by Amy Sumida
A Deadly Duet
Amy Sumida
Copyright © 2018 Amy Sumida
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 9781720191629
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More Books by Amy Sumida
The Godhunter Series(in order)
Godhunter
Of Gods and Wolves
Oathbreaker
Marked by Death
Green Tea and Black Death
A Taste for Blood
The Tainted Web
Series Split:
These books can be read together or separately
Harvest of the Gods & A Fey Harvest
Into the Void & Out of the Darkness
Perchance to Die
Tracing Thunder
Light as a Feather
Rain or Monkeyshine
Blood Bound
Eye of Re
My Soul to Take
As the Crow Flies
Cry Werewolf
Monsoons and Monsters
Blessed Death
Beyond the Godhunter
A Darker Element
Out of the Blue
The Twilight Court Series
Fairy-Struck
Pixie-Led
Raven-Mocking
Here there be Dragons
Witchbane
Elf-Shot
Fairy Rings and Dragon Kings
Black-Market Magic
Etched in Stone
—Complete Series—
The Spellsinger Series
The Last Lullaby
A Symphony of Sirens
A Harmony of Hearts
Primeval Prelude
Ballad of Blood
(A Deadly Duet)
Fairy Tales
Happily Harem After Vol. 1
Including:
The Four Clever Brothers
Beauty and the Beasts
Pan's Promise
Wild Wonderland
The Little Glass Slipper
Other Books
The Magic of Fabric
Feeding the Lwas: A Vodou Cookbook
There's a Goddess Too
The Vampire-Werewolf Complex
Enchantress
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Pronunciation Guide in the back of book.
The Playlist
(In order of appearance)
“Release Me” by Wilson Phillips
“Listen to Your Heart” by Roxette
“Slow Like Honey” by Fiona Apple
“Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia
“Wash it Away” by Black Lab
“Army of Me” by Björk
“Here Comes the Rain Again” by Eurythmics
“Voodoo” by Godsmack
“Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley and the Wailers
“Rise” by Katy Perry
“Firestarter” by The Prodigy
“Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele
“More Human than Human” by White Zombie
“Kill of the Night” by Gin Wigmore
“Two is Better than One” by Boys Like Girls and Taylor Swift
Chapter One
Where was I? I peered around the alien jungle at the rubbery plants and monstrous blooms. Curling tendrils hung from fern-like growths on the papery bark of colorful trees; each tip capped by glowing spheres that looked like stars in the shadows. Winged insects flew by with a faint buzzing. One landed on a branch before me. Its iridescent carapace hinged like armor and clicked as it moved forward. Its acid green antennae shivered at me before it zipped away. A heady fragrance of exotic flowers, damp soil, and decay filled the air, and moisture collected on my skin. I was wearing a thick, tight garment and my hair was wet. I had just come from the sea, hadn't I? I frowned down at the thing in my hands; the orb.
I had traveled here to use the key.
“The key,” I whispered. “But first I have to find the lock.”
I felt him then; the pull of his power and longing. I knew—deep down—that I was being manipulated, but at the same time, I recognized his touch. I recognized him. I could see the edges of his face if I concentrated hard enough. I felt as if I'd known him forever. And not in that poetic way either, but literally forever. As in; before time had been recorded.
I moaned and held a hand to my head. The memories were elusive. Why couldn't I hold onto them?
It's been far too long, my love. His voice soothed me. You will remember everything when I hold you again.
My heart raced at his words and a profound sense of rightness filled me along with a heart-wrenching longing. The barest recollection of a fluttering touch filled my mind; the swirling of a fingertip across a body that had once been mine but was now long gone. Then came a flash of sparkling blue shifting to deep sapphire. I had always loved blue eyes, but these were beyond any color I'd ever seen—even in a Shining One face.
You've been searching for me in other men. It's all right, Elaria; you were only trying to fill the ache of our separation. They tried to erase me from your memories, but our love is too strong for that; traces of me have lingered in your soul.
“They?” I whispered it, but he heard me.
The Shining Ones; our children.
I stumbled.
You'll remember more when we are reunited.
My head spun with his words, his power, and the memories that tried to burst forth in my mind. This was the god Kukulcan had sensed; the one who had left a trace of himself inside me when I had encountered the orb. But had he really touched me then? Or had he been with me the entire time?
I did not touch you then, nor was I what Kukulcan felt. It was your own essence emerging that he sensed.
I couldn't even process what he was saying; I just kept walking forward in a daze; forward and upward. The landscape twisted and curled in on itself in improbable—and often impossible—ways. Rock formations flowed like ribbons to the sky; waterfalls cascading from their tips. Trees grew in all directions; upwards, sideways, and some even curved down into the earth before popping up a few feet away. There was a bright sun overhead but also the pale smudges of two moons; waiting for nightfall to shine. I walked beneath an arch of earth that spiraled like a spring out to my left, and then I stared down its center. Foliage grew on top of it and beneath its overhang; vines and flowers draping down toward me.
“This isn't possible,” I whispered. “No natural forces could have done this.”
Nature had nothing to do with the forming of this planet, he sounded amused. Welcome home, my love.
“Home,” I murmured as I stared up the trunk of an enormous tree; even larger than those I'd seen in Primeval
This tree grew upward in the normal way, but its upper branches intersected with one of the unusual land formations. The earth curved up like a wave on my left and then shot out in a straight line to merge with a sheer cliff on my right. The tree grew through this overpass; only a few branches along its outer edges remaining free of it. Through the leaves on the loose branches, I could see the trapped, bare branches veining the soil within the outer edge of the arch. Once through the earth, the branches continued upward; adorned with a healthy amount of leaves. I shook my
head in wonder as I followed the expanse with my eyes; over to where it met the cliff.
There was a cave there, and the dark within it called to me.
I turned to my left and followed the base of the arch until I found a place where it sloped down toward the earth. There was a footpath that led up the side, and I took it to the top; heading back in the direction I'd come. I strolled past bushes laden with bright pink berries and slender trees that drooped over the edge of the arch precariously. Finally, I reached the tree.
I expected to have to push my way through the branches, but they had naturally parted around the path—or perhaps not naturally. I moved through the strange forest of branches cautiously, but all that was within them—besides myself—were a few brightly colored birds who eyed me as warily as I eyed them. It was actually peaceful within the sun-dappled shade, and I found myself trailing my hand over the glossy, green leaves as if I had walked this path a thousand times before.
Then I emerged into full sunlight and picked up my pace. The cave was directly before me; its dark entrance bristling with plants that preferred the dark. I pushed aside delicate leaves and thick petals as I navigated my way into the cave. It was dark and damp inside, with a mineral scent weighing down the air, but I made my way through the passage unerringly. I could see the smooth walls in my mind; hung with ancient torches.
As soon as I remembered them, the torches burst into light. Fire—the element I'd always felt an affinity for—led me further into the cave.
Because you are Fire, beloved. You are the first flame; the blaze that warmed my cold heart. Existence is barren without you, and I have frozen here in my despair that you would never share your warmth with me again.
I strode ahead more confidently; knowing what I'd find at the end of the path. And there it was at last; a wall of volcanic glass. In its center was a bowl-shaped depression the exact size of the sphere. I went to stand before the wall and then lifted the orb. I moved the key toward the lock slowly but there was a weight pushing it back. I scowled and pushed harder; my reflection scowling back at me in the black mirror.
Sing! You must use all of the pieces of your power that you've been able to gather. Join them together with your enchanted voice. Sing to me, my Eternal Love, my Goddess of Light, my Faenestra.
With the knowledge of my true name, I felt my magic gather together into one shining beacon, and I began to sing. It was a song that had been trapped within my soul, and as he had freed it with my name, I would use it to free him. I condensed my magic into one spear-like spell and used it to pierce through the barrier between my lover and me.
The orb slid into place, and the glass cracked open.
Chapter Two
I watched the cracks spread out from the orb and it felt as if something were cracking inside me as well. My heart sped up as large pieces of volcanic glass fell to the cave floor and were instantly pulverized into fine sand. Then the orb hit the floor and shattered into glittering dust; emitting a shock wave that went through me as it knocked me onto my back.
A horrible palsy took hold of me; setting me to thrashing as something sparked and caught fire inside me. Every inch of me was burning, but instead of hurting, it felt good—like coming in from the snow. Wind whistled through me; stoking the flames even higher until all I could see was white light. I felt renewed and revived, and I took a deep breath as my eyes shot open.
I got to my feet feeling stronger than I've ever felt before and excitement filled my stomach as I peered past the rubble and settling debris. Beyond the new opening, the cave became too dark to see anything, but I stared into the darkness anyway; waiting.
And the darkness moved.
I inhaled sharply as the shadows condensed and glided forward to surround me. They were cool against my skin, and then they sank into me and that chill went deeper. Tingling energy seeped beyond my bones and into my very soul; meeting the light that had collected there. I dropped to my knees as weakness overtook me; my body becoming insignificant as my soul was set free. The darkness lifted me up, and my body fell back to the ground again; an empty shell.
I hung suspended above myself as the shadows swirled with my soul until we blended into one. A profound peace settled over me and then it morphed into pure joy. I could feel him; his essence. It was beautiful and strong and mine. We were merged into each other and the bliss of that connection was compounding like a snowball rolling downhill. I felt the ground approaching fast and knew that when we hit—when we reached that culmination of sublime pleasure—we would burst apart into tiny pieces. Still, I rushed forward with him, and when we had gone as far as we could go into each other, we did indeed shatter. But it was a glorious explosion that was beyond any ecstasy I had ever experienced. It took me out—beyond the cave and even beyond the planet—and I felt the light of stars upon my soul.
This was how worlds were born; I thought to myself as I felt my essence separate from his. I floated gently back into my body and then came up gasping. Everything seemed sharper; brighter and more intense. I could see the colors of minerals in the rock wall and smell the damp, green scent of moss in the cracks. My skin shivered with the slight breeze that drifted through the cave; aching for a stronger touch. And before me, the darkness I had just been a part of took form.
The shadows drew into themselves until they took the shape of a man. The shape became more and more detailed; thick muscles curving over a massive frame, fingernails shining on the tips of fingers, skin texture refining, and strands of hair separating. I held my breath as facial features formed; high cheekbones, a gracefully sloping forehead, an authoritative nose, lips neither full nor thin, a bold chin, and sultry, almond-shaped eyes. Then the dark lightened and started to glow; pulses of glittering ebony shot through the body like blood through arteries. I had to turn away from the glare, and when I was able to look back, a man stood before me.
He was fair-skinned and shone with health. Thick, glossy, raven hair fell in soft waves to just past his chin, and his dark eyebrows arched over literally-sparkling sapphire eyes. I finally released my breath on a sigh. He was astoundingly handsome—absolutely perfect—and he was staring at me as if I were just as beautiful. His lips lifted in a smile that was partially amazed and partially joyous, and his eyes went glassy with tears. He stepped forward with extended hands, and I reached for him.
That's when his size became shockingly apparent. He towered over me; at least fourteen feet high.
He laughed suddenly; a jubilant sound that made me start to laugh as well. Then his form shimmered and shrunk until he was only a foot taller than me. I went into his embrace instantly, and as soon as we touched, I was bombarded with images—memories.
His face above me with a backdrop of endless space behind it. His cool hands on my hot skin as we tempered each other to the perfect degree. The deep rumble of his voice in my ear; how it trembled through me and called to the magic inside me. I knew the way his body felt inside mine and the way he would smile against the tender flesh of my neck when we came together. I knew he loved the water; his favorite element. I saw it so clearly; how he had been with me all along. I loved the ocean because he did, and I longed for the sky because it had once been mine, and I had taken great delight in sharing it with him. I had looked for him in everything I experienced and in every man I'd loved, but they had all fallen short of my divine husband.
“Darcraxis,” I whispered as I lifted my lips to his.
“Faenestra,” he breathed my name into me.
I tasted the salt of our mingling tears, but it only heightened the flavor of our passion. I moaned into him; heat flaring though me as my tongue tangled with his. His skin was icy cold, but it felt good against my feverish body. As we kissed, we gave and took of each other; heat, cold, and pleasure blending between us until we were in perfect balance.
“Not here,” his deep voice vibrated the skin of my lips as he eased out of our kiss. “It's time that I took you home.”
“I thought I was home?”
I whispered.
“This is our home world,” he corrected. “And now, I'll show you our palace.”
Darcraxis held me closer, and I wrapped my arms around his waist contentedly as I laid my cheek against his chest. I breathed in his fresh scent—like the forest after a hard rain—and felt completely at ease. I didn't care where he was taking me; my home was within his arms. How had I ever lived without him?
A shiver coasted over my body as his magic wrapped around us and then darkness descended. I closed my eyes but within a moment the magic dispersed, and Darcraxis released me. I looked up into his adoring gaze and lifted my hand to his cheek. A tear welled up over the sapphire of his iris and slipped past his thick lashes. It coasted over his sharp cheekbone, and I caught it with my fingertip.
“I didn't cry when our children were born, nor did I when they betrayed us,” he whispered. “I have only wept three times in my entire existence; once when we first became flesh together, once when you were taken from me, and now I cry in happiness to have you back.”
“I treasure every drop of happiness.” I closed my hand around the wetness on my finger. “And I will avenge those tears that have been shed in pain.”
Darcraxis smiled slowly as he laid his forehead against mine. “I love your fire, but let's not ruin this moment with talk of vengeance. Those who have hurt us are long dead, my love, and we are free. We shall reclaim what we lost, but first, I want to reclaim my bride.”
He lifted me up and carried me through gleaming hallways of translucent cobalt stone. It was like walking through corridors of water The ceiling stretched high above us; adorned with gold panels that reflected the light streaming in through the tall windows. The sunlight filled the watery walls so that they glowed softly. Salt rode the breeze and the sound of waves crashing against rocks confirmed that we were near an ocean. More than that, I didn't notice; I was too fascinated by my husband.