Page 75 of Guided by the Stars (Creating Destiny #1)

“I’m glad it was you.” She raises her head, resting her chin on my chest to stare into my eyes. “I just mean, It could have been completely different. I—” She bites her lips, letting out a small sigh. “I’m just happy it was you. Whatever happens next, it’s going to be with you by my side, right?”

I place a kiss on her forehead, feeling the weight of our worlds hit hard as power from a nymph approaching our house comes crashing over me.

“I told you I would do anything to protect you. I mean it, Nora. We might be from different worlds, but you are a part of mine. I’ll be in yours as long as you want me to be.

” I pull her in tight, knowing how quickly that time could come.

“Now get some rest, it won’t be long.” With those words, she closes her eyes and shortly after she drifts to sleep, I climb out of her arms, needing to talk to Daemyn.

He whistles as I make it outside. “Oh, come on! You two are the definition of fucking like gods,” he chuckles, attempting to mask the seriousness of the moment. We both know now is not the time. After all, his eyes are blazing and the fury within him is ready to explode.

“Cut the shit, I sensed her. What did she want?”

“That fucking cunt!” he hisses, rubbing down his face.

“Rose was livid when they left and requested a fucking meeting with Hera. Kelsey said your burns on her haven’t gone away yet and thinks the guards will grant her access from those alone.

” I nod at his words, knowing they are true.

The damn bird already sent out a warning that Rose was there.

Hera plays the role of protector goddess too well.

No god can lay a hand on a goddess or nymph without reason.

If Rose explains what happened before we get Nora out, we’re fucked.

Zeus’ guards wouldn’t hesitate to come, and both Zeus and Hera would do anything to find out who I was protecting.

“It gets worse. Rose was pissed at Kai for shacking up with Adriane.” My eyes flash to his, all the blood draining from my face. “Yeah, so it’s not only about what you did, it’s about the girls. News got around in the Underworld about them being the shift and that jealous bitch wants them to pay.”

“Fuck!” I spit out, pacing as the electricity under my skin builds.

“Man, I need you to stop and think. It’ll be days before they allow Rose access to the personal chambers. It won’t change our plan, we can still make this work. As soon as the gates open, we portal out. You don’t have to come back. We can get her to safety— ”

I cut him off, anger running through my veins.

“We get her to safety, but what then, Daemyn? That bitch is going in with fire, breaking all the illusions I created for Zeus to believe me.” I stop and take a breath, cursing at the vindictive power the stars have over my pathetic existence.

“You know as well as I do, there is no running from him. Once the bitch talks, it’s no longer only about the shift now, it’s my betrayal he’ll be after.

I’m not risking him tracking me down and finding her. ”

“This will work Alexius. Trust my vision—” Daemyn places a hand on my shoulder and I shrug it off. He’s been talking about this damn island for centuries and time is escaping us.

“Yeah, well, if it doesn’t, I’ll be prepared.

It’s her safety, Daemyn. You’re bonded to her now, once the rocks are infused, she is free from all this shit.

Make sure she stays that way and I’ll handle things here.

” I shake my head, walking past him and sensing a portal opening into the Mortal World.

It disappears without a trace of any presence.

“The Underworld opened. I can’t feel her, so they made it out shielded.

It’s time to go,” I command over my shoulder, making my way back inside to wake my girl.

With shaky hands, I open the door to a peacefully sleeping Nora.

She has one hand under her pillow and the other is clutching onto mine.

Gently, I push her hair to the side and lean my head down to whisper in her ear, “My love, it’s time for you to see Adriane.

” Her eyes pop open, and she jumps out of the bed.

With a huge smile plastered to her face, she runs around the room frantically.

“I’ll meet you downstairs,” I chuckle. Even with dread in my heart, this girl makes me laugh as she ignores the clothes I’ve laid out for her, instead slipping into my shirt and tying my boxers around her waist .

In no time, Nora stands before me in the kitchen, and I hand over her camera and purse, ready to open the portal. “Ready?” I sigh as a familiar prickle hits the back of my head and horror strikes me.

“Wait.” Her hand lands on my shoulder, her eyes scanning the room like she’s trying to burn it into her memory. “It’s weird to think we won’t ever be back in this kitchen again. It’s become—” Her words die as she chokes on the sudden surge of emotions coming from her.

“Come here.” I grab her, unable to hold back, and I allow myself this moment.

“I know what you mean. It became a home with you in it,” I whisper, burying myself into her hair, inhaling as much of her lavender as I can.

I don’t need visions to know how important Nora is.

She came into my existence striking as hard as lightning, her light piercing through the shadows of the storms I’ve been living in.

She’s become my everything. “Taking you changed my life, Nora. Every moment we’ve shared here, I will never forget, my love. I have no regrets.”

I pull back, ready to keep my vow, but her fingers fist into my shirt, refusing to let go. “And it’s just the beginning. Once we’re home, we’ll have plenty more.” She smiles, pulling her lip between her teeth as she looks up at me. “You’re stuck with me, Beast.”

“Guys, as sweet as you two are, we don’t have time for another round of foreplay,” Daemyn says, stepping closer towards us. He’s right, time is no longer on our side. With a deep swallow, I pull on my energy and open my portal.

“I promised you I’ll do whatever it takes to get you home safely.

I’m keeping that promise today. No one will ever find you or Adriane.

” I look to Daemyn for a split second, watching his face grow pale before I force myself to look back at the most stunning sky-blue eyes, searing them into memory.

I close the distance between us, kissing her with every ounce of passion she has ever filled me with, hoping I have given her enough.

My hands have been tied, leaving me with no other choice.

I’m fighting for her. Heartache is our destiny for tempting fate.

“I love you, Nora,” I confess against her lips, feeling my heart being torn in half as I pry her hands off my shirt and push her into Daemyn’s arms.

I watch as he wraps his hold around her, pulling her tight to him as she frantically tries to push herself away.

She’s calling out, crying my name, and the tears threaten to fall as I struggle to remain strong, watching the portal close.

I’ve pushed her back into a closet, locking her away with Daemyn, to keep her safe.

By the gods, I love you. This is for you.

With the last sounds of her screams echoing along with the pain of both of our hearts shattering, I open another portal and force myself to Zeus’ Hall, ready to end this.

In an instant, a shadow appears from above me. Thank you, Raynor, for letting me know. She’s gone and safe , I push out to him and he vanishes as quickly as he came.

It seems Raynor has been keeping a watchful eye for some time.

Once he discovered the scent of her gene on me, he came to witness her with his own eyes.

His warrior shriek was a damn test, proving to him that I was devoted to her after all.

I can’t even be mad at the damn bird. Since then, he’s been informed on all things that happen in the Halls.

It’s a risk for him to disobey his loyalty to Zeus, but she’s important enough to capture Raynor’s protection.

His message earlier came through loud and clear, Hera already met with Rose, leaving me without time.

Zeus is about to learn what caused the shift .

The guards let me pass and I enter the Feast Hall, my eyes scanning around, looking at all the members here to stand witness to this moment.

Hera is sitting on her throne with Rose kneeling before her like the rat she is.

Aphrodite is behind them, like the loyal goddess she is, keeping her eyes wide and mouth shut.

Zeus stands in front with fury behind his eyes as he stalks towards me, dressed in his warrior gear.

It’s all black with a golden shield across his chest, informing me that he is ready to battle.

“Son, you made it in time. I just ordered a meeting. It seems we will gain valuable information tonight.” His eyes wander to Rose with pride and a little lust before he returns his gaze to mine.

“This nymph thinks she knows that it’s in Greece.

I’ll be leaving soon,” he says, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“Glad you’re here. I received a message earlier from a dear friend.

I need you to stay and watch over my ladies. ”

I snap my head towards Hera and Rose. Rose keeps her head down, abiding by the rules of the Halls, but Hera meets me head on.

There is a spark of pride in her eyes and her mouth twitches as she licks her lips.

This bitch won’t say a thing. She’s waiting for Zeus to leave before calling me out.

She wants her own hands on Nora, wants to destroy the one thing I will protect.

Joke’s on her, I won’t let anyone lay a finger on what’s mine.

“She’s wrong. A mere nymph is too dumb to connect the dots.

The shift isn’t in Greece. I made sure of it.

” I smile directly at her before turning my gaze towards Zeus.

I have no doubt that he will chase after them, but my betrayal will give Daemyn time.

He craves obedience more than anything else.

“Yes, Father, I found it and lied to you,” I spit out, my words echoing in the large room .

His hand crushes the bones in my shoulder, pushing me to my knees as he spits in my face, “You’re a stupid fool, keeping this from me.” He kneels down before me with lightning blazing behind him. “Hiding something so powerful. It damages the order of the gods and of the mortals.”

“I regret nothing. Breaking your oath, lying to you, it was all worth it,” I grunt in defiance, with as much venom as he has thrown towards me.

Instant pain strikes and I hold in my scream, biting the side of my cheek as the sting of electricity drums through my veins. My power is fully charged, pounding hard against my skin and with each beat of my pulse it rushes through my blood, seeping out of my pores.

Zeus is pulling on any charge around him, sucking in all the electricity, including the one that runs through me.

“You have betrayed me, my son,” he roars out, his skin blazing with blinding white currents surrounding him.

His body trembling as he towers over me.

The voltage overloading him, reaching an unbearable level.

“In more ways than one,” he hisses through clenched teeth, feeling the power of my electricity as my secret reveals itself to him.

Zeus closes his eyes, screaming into the room as the energy surges out of him and forces the white light to spear through the room and pierce into my back.

Unable to control it, my scream echoes through the room as my body jolts from the intensity of the pain and I fall flat to the floor, convulsing.

“Guards, when I am through, don’t give him any honor.

Throw his body in the cave,” he yells, commanding the guards surrounding the walls.

“He doesn’t deserve the honor of my name.

” His voice drops and his boot stomps down onto the burn, shoving the charge deeper into me.

“Son, this is my promise to you, the shift will be mine. ”

I lift my head slightly,making sure I look directly at him. “Never, I made sure of it,” I choke out, and my head drops down into the puddle of my own blood as my eyes close.

“We’ll see about that, son,” he spits out and laughs.

He’s relentless, striking his lightning into me one after another, making my body jerk and seize with pain.

I’m closer to death than I’ve ever been, but my words are true, I have no regrets.

The bloody world around me is fading and I smile, welcoming the light, knowing I gave Daemyn the time to keep my promise. Nora will be safe.