Page 116 of Wrath of the Dragons
Similar to the temple dedicated to the God of Death, Water, and the Moon, the Goddess of Flames, Life, and Stars has an altar, but instead of a pool, it’s an empty space. I release Cayden’s hand, and blue veins dance throughout the floor as I walk toward the moonstone slab, bypassing a fallen pillar and brushing the palm fronds and dust from the surface. Sweat coats my hands and I read the words aloud.
“To endure fire is to walk within the flames and not fear burning,” I translate the Ravarian aloud.
The temple rumbles, like a great crackling fire overtaking a forest as logs split into embers. Two rows of light blue flames shoot forward and curve around the perimeter of the temple as three within the center carve circles into the floor, creating the triple flame symbol associated with the goddess.It’s starfire.Perhaps this is why I felt drawn here, to this element. I remember the man I bought the perfume from telling me starfire in its purest form doesn’t exist in Ravaryn anymore, but it still does, and it was awakened by my presence. My dragons swarm above the ruins, shooting dragonfire into the center of their circle, cocooning me in flames as vibrant as their scales as I step around the altar, submerging myself in the sparkling flames streaked with silver.
It reaches for me but doesn’t burn when it touches my skin and begins crawling up my arms. The starfire around me grows until the flames are as tall as the pillars and mingle with the dragons’.
I understand.
Fire can be chaos but can also be peace. Warmth is something all humans search for, but similar to love, too much of it can be deadly. There must always be balance in the elements, and balance in the way you regard them.
I sit at the center, watching the fire arch above my head and shoot around me like fireflies. The fire parts briefly to let Cayden enter, the only person who has never looked upon my power with fear. He strides through the flames to reach me, far more confident than anyone should be while walking through something that could kill them. He drops to his knees as the blue storm rages around us and cups my face, dragging his thumbs over my cheeks as his chest heaves.
“My love,” he murmurs a second before pressing his lips to mine.
The kiss is feverish, dominating, and gentle all at once. The power I began feeling in the God of Death’s temple amplifies, and I claw at Cayden’s shoulders. I didn’t know such a powerful love could be delicate until I met him. He lays me back on the cool stone floor amid the flames and pushes my skirt up my legs. If I thought his gaze was dark before, it’s nothing compared to how he looks now. He yanks my hips off the ground and dips his head between my thighs. My lips part in a prayer as if the temple is dedicated to him.
Starfire shoots through my veins as he crests my pleasure, murmuring his devotion against my skin.
I wrap my legs around his waist once he sets me down, needing him closer. He pins my arms on either side of me, and the fire shifts to accommodate his grip. His hips grind into mine, and I moan into his mouth.
“You are more radiant than any goddess who has ever lived,” he whispers against my neck, dragging his tongue across the swells of my breasts pushed together by my top. “I’m convinced there is no Goddess of Beauty because your existence would put her to shame.”
I arch into him as he reaches down to untie his pants and rubs his cock against my wet center. The fire surging through me becomes stronger, hotter, more chaotic as he thrusts into me. I clamp one hand onto his shoulder and the other on the hilt of his sword still resting across his back as he takes me. Nothing has ever felt more perfect than being with him. The power thrumming inside my bones calls out to his as he looks into my eyes and presses our foreheads together. Cayden may not understand it, but I do. I see him. He covers my lips with his again and doesn’t stop until the fire has burned out and the stars splatter the sky.
Chapter
Fifty-seven
Elowen
Another set of guests descendsthe steps leading to the patio made of red and white mosaic tile. Matching lanterns are hung across the party, casting a warm glow over everyone in attendance, glittering the dresses and crystal glasses filled with wine and rum. Zarius looks just as bored as the rest of us, sitting at the base of the tree I lean against while nursing his fourth serving of rum. Saskia scrunches her nose in disgust.
“Should we dance?” Ryder asks.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll pass,” Cayden answers, earning a laugh from Finnian.
Ryder glares at him. “I didn’t mean with you.”
Cayden takes another sip of rum. “However will I survive.”
The rulers of Galakin should be joining us soon; they’ve been in prayer for almost ten hours to honor each of the ten gods and the winter solstice. Statues dedicated to each god are scattered through the perfectly manicured garden. A faceless woman with a babe suckling at her breast is dedicated to the Goddess of Marriage, Love, and Fertility. To her right is another faceless woman but on her knees with her head bowed and covered in a veil: the Goddess of Grief and Sorrow. To her left is a third woman with threads woven around her fingers: the Goddess of Souls, Mercy, and Destiny.
“Walk with me?” I ask Cayden, who nods in response. The ball hasn’t even started, and I already need a break from the amount of eyes that find me.
I fist my skirts and stride toward the torch-lined path to get a closer look at the artistry. Cayden silently follows at my side, his hand pressing into my back as he scans the thick greenery for any sign of a threat. Orange and red flowers wrap around the trunk of a large tree at the back of two statues that are clearly dedicated to the God of War and Strategy, given the drawn swords and helm obscuring his face, and the God of Illusion, the Mind, and Memory, which seems to shift colors depending on the lighting.
We step over a bridge that arches over a small river and leads to a semicircle-shaped patio with the remaining five gods, all still faceless. First is the Goddess of Air and Storms with her hands raised and lightning shooting from her palms, next is the God of Earth and Harvest with roots growing along his legs and arms, and after that is the God of the Sun and Light, with the most offerings at his feet. A golden crown rests upon his head and a flame burns in each hand, an homage to his ability to wield both earthly fire and sunfire.
“You’re looking at the statue as if you wish to murder it,” Cayden says, diverting my gaze to him. “I’d really rather not be jealous of a stone slab, sirantia.”
I laugh softly and brush off his touch as we walk to the part of the alcove that has the clearest view of the sea. After Asena revealed that the God of the Sun tried to chain dragons as my father did, I’ll always hate him, real or not. The wind carries the scent of night-blooming jasmine, irises, and starsnaps growing at the base of the two gods who presided over the night. The river snakes along the mossy ground and mingles beautifully with the music that continues to play.
I stride closer to the pair, feeling drawn to them knowing that they’ve supposedly blessed Cayden and me. The Goddess of Flames, Life, and Stars has three fires burning above her head, her hair spills to her mid-thighs, and in her palms sit two stars. Twin dragons curlaround her arms and perch on her shoulders. Beside her is the God of Water, Death, and the Moon. The five phases of the moon are chiseled above his head and two skulls rest in his palms. I suppose this plot was chosen for him because of the proximity to both the river and ocean.
The markings on my arms shimmer as I crane my neck and reach forward to trace my fingers along the stone. It’s smooth and cold despite the warmth of the kingdom. The holiday would’ve looked so different if we were back home. I’ve always associated it with ribbon-adorned trees, fresh baked goods washed down with hot cocoa, and sitting in front of the fire while watching snow fall, but it’s too warm to even think about such things here. The people of Galakin can host their festivities from the beach if they wish.
Footsteps pound against the ground, and I reach for the dagger beneath my skirts as Cayden steps closer to me, his sword already unsheathed.
