AllFreeNovel
Share Us
An order he could not refuse. Because she owned him and had from the beginning.
He placed his bounty with the others: in a sheath that hung from the back of his waist. Seconds later, the floodgates in his mind opened, andthe memoryovertook him. The day he’d killed Lore. She’d seemed to know why he’d appeared. Had tearfully begged him not to kill her. To let her live for the first time. But he’d ripped out her heart in the way of the ancients anyway.
Afterward, he’d replayed the interaction on repeat, unable to boot her image from his thoughts. He’d heard the tale of her bones and hunted down the skull. She’d appeared to him the day he’d found it, still acting like a damsel in distress. In fact, she’d appeared to him every day after for months, and his hand had burned to make stardust for her.
He remembered how he’d grown to believe he loved her. How, when she’d pretended to fade, he’d done the unthinkable... Had sung the song she’d taught him, thinking to share his strength with her by joining their spirits. In actuality, he’d bound his will to hers. Her plan all along.
From there, she’d ordered him to keep everything about her a secret. She’d ceased to visit him, only to reappear with a new attitude and a fresh order just before the assigning of his blessing task. Throw her skull into the sea.
He’d been compelled to obey. Exactly as he was compelled to obeyeveryorder she issued. Even if it meant betraying his brethren. Males he respected and loved.
“That’s my sweet Astra,” she cooed. “I do adore seeing revulsion overtake your pretty face. By the way, you will stand there, be still and quiet from now until the meeting with Rathbone ends. You may not speak telepathically with the Astra or leave this room.”
Acid poured through his veins. “What is Erebus paying you?” Only the Deathless would have plotted something to make an Astra this miserable before ruining his life.
“He’s not paying me anything.” She stood and moved away from him, then angled to the side as Erebus materialized. “He’s my true fated mate.”
Azar didn’t jolt—on the outside. Lore and Erebus, lovers. Of course. Erebus and his Blade of Destiny always knew who to target.
Erebus closed the distance, the hem of his dark robe swaying at his feet. Rage slashed at Azar’s calm veneer. He could only stand there, silent and immobile, as his greatest enemy stopped directly in front of him. Mistress’s orders.
“You’re right, goddess.” Erebus wrapped an arm around Lore’s waist and kissed her temple. The creator of phantoms had ways of touching spirits that others did not. “His look of revulsion is priceless.” Another kiss, this one directly on her lips, while staring at Azar.
He wished he wasn’t bothered by the sight of the two together.
“We’ll get to see it again soon.” She giggled, resting her head on Erebus’s shoulder and petting his chest.
Interesting. Azar recognized that high-pitched grating sound for what it was: fake. Did she play Erebus, too?
He almost—almost—laughed.
“As you can guess, I’ve always had an ace,” the god said, smug in his ignorance. “I bided my time, awaiting the day you would help me devastate the Astra. Finally, that day has come. Or it will. At the final ceremony, your brothers-in-arms will realize the depths of your betrayal, and each of you will die in anguish.”
Lore nuzzled her cheek against Erebus’s chest. “Speak, Azar. Give us your thoughts.”
“Someone will defeat you, even if I can’t.” The statement ripped from his throat.
“No, darling.” Lore winced for his benefit. “They won’t. Every piece is now in place.”
“Well, not every piece,” Erebus said, gleeful. “Shall we do it now or later?”
“Yes! Now!” she squealed, clapping and regarding the male as if he’d hung the moon. “Please.”
“Very well. Give the order.”
Gaze upon Azar, she smiled and commanded, “Accept the orb from Rathbone and kill the oracle while she’s here. Make it hurt.”
Azar shuddered internally.So my downfall begins.If Neeka the Unwanted aided the Astra, as she’d vowed to the General, she was now their only hope of survival.
Erebus kissed the crown of Lore’s head. “I’ll take my leave before the red beast arrives. Know that I’ll miss you every second I’m gone.” He winked at Azar as if they merely played a game before vanishing, leaving him with a toxic mix of rage, guilt, shame, and Lore the Incomparable, the source of his nightmares.
Rathbone and the oracle arrived only moments later, and they looked as happy as Azar felt. Especially when they noticed the female gloating at his side.
“Well?” Lore prompted. “Do you have something for us or not?”
“The orb.” Rathbone tossed the small bulb Azar’s way.
With lightning-fast reflexes, he caught the thing. He felt no satisfaction, only doom. Though he squeezed with every ounce of his strength, the object of his demise failed to shatter.
