against the arm of the daybed. My lips brushed over
my skin. It takes a lot to scar a god’s skin, let alone a Primal’s. Salt has to be applied for even black to stay.” Air hissed between my teeth. “Ouch.” “It’s not exactly a pleasant process.” I dipped my head, kissing a drop. “What do they mean?” He was quiet for a long moment. “They represent someone whose life was lost by my hands, actions, or because of a decision I made or didn’t.” I stilled, staring at the ink. “There have to be…hundreds of them. Maybe even thousands.” “They are a reminder that all life can easily be extinguished.” That reminder. My heart twisted as my throat thickened.
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Seems a lot like Atlantians
my skin. It takes a lot to scar a god’s skin, let alone a Primal’s. Salt has to be applied for even black to stay.” Air hissed between my teeth. “Ouch.” “It’s not exactly a pleasant process.” I dipped my head, kissing a drop. “What do they mean?” He was quiet for a long moment. “They represent someone whose life was lost by my hands, actions, or because of a decision I made or didn’t.” I stilled, staring at the ink. “There have to be…hundreds of them. Maybe even thousands.” “They are a reminder that all life can easily be extinguished.” That reminder. My heart twisted as my throat thickened.
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Seems a lot like Atlantians
my head back, and I was no longer looking up at Ash. This was a Primal. The Primal of Death. He was Nyktos to me now. “You had to know you would not have walked away from this, even if you had succeeded. You’d be dead the moment you pulled that fucking shadowstone blade from my chest.” “Ash,” Nektas said, his voice close. The Primal didn’t move. He didn’t blink as he stared down at me. “Does
ground. “But if you do anything that jeopardizes any of my people, being locked away will be the least of the things you’ll face.” I didn’t miss the looks of disbelief that Rhain and Ector exchanged, nor did I doubt Nyktos for one second.
is, cutting through one of our supply ships. Snapped the son of a bitch in two.” “Fuck,” Nyktos growled, jumping from the horse. He turned immediately, extending his arms to me without a word. I took them, a bit stunned that even in his cold fury, he was still…thoughtful. “Any sign of what it is?” “Not yet,” Theon answered. Nyktos took a step and then stiffened at the exact moment I felt a throbbing in the center of my chest, a warmth. Under the starlight, the shadows lifted from the thin mist running along the ground. His eyes closed as his features appeared to sharpen. “Death,” I whispered.
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fire of his bite shot through me, startling in its intensity. Nyktos’ grip on my hair and shoulder was tight as he pressed into me, my back coming against a wall. I gripped his arms, my nails digging into his cool skin. There was nowhere to go—no escape. A scream built in my throat, but there was no air to give it life. I couldn’t
a god who served Kolis. “I felt myself drifting toward it and then I was pulled back,” Gemma said. “I knew someone had brought me back.” Her head turned to me. “I knew it was you. I felt your touch. And when I looked at you, I just knew. I can’t explain it, but I did. It’s you he’s been looking for.” “Kolis?” Bele demanded, and Gemma flinched again at the sound of his name. The woman nodded. “How did you know?” “I was…” Gemma pulled the blanket closer
