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Prologue
Earth – 21 Years Ago
“You’ll never believe what my father found today!” I shouted as I walked through the doors of our quaint home.
I rounded the corner of the hallway, stepping into the kitchen and smiling at the sight before me. My husband stood before the stove, singing out loud, stirring a pot of stew. Although we had been together for nearly five years, I fell more in love with the man every day.
Without another word from me, he turned in my direction, dancing towards me and swinging me into his arms, twirling us in circles. I couldn’t contain my laugh and his followed, filling our home with joy.
“You’re home early, my dear. I thought your shift didn’t end for another hour.”
I smiled thinking of my job at the clinic in our community. As an Enchantress, I had the ability to heal others with a touch of my power and as one of the stronger Divines, I held a high position at the office given my young age. My husband was similar in that sense. Although we were only twenty-six years old, he was quickly working up the ranks of the Council. I couldn’t be prouder of him.
“It was slow in the office today, so Hector sent me home early. And lucky he did, because father called on my way home with news.”
I started bouncing on my feet with excitement and smiled wildly. Father and two of his close friends had been searching for the past twenty years for the Domicilium Prophecy. The prophecy had been lost for centuries and was the only information on how to return our people to Agrum Di Vinum. Although countless had searched, none had been able to find it. And as the decades wore on, many gave up, content to live on Earth. But my father hadn’t been one of them. He had told me stories as a little girl, stories passed down in his family, about the wonder of Agrum Di Vinum, our real home. He would tell me about the immense magic us Enchanters wielded in our land and how marvelous it looked. Father had never given up hope that one day we would return to Agrum Di Vinum and not have to live in the shadows any longer.
I always believed in my Father’s quest, but that didn’t mean others hadn’t doubted him. Even my own mother left Father when he wouldn’t give up the search, but I continued to stand by his side, believing in his dream as well. And today it had paid off.
“He found the Domicilium Prophecy. He found the answers to return to our home.” I squealed.
My feet lifted off the ground as I began to spin around, my excitement bouncing off the both of us.
“You’re serious? He found it? Does it detail which Heirs will bring us home? Maybe it’s us. Can you imagine, me and you, Seer and Enchantress, ruling a kingdom side by side.” A crazed smile took over his face and I chuckled lightly.
Although my husband seemed to enjoy his position on the Council, I had no interest in leading our people. I was born to be a protector, a healer, not a leader.
“Father didn’t tell me much, but I’m sure he will be taking it to the Council today and we will go from there. We’re going home.”
“We’re going home.” He whispered back, squeezing me tightly before wandering back to the stove, continuing dinner.
I smiled, happiness encompassing me, and cradled my small belly. With enough excitement for one day, I hadn’t told him the other good news. Possibly the newest Enchantress was growing inside of me. And I couldn’t wait to raise them in the land of the Divines.
Chapter One
Halley
I ached. My head pounded. My muscles strained. My throat scratched. My eyes blurred. And my heart, my heart fucking throbbed. In my life, I had only felt this pain in my chest once before. The night those masked men and women ripped Mom from my life without a backwards glance. I naively thought that I could never feel that kind of pain again. I thought that by distancing myself from those around me, I could never lose someone else that would cause my heart to shatter once more. But being here, surrounded by a new world, my walls had fallen, and I had let people in. And now, the closest thing I had to family, the person I considered my closest companion, was dead. Slain on the academy grounds that were meant to keep us safe, just another casualty among the Divines and Hunters. As the truth settled deep in my bones, I had no interest in getting up from the floor I laid on. I had no clue where I was or how I had gotten here and maybe that should have spiked fear through my veins, but I couldn’t find the ability to care. Because if this was my life, the world I was destined to live in? I had no interest in it. I had no desire to be the only thing standing between the Hunters and the decimation of the Divines. No need to watch others I cared about be taken cruelly from this world.
A low groan, laced with pain, sounded beside me and I slowly turned my head, ignoring the throbbing in my shoulders and neck. Confusion quickly mingled with the pain as I eyed the man beside me. His normally alabaster skin appeared translucent, purple bruises beneath his eyes a stark contrast to his pallor. Wilder’s eyes were scrunched tightly closed. His breathing heavy. Eyeing the rest of his body, I saw the dried blood coating his chest and arms, while fresh blood continued to leak out of open wounds. He was clearly in bad shape, and I struggled to remember what had led us to this moment. All I could remember was Kalani’s lifeless body and the anger that had consumed me. Beyond that, everything was clouded with a hazy darkness.
Slowly pushing myself to a sitting position, I felt around for my own injuries. Besides the aching in my muscles and the fatigue that threatened to pull me under again, I couldn’t discern anything especially out of place on my body. I knew I barely had any power left, the constant flow I usually felt inside my chest a dull pull, and even though most days I hated Wilder more than I tolerated him, I could tell he was on the verge of death. There were too many bullets embedded in his flesh and who knew how long we had been passed out, denying him the medical attention he clearly needed. Realistically, I could get up and try to find help. Get him real medical help. But I had no clue what awaited outside these walls. And I didn’t know how long he had left.
Mustering up all the strength I had left inside of me, I gathered my power, easier than ever before, and pressed onto the largest wound, gaping in his chest. Pushing my power into him, I focused on mending the broken flesh beneath my hands, my eyes closed in concentration. Moving from wound to wound, I felt my well of power dry up, barely holding onto my consciousness. Feeling strength seep back into his body, I peeked my eyes open and met Wilder’s dark gaze. Some color had leaked back into his face, and I breathed shakily, knowing I had done all I could and hoping it was enough. I began to remove my hands from his body, but moving as quickly as only a Drax could, Wilder held my wrist hostage, his eyes filled with questions. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask or what could be racing through his mind, but before I could ask, he pressed my hand down harder.
“I have no power left,” I croaked, my throat raspy.
Wilder cleared his throat, his voice cracking more than my own. “I need blood.”
Nodding, I began to stand, knowing from my history class that like food and rest for other Divines, Drax needed blood to help restore their strength. If that’s what Wilder needed, I would attempt to find someone amongst the chaos left outside, it was the least I could do after I’m pretty sure he brought me here to recover after the fight. Instead of allowing me to stand, Wilder kept his hold on my wrist.
“I need strong blood. I needyourblood.” Wilder said, a plea behind his eyes.
I wanted to shake my head no, to tell him that there was no way in hell I would allow him to drink my blood. But the vulnerability in his gaze stopped me. All I had ever seen in Wilder’s gaze was annoyance and anger, yet in this moment, only pain and need stared back at me. It was a complete one eighty from his regular demeanor and I found myself nodding slowly, agreeing.
Wilder’s eyes darkened more, the hunger overcoming him, and he greedily pulled my wrist towards his mouth as his fangs lengthened. He eyed me one more time, making sure this was okay in his gaze, and I appreciated the silent question. Scooting closer, I sat on my knees, pushing my wrist closer. With a deep inhale, Wilder closed his eyes, and I felt the prick of pain as his fangs pierced my skin. Wilder groaned again, but instead of the fatigue that blanketed his tone earlier, this one was pure, unadulterated hunger. Drinking heavily, different emotions ran through me. I had read that different people experienced different feelings when fed on from a Drax. Some felt pain, some felt a strange pulling on their power, and others felt pleasure. And right now, as my eyes closed of their own accord and a shiver ran down my spine, I only felt the pleasure. As Wilder continued to suck on my wrist, tingles ran through my body, all heading straight to my core. I squeezed my thighs together, trying to chase away the feelings racing through my veins, but I couldn’t hold back the moan that escaped my throat. Willing my eyes open through brute force, my stare clashed with Wilder’s, the lust I felt reflected back at me. I wasn’t sure what this meant, how this would affect us, but I couldn’t wonder for long. As Wilder continued to pull on my power, the fatigue began to catch up with my body, the little power I had left after healing Wilder, drifting slowly away. And as my body began to collapse, the last thing I felt was Wilder’s arms catching my body, and although hatred usually burned between us, all I could do was melt into comfort.
Chapter Two
