Page 87

Story: Blood Rains Down

I hesitated, sucking in a heavy breath, then followed after him, trying to will away the nerves that were exploding inside my veins.

Landers reached for me as I stepped to his side and steeled myself for whatever would come next, my eyes roving over the five of them. Three of the five were women and as I studied them, I struggled to keep the shock hidden from my face. They looked so much younger than I had been expecting.

They looked so . . .normal.

I wasn’t sure what I had expected them to look like—I hadn’t given it much thought past waking them. One of the womenstepped forward, her dark brows creasing against her tanned skin as she began to circle me. Her violet eyes flowed over my body as her head tilted to the side, rustling the golden locks flowing over her shoulder.

“Are women allowed to wear trousers now?” she asked, and I smiled at the genuine curiosity in the question as she looked down to her own clothing.

She wore a long maroon dress, the top of it resembling the neck of a tunic as a corset pulled tight around her waist. A belt of daggers was strapped over the binding cinched over her core, full of different shapes and sizes of blades. It looked so similar to mine.

“Do not be rude, Sigagrid,” one of the other women scolded as she stepped toward me and smiled. “My name is Nantia,” she said, placing a palm over her chest and bowing her head in respect before gesturing to her left. “That is Sigagrid, but we call her Siggy.” Siggy smiled sheepishly as her eyes darted away from my boots and locked onto my gaze. Nantia gestured over her right shoulder. “And this is Essara.”

I blinked back at them, shock and confusion rippling onto my features at how kind and casual they were being. I was expecting more . . . hostility.

“Hyacinth,” I responded, mirroring Nantia’s gesture and bowing my head in respect.

“No introduction for us?” one of the men asked, stepping forward, his hands clasped behind his large frame. My gaze lingered on him. His fair skin looked so pale after centuries without the sun, the raven hair falling around his face only paling him further. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Landers tense as he took another step toward me.

“Azeyr,” he said, bowing at the waist, “and this is my brother, Royion.” I smiled politely at them, not knowing what to say—what to do.

“Why exactly have you woken us?” Royion asked, his tone sharp as his gaze lingered on Dukovich.

“W-we need your help,” I said quickly, my eyes flashing to where Landers’s hand stayed rested and ready on the pommel of his blade. “War is upon Nimbria, and we need your help to win it.”

Essara laughed, the sound clipped as she pushed tendrils of long auburn locks over her shoulder. “Why would we care about your war? What use is it to us to meddle in the affairs of common folk?”

“You will help us,” Landers said calmly, though I could hear the threat laced in his words.

“Rather bold of you to assume you have the power or authority to command Gods,” Azeyr shot back as a wicked grin slithered onto Landers’s face.

“As I recall, you are no longer Gods, and I am not the one commanding it, she is.” He gestured his head toward me. “And shedoeshave both power and authority to command you.”

Five sets of eyes locked on me and narrowed.

My brows furrowed as I glanced up at Landers. He did have the power to command them. He was just as much of a God as they were and one of these five was his sire.

“Who are you?” Essara hissed, eying me cautiously.

My back straightened at her stare and I prayed my voice would not betray me. “I am the daughter of Elianca, my grandparents are the Gods who exiled you.”

The five of them collectively stilled, rage seeping into each of their features as they stared back at me.

“You . . . are the half breed?” Siggy breathed, her eyes widening at her own words.

A deep menacing chuckle sounded from Royion’s throat and the hairs across my skin straightened as he spoke. “The Alpha and Omega will not be happy with you, child. And now that youhave woken us, they will do everything in their power to find you.”

“Let them,” I hissed, the surety in my voice surprising even me as it rang out around us.

“I’ll make you an offer,” Royion started, taking another step toward me as a low warning growl vibrated from Landers’s throat. Dukovich took a half step closer to my side as Royion continued. “We will do what you ask, help you fight this war, but when we win it, youwillhelp us decimate your grandparents.” He stretched his hand out to me as a smile split onto his lips.

“Hyacinth, n—”

“Deal,” I snapped, cutting Landers off before he had a second to stop me and pushed my hand into Royion’s grip.

A burning sensation shot through my palm as our hands connected and I could hear Dukovich curse from behind me as Landers lifted his chin to the sky and dragged his hand down his face. I pulled my hand from Royion’s and stared at my palm that now had a small brand burned into it, a circle twisted around itself like an infinity sign.

“Take it back,” Landers snarled, his eyes locking on Royion as his fingers wrapped around my wrist.

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