by Tigris Eden
He was, so he naturally thought she was too.
Enri was attending to things as he held a conversation with both his sister and his newly acquired mate. It wasn’t a matter of where he was or when he was, it was a matter of concentration. It had become like second nature to him. While he carried on with his sister, he was plotting with one of his contacts. There was a tribe in the rainforest requesting he exact retribution on some developers that had taken over their land and he was arguing with Persephone who was screeching like a banshee because he could no longer satisfy her needs. And at that very moment, he was approaching the building that housed the Shadow Unit. He had a proposition for them and hoped they’d go along with it. Otherwise, he was going to bring the fucking building down to the ground and do what he set out to do anyway— regardless of their response. Multitasking, setting priorities and planning the demise of Erebos and Hades. All in a day’s work.
It was the reason no one could really pin-point his true location.
“What’s the matter with you?” Jesminda walked in holding their son, Caleb, who was still in wolf form. Their son still hadn’t shifted and Jes thought it was strange, but Draven assured her when Caleb was ready, he would shift.
“Enri was just here.”
That couldn’t be good. They needed Enri—he was the one who had to drink Jorunn’s blood, which in turn, would lead them straight to the Sahidic.
“Well, what did he have to say?”
“Nothing good, I can assure you. He’s an arrogant bastard with a God complex.”
That wasn’t anything they didn’t already know. But he had helped their daughter, Faith, climb through a window to safety. For that, she couldn’t hate Enri all the way, just a little bit.
The look in Draven’s eyes was not something she wanted to see. He was drifting again and it always seemed he only got like this when Enri was near or in attendance. Not thinking, she quickly set Caleb in his lap. Their pup squirmed until he settled and started gnawing on his father’s knuckles.
“Tell me what Enri wants.”
Draven looked down at their son before gazing up at Jes. His eyes were a startling green—but just around the edges, she could see the black trying to seep in.
“He says he will drink from the cup but only after we help him.”
That didn’t sound so bad, but Jes wasn’t going to get her hopes up. If Enri wanted help, it wouldn’t be good.
“Okay.”
Caleb took that moment to interrupt them by howling. His voice was low, long and sounded like a cry. When Jes looked down, she noticed Draven’s hands were wrapped rather tightly around the scruff of their son’s neck.
“Draven!” Jes removed Caleb and held him close to her chest. “You need to check the anger at the door when you’re around our son. I’m not going to allow you to hurt our family.”
“I would never do that. It wasn’t me.”
“It was you. Don’t go and use Black as an excuse. He’s as much a part of you as Faith or Caleb. You’ll have to learn to come to terms with that, just like I have.”
Draven looked up from where he sat and stood. His steps were slow, almost cautious, as he reached a hand out and rubbed his fingers through Caleb’s thick fur. Their son was a handful, but he was also stubborn. If he didn’t get his way, he had no problems letting everyone know.
“Enri wants us to pledge our allegiance to him—as well as secure Hades—and in exchange, he promises to drink from the cup.”
“Pledge our allegiance? And what does he want with Hades?”
“He didn’t tell me anything further, except to say we should throw him and Yewa a mating party.”
Jesminda knew her mouth was now open wide in shock.
“What do you mean, a mating party?”
“It would seem Enri and Yewa are mated. She’s been Blood-Kissed.”
Jes was about to ask what being Blood-Kissed meant, but Dietrich walked in at the exact moment Draven dropped that little piece of information.
“The fuck you mean my sister is mated to Enri?”
Jesminda saw the situation for the disaster it was going to be if she didn’t try to calm Dietrich down.
“She’s been Blood-Kissed. When Enri was here, he said it all nonchalant. Almost as an afterthought. He wasn’t trying to use the mating as leverage either,” Draven said calmly.
What about the mating party? Jesminda hadn’t been privy to the conversation, nor, was she in the room to gauge Enri’s reactions or body language. The comment about the mating party was probably Enri’s way of exuding his dickness.
“Fuck that shit. There’s no way my sister is staying mated to that punk-ass bitch. The fucker had to have forced her.”
“There is nothing we can do about it. She’s Blood-Kissed, which means she’s tied to him on not only a physical level but on a spiritual one as well. There will be no fixing it. Maybe it’s what Yewa wanted.”
“Bullshit,” Dietrich said, stepping closer to Draven.
Jes was about to call bullshit as well, but she didn’t know the other woman well enough to even place a valid claim. But Dietrich would know. Wouldn’t he?
“There is nothing left for us to do right now except go over the facts, weigh our options, and decide from there what we’re going to do,” Draven said.
“There is no decision to be made.” Jes spoke up then. They didn’t have a choice. They needed the Sahidic and Enri was the only way to get it. Maybe he’d semi-turned over a new leaf. And maybe pigs do fly. Jes had to stop herself from laughing at her internal head chat. Pigs probably could fly. Six years ago, she didn’t even think werewolves or vampires, or hell, anything that went bump in the night was real. She was finding out all kinds of shit. She , was something else.
Caleb wanted to get down. He hadn’t moved much and she’d thought he was working his way into a nap. But, it appeared, he wasn’t ready.
Jesminda placed her son on the ground and the little cub scurried over to Dietrich where he whined to be picked up.
“Your kid is a spoiled—ass brat,” Dietrich joked, lifting Caleb into his arms.
“If he’s so spoiled, you’re not helping by picking him up every time he asks.”
Dietrich gave Jes a look and a smirk that said he’d never stop picking up Caleb, which was just as well. Everyone wanted Jes and Draven’s son to have all the love and support he needed. She was hoping it would help when it came to shifting into his human form.
“What the fuck is the plan?” Dietrich asked, rubbing the scruff of Caleb’s neck.
“Language,” Jes admonished.
“Fine, what’s the plan?”
“There is no plan. We need the Sahidic to prevent the Unveiling and Enri is the key to that. He has to drink from the cup,” Draven stated. The anger hadn’t left his voice—if anything, he was getting angrier by the moment.
“There is no plan, Draven is right. We do what he’s asked. We secure Hades.”
That had Dietrich’s eyes widening before he calmly placed Caleb back on the floor and began wearing a hole in the carpet.
“How the fu— hell, do you propose we do that? You’re talking Hades, god of the Underworld, keeper of Tartaros. Am I the only one not seeing the problem here?”
“There won’t be a problem,” Draven hissed.
“How do you figure?”
Jesminda wondered how it wouldn’t be a problem, either. She’d never met the man—or. Hades was Enri’s father—something that recently came to light—but Enri wasn’t treated as a son. Not that Hades would treat anyone as family. But then, what did she know? She hadn’t met the guy. Really, when she thought of Hell, or Hades, or Tartaros, she thought of fire and brimstone. A red guy with a forked tail, horns, and a pitchfork. Oh, and he had red skin with a goatee. But as she was learning, myths she’d thought to be true—or as it turned out not-so-true—were, in fact, true in one form or fashion. It had boggled her mind for a time when she learned that Hell and Hades were two different things. Hell wa
s a realm, and Hades was the god who kept the supernatural locked away as they awaited their fates.
“We’ll figure it out. It’s not gonna be easy, but we’ll make it happen. Gather everyone in the war room. Jes, can you call Belinda and the twins? I know we’re cutting into their time, but we’re going to need all the help we can get.”
It looked like they were going after Hades after all and Jes knew the god wouldn’t come willingly.
Chapter 12
Blood-kissed. She’d been Blood-kissed by Enri—Chaos. He was the equivalent to Olodumare, or he was Olodumare, which would make Sound, Olofi. At least, that was her reasoning. They were in a new place now, the void no longer a cover. But an Unveiling of some sort had begun the moment Aurora and Enri began to speak. The land was green, but it was also white with mist. There was the smell of fresh-cut grass and wet earth. Some sort of bloom was fragrant and overpowering the air but in a calming way.
She wanted to appreciate this new aroma and its scenery. But Yewa couldn’t bring her mind to focus. It kept streaming in an unending loop, and she heard the phrase over and over and over again in her head, Blood-kissed. She knew what it meant. It was her undoing. Her fate forever sealed by that one action. There would be no way to undo what Enri had done. Not in this life or the next. The only way she could ever be untethered was through a ripping of the soul, and to be soul-ripped was to accept final death. There would be no resurgence. No rebirth. She would cease to exist.
People only enacted a Blood-kiss in certain ceremonies. Even the Vampiri did their best to steer clear of its repercussions. It was an infusion of the souls, a blending of one’s essences. Taking someone’s blood for sustenance was one thing, but the blending of blood was another. A Blood-kiss held memories and thoughts—transcending even that of a physic connection. Which was one of many reasons the Vampiri rarely practiced it. It was an eternal link that superseded a bonding of souls.
Yewa walked in a daze, barely registering the land they navigated moved. There was the sound of water falling in the distance. A few bird-like sounds, but no creatures could be seen. They were completely enveloped by the mist. It was getting denser by the second. In the distance, it looked like large, craggy boulders were floating their way. But that couldn’t be. Land didn’t float. Well, it did in Fion. Where are we?
“Enri where are we?”
“Isle of Skye.”
That wasn’t right. The Isle of Skye was an island off the coast of Scotland. That much she knew. She’d even seen pictures. This looked nothing like the Island.
“That can’t be right. She’s led you astray. Let’s leave.”
Enri turned. “This is the place.”
“But Mnemosyne isn’t here.”
“No, she wouldn’t be, would she? But she’s here, somewhere. Probably watching us right now.” Enri turned his head up to the sky and roared, “Isn’t that right, you spiteful bitch!”
Nothing. There was no response.
Aurora scoffed. “Enri, be realistic. She sent you to my ice planet. Do you really think she wants to show her face?”
“I don’t care what she wants. I only care about what I want.”
“And that’s why lives will be lost,” a voice said on the wind.
“Show yourself.” Enri spat.
“I’d rather not. I know why you’re here, and the sisters are waiting for you.”
The smell of crisp air intensified, drowning out the scent of fresh-cut grass and earth. It carried on its tails the odor of cold, wet rocks; rotting logs; and some type of vegetation. The mist was slowly lifting and the mountains appeared to be floating toward her. Gliding in their direction. Like Fion, there were large masses of land that moved. The one approaching had multiple waterfalls that cascaded over large cliffs. As it neared, it lifted and their mountain dipped—the two large masses allowing the other passage. The water from the falls fell in a light rain, misting over their skin. A few drops fell on her lips. Yewa licked at the moisture, and found the taste pleasant. It tasted of earth, and iron, but sprinkled with something sweet or honey-like.
“Elderone,” was all Enri said. “Don’t let too much get into your system. You don’t want to end up trapped here. Remember those perils I spoke to you about? This is one of them. The sisters are not going to make it easy for us.”
“Elderone?”
“A sort of mystic sparkling cider. Anyone who ends up here and partakes doesn’t understand they drink at their own risks. Look.” Enri pointed up, the huge rock underneath was covered in moss and some type of bush.
As she looked closely, there were actual men and women, trapped by the thickness of the moss, gorging themselves on the water. Vines held them secure, and as the giant boulder sailed past, she could see they were not happy but couldn’t seem to stop drinking the water.
“Will they die?”
“In a way, yes. They become mindless,” Aurora answered.
Mnemosyne was back to speaking again as they came to the edge of the mountain. Between them lay a bridge made of thick vines, one running parallel with the other, and a another vine— thick, though still dangerous—served as a foothold.
“You will cross here, the three of you,” Mnemosyne instructed.
“Wait, what? I am not part of this journey,” Aurora complained.
Why was she upset?
“You are coming, especially if you want a permanent place to house your consciousness, instead of your temporary one, Sister.”
Mnemosyne shimmered in the wind as she appeared like a ghostly spirit of the night. “You will cross here. The Fates are awaiting you—but keep in mind, nothing is at it seems. Wrongs may never be righted, and the idea of happiness is only within sight if you reach for it.”
“Fuck you and your bullshit riddles, Mnemosyne,” Enri said, walking through her form as he tested the vines.
“Couldn’t we just fly?” Yewa asked.
“We can if we want to get lost. I may have sparked life, but I have nothing to with its choices.”
“You are the construct only, Enri. What you created—also procreated—broke away from what they felt was no longer useful and evolved into something else. Your influence, although it can be targeted to a specific person, can’t be controlled. You can’t contain it all, Enri.”
“I’m ready when you are. I have people’s deaths to be responsible for.”
The vines were not at all fucking sturdy. He knew they weren’t going to make this easy for him. They never did. Enri found he actually worried for Yewa’s safety. He told her he would keep her safe, but bringing her with him was a step in the wrong direction. He’d made a lot of those—wrong turns and fuck-ups of epic proportions. He wasn’t a do-gooder, and he sure as hell didn’t care about other people.
At the end of the day, it was all about him and his needs. He needed to fuck up Hades’s life to where he had none, he would unseat Erebos from the Throne of Creation, and he so desired to taste Yewa in the worst kind of way. Never mind she was damaged goods because of him. He was going to have her because he wanted her and for no other reason. Being mated to her by way of their Blood-kiss was a perk he planned to exploit. He wasn’t going to focus on that at the moment. First, he had to get her across the bridge, then he’d have to deal with whatever was on the other side. And after, he'd have his way with her. Ease her into the idea that their new partnership was beneficial to them both. It wasn’t every day a female could lay claim to him.
Enri turned back and looked at Yewa, who was assessing the bridge.
“I don’t think this will hold all of us at once. It will need to be one at time,” she commented, chewing on her bottom lip. Her eyes met his, and he could see it she was afraid of heights.
“I’ll go with you. Aurora will follow behind us after we’ve made it across.”
“What if the vine breaks?”
“It won’t.”
“You can’t be sure.”
“I’m sure.”
Her shoulders slumped in defe
at and Enri walked toward her. Taking her hands in his, he pulled them to his chest, placed them over his beating heart, and whispered, “Just follow my lead. One foot in front of the other, and don’t look down. Okay?”
His sister was right. Her gaze mesmerized him. They were back to stormy gray, with white lightning crackling around her irises. Shaking himself from his daze, Enri looked away from her silver orbs only to latch onto her lips. She was still nibbling on the bottom one. She was going to chew right through it if she kept that up.
“Stop that,” he said, tugging on her lower lip. The heat of her breath whispered over his fingers and Enri cleared his throat, backing away. “You’re going to be fine, Yewa. Do you trust me?” Dumb question. Of course, she didn’t trust him. How could she? He’d given her no reason to. He’d given her all the ammunition she needed not to.
But still, she nodded her head and in a soft voice said, “Yes, Enri. I do trust you.”
“Good. Follow me.”
He turned back to the makeshift bridge. A gust of wind kicked up and Enri mumbled under his breath, “Bitches.” They were not going to make this easy. Nothing bad would happen to him, not really. He’d be pissed if he ended up in his own personal void of nothing to heal from whatever the Fates inflicted, but Yewa wouldn’t be able to bounce back. She might have had the power to heal, but here, things were different. Immortals as well as mortals lost their lives here.
“Aurora, you follow behind us. Wait until we get to the other side before you proceed.”
“I could just float across,” she stressed, with a show of her wings.
“Or you could fucking listen! You even try to cheat the system, we have to start over. And if you put me more behind schedule than I already am, I promise you, you’ll regret it for the rest of your existence. That means an infinite amount of pain. Got me?”
“This is dumb. I already told you this isn’t a good idea. Take my word for it.”
“No, thanks,. I’d rather choke on a cock than take advice from you.”