Page 1 of Death God

CHAPTER 1

Marlowe

My Bride was gone. I lost her once again, from right under my nose this time.

I cursed myself and my slumber. If I hadn’t fallen asleep after I claimed her, feeling at peace and content for the first time in a century, she’d still be with me.

Hell’s lava boiled in my blood. A haze of rage blinded me. Raw need for my mate beat like my forever lost wings. Aching and desperation clawed at me. Every breath I took in was like a knife shattering my lungs. The agony wouldn’t cease until I got her back.

This was the third fucking time I’d lost her. Spartoi had stolen her from me the first time. The second time, I thought she’d fallen for the wolf alpha, which had undone me. But I’d promised myself I would walk away if he made her happy. I’d just wait until they spent a lifetime together and he was gone. I’d always respect her choices and would never take away her free will. I’d wait for her until the stars expired and all the lights in the universe winked out.

When she declared that I was the only one she wanted in front of the alpha wolf and the entire army, I’d been humbled. Warmth and hope had brimmed in my chest, expelling centuries of bleakness and angst.

Just when I held high hopes that my Bride would now stay by my side for eternity, she walked out of my gate into the enemy’s ranks. I’d been taking that cursed nap in order to gather strength and go to war to protect her, but she’d been one step ahead of me.

I needed my mate back. Needed to have her in my arms and beneath me again as I took her hard, over and over, so she’d never think of leaving me again.

I shattered the furniture in the room in my fury. When there was nothing left to break, I tore the pillows open, feathers drifting all over, falling on my head and stoking my fury. My Bride had been very clever. She’d placed a pillow in my arms to make me think I was holding her soft body in my dream.

A spark flickered, piercing the cold darkness roaring in my head. I’d just sensed her, but soon she’d be out of my range. I charged toward the door, an animal sound rumbling in my chest. If I was fast enough, I could still get to her, kill the enemies, and bring her back to safety.

An unseen force threw me back, preventing me from reaching the door. I rolled to my feet and charged toward the window instead. I could shatter the glass, then leap toward the ground to get to my Bride. But a barrier materialized, shimmering and forming a circle around me to cage me. As I slammed into the barrier with my shoulder again and again, it shocked me and tossed me back mercilessly.

My Bride had erected a ward to prevent me from going after her.

My roar shook the compound, rattling the windows. I rammed into the ward again and again, desperate to bring it down and reach Ophelia. I was stronger now, thanks to her, yet I was still much less than what I used to be.

The door to my chamber flew open.

Stephen, my steward, led my seven elite warriors—Rudolf and Emmalyn among them—into the room. Mosse followed behind, holding some crumpled pages like they were the holy grail.

Then the three light mages also entered. High Mage Blackstone had his hands clasped in front of him. All three mages bowed slightly to pay their respects.

Stephen and the warriors dropped to one knee, their fists on their hearts.

“You let your queen go to our enemies,” I said harshly, my gazing landing on my warriors. “You failed to protect her as much as I.”

They flinched, knowing what their punishment would be.

“Mages, bring down the fucking ward!” I snarled. “I need to get to my queen! There’s still time!”

The mages looked rueful. High Mage Blackstone studied the ward, a look of surprise and awe in his brown eyes.

“It’ll take us at least an hour to bring down Lady Ophelia’s blood ward,” said Blackstone. “And by the time we’re through, you’d be through already. She intended to stall you. She tweaked everything we taught her and improved it. We didn’t realize that she could even make a blood ward. We only hope that she can use her skills against our enemies when the time comes. But then, Lady Ophelia is also unpredictable, impatient, and impulsive…”

I rammed my fists into the barrier, and it threw me backward again. I roared, got up, and charged, bettering the barrier.

“My king,” Stephen called, still kneeling. “Lady Ophelia mentioned that this would happen. She said if you were like this, we should read you the letter she wrote to you.”

I halted my attack, my furious stare burning into my steward.

“What letter?” I snarled.

“We’ll accept any form of punishment, including eternal death, for failing to protect our queen,” Stephen said. “But Lady Ophelia said to tell you that you should discuss the method of punishment with her after she returns, or better, you’ll go get her in a week’s time. She said either way, she’d like to weigh in on the decision as well. And if you don’t abide by her wishes, you can sleep on the sofa alone forever.”

I frowned. “She said that?”

Somehow, I calmed a little. My Bride would talk like that. She was a different woman than the one from a century ago. She’d evolved. Maybe I should too, if I wanted to be her equal.

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