“What in the hells?” I yell, the cut throbbing and burning as he squeezes my hand over the blazing fire.
My blood sizzles and spits, shooting off sparks that float up into the night sky.
“Gracious goddess Luna, we beseech thee to hear our plea,” Cary prays, still squeezing my hand painfully over the fire. “Accept this offering. Blood calls to blood.”
“Have you lost your mind?” I hiss as I finally manage to yank my hand away from him and Dylan lets me go. “This isn’t what we agreed upon! What makes you think she’ll answer? None of the gods have answered in centuries.”
Cary looks to the sky, holding the bloody blade aloft in offering, ignoring my words. “Gracious goddess Luna, we beseech thee to hear our plea,” he repeats reverently.
I step back from the altar, trying to quell my fury. I shouldn’t be surprised that Cary went rogue. Tying off the wound with apiece of my shirt, I debate whether I should return the favor and start slicing into him.
A gasp out of Dylan has me spinning around, looking for danger, my blade raised. “Up there!” he says in reverent awe, pointing toward the sky.
What looks like a glowing star is falling toward us, growing larger with each passing second.
“What in the gods’ names?”
Cary falls to his knees then prostrates himself before the altar, and Dylan quickly follows. Unease has me holding my ground as the light draws closer. Did his prayer actually work?
A flash of light almost blinds me, and I fall to my knees, blinking rapidly to clear my vision.
An ethereal voice, smooth as silk, speaks: “My child, you called?”
I lift my eyes and am met with a creature so divine, no words could truly do her justice. Hair as white as the moon cascades in voluptuous curls that fall below her breasts. Her pale skin is on display, adorned only with a diaphanous cloth that drapes her hips. Eyes of cold, glowing steel meet mine, and she takes a step closer.
“Blood of my blood.” Her voice drips with honey. “How wonderful to set eyes on you after all these years.”
I duck my head, still in complete shock that the goddess Luna stands before me. “I’m honored by your presence,” I reply, daring a look up at her again.
Her countenance is almost overwhelming to look upon, and I lift my hand to shield my eyes just a bit.
A sparkling laugh leaves her mouth as her light dims. “Apologies, dear one. It’s been oh-so-long since I’ve been to your realm. I forget how frail you are.”
I try not to bristle at the insult, but she’s not wrong. I’m speechless in front of the goddess who is said to have started my family line centuries past.
“Thank you, my lady,” I sputter with little grace.
“Now!” Cary screams, and I gasp as a golden net is thrown onto the goddess, instantly taking her to the ground.
An unearthly scream comes out of her mouth, and I cover my ears as Dylan stabs her in the stomach, pinning her to the ground with his enchanted blade.
“What the hells, Cary?” I yell. The asshole kept me completely in the dark.
“What is this treachery?” the goddess screams, golden blood leaking out of her wound.
“I didn’t trust you not to give anything away. Better to keep you innocent in this,” Cary replies.
“Release her!” I shout at him. “What have you done? Do you wish to call more calamity upon our realm?”
“Do you want to save your wife or not?” Cary grits out.
I lunge toward the goddess, but Dylan blocks me. Cary’s other men stand guard on either side of the goddess, weapons at the ready.
“This can’t possibly be the way.” I stare at him incredulously.
Cary lets out a wry laugh. “I should cut you some slack, Kian. Some of this knowledge is not written in the history books.”
I frown, turning to him. “Explain.”
