Page 31 of Goddess of the Broken

Tempest chuckled and closed her eyes as a wave of nausea hit her. “I don’t make it a habit to lie very often.”

“I suppose not.”

It was becoming difficult to keep her body upright. She leaned her shoulder against Aiden.

He glanced over. “Are you all right?”

She shook her head. Aiden took stock and noticed the blood on the wall behind her.

“You didn’t tell me you were hurt!”

He gently pushed her off of him and stood up, his body trembling with the exertion.

Tempest cracked her eyes open. “You shouldn’t move, either. Someone will find us when they find the bodies I left outside.”

“I’m not staying in a room with two dead bodies in it, and you aren’t up to moving them.”

She closed her eyes. “True.”

Tempest listened as he dragged the bodies into the street and closed the door before joining her against the wall again.

“Is there more?” Aiden asked.

“More what?”

“More than I need to know.”

“Are you sure you can handle it?”

He snorted. “I’m the emperor. It’s my job to take care of an entire kingdom, and you are asking me if I can handle a little bit of information?”

“Something is… off about how I feel your soul. I always feel it, no matter where you are. That’s not normal. It’s how I found you tonight. I am in physical pain if you get too far away from me, and sometimes I can feel your emotions or your wellbeing through it, but not usually.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“Nope. I also think a god is trying to kill you. I don’t know why, though.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Those attackers tonight used blades that are deadly to gods. No mortal can make them, and no mortal should have them.” Tempest breathed out through her mouth as another wave of nausea passed over her. “There’s more, but I can’t think straight right now.”

“Do you think they expected you to track me down?”

“Well, I did threaten anyone trying to harm you, so…”

Aiden laughed. “You were quite the beautiful, bloody force to be reckoned with at the claiming ceremony, weren’t you?”

Tempest could feel her strength disappearing quickly and wasn’t sure how much longer it would last.

“Beautiful?” she mumbled.

“In an epic and awe-inspiring sort of way,” he quickly added.

She slumped against Aiden’s side and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Of course.”

Aiden brushed a lock of hair from her face and looked down on her with concern. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’ll be fine.”

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