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My thoughts are awhirl with possibility. The only thought dampening them is that I’ve read about the fact that when a god leaves their realm, they will need blood to sustain them. Preferably, the blood of amajoribecause it will be repletewith magic. Even Azrael admitted that he requires blood as sustenance when he leaves his realm for too long.

“Do you know how long it’ll be before I’ll require blood?”

Violette’s delicate brows lift as she shrugs. “Perhaps a month or so, from what I’ve heard? But I’m not entirely sure. My interactions with gods, such as yourself, are few and far between.”

With a thoughtful hum, I exhale my worry. “And how, exactly, shall I call for your return?”

Violette’s eyes drop to the knick-knacks lining her coffee table, where she retrieves a small conch shell. “Just keep this nearby and speak my name thrice into the mouth.”

I take the conch shell in hand, eyeing it curiously before I pocket it.

“How very clever. Now, since I’m not a seasoned traveller, where is it that you’d recommend?”

“There are several realms that come to mind, though there is one in particular I have a feeling you’d enjoy most.”

A broad grin beams my delight. “Have you been yourself?”

“Oh, yes. It’s one of my favorites. Terrenea. Though the inhabitants there refer to it asEarth.”

Humming around a mouthful of floral tea, a wistful sigh escapes me as I taste the name on my tongue.“Earth.”

It’s been a while since I’ve read about it. On occasion, I’ve even read some of their human literature, some of it containing hilarious depictions of gods and other magical entities. And despite the fact that magic seems to only have the most vague presence there, something about it already feels so right.

It’s a predominantly human realm, if I remember correctly. Some distant memory tickles my mind in warning, but I ignore it in favor of my baser needs.

“And what of the males? Are they handsome? Strong?” I waggle my eyebrows at her, taking another gulp of tea. “Well endowed?”

Violette’s tinkle of laughter is fuel to the blazing fire of my hope and excitement. “Many of them are, indeed.”

At last, I’ll find respite, no matter how brief, from the burdensome responsibility thrust upon me by forefathers and foremothers. Maybe I’ll even fall in love with a male who can, “pin me to the bed with his cock.”Maybe?—

The whirling possibilities screech to a halt as my equilibrium swoops, and my vision and stomach sway.

Violette’s large, dark eyes glitter with mirth. “Something the matter,Your Grace?”

Her words are tinged with blatant bitterness.

Rising panic claws up my throat, but I can’t seem to get my mouth to form any words. The sight of my struggle makes Violette beam.

I attempt tofoldback to my palace, but the grasp on my magic is now far out of reach. My attempt to stand and make a run for it results in nothing but a singular jerky movement that has me slumping over sideways into the middle of her couch. Violette’s cheeks must ache from the sheer wattage of her fangy smile.

Fat tears well and stream as fear and indignance consume me, all while Violette sips from her own tiny cup of tea. “The place is infested almost entirely by humans that are spookish at best when it comes to magic… and anyone that doesn’t look like them.”

Oh, fuck.

The tiny internal alarm bell wails to life again as the wordswitch huntand numerous historical recounts depicting women being burned at the stake return to memory.

Akash almighty, she’s sending me to my doom.

As if she can read my mind, or perhaps merely the sheer terror in my eyes, she gives me a look of feigned benevolence.

“Don’t worry, Your Grace, I’ve taken the liberty of glamouring you to make you more…palatablefor human tastes. Though I can’t say for certain how long it will last…”

Chuckling, Violette stands, lifting her hands and moving them this way and that until an iridescent light glows from a singular point in the air and grows so wide and bright that I have to squeeze my eyes shut. When a gust of wet wind slaps my face, and the sound of thunder fills my ears, I open them to see a dark forest made hazy by pelting sheets of rain.

With a flick of Violette’s finger, my body lifts off the couch and floats toward the open portal. Cool rain pelts my body so hard it stings, quickly drenching me as I enter this new world. Violette’s magic releases me, and I hit the muddy ground with a wet smack.

I can’t manage words, but the heartbroken look of betrayal on my face is just as clear. The sight of which only deepens Violette’s grin before she gives me a feigned pout, and her voice drops to a dramatic coo.