Chapter 1 Prologue

Blakely A curse so deadly, bestowed to thee. Has turned thou into a living key. Await the gods, who claim thy soul. Break the curse & fulfill thy role. I stared down at the sea of glittering crimson, trying to process the fact that it wasn’t my blood that stained my hands and clothes, but that of my Alpha’s. My mate. Its metallic scent permeated the air, mingling with that of vomit. Staring into my eyes, I watched the scene unfold again and again. The events that led to this very moment. The mistakes I’d made that turned me into this. It had been two weeks since dad helped me move into Alpha Felix Gannon’s flashy, three-story home. The man claiming to be my mate had been thoughtful and kind, catering to every one of my requests despite how odd. He didn’t question why I wanted my own bedroom, or why I insisted on sleeping in it every night rather than staying at his side. The entire pack was in a constant state of celebration. There hadn’t been a single pair of mates in almost three hundred years. Everyone was too excited to question how odd the situation was. They even threw a parade in our honor. This was the return of our kind’s good fortune, they claimed. Oh, how wrong they were. After seven days of love-bombing his true colors began to show, but at that point it was far too late. We’d just gotten home from Beta Prescott’s wedding. Felix had been drinking more and more over the last week. He said it was to cope with my lack of affection, but that sounded like a load of crap. Once inside the darkened house, I let him pull me into his arms. I waited for the spark, the mind-numbing rush of euphoria that came when touching your mate, but there was none. His lips claimed mine with a drunken ferocity that bordered on sloppy. Black ice swept across my mind as his hands roamed the bodice of my dress. A gown he claimed made me look like the perfect trophy wife. I pulled away, fighting a hold that only seemed to tighten. He dug his fingers into my arms hard, only to pull away with a growl building in his chest. The vase of flowers he’d gotten me earlier that day were thrown against the wall, the crystalline pieces raining down over my head. “Come on, Blakely! All that I’ve done for you and not once have you thought to return the favor.” His moods had a tendency to shift, which is what happened next when he rushed forward to cradle my face in his hands. “I shouldn’t have said that. You know I didn’t mean any of it, right? I was just so angry, baby. You have no idea how crazy you make me. Let’s just start tonight over, alright? We’re going to spend the rest of our lives together. I’d do anything to make you happy, and I know you want me happy too. Don’t you?” Were the lies that once tasted sour on his tongue now sweet as truth, or had he merely gotten used to the taste? ‘Say yes,’ my wolf whispered. This was the first time in months that she had spoken to me. I gave him the answer he wanted and watched as his emerald eyes lit up. He asked me if I trusted him, and despite the truth hovering on the tip of my tongue, I said yes. He kissed me harder this time. His hands didn’t wait to wander, picking up where they had left off. Fear soaked me in its icy waters, right down to the bone. Only when his fingers tugged at my zipper did I break free from its hold. “I’m not ready for this, Felix.” Those hands moved faster, swatting away my words like meaningless insects. He swallowed my refusals, drowning them in alcohol-tinged breath. Fingers dipped into my dress, and all that fear melted away, boiling into embers of adrenaline. I growled against his lips, “I said no.” He caged me against the wall with his arms. Arms that I’d once ogled at, tracing the muscle with wandering eyes. I could feel his hardness pushing into my thigh. The disgust that rolled through me was a tangible thing. A voice whispering in my ear that something about this was so terribly wrong. “The bond won’t snap into place if you keep refusing to touch me.” I didn’t dare tell him that wasn’t how it worked. “What would our people think if they knew you didn’t want your mate? What would your parents think?” Venom boiled in his eyes. Eyes that now seemed too bright. Too green. He smashed his lips against my own in a brutal kiss, using the cage that was his arms to maneuver me further into the kitchen. The sharp edge of the counter dug into my lower back, the sting of pain providing a dose of clarity. “You’re so beautiful in that dress.” A groan of stale whiskey and lust invaded my mouth. “Can’t wait to put my mark on you.” Tears burned in my eyes. I wanted to scream, but my voice was a shriveled husk in my throat. I wanted to lash out and fight, but his iron-clad fists held me in place. Something clattered to the floor as he ripped open the back of my dress. It was the zipper. He’d torn the zipper completely off. I bucked against him, and he groaned in a way that made my throat constrict as vomit threatened to rise. My mind went blank. I lifted my knee and kicked as hard as I could, crushing his grape-sized balls with grim satisfaction. He let out a growl, slamming me against the counter as I tried to evade his grasp. The stupid dress he’d forced me into tangled around my legs, making me stumble. Smooth hands that had never seen a day of hard work grabbed me by the hips and spun me around. The counter rose up, crashing against my skull. Pain rushed through my nostrils, becoming the very air I breathed. “You’re a terrible mate. What did I do to deserve someone like you? Someone who won’t let me love them.” Numbness crawled through my limbs like brackish ice water. I craned my head, my cheek pressed against the marble, and caught sight of my reflection in the microwave. Hollow eyes of sterling silver stared out at me, begging someone—anyone—to help. A tug in my chest drew my eyes to the left, to the shiny toaster he’d replaced three days after I moved in. The first one ended up in pieces just like the vase. I inched my fingers closer, praying he didn’t notice. Cold metal bit into my fingertips, and I nearly cried out with relief. I wrapped my hand around the hunk of metal. With a cry of pure mania, I twisted around and sent my arm flying in an arc. Crack! Felix’s weight vanished from my back. His grunt was swallowed by the thud his body made as it hit the tiled floor. My parents thought he would protect me. They thought that when the curse took hold on my twenty-first birthday, he’d spare no expense to keep me safe. I looked down at Felix’s unconscious body, my hands trembling. No one would believe me. I had no proof to clear my name and even if I did, this man was beloved by his pack. It was my word against his, and he would win. I didn’t stand a chance. The injustice of it all made me want to scream. There was one other option, one even a fool would run from. Only someone so desperate for life, so starved of its touch, would even think to take this route. Someone like me. I’d live this last month in peace, and when my birthday finally came around, the curse looming over my head would take hold. The same curse that claimed the lives of my ancestors, of every firstborn female in each generation. On the night of my twenty-first birthday, they would come. Three Harbingers of Death—the gods of our kind. Even now, sitting in Alpha Gannon’s once pristine kitchen, I could hear my grandma’s voice as though she loomed over my shoulder. She would’ve scolded me for this. Ushering me inside to pepper me with herbs and anointed oils, anything she could think of that might protect me. Never make deals with the gods, she’d say with unwavering certainty. I focused on the blood cooling against the tile floor and stared into the eyes of that little girl. A shudder held me in its iron grasp, tearing through my lungs as I inhaled. My lips began to move, forming the words that would both act as the bars to my prison cell, and the key that could set me free. “I call out to the ancient ones. To the gods of old. To any that are listening. Let the mist carry my voice on its ashen wings. Let my cries be heard! I don’t care who you are or what you’ll ask of me. I’ll do anything—give you anything you want. I beg of you, help me.” I squeezed my eyes shut, “Please, help me.” I felt the god that answered my call long before I saw him. Silence stretched into oblivion, the seconds ticking by until the air itself began to thicken. My nerve endings quivered as a current, wild and untamed, slithered over my flesh. My heart thundered in my ears. A phantom hand coaxed my eyes open, and I knew that I was no longer alone. The lights overhead flickered and as my head snapped up, there he was. Leaning against the counter with his elbow propped up on the marble, he spun a wickedly sharp blade. Every inch of him, from his broad shoulders to his tapered waist, dripped with seduction and power. Hair as dark as the inky fog that rolled across the floor, with eyes that felt like a contradiction. A kaleidoscope of color set over iris’s almost as pale as his milky skin. Beneath his leather jacket and frayed t-shirt were tattoos that trailed up his throat. Mythical beasts, and dancing maidens, creatures I’d never seen before all ending at a jawline sharp enough to break skin. His pouty lips thinned as I gaped at him, but I couldn’t help it. He was mesmerizing. Some things in life you could prepare for. A test, getting your driver’s license, losing your virginity. Murdering a narcissistic Alpha and staring down a seven-foot-tall god who could easily crush you beneath his boot was not one of them. I was reduced to nothing more than a puddle, a thrashing soul trapped in a mortal cage. He broke his stare from my face to scan the kitchen and my shoulders slumped, a weightlifting from them. “Well, well, well. What a mess you’ve made, rabid little wolf.” Oh, that voice. Impossibly deep, yet sharp with wit and a touch of cruelty, and was that amusement I detected? Wait a damned second—did he just insinuate I had rabies? Before I could inform the god that shifters could not get rabies, he moved with an inhuman grace and dropped down to a crouch. With the flick of his wrist he spun the knife on its head, the tip digging into the tile. “Cat got your tongue?” He purred, lifting his hand. The blade continued to spin, held in place by magic. “You’re the one that called. A very, very foolish thing to do by the way. With the broadcast you made, you’re lucky I showed up and not someone else. That being said, I don’t have all day. I assume you want this mess of yours cleaned up, yes?” I pushed through his suffocating presence. This was my second chance, and I could not let it go to waste. “No—I mean, yes, but that’s not all I want.” One of his arched brows lifted, “Oh, that’s not all you want. By all means state your demands, little wolf.” There was a sharpness to the nickname that told me it was not said out of endearment. It was an insult, a reminder of how powerless I truly was. I dug my teeth into my lip, barely feeling the sting. “I want out of this place. I want—I want a new life somewhere else…anywhere else.” He popped up on his feet and walked around the length of the counter. In one swift movement, he pulled himself onto the island. As he sat there, looking like a king of darkness atop a throne of marble, he knocked his combat boots against the drawers. “What will you offer me?”“Anything.” The god tilted his head, then dragged his iridescent eyes down my half-naked form. With impenetrable coldness, he shrugged. “You have nothing I want.” My breath hitched. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t call in a favor later on.” He slid off the island, returning to a crouch mere feet in front of me. I could only stare as he held out one of his hands palm side up. “I give you a new life, and you give me one favor of my choice. Do we have a deal?” My own hand shook as I placed it in his. Skin as soft as velvet and ivory brushed against my own. Crackles of magic danced down my nerve endings. “We have a deal.” The god’s rosy lips turned up in a menacing smile. “Wonderful.” As my vision blurred and the world around me faded to black, I could still hear that voice. I could still feel that gods wicked magic sealing my fate.

Chapter 2 Chapter 1

Blakely I awakened to the sound of birds singing in the distance, and to the cool touch of dew on my brow. A chilly breeze raced by, rustling the grass until it tickled my neck and cheeks. The scent of rich earth surrounded me. The events of last night flooded my head in a sea of emotion and color, the current pulling me down under. When it was all said and done I shot up off the ground, my eyes wide open and adrenaline pumping. I slapped a hand to my chest, right over my thundering heart, and felt the weight of the deal I made. I was no longer wearing that cursed dress, and I hoped the god had burned it to cinders. The parka, jeans, and hiking boots I now wore all seemed brand new. My body was clean, no longer splattered in Felix’s blood. Even my hair had been brushed. There was something hard in my pocket, and as I pulled it out I realized the god truly had pulled through on his end. There was a brand-new ID and passport, a photograph of my family, and the compass dad had given me on Christmas a few years ago. It had belonged to his sister, who succumbed to the curse and vanished on her twenty-first birthday. Supposedly, it had been spelled by a wolf mage to lead its user back home—wherever home may be. Surrounded by unending forest, with nothing more than the clothes on my back and a curse looming over my head, I followed the rising sun to what I hoped would be a new life. Perhaps it was my imagination, but it seemed to shine just a tad brighter, almost as though it were spurring me on. The life of Blakely Yarrow didn’t end with a bang, rather the whisper of the wind curling through the trees. In her place Anna Carson was born. That was two long weeks ago. Fourteen days since I stumbled into the horrendously small town of Avalon. With a population of four hundred and twenty-six, everybody knew everybody. If it hadn’t been for Agatha Hart, I would’ve had no choice but to keep on moving. The little old lady with a spirit of pure fire didn’t hesitate to rent out her cabin to me. When I told her I had no money, she all but insisted I work at her little hardware store in town. The way Aggie looked at me, often with a mixture of sympathy and joy, gave me the feeling that she knew I was running from something, and that she herself could relate. Maybe that’s why she was so nice to me, giving me everything I needed to make a life for myself, or maybe it was simply the compass’s magic at work—leading me to a place I could make my home. As the days inched closer to my birthday, I found myself thinking of my family. There was once a time where I was close to my parents and little sister, but the curse quickly ruined that. It poisoned our relationship over the course of a few years. I was no longer their child, but a burden. A ticking time bomb that would someday explode. Standing in front of the antique mirror in Aggie’s cabin, I could still see traces of them within myself. Dad’s grey eyes stared out at me; a bit too large for my soft face. Mom’s sharp brows and angular nose gave me a bit of an edge, but not much. The cobalt blue hair that hung down to my breasts in soft waves was entirely my own. It was by far my favorite act of defiance against my parents. I tried not to smile as I remembered how red mom’s face had turned. She’d demanded I get rid of it, but what did something as silly as hair color matter in the grand scheme of things? Malina, my bratty little sister, called me a blueberry for weeks. Even Felix hated it, which made me want to keep the color even more. The first couple of days in Avalon I debated on changing it back to my natural chestnut brown. I couldn’t risk someone finding out who I was, and blue hair seemed a pretty good identifier. I’d almost gone through with it, until I saw the article. It took me two days to find a computer with a strong enough internet connection to search up my old pack. Once the page loaded, I found myself staring at an article with the headline, “Alpha Felix Gannon and his bride-to-be slain in house fire.” Felix hadn’t made it, and I had the sinking feeling it wasn’t the toaster that did him in. My family thought I was dead, and there was nothing I could do about it. Somehow, the god created sufficient evidence of my death because there was no question in the article that Felix and I were deceased. I spent the next week and a half hating myself for making that deal, while also fighting the terror of the curse. Today was the day I’d been waiting my entire life for. By midnight tonight, I’d be dead. I wondered how the gods of our kind would do it. Would it be instant, or would they tear me limb from limb? Perhaps they’d scatter my body across the continent. I couldn’t imagine they’d deliver my corpse to my family for a proper burial. More than anything I wondered if I’d get any answers. Why was my family forced to suffer this curse? Who had placed it on us? I allowed myself to mull over every question as I cooked a pitiful dinner of boxed macaroni and cheese, only to waste it staring out at the horizon. The sun was quickly traveling below the tree line, leaving a stream of watercolors in its wake. Even the big ball of flame knew what was coming, and it wanted no part of it. Fear lived in my every breath, coursing through my veins as I stood from the rickety kitchen table and made my way into the living room. The faded plaid couch carried the lingering scent of tobacco. It was a sliver of the life I knew, and I held onto it with every fiber of my being. Tonight, however, I’d be forced to let go. I grabbed my journal off the coffee table and plopped down. When I first moved in I found it sitting in one of the drawers in the bedroom. Its empty pages spoke to part of my soul, and I decided then and there that I’d tell it my story. Each day I plied it with my thoughts and memories. All of the wishes and dreams that slipped through my fingers over the years. As I plucked the pen from between its pages, I realized this would be the last of my entries. Over the course of an hour I confessed everything. Every second I spent with Felix was written on those pages, along with every bruise to ever kiss my skin at his hands. I even wrote about the god that had come to my aid, and how foolish I’d been to make a deal with him. I included everything, apologizing for how my very existence plagued them. The only thing I left out was the year I’d spent with the blood mages, the most vicious of our kind. Mom had heard a passing rumor that they might be able to help break the curse and didn’t hesitate to ship me off to their remote village deep within the snow-capped mountains. Some cruel part of me wanted to reveal the torture I’d endured in hopes it would hurt them, but I promised myself long ago that I’d never, ever speak of that terrible year. I even wrote a page for Lina, thanking her for those rare moments where we truly were sisters and not bitter rivals. When I was finished pouring myself into the journals weathered pages, I added in the names of my parents and where they could be found. Afterwards, I settled into the couch and watched the sun continue to set through the two windows on either side of the front door. When the sky darkened with streaks of charcoal, the stars winking into existence, I flicked on the lamp beside the couch and continued to wait. The grandfather clock against the far wall told me midnight was coming. With each tick of the pendulum, my heart rate increased. Tick, tick, tick. 11:58… Tick, tick, tick. 11:59… I jumped as the clock chimed, the sound reverberating throughout the entire house. There was a thick air of silence before the boom of a fist hammered at the front door. My heart fell to the pits of my stomach. I leapt to my feet, eying the baseball bat propped against the recliner. What would that do against an angry god? Nothing, that’s what. “…just kick it down, man.” A muffled voice said. There was some glimmer of recognition fluttering in my chest but the fear of being torn limb from limb kept me from reaching out to grab it. A deafening crack split the air as the door was kicked in. Bits of splintered wood flew in all directions. The wind sent a plume of sawdust unfurling into the house. Standing in the open doorway wasn’t the three gods of our kind, but a gaggle of human men I recognized all too well. They’d come to the hardware store at least three times a week and never once failed to harass me. Duncan, the one at the lead, smoothed a hand over his flannel and down his potbelly. His bald head glistened under the moonlight. He whistled, “Well lookie here, boys. The lil’ blue haired witch was up waitin’ on us.” Baldy, as I called him only in the safety of my own head, was by far the worst. He’d come in the store reeking of deli meat and sweaty socks, hell-bent on getting me to accept a date with him. He and the rest of his buddies were as human as they came, and often made moves on the werewolves and lycans in town. They didn’t mess with the mages, but that was the usual for most humans. Rather than try to understand our magic wielding cousins they condemned them as witches. I knew baldy could get nasty, but I had no clue how nasty until this very moment. One of his buddies—Earl, I think—stepped into the house. He spat a wad of tobacco-stained spit onto the floor, and I cringed. Alcohol permeated the air around us, as sharp as their individual body odors. My disgust quickly morphed into fear when Earl lifted his arm and brandished a shotgun. “Look, Duncan. She ain’t so snooty now, is she?” He guffawed, his stubble-coated cheeks lifting in a toothy grin. The others snickered, their lewd comments pelting my skin like sharpened stones. “Cocky witch’s got another thing coming.”“Ain’t so high and mighty now, are ya?” I spared another glance at the baseball bat, weighing my options. Shifting was too risky. I’d never been able to control my wolf, and there was always the chance she’d charge into town and attack on sight. Still, I had to do something. The only thing I’d ever wanted for myself was the chance to live, and I would not let these pathetic human men take that from me. Within seconds I had made up my mind, but before I could act Earl wheezed. His entire body went rigid as though ice had been injected into his veins. The rosacea across his cheeks and nose lost its coloring as he paled. Unable to breathe, I stared into his bloodshot eyes and knew at my core that something had gone terribly wrong. In one swift movement he pumped the shotgun, turned to Duncan, and pulled the trigger. The blast was deafening. My ears rang as chaos descended. Duncan collapsed to the ground clutching his stomach. Two of the others charged Earl, their mouths open in silent screams. A second shot rang out, hitting one of the guys square in the chest. Earl slammed the butt of the gun into the third’s head, and he crumpled like a stack of cards. Crouched behind the recliner, the baseball bat all but forgotten, I watched as Earl cocked the gun a second time and turned it on himself. I couldn’t look away, and boy did I regret it. Earl’s body fell forward. The gun slid across the hardwood, slamming right into my kneecap. What pain emerged was short lived. I was speechless, staring down at the carnage when someone stepped through the open doorway. A God—more specifically, the god I made the deal with. The fragments of wood littering the ground were crushed beneath the thick sole of his combat boots. With the confidence only an immortal could possess, he stepped over the corpses of the fallen men and entered the house. Those eyes, like starbursts plucked from the night sky, took in the room. They landed on me and he paused, cocking his head like a predator who found himself cornering a very interesting type of prey. “Oh, it’s you.” Genuine surprise flickered on his ethereal face before melting into something dark, something that set my insides on fire. “Hello again, rabid little wolf.”

Chapter 3 Chapter 2

Blakely The amusement drained from the gods breathtakingly beautiful face the longer I sat there gawking at him. I guess he wasn’t the understanding type, because if he was he’d know how utterly mind blown I was right now. One of the wolf gods had answered my call. What was even more surprising what that he hadn’t known who I was at the time of our deal. Clearly the same couldn’t be said now, though. Before I could think to ask him what his name was, Duncan groaned and sat up from the floor. He twisted his bulbous head towards him and scowled, “Who the fuck are you?” The god didn’t skip a beat, reluctantly looking down at Duncan as though he were no more important than the wood scattered along the floor. “You want to know who I am and not the savage beast ready to gouge your eyes out?” Duncan craned his head my way, his hands still clutching his round belly. How rude! I scoffed at the two of them. “First I’m a rabid wolf and now a savage beast. Is that how you plan on doing it? You’re just going to insult me to death?”“Not her, foolish human.” The god shook his head, messing up that perfect ebony hair of his. “I’m talking about him.” Even I had the sense to scoot back as a massive wolf sauntered in through the open doorway. Its fur was the color of fresh snow, made brighter by his eyes which were of the deepest, darkest blue. Its tongue flicked out to lick its muzzle. All the while it stalked Duncan with murderous intent. I might’ve felt bad for the guy if he wasn’t a raging, misogynistic prick. The wolf’s eyes left Duncan for a fraction of a second, flicking over to my face. I held back a gasp, another glimmer of recognition hitting me square in the chest. No, this couldn’t be that wolf. It had been years since I’d last seen it. It was impossible. Faster than Duncan could scream, the wolf lunged. Its teeth sank into his shoulder, slicing through muscle and bone. He dragged Duncan out kicking and screaming, into the night where his cries continued without faltering. The god stood a mere five feet away, his arms folded over his broad chest and a lopsided smirk on his face. Of course he’d enjoy hearing Duncan’s cries for help. We locked eyes and he shrugged, “he likes to play with his food.”“Lovely,” I croaked, wondering if I’d suffer the same fate. Hearing Duncan’s final breaths helped me make my decision. My childhood was spent fighting for what scraps of freedom I could get my greedy fingers on. If I was going to die it would be on my terms. I snatched the shotgun off the floor, mimicking Earl’s movements until something clicked inside the barrel. Fuck, please let this work. One of the god’s dark, angled brows lifted. “I wouldn’t do that if I were—” BOOM! The bullet slammed into his chest. Liquid silver painted the front of his shirt. Never in my life did I think I’d see the blood of the gods with my own eyes. All of my hopes and dreams came crashing to the ground in a messy inferno because the damned god hadn’t moved an inch. He wasn’t dead. What he was, was pissed. His plump upper lip peeled back, revealing perfect teeth with two sharpened canines. Every muscle in my body tightened until I could no longer move. Two strides were all it took for him to close the distance between us. I sucked in a ragged breath, tears stinging my eyes that I refused to let fall. He was so close I could smell him. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t help but drink him in. This god smelled of moonlight, primrose, and pure magic. My body must’ve not gotten the memo that we were about to die, because my mouth watered. He leaned in close to my face. Just when I thought he’d bite it off, he flicked my nose. “Bad wolf.” Magic snared my mind and squeezed until I promptly passed out. It could’ve been hours or days, but eventually awareness settled back into my body. Thick arms cradled me, one beneath my legs and the other supporting my back. I didn’t stop to think who those limbs belonged to. The air around me felt thicker than normal. It’s touch like swimming through a river of fresh silk. Even its scent was different. The shrill cry of an animal rang out, echoing for several seconds. I didn’t recognize the creature it had come from, a fact that chilled me to the bone. I knew the forest like the back of my hand, but wherever I was—it felt foreign. Suddenly, there was this voice singing in my head. Much like the strange air, it surrounded my body and tickled my flesh. It was sensual and masculine. Dark, but surprisingly playful. It oozed the kind of earth-shattering magic that instantly made me wary. Magic only the gods possessed. “Oh, Maiden. Oh, Maiden, so fair and slight. With sapphire hair, and eyes so bright. For twenty-one years, the curse did sleep, but the time has come for the beasts to leap! Be it miles and miles of land or sea, there’s not a place on this earth where their Maiden can flee. She journeys to the border far to the east, taken to their lair where they’ll feast and feast!” I cracked open an eye, then quickly shut it. I had to be dead because there was no way I was in the arms of the same god that had knocked me out twice now—a score I was without a doubt keeping track of. A throaty scoff pulled me from my internal spiral. “I can practically feel your distaste, oh rabid one. You can cease pretending you’re asleep. We’ve crossed the border now, so it doesn’t very well matter.” My eyes snapped open. Oh, Goddess. I crossed the border—the fucking border. The mist of Emrys was all that kept the mortals from trespassing into the realm of the gods. Well, that and the threat of imminent death, but still. Trees larger than I’d ever seen stretched up into the sky, kissing the plump clouds that hung above our heads. They were a breathtaking mixture of lavender, cornflower blue, and carnation pink. The tree’s twisted limbs were covered in wide leaves, the colors muted under the cloak of darkness. A chill slithered up my spine. This was the forest of Adira, goddess of the Hunt. The god holding me an arms length away from his chest cleared his throat with a heavy note of impatience. “I’m aware this is all very new to you, but it doesn’t matter. If your mortal brain hasn’t processed it yet, then I highly doubt it ever will.”“Are you always this pleasant?” I should’ve kept my damn mouth shut, but I was having a very stressful night. Seeing as I was going to die anyway, there was no point in holding onto my manners. A huff sounded from off to the side. I craned my head and caught a glimpse of snow-white fur. Those starburst eyes of his glowed, silencing me instantly. A gentle breeze shifted the ebony hair hanging over his forehead. “You shot me in the chest and have the gall to complain about my attitude? Seeing as you’re awake and we’re past the border, you can walk on your own.” Without warning, he dropped me. I yelped as I landed on a sharp rock. It dug into my ass, and I knew later on, if I lived that long, there would be a lovely bruise. A snarl slid past my lips, deafening in the silence. The god froze, and I wondered if this muddy patch of earth would be where I died. Giving me the slightest glimpse of his chiseled jaw, he turned his head and dragged his eyes down to where I sat in a useless heap. His tone wasn’t angry, but worse. It was intrigued. “You dare snarl at your god?” My god? The pieces clicked into place, and my jaw dropped. This wasn’t just one of the three gods of our kind. No, this was Azrael. God of the Wolves. That left Draco, God of the Lycan’s, and Orion, God of the Mages. Our three species, all created by the Moon Goddess herself, Lunette. But where were they? Maybe that was why Azrael hadn’t killed me yet. Perhaps he was taking me to the others. Why was some sick part of me excited by that? I clamored to my feet and whipped around, quickly scanning the forest. Everything looked the same. There was a weight to my pocket that made me pause. Dad’s compass! Hope threatened to spill across my face. I quickly smothered it beneath a blanket of curiosity. “Where are we?”“As I previously mentioned, we just passed through Emrys’s mist. Welcome to the forest of Adira, mortal.”“First off, I have a name. It’s Blakely, thank you very much. And is that whose voice I heard back there?” Azrael paused, a glimmer of confusion brightening those starburst eyes. The wolf at his side, who was so large his head eclipsed my own, huffed. “You heard Emrys? Interesting. He’s usually rather shy. What did he say to you?” I pursed my lips, mulling over whether I should tell the truth. Gods were tricky beings, always searching for the upper hand. I needed to be careful now more than ever, but it wasn’t like Emrys had said anything I didn’t already know. “He sang me a song.” Azrael laughed, loudly. The sound was pure music, the embodiment of night itself. I swore the stars twinkled at the sound. “That sounds like Emrys. It would be smart of you not to pay him any mind.” The wolf cocked his head like he might disagree. An unsettling feeling washed over me the longer I stared at the beast. There was an intelligence in his eyes that felt unnatural. “If you’re Azrael, then where are Draco and Orion? The legends say you three never go anywhere without each other.” His eyes sparkled with humor, as though I were the butt of a very funny joke. “You’ll meet them soon enough. Will you behave, or do I need to knock you out again?”“Where are we going?” Azrael continued walking, that massive wolf keeping pace at his side. I stumbled, practically running to catch up. I knew enough about the god realm to fear the vicious, cunning creatures lurking in the dark. “We are going to my home, the mansion of stars.” Both he and the wolf easily navigated the rocky, uneven terrain. It took every ounce of my concentration not to fall behind. The stray roots seemed hell-bent on knocking me over, almost like they had a personal vendetta against me. That was impossible though, right? The trees weren’t alive… A shudder worked its way down my spine. “Is that where you’re going to murder me?” He didn’t turn or falter, but simply shrugged. “Orion will almost certainly murder you once he catches wind of your attitude. As for me, I’m interested in seeing how long you last. The others didn’t have your…fire.”“That’s so comforting.” I tripped over another tree root and cursed under my breath. I had no clue how much time had passed when we finally stopped for the night. All I knew was that my feet ached something fierce, and my stomach was a grumbling mess of knots, and indigestion. Azrael sat on a bed of moss; his back propped up against the trunk of a rather massive tree. His legs were crossed at the ankles, the laces of his combat boots untied. He was so unusually beautiful that it was hard to peel my eyes away from him. The moonlight seemed to seep into his skin, giving it this unnatural glow that did strange things to my insides. “Your stare is unnerving, you know.” The hem of his t-shirt lifted as he folded his arms behind his head. He snapped his fingers, “is this what the humans call eye-fucking?” The acrid taste of anger burned my tongue. “Like I’d ever eye fuck you.” He cracked open an eye, “what was that?”“Nothing.” I waited what felt like hours for Azrael and his beast to fall asleep. Holding my breath in fear that I’d wake them, I stood from my spot and slipped away into the forest.

Chapter 4 Chapter 3

Blakely This was by far the stupidest thing I’d ever done. Actually, scratch that. The stupidest thing I’d ever done was make a deal with a god, then shoot said God in the chest with a rifle. Running through an ancient, magical forest in an entirely different realm with nothing more than an antique compass paled in comparison to that. Once I was far enough away, I found a tree to hide behind and pulled out dad’s compass. A warbled croak sounded in the distance and my heart leapt in my chest. Next came a series of scattered chirps, throatier than any birds I’d ever heard in the mortal realm. The needle spun erratically, darting to the left and right, before finally pointing straight ahead. North, that’s where I needed to go. I set off in that direction, my attention flickering between the network of root and stone at my feet, and the trees looming over my head. Clusters of plants dotted the forest floor, surrounded by bioluminescent bugs. If it weren’t for their indigo glow, I might’ve mistaken them for fireflies. A strange, slithering sensation tickled my flesh. It was the same feeling I’d get when Lina would sneak into my room and watch me sleep. My pace quickened. The foliage quickly became so dense that I could no longer see the moon and stars. I tried and failed not to think about how wholly unprepared I was. Apart from my wolf, who I could barely trust on a good day, I had nothing in terms of a weapon. The crack of a branch echoed through the trees, much too close for comfort. I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans and scanned the darkness. It hung in a shroud so impenetrable that even my heightened senses couldn’t break through. I slipped in between two bushes, their branches like little fingers as they scraped along my flesh. Another crack sounded, even closer this time, followed by a third and fourth. They were spreading out, forming a half circle at my back that was quickly growing narrower by the second. Something was hunting me. No longer thinking about the consequences, I began to run. Even if I wanted to, I’d never find my way back to Azrael. All of the trees looked the same, and I swear something—or someone—had been covering the path I’d made with my feet. At some point the forest began to change. I was so focused on getting away that I hadn’t even noticed. The trees had thinned considerably, losing their billowing leaves and blankets of cushy moss. Now their limbs were bare, stretching into the sky like claws ready to rip the stars and moon apart. Something had killed this part of the forest. In the distance I spotted a few specks of a warm, golden light. Holding my breath, I pressed forward, running until a building came into view. The gothic, Victorian house fit perfectly in this creepy, desolate forest. It’s burgundy siding and onyx trim complimented the lopsided porch that jutted out from the front and wrapped around the side. A spiral tower stood to the right, the light in the windows dancing like living flames. Not giving myself a chance to back down, I ran up the stairs and began pounding on the door. With each knock, I was certain the creatures hunting me were closing in. Faster and faster my heart began to beat until finally, it opened. I caught a glimpse of the old woman’s face as she ushered me inside. A sigh of relief crested on my lips, fizzling out when I took in the massive foyer. It wasn’t the chandelier of broken bones and fragments of skulls that rendered me silent, but the fact that every square inch of the walls was covered in mirrors . There had to be thousands of them, all different shapes and sizes. Some had frames of gold, while others were nothing more than dusty slabs pinned to the walls. “Heavens, look at the state of you. All flustered and out of breath. Oh, and a mortal no less! Poor thing. You must be parched, dear. How does some tea sound?” Her whimsical voice stunned me so much that I turned in her direction. Standing before me wasn’t an old woman, but a girl around my age. Piles of umber curls sat atop her head, bright in comparison to the pale nightgown she wore. “What—weren’t you just an old woman a few seconds ago?”“I suppose I was. That’s magic for you, always changing. Tea it is, then?”“Um, yeah. Sure.” Not a chance in hell was I drinking that tea. “I’ll be right back.” She flitted through a doorway to the left, beneath the staircase that wrapped around half the room. When she returned, her appearance had once again changed. A young man stood in her place, a blonde braid trailing down his back. His hands were steady as they handed me a porcelain teacup and saucer. I made a show of bringing it to my lips. The warmth of the liquid touched my cupid’s bow, leaving a sheen I wiped away with the back of my hand. The man nodded, seemingly pleased by my reaction. “I see you made it here safe and sound. Good thing too, with Adira’s huntresses tailing you.” There was something about his voice that felt calming, but it didn’t erase the fact that I was a trespasser in this realm, a realm of magic and danger. “That’s who was chasing me?”“As I’m sure you know, Adira has a thing for mortal women. Particularly damsels in distress. She likely spotted you running through the forest and thought she’d offer her help. She never was fond of the princes.” His eyes, a startling shade of ocean blue, darted between my face and the teacup. I brought it to my lips a second time, faking a drink. “The princes?” I replied. “Your gods, dear. The one’s your people worship. In this realm, they’re princes. You’re here now, though.” He said with a gentle smile. “Come, come. I have something to show you. Something that might help your situation.” I followed him through an arched doorway to the right, into a circular room that looked to be a lounge of some sort. Velvet sofas sat in front of a massive, wood-carved fireplace. The flames dancing within were those I’d seen through the window. On the walls were even more mirrors. “You said you had something that could help me with—with the princes?” I asked, noticing the person had yet again changed their appearance. They now looked to be a middle-aged woman with a round face, and soft grey eyes. Locks of dark hair fell past her jaw, barely grazing her shoulders. She ushered me forward, past half a dozen mirrors before she reached one at the far end of the room. A crackle of pain danced across my temples. I rubbed my eyes and blinked several times. I could’ve sworn that as she passed each mirror, her reflection changed. There was an odd feeling in my belly as I stepped up to the gilded monstrosity. It stood a foot taller than me, the glass pristine without even the smallest fleck of dust. The moment I locked eyes with my reflection, I felt it. What started as a subtle tug, quickly became a violent pull. It latched itself onto my chest, digging invisible claws into what I knew was my soul. A ragged gasp escaped my lips as I tried to pull away. My muscles were stone and my bones lead. I couldn’t move, couldn’t even blink. “That’s it, just let it happen.” The woman murmured. She ran her fingers down my hair, combing through the cobalt strands almost lovingly. “Such pretty, unusual hair. I’ve never had someone so exotic in my collection before.” Her collection? “What—” Each word calcified in my lungs. “—are you doing to me?” The woman standing behind me wasn’t visible in the mirror. She had no reflection of her own. With startling clarity, I realized it hadn’t been her I’d seen in all of those mirrors, but other people. “I’m becoming you, dear. I’m stripping you of all that you were, are, and could have ever been. It won’t be long now. All of that pain will fade, and you’ll be free. Free to live here forever.” I’d already spent my entire life trapped, a prisoner to a fate I couldn’t escape. I would not exchange my cage for another, no matter how pretty the golden bars were. Rage unfurled in my chest, the same rage that had exploded from my body that fateful day at the mage’s village in the mountains. The knowledge of the terrible, unforgivable thing I’d done hung at the cusp of my thoughts. I pushed it aside and gave into the cold heat. The invisible claws in my chest vanished. I cocked my fist back, and slammed it into the mirror, watching as the glass exploded into a million glittering shards. An inhuman screech carved at my ears. “How did you—” Grabbing a single jagged piece, I spun and slashed wildly. There was a gut churning squelch, followed by a splatter and a wail of unfathomable pain. I didn’t look at the woman—or whatever she was. I ran, knocking as many mirrors over as I could without slowing, and darted out of the room. Her guttural screams chased me the entire way. Once in the foyer, I veered left to the front door. My fingers grasped wildly at every gilded frame within reach. “No, stop that! Not my mirrors, my beautiful mirrors!” They clattered to the floor in a sea of glass, and somewhere in the back of my mind, I swore I could hear people cheering. I leapt over the porch steps and hit the ground, resuming my frantic run. Bushes scratched my legs as I barreled through, leaving them raw and angry. The gnarled tree’s all but reached out, welcoming me back into the fold. Minutes passed, and despite the fire in my lungs, I continued running. I finally stopped when the flickering lights of the house had vanished. Leaning against a tree, I pulled out dad’s compass and released a breath. Thankfully, it hadn’t been damaged in the scuffle. Following the needle, which still pointed North, I continued walking until a small dirt path appeared. It stretched far up ahead, winding through the trees until I could no longer see it in the distance. I’d just stepped onto it when I heard the voice. Its cry was soft and feminine. “Help me. Someone, please help me. I’m so cold. I’m so, so cold.” It sniffled, the words giving way to a series of gut-wrenching sobs. My steps stalled for a fraction of a second. Suddenly, the voice was closer. “Help me, miss. Please! I’m all alone out here.” ‘Do not acknowledge it .’ My wolf’s voice floated through my head. My mind began to conjure up images of Lina alone and afraid. What if it was a child? Perhaps they wandered across the border and found themselves trapped here too. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if that were the case. Perhaps, I should help— Branches crackled behind me. ‘Do not turn around .’ A shadow hovered just out of my peripheral, slowly creeping closer. The thing whimpered, “Why won’t you help me? Why don’t you care?” ‘Do not look at it.’ I dropped my eyes to the ground. “Why are you ignoring me? Don’t you care? Why don’t you help me? Help me, please!” It demanded, growing louder and more urgent. “I just want to be friends, that’s all. I don’t want to be alone anymore. Now that you’re here, I’ll never be alone again. All you have to do is look at me. It’ll only hurt for a second, I swear.” ‘Run.’ “Look at me, Blakely. Look at me, look at me, look at me, LOOK AT ME!” ‘Run, now!’ Fear and adrenaline created a heady cocktail that raced through my veins, propelling me down the path. I pushed my body harder than ever, trying desperately to ignore the thunder of footsteps just a few feet back. Blood roared in my ears, so loud that I could no longer tell if I was being followed. I ran and ran until a shadow stepped onto my path. It was too late to stop, and I braced myself for the pain as I collided with the dark figure. Hands grabbed my upper arms and I reacted, swinging the shard of glass I had used against the old woman. Fingers snared my wrist, holding it in mid air. I expected to see sheer fury on Azrael’s face, but instead there was genuine surprise. I might’ve found it amusing if it weren’t for the tremors wracking my body. He cocked his head, scanning my eyes as though they held the answers to all his questions. “You have no clue how long we’ve been waiting for you, little wolf.”

Chapter 5 Chapter 4

Blakely Without elaborating Azrael plucked a little black bag from his pocket and tugged at the draw strings. A finely ground powder sat inside, sparking in a rainbow of hues the moment it hit the open air. I shifted back a step when he caught me gawking. “This is stardust. It’s a very rare concoction Orion created. It’ll transport us into the mansion of stars. Since I can’t trust you not to go bounding off into the forest, we have no choice but to use it. He’ll be rather angry when he finds out, so I’d steer clear of him once we arrive.” The shard of mirror was unusually cold in my hand. Even though I had almost been sucked inside the thing, having a weapon provided me with a small sense of comfort. It grazed my collarbone as I folded my arms over my chest. “Does Orion have a stick up his ass or something? This is the second time you’ve mentioned his bad attitude.” Azrael’s lush, but messy hair fell back as he laughed. I was momentarily stunned by the musical sound. “That is exactly the thing you’re not going to say to him unless you want to die. Which, given the events of this past hour, I just reckon you might.” He winked, and my stomach started to tap dance. “This powder negates the wards he has over our home. He’ll be forced to redo them all once we arrive.” Traveling via stardust was not the euphoric, magical trip I thought it would be. He tossed a handful of the powder into the air and the world around us vanished. A nebula of dazzling color exploded in front of my eyes. I went from standing in the dewy grass of Adira’s Forest to kneeling in the entryway of a gothic castle. Nausea replaced the butterflies in my stomach. I repressed a burp that could’ve easily been vomit. The room hadn’t yet stopped spinning when a large, and very cold hand captured my face. Its fingers dug into my cheeks, but that wasn’t what stole the gasp from between my lips. It was the magic lapping at my skin, and the two starburst eyes staring into my own, that rendered me speechless. They danced with endless amusement. “Tell me, little wolf. Do you need to be restrained from harming yourself, or can you listen to me for just one night?” Oh my actual god. Why did that sound so sexual and why was I secretly liking it? I only had an answer to one of those questions. It was mental illness, clearly. “Definitely restrain me.” I froze, mouth open as I realized what I’d said. “Or I’ll strangle you in your sleep.”  Nice save there, Blakely. Dizzy and hot in all of the wrong places, I yanked myself out of his grasp. Azrael flicked my nose a second time. Out of instinct, I snapped my teeth at him. His mood improved drastically from earlier because he hadn’t even threatened to kill me. I stretched out my limbs and froze. What the hell? He healed me. There wasn’t a single scratch on my body. Even the soreness in my muscles had vanished. The melody that was his voice faded into the background as I took in the sheer luxury of the wolf god’s home. Billowing drapes in cool tones, flecked with swirls of silver, framed arched windows and elaborate entryways. The metallic chords that tied them back matched the small stars that speckled the domed ceiling. Light spilled from each one, bathing the room in a pale glow. It bounced off the obsidian marble beneath our feet, creating a mirror image of the night sky. “I am so not in Kansas anymore.” Azrael’s head fell to the side, his lush lips parting in confusion. “As I said, this is the mansion of stars. What is a Kansas?” Was he being serious right now? “I have no idea how to answer that question.” He led me up one of the curved staircases that outlined the cylindrical room. Ivy clung to the railing, its leaves a vibrant emerald green. A chandelier hung in between the two, comprised of both silver and gold. The two metals were twisted around one another before branching off in opposite directions. Where the silver half was molded to form a crescent moon, the gold created a perfectly round sun. Every time I slowed, too busy gawking at the elaborate artwork lining the walls, the wolf at Azrael’s side nudged me with its snout. First of all, the paintings moved . How could I not stop and stare? Second, the legends always said that Orion was the most powerful of the wolf gods, but it wasn’t until now that I actually believed it. It was oh so comforting that he also happened to have the worst attitude. When the wolf bumped me for the fourth time I grunted, “Can you tell your pet to stop pushing me along? Don’t let my perky ass fool you, I’m not cattle.” Azrael spun around so abruptly that I nearly ran into his chest. I stumbled back at the power rolling off of him. His starburst eyes were wide, lit with iridescent flame. “My pet? What on Dhara’s earth would make you think he’s my pet?” I made the mistake of looking down. The wolf was definitely glaring at me. Oops. “Um, do you call them something different here?” The chandelier above our head flickered, splashing shadows along the walls. Azrael coughed into his hand, clearly trying not to laugh. “Allow me to introduce you to Draco.”“Draco…” My mouth went dry, “As in the god of the Lycans?”“Yes, that is the one.” This was it. After twenty-one shitty years, my time on this earth had finally come to an end. The least I could do was take my fate with a bit of dignity. I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the inevitable. Seconds passed, and nothing happened. Why wasn’t I dead yet? I cracked one open to find both of them staring at me. Yeah, because I was the weird one in this situation. “Are you not going to maul me to death?” The wolf ceased its glaring long enough to roll its eyes. I almost wanted to laugh. Azrael gestured at the stretch of hallway ahead and we resumed our walking. “You’re a pessimistic little wolf, aren’t you?” I was debating whether or not I should dignify that with a response when a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth jabbed me in the ass. Pain spiked up my beloved left cheek and I yelped. What little common sense I had flew straight out of one of the arched windows because I turned and snarled at the massive, domineering wolf. Unfazed by my outburst, it stared back at me. “Draco likes you.” Hah! No amount of magic could hide my disbelief. I planted my hands on my hips and narrowed my eyes. “Really? Him impaling my left ass cheek says otherwise.” Draco clacked his teeth, his tail swishing across the glittering marble. I had no clue if that meant he agreed with Azrael’s statement or not. I kept an eye on both gods as we continued down the hall. My fingers trailed along the silver molding until we came to a halt. Standing just a few inches shorter than the door frame, Azrael lifted one of his leather covered shoulders in a shrug. “Lycan’s are a bit wilder than your average wolf. Their favorite prey is the one that fights back. Trust me, if he didn’t find you interesting, he would’ve ripped your throat out for that comment alone.” Pretty sure his eyes sparkled when he said that. Me, on the other hand. I was busy trying not to wet myself. “It would be best if you stayed in the room tonight. Should Orion catch wind of you, things won’t go well. Either Draco or I will come fetch you in the morning.” He began to walk away, the massive wolf lumbering at his side. Nervousness fluttered in the depths of my stomach. “We have this lovely invention in the mortal realm that would work wonders for his attitude problems.” I’d always been a rambler, especially when I was nervous. Azrael paused, cocking his head in genuine interest. “What might that be?”“Mood stabilizers, and a psychiatrist.” I deadpanned. “I will look into those inventions, as you call them. Oh, one last thing. This mansion is imbued with Lunette’s magic. You’ll find it has a certain sentience. Should you require anything, simply ask.” They continued down the hall, curling around the stairs until they faded from view. I stood there contemplating whether or not I should book it and try to escape. My left ass cheek throbbed, and I took it as a sign to wait until morning. Hopefully the magically enchanted house wouldn’t object and try to keep me here. All of my scheming came to a halt when the door opened (on its own, I might add) and I caught a glance at the massive suite inside. Both my eyes and exhausted body were drawn to the bed at the far end of the room. The mountain of cool-toned pillows and silken comforter crooned a lullaby that had me shuffling closer. All along the floor were overlapping rugs, each one speckled with hints of silver and gold. A canopy of cobalt and plum drapes fell from the four poster frame, dancing in the subtle breeze that trickled in through two open windows. I jolted as the door swung shut behind me and spun around far enough to notice a small seating area nestled on a raised platform. Hints of deep crimson were scattered throughout the room, providing a splash of much needed warmth. I was just about to make my way to bed when I caught a whiff of myself and cringed. Sweat and fear clung to my skin. After spending fifteen minutes scouring a closet that somehow had clothing in my exact size, I made my way to the bathroom. “I’ve decided that I’m perfectly fine with being murdered, so long as I get to use this bathtub first.” I declared, marching inside and kicking the door shut behind me. Obsidian tile covered every inch of the room, sparkling with strips of silver grout. A gorgeous vanity stood against the far wall, with a toilet close by. Taking up most of the space was an infinity pool, something I’d only ever seen in movies and television shows. A stone structure curved around the side, spilling steaming water into its basin. It came to a stop at the opposite end of the bathroom, where the wall had been knocked out, providing a breathtaking view of snowcapped mountains and a sky dapped with colorful stars. Despite the otherworldly magic and sheer luxury of this place, the loneliness was quick to settle into my bones. The thought that dad was the only one mourning my fake death had tears welling in my eyes. I stood beneath the waterfall and let the stream of warmth rain down on my head. Mom had started pulling away from me many years ago. Hardening her heart was her way of protecting it when the curse finally claimed my life. That was why she poured all of her love, time, and care into Lina. Dad had tried to do the same, but he’d always had a soft spot for me. Those fleeting moments of affection were all I had left, but they weren’t enough. Every one of Lina’s cheerleading competitions, every award ceremony, my parents were there for it all. The rare times where I expressed wanting to do something more, I was met with cold expressions and disdain. “Blakely, you know why that can’t happen. Summer camp, swim teams, that book club you went on and on about last year. There’s no point in doing those things. Your sister plans on joining a collegiate cheer team once she graduates. If you’re lucky and we somehow find a way to fix your situation, then we can talk about your future. Until then…” Until then, I didn’t have a future. As sinfully comfortable as the bed was, I couldn’t force my nerves to unwind enough for me to fall asleep. It didn’t help that hunger twisted my insides into knots. When was the last time I’d eaten anyway? I couldn’t remember. Hours passed when the snarl of my stomach had become too much. I rolled out of bed, my feet sinking into the plush expanse of carpet. The buttery soft t-shirt and shorts I’d fished out of the closet clung to my sweat slicked skin. I brushed the strands of my drying hair from my face, the cobalt hue vibrant in the moonlight. “Um, house? Mansion?” A groan slid past my chapped lips. I was talking to a damn house. “Could I possibly get something to eat? I’m absolutely starving. I’ll eat anything—well, almost anything. I don’t eat meat, so there’s that.” I waited in silence for something to happen. For a platter of fruits or some other food to magically appear at my feet. Azrael claimed the mansion was sentient. Could it refuse my request? It hadn’t made fun of me for being a vegetarian, so that was a plus. I’d just decided to repeat my question when the bedroom door swung open, revealing a dimly lit hall. Pursing my lips, I looked around at the empty room. “Is that your way of telling me I need to get it myself?” The door opened wider, and I sighed. Azrael had warned me to stay out of Orion’s sight, but that was hours ago. Surely gods had to sleep at some point. A sharp hunger pang clenched my stomach, ultimately making up my mind. “Lazy magical house.” I shuffled back over to the bed and began to rummage beneath the mountain of pillows, feeling for the cold bite of broken glass. With my shard of mirror in hand, I took a deep breath and tiptoed out into the hall.