Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“She sounds like one of the gods or their pets,” Yanique says.
“Their pets?” I question.
“Yes, the sirens. It is said that they kept sirens to do their bidding,” Yanique replies.
My brain tickles as I remember reading something of the sort. I believe the scrolls that came to me mentioned sirens once or twice. I’m just too tired to think of what was said right now.
Zandra snorts. “The gods who haven’t shown themselves in centuries. No offense, sister, but why would they show themselves to Venus now?”
“She’s carrying a demigod. One of their own. Kendrick is a direct descendant of the alpha god. That baby is his grandchild. You heard her. He’s a gift from the gods,” Yanique says.
“What will you do?” Annaniah asks.
“I don’t know. I would need to find immortal sacred ground and then…”
“You will need us,” Yanique finishes. “The woman was right about one thing. We might be safer in another time.”
“I will do it. If it means saving your life and my nephew’s, I am here for whatever you need,” Annaniah whispers.
“I am in as well,” Zandra says, lifting her head.
Yanique sighs and rolls her eyes. “Let me see the scrolls you have. Maybe I can find out where to find sacred grounds.”
“First, let’s get a good night’s sleep. We can look together in the morning.”
***
I wake to someone brushing a hand over my hair. Opening my eyes, I find Yanique on her knees beside me. However, her eyes are glowing again like that day in the caves and her skin is alight as well.
“Did you know that their true mates can sense them? Even as they slumber, something can awaken within them and their true mates will know how to find them,” she says, but her voice seems off.
It’s almost as if someone else is talking to me through her. She continues to stroke my hair. I remain silent, not sure what’s happening or if I should disturb this trance she seems to be in.
“Kings also awaken the powers within their true mates. What once lies dormant and is as small as a mustard seed will awaken and surpass all others. It was the alpha god’s gift to protect the mates of the kings after true mates were imposed on his beloved creatures.”
“Do not fear the change. It is by her connection you will succeed. Trust your sister’s intuition. She is being guided. She knows the sacred place of the sleeping kings. Allow her to guide you.”
With that, she closes her eyes and slumps. I sit up quickly, catching her against my chest and laying her beside me. I’m growing more confused by the minute.
“What does this mean? Gods help me,” I murmur to myself.
Visions
I’ve flown the skies looking for Venus and her sisters to no avail. I’m being led by my anger when I should be focused on the task. Once I find Venus, then I can find out what this is about and make them pay for what they have done back in that village.
I need to land and gather my thoughts. If she were my true mate, my knights would know how to find her. They would protect her over me.
I would also be able to sense her power as it would be a part of mine. Once we are mated to our fated, our power is no longer our own. I sigh in frustration as I strip my clothes from my body.
I set them aside and dig in my saddlebag for the bar of soap Venus made for me. It’s something to make me feel closer to her. Bringing the bar of soap to my nose, I close my eyes and inhale.
The scent of pear and mint fills my lungs. It goes a long way to calm me. Opening my eyes, I then turn to walk into the still water.
I will bathe here in this lake and take a moment to think. It hasn’t been lost on me that I’m in the vicinity of my brothers’ resting grounds. I and I alone, am the sole being who knows of this place and its location.
“I hope you are resting well, my brothers,” I murmur to the open air.
The cool water is a shock as I step in, but I quickly warm it with my palm above the surface. I move farther in until I am chest-deep.
Using the bar of soap, I bathe and wash away the stench of the day past. Usually, when I return from a trip to the valley, Venus has a warm bath waiting for me. She always holds my attention captive as she steps into the water with all those lush curves.
What I would give to see her saunter toward me as her robe slips to the floor. My muscles relax as I think of the last time we bathed together. I can feel and see it in my mind’s eye as if it were yesterday.