It certainly doesn’t matter that that attraction has now morphed into something much more tragic. I’m on a path that means certain death, no matter what.
Eve’s still giving me that disbelieving look.
“He’s sacrificing me, as you now know. That’s all.”
“And why are you just letting him do so?”
“If he doesn’t, bad things happen. As in, millions of innocents might be hurt.” Bitterness is truly the type of emotion that can be tasted. I drink the soda in my hand even though its sweetness can do nothing to overcome the acrid flavor at the back of my throat. The look on Eve’s face doesn’t make the situation any better. “Stop looking at me like that.”
Of course, she doesn’t.
“I think it’s really funny how you think I’m just letting this happen to you.”
I sigh. “Evesse, let’s not talk about this anymore. Supersonic hearing abounds in this place.”
“Whatever. I haven’t asked to be taken home because I’m not letting it happen. Period.”
Zeniel stops in front of us and offers each of us a plate. His gray-blue eyes are bloodshot. The smile on his face is slightly uncertain.
I nibble on my lip, sneaking a peek at Eve as Zen hands her the plate.
And, yeah, Evesse is avoiding his stare and there’s a pink tinge forming on her cheeks.
Across the room, Cyake smirks with that all-knowing gleam in his eye.
I know he told me that he refuses to look too far into the future. Something about his powers going berserk if he does. But I’m starting to suspect he saw something when it comes to those two.
Which means Nylicia isn’t the only with the power to see Destiny.
Zen kneels and stares up at me. I meet his stare, feeling a soothing fog descending on my mind.
“You really feeling all right? You gave us all a scare when you first got here.”
I’m having a hard time pulling my stare away from his. “What are you doing?” I shake my head. Nope, no go. I’m still being held prisoner by whatever is coming off him.
“Sorry.” Zen smirks and shrugs almost shyly. “Can’t control it. It’s what I do when I sense someone’s grid is off.”
“Grid? What grid?”
“Your tranquility grid. I can sense and see that your emotions are . . . not calm, to put it lightly.”
Understanding dawns. “So you calm people.”
Eve chokes on her food. “I beg to differ. He’s infuriating.”
Zen blinks slowly, trying to guard his expression, but I can still see the frustration in his eyes.
I also see Cy’s gloating look from across the room. Oh . . . damn you, Cyake. Thank God I didn’t put money on it.
“Okay. Now stop that.” I wave my fork in Zen’s direction. “I feel like I’m high on something.”
He laughs and stands up.
Once he’s gone, I pin Eve with a stare. “We need to talk about this.”
Eve doesn’t even blink. “No, we don’t. Remember?”
Cy walks back in my direction, shoving an entire cheeseburger into his mouth. Yup, in one bite.
“I know you think you’re my new best friend, but I have explained to you that this is a delusion you’re having,” I say.
He glowers and swallows what’s in his mouth all at once, leaving me gaping and slightly repulsed. “Shut up and eat, smartass. I’ve been dying to play this game.”
Sillizi scowls like she’s fighting for patience. “I don’t understand your fascination with that stupid game. You are not going to get to play that, it was explained to you, Cy.”
Eve grimaces. “Okay. Now I’m scared. What game?”
“Me, too. Seriously, which game are we talking about?” I ask.
“Pin the tail—”
“Oh, hell no. We aren’t five, Cyake.”
He crosses his arms. “Do you honestly think I have small mortals running around, willing to play this game with me? And these fidiots agreed that they might play if you guys do. It’s on my bucket list.”
“You’re immortal,” Eve shoots back.
“Not completely. What if existence comes to a halt tomorrow?”
I set my plate aside. “Okay. Okay. I might be down to do this—”
“See, Iss? That’s why I love you!”
“You just met me. Now shut it, I’m still debating the risks of this decision.”
Cyake scoffs. “What risks?”
I ignore him and stare at Sil. “He’s a cheater, isn’t he? No, wait. Don’t answer that, I know he is. Is there some kind of way to keep him from cheating?”
“Make him swear to it,” Sil says, smirking.
“You’re both full of shit.”
I raise my eyebrows and shrug. “Take it or leave it, but I’m not playing this stupid game without you swearing it.”
“You’re serious? You’re gonna play pin the tail on the donkey?” Eve asks me.
“We’re gonna play, Eve. Now swear it, Cy.”
“I swear I won’t cheat.” Cy’s golden aura flares around him for a few seconds before appearing to slide back into his skin. “There? Now can we play?”
“You’ve both lost your damned minds. But I’m in.” Eve gets up and places her plate on the table.
I don’t miss the sly smirk on Cy’s face. Somehow, I’m sure Zeniel’s going to be talked into this game, as well. “This is really going to be interesting.”
“Remember, you agreed to this first,” Eve says as Cy comes closer, a blindfold in his hands and a large smile on his face. “And I’m going to kill you myself if this mofo manages to cop a feel of me while I’m blind.”
CHAPTER 10
Eight days later
– Enzyria. Lower level, living room area and sparring quarter.
DYLETRI
“L ook who’s back. Where you been, D-Man?”
I ignore that question as I walk into one of the living rooms on the lower level of the compound.
Cyake’s sitting on the massive, black sectional in front of the 108-inch LCD. He has a bowl of popcorn in his hand.
“Seriously, Cy. I sometimes wish you’d act more like the ancient being you are.”
“Ugh. Don’t tell me you’re gonna be all moody just like Zen’s been. ’Cause if I have to handle another god on PMS—”
“Fuck you, asshole.” I rip the bowl of popcorn out of his hands.
“Hey!”
“Sharing is caring.” I shove a handful into my mouth and turn my attention back to the television.
That’s right, I’m pretending like everything’s just peachy fucking keen. Like I didn’t just spend the last seven days making sure the Fates knew their sacrifice is coming and hating myself because of it. Like there hasn’t been something eating me alive ever since.
As if pretending will make this ache go away.
Even now, standing two feet behind Cyake, my dick’s rock hard and begging me to palm it, at the very least.
Or better yet, give in and find the luscious girl I intend to sacrifice so I can feel every sweet inch of her body.
I wonder if she listened to me. Did she use her toy, moaning my name and arching her back as she came?
Fuck, did she?
By the gods, you’re an asshole, Dyletri. Weren’t you in love with someone else?
That’s the crux of the matter. I’m in love with Dimithinia, right? So why the hell am I having these insane and violent reactions for another woman? For the very one I’ve sentenced to die?
I’m actually fucking scared. My control is on a razor’s edge, and I’m starting to doubt my will to see the sacrifice through. Even though I don’t have a choice.
“You’re seriously watching this shit? Are you trying to rot your brain? This is what we waste all the valuable energy it takes to get the signal in here for?”
Cy gives me the finger.
Most of the gods are obsessed with the human world and all the little nuances of it. Everything humanity has accomplished without ha
ving higher powers thrill us.
It’s a sick obsession we all share.
It’s also why we learned to dress and talk the way the humans do. There’s something to be said for immersion.
Cy reaches up and manages to take the bowl back before I can stop him. “Yup. Just as bad as Zen. Bitching already.”
“Why’s Zen bitching anyway?” I’m hoping to keep Cy’s focus on Zen’s problem and away from my own.
Cy shoves more popcorn in his mouth. “’Cause he’s in denial, that’s why.”
My eyes narrow as I stare at Cy. “In denial?”
“Mm-hmm. I mean, I don’t even know why he’s trying. Chick’s hot.”
“Who—” I begin to ask, but then it hits me. “Oh fuck.” I rub a hand over my face.
“So is that Ismini girl. Any chance you’d be okay with me getting a sample of that before you decide to offer her up like a pig for the slaughter?”
I jerk back and see red. Sheer red. Violent, throbbing, thumping, pulsating, shrieking red. Red mixed with visions of Cy’s head being torn right off his body.
One of my closest friends and allies. Someone I’ve known for millennia.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
“By the way, we threw her an awesome belated birthday party. You missed out, man!”
I don’t trust myself to answer Cy. I’m afraid of what might come out of my mouth, so I just turn and rush out of the living room, ignoring the fucker when he calls out to me.
The sounds of someone sparring outside reach me. Deciding that I need someone to punch—and wishing it was Cy for some reason—I walk out to the sparring area. It isn’t until I get out here that I realize what a mistake I’ve made.
For some fucked-up reason, Ismini and Evesse are the ones facing off in the middle of the sandy arena.
Even worse. I can see skin.
Too. Much. Fucking. Skin.
What the hell is she wearing?
Oh, but I know. I know. And I know who is responsible, too.
Sil looks over at me and waves oh so cheerfully.
Fucking shit . . .
Most of my friends are here. If I can even consider those traitors such a thing.
“There he is. Dy!” Ian waves and heads my way.
I want to ask him if there’s been any sightings of Enteax and Lisrn but can’t speak. My eyes are locked on Ismini. She’s in tight-as-fuck leather pants, fighting boots, and what has to be a corset top that belongs to one of the twins.
Oh, and her hair. Shiny, dark brown hair that falls down her back in thick waves that are begging me to fist them.
“Ah! Zen. You’re here, too.”
That catches my attention. And only because I hear Zen walk into a stone pillar behind me.
“Ow! Son of a bitch!”
The thing rattles, almost breaking apart before re-forming itself.
Dear Gods, we’re pitiful.
“You okay?” Ian stops next to us. “Come to think of it, Dy, you’re not looking so good, either.”
Thank you, Mr. Fucking Obvious.
“What are they doing?” I ask, tone hard.
I know that Ismini took self-defense classes with her friend. Saw it in her memories.
Still, she’s been sick since I went to get her. She has no business straining her frail human body like this.
“They took up martial arts together. Taekwondo and kickboxing, I think. About to go one-on-one.” Ian shrugs like it’s no big deal. And for him, it isn’t. But for me?
Wait. Is Ian fucking staring at Ismini’s ass?
“What are you looking at?”
Ian’s response is eloquent. “Huh?”
I barely hold in a growl. “Listen here—”
“Seriously, Ian. I know you’re the God of the Hunt, but must you hunt down every female in your presence?”
Ianthen’s twin, the Goddess of the Wild, walks into the sparring area, her long, midnight blue hair flashing in the sun. The feminine version of her brother, Ianythi shares his exact coloring.
“Hello, gentlemen. What have we here? You found yourselves two strong human women?” Her delicate voice sounds amused as she stares at the arena.
“Seems so. That one right there—the really, really hot brunette—is Dyletri’s sacrifice.”
I’m a mere second away from wrapping my hands around Ian’s neck as, heart thundering, I force myself to step back. I clench my fists and shove them in my pockets but decide right then that I’m sparring with Ian next.
“And the other is Zen’s new torment. Also very, very, very, very hot.”
The slap to the back of his head catches Ian by surprise as much as it does everyone else.
Hell, even the one who dealt it is standing there staring at his hand with the most perplexed expression I’ve ever seen on a being’s face.
Ian growls as his sister laughs. “Zen, what the fuck?”
Zen’s still staring at his hand like he thinks it’s possessed. Obviously, he has no idea what the fuck just happened.
I cringe, feeling sorry for the guy.
“All right, ladies!” Liz calls out. “Show me what you got!”
Ismini and Evesse begin circling each other.
Ian whistles under his breath. “Holy shit.”
“You will remain quiet throughout the entirety of this. Got it?” I growl the warning under my breath.
Ian’s eyebrows shoot into his hairline. “Oh. You, too, huh?”
Me, too? What the flying fuck does that mean?
Evesse runs at Ismini. My attention is riveted as Ismini moves and the two go at each other with equal fury.
Evesse slides low on the ground as she gets close to Ismini. Ismini jumps high, avoiding the leg Evesse kicks out by twirling in the air in a move that makes me proud. She lands, then advances on Evesse while her back is turned.
Evesse ducks and throws a well-executed punch at Ismini in return. Blocking it with her forearm, Ismini retaliates and almost catches Evesse with a left uppercut.
Evesse darts out of the way, but Ismini goes after her, aiming punch after punch, ducking, swinging. She grabs Evesse’s wrist as her fist comes close and kicks a leg out, aiming at Evesse’s ribs. Evesse manages to evade her, grunting when Ismini’s leg connects hard with her arm instead.
Both girls rush forward, and the resulting collision sends their bodies back and away from each other. That doesn’t stop them. They stare each other down, panting while their eyes move over each other, both of them looking for an opening.
They don’t linger for long, both seeming to know that any further delay could prove a weakness.
Ian whistles through his teeth as they go at it again. I want to be the one to smack Ian this time, except I can’t force my eyes away from the way Ismini’s ass looks in those pants as she moves.
Holy . . .
She flips back onto her hands as Evesse throws a roundhouse kick at her head. Ismini cartwheels twice to get away. When she stops, for the split second her arms are still above her head, the corset is raised high on her midsection.
All I see are abs. Tight, delicate, feminine abs.
I can’t blink. Can’t think. I’m not even aware of myself until Nythi nudges me in the side. Her dark blue brows are furrowed, and she points at my exposed arm with a confused look on her face.
Shit. Shit. Shit . . . and fucking shit. There it is again. I convinced myself I’d somehow imagined it before.
My fucking veins. I can see them glowing even though it’s daylight outside. Everyone will know if they see it. They’ll know what it means just like Nythi does.
I fucking know what it means! There’s only one reason for these powers to be showing themselves. That reason is lust, plain and simple.
Nythi’s expression says it all. Her eyes dart to Ismini, proving that she knows everything. She knows, after millennia, why my powers are showing themselves.
Shaking, I turn away from her, from everyone. I decide to run away like the coward I’ve becom
e. As fast as I can, I rush back into the compound, trying to escape the truth of what’s happening to me.
Trying to escape what it means.
In the last thirteen-thousand, nine hundred and eighty-two years, no woman has been able to cause such a reaction me. Not one.
Now, the very thing I worked so hard to kill is coming back to life. Itching and clawing at the locks I so carefully placed. My purpose has reawakened, and it’s demanding to be impaled.
Within Ismini.
Within her body.
Within her very soul.
My powers and my hunger for her are dissolving my sanity. I need to get away from Ismini—and stay away until the day of the sacrifice.
It might not be so easy this time.
CHAPTER 11
ISMINI
E xhausted and soaked in sweat, I return to my room in the medical wing after the sparring match with Evesse.
I refuse to switch rooms. Everyone thinks I’m better. In reality, despite the preternatural help I’ve been given to help hide my symptoms, I can tell I’m getting worse.
The countdown is ticking inside me. Inexorable. Unmerciful. And although a vast majority of my symptoms are currently being held back, I have a feeling that they’re just building up.
Eventually, they’re going to break free.
When they do, I’ll have no chance of surviving it.
I’m slowly losing my mind and don’t know how Nylicia has lived in this kind of torment for so long.
For a being like her, I can only imagine what a “long time” means.
Kicking off my boots, I walk towards the bathroom with every intention of having a nice, long shower.
Instead, a white-hot burn slices through the base of my neck, where it meets my shoulder, and knocks me off my feet.
Gasping, I curl into a ball and bite back my screams. The artery in my neck pounds, expanding, swelling like a balloon about to pop. The fire in my chest spreads everywhere, and my vision temporarily blacks out.
I rock back and forth, clutching my neck.
This is it. The end. There’s no way I’m going to survive this.
Vedlyl appears out of nowhere. He kneels beside me, then gently lifts me and places me on the bed.
Ryze Series: Books 1 & 2 Page 8