Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Kian walked the empty temple; the only sound was his own bare feet slapping the marble floor. When he entered the large room of worship, he stood inside the doorway and took a breath. The room was a spectacular sight, no matter how many times he entered it. He scanned the carvings adorning the thick stone walls and when his gaze landed on Ra, he swallowed his unease. The walls told a story that was beyond ancient. Ra was their true king. The supreme lord of all living and dead and even though it was thought he had transcended into another spiritual realm, he was still the god of gods and Kian had never entered this temple for anything more than to honor his king. Today… Today he sought something much, much more.

Quietly he made his way farther into the coolness of the room, the doors closed behind him with a hushed snap, and the air inside lightened. It was as if the temple knew his true intent and waited with bated breath to see if Kian would bring down the god’s ire or have his request granted. He approached the altar and knelt on the cool marble. Tilting his head back, he stared up and faced the large black and gold statue of Ra. At the god’s feet was a bowl made of gold which was meant to hold offerings. Normally, he would leave flowers, herbs and fruit as a gift to the god while he prayed, but not today. Taking in a sharp breath, he allowed his fangs to drop. Biting his wrist, he held it over the bowl and watched the blood drip at a fast pace until his wound healed. Hoping it was enough, he placed his hands in his lap and opened his mind.

“I seek guidance,” he spoke softly, as there was no reason to yell.

The room was so quiet his ears ached. Would he be honored with a response? So far, he was met with nothing more than dead air. Had he offered enough? Was he even worthy of the presence of such a supreme being? He had a vision only the night before that showed him in this exact position and had thought it meant he was to come here. Maybe he had been mistaken. He was about to get up and leave when a breeze blew across his skin. The room was without windows and built of thick stone, so there was no way any wind could enter. He continued to stare at the statue.

“My lord?” Then something happened that nearly made his heart stop. The statue morphed. Grew into a life of its own and the massive falcon's head bent and stared at him through golden eyes. The beak opened and the god before him spoke.

“Child. What do you seek from me?”

“I seek knowledge of who I am.”

This time, the god bent further and studied him. “You will not find such knowledge here, son of mortals.”

Son of mortals? “Does this mean I am not a god? Where will I find the knowledge I seek?”

Ra straightened. “You are of two different worlds, my child. Travel to the other and you will find what you seek, for the goddess of truth speaks no lies.”

“In the mortal realm?”

“Perhaps or perhaps not.” Ra tilted his head and Kian swore the god stared into his soul. “You worry you are unworthy if your identity is nothing less than a god, but you are mistaken. Your heritage will prove your true worth, but beware. One female seeks to destroy you and the other will be your salvation.”

“Who? Who will try to destroy me?” But his question came too late, for the god was nothing more than a statue of onyx and gold and the doors behind him swung open, indicating his session here was done. Kian rose and headed from the room with more questions than before. Was the female Ra referred to Netasis, or could it be Diara? Perhaps it was neither. One thing was certain, he would be making a trip to the realm of the mortals. The more he processed Ra’s words, the more certain he was of his path and the need to know who he really was. Soon, his mother––or the goddess who proclaimed to be his mother––would leave as she was never one to sit idle for long. Destruction was in her nature, and she wasn’t happy unless she was wielding it like a weapon upon some poor soul. Certain he couldn’t face her right now, he headed back to his chamber to wait for her departure. As soon as that happened, he would open his portal and be gone.

Once back in his rooms, he paced. Relaxing would not come to him while Ra’s words rattled around in his head. The god had called him son of mortals, which only affirmed that his blood mother was human, as the goddess of truth had indicated. Things made sense now. His power wasn’t as strong as a god, and he held no resemblance to Netasis whatsoever.

His door opened, and the goddess of destruction stepped inside. “I am leaving.”

“May you be successful in your endeavors.” He walked to her and kissed each cheek as she had taught him.

“I’m certain of success.” She touched his cheek. “You are in charge in my absence.”

“I could never fill your shoes, but I will do my best.”

She smiled. “That is all a mother could ask for.” With a wave of her hand, she vanished, and he was left with a pain in his heart. The woman who he had known and called mother for his entire life was a falsehood. Had she been party to this deception, or was she a victim as well? He would be hard-pressed to believe she had nothing to do with it. How could she not know the child she birthed was not her own but stolen from another? For now, he had to put emotions on a back burner so he could get to the truth. With his mother gone doing whatever it was she did, and Diara busy probably fucking someone else, he was finally free to make his way through his portal.

Standing in his room, he stared at the black hole that spun and wondered where in the mortal realm he was going to go. He’d conjured up clothing that was like that of mortals. A pair of what they called jeans, a black tee along with a pair of boots that hid a dagger completed his outfit. While the clothing was unusual for him, he rather liked it compared to the shendyt that he normally wore.

“Well, might as well make the jump.” He stepped into the portal and let it take him wherever fate decided.

Gwen stopped at the booth and locked eyes with the poor guy sitting in a raven-haired female’s lap.

“You don’t look like you wish to be here. Just say so and I will make sure you are allowed to leave safely.”

His gaze swung between her and the other valkyrie across the booth. “I… Uh… My girlfriend is waiting for me.”

Just as she thought. “Let him go. I’m sure there are more willing men here you can take up with.”

The valkyrie shoved him off her lap then rose to her feet. The black knee-high boots she wore made her several inches taller than Gwen. Not that she cared, raking a glance over the valkyrie whose clothing looked more like straps of leather than anything that might actually keep her goods encased had her wondering how the female fought in that getup. Gwen sneered when the valkyrie stepped into her space.

“I don’t take kindly to your interference.”

“And I don’t take kindly to you. Back the fuck up.” She slapped her hand on her right hip and leaned closer.

The valkyrie’s lip curled, baring a small fang. Gwen nearly laughed and let her own descend into place. Let her see who had real teeth in this fight.

“I chose the male, therefore he is mine to do with as I please.”

Gwen took a quick scan and noticed that thankfully, the man had moved on. “I’m here to protect the mortals and keep the rest of you in line, so I don’t really give a fuck what you want.”

The valkyrie tilted her head to study Gwen while the other one still sitting in the booth just smiled and continued to drink beer. “You should give a fuck,” she spat. “I don’t need you to keep me in line.” Valkyries were quick to rile, and many speculated about which was worse. Dragons or valkyries?

“I will rip your bitch throat wide open. Care to test me?” Gwen hissed. Baring her much larger pearly whites.

“I don’t fear you, vampire ,” the valkyrie reached for her blade. “You and me. Right now.”

The crowd quieted, their gazes drawn to the females who both snapped with power and the promise of a chick fight.

“Not in here. Outside.”

The valkyrie tipped her head. “Fair enough.”

As the two headed for the door, she noticed the crowd followed. Fine, if these assholes wanted to watch blood shed then she would be sure they got what they desired. Maybe they would finally learn to leave immortals alone. Once outside, the crowd on the street seemed to sense what was coming and parted, leaving a large opening for the two to hold their standoff.

“This is your challenge, so your choice,” Gwen said.

“How about an old-fashioned fight? No weapons allowed.”

She shrugged. “A girl fight it is then. By the way, I am Gwyneth, but everyone calls me Gwen.”

“I am known as Varda.”

“Well, Varda, now that we have made our acquaintances.” She dropped into a fighting stance. Legs parted, knees bent, fists up, and Varda mirrored her. She had to wonder if this female had any inkling of who Gwen really was. Her fangs should have been a giveaway, so perhaps she didn’t care? No matter, she was looking forward to a brawl and releasing some pent-up anger.

The power that ripped open the atmosphere indicated Marcus was in the crowd. She sure as hell hoped he wasn’t planning to stop her, or she would kick her brother’s ass as well. Gwen managed a glance at her brother from the corner of her eye and his smile said he was not here to interfere. Good.

Varda made the first move. Lowered her head and ran, likely expecting to make contact with Gwen’s gut, but Gwen was freaky fast and simply side-stepped. As Varda swept by, she reached out and grabbed the female’s long ponytail and snapped the valkyrie’s head back. She had hoped to catch her off guard enough to send her to her ass. Varda was too quick to recover, however, and grabbed Gwen by the arm and dug her claw-tipped nails into flesh where she laid open a large gash. Gwen hissed through the pain, then sent healing cells to stop the bleeding.

“Come on, sister. Show her who you really are,” her brother Marcus egged on.

Anger riled her and still having hold of the female’s hair, she gripped Varda’s head with both hands and brought her knee to make contact with Varda’s chin, sending the valkyrie into the air. Varda hit with a loud humph, landing on her ass. Her opponent’s eyes glowed with anger as she jumped back to her feet. In a flash, Varda was gone, and Gwen knew the valkyrie was going to try to sneak in behind her. Her senses flared out as she spun in a slow circle, ready for the attack. She didn’t have to wait long. Varda flashed back on Gwen’s right side and laid a powerful punch to her cheek, which sent her reeling into the crowd of people. Someone caught her and shoved her back into the open ring of bystanders, where she flew back at Varda with a high kick to the stomach. The valkyrie coughed while doubled over and Gwen took advantage of her opponent being down by digging her nails into the female’s shoulders and bringing her knee up to meet Varda’s nose. The crunching of broken bones let everyone know she had been successful in her attempt. Backing off to give the valkyrie a moment to breathe, or at least heal her nose, was a mistake Gwen should have never made. She allowed her compassionate side to overrun her warrior’s instinct, and it was enough to give Varda the second she needed to once again flash away, but this time, she came back with a weapon. With sword swinging, Varda came at her and nicked Gwen’s cheek.

“Oh you bitch!” she snarled. “Where is your honor?” When an immortal cheated at a fight, it brought them great dishonor.

“Fuck honor. I like victory,” Varda yelled, her steel swinging in the air.

Gwen wasted no time in calling up her own sword, and the two females filled the night with clashing steel. Varda threw everything she had into the fight and kept coming at Gwen like a wild animal. That was when she realized the valkyrie was out for blood. Maybe even a decapitation which was about the only way to kill a guardian or most any immortal.

Sister, I don’t trust this valkyrie. Heed your instincts. Marcus had slipped into her mind.

Neither do I now that I see what she’s about. She would trust her gut from here forward. A swing of her blade met Varda’s, and it seemed they were well matched, as neither could make contact with flesh. It was time to stop playing around with Varda and end this game before an innocent ended up hurt. Gwen flashed, came in to Varda’s right. Flashed again when the valkyrie swung. Appeared at her left and every time Varda swung, Gwen flashed away, leaving Varda screaming in a fit of rage.

“Are you afraid to fight me?” Varda screamed, and that’s when Gwen decided it was time to make her final move.

Flashing one last time, she came back in above Varda, swinging down to land on the female’s back. The move was so unexpected that she took the valkyrie down with ease. Grabbing her hair, she jerked her head aside, then sank her fangs into Varda’s neck and pushed a compulsion. The valkyrie had no choice but to comply. Her body softened under Gwen and after a couple of pulls of blood, she released the now much more subdued female. Getting to her feet, she brushed herself off and scanned the crowd. Next to Marcus stood Chaval and Gwen smiled, realizing she no longer felt broken-hearted when looking at her long-time friend. She understood they were not fated mates, but still held a special bond from growing up together. As she started toward them, she stopped. A pull she never expected to feel, one she had prayed for, caused her to swallow the lump in her throat as she turned her head to scan the crowd behind her. Before she could find him, the sensation disappeared and the pain it left in her chest made breathing difficult. Her pulse was still pounding and the blood rushing through her veins drowned out the surrounding noise.

“I will deliver this one to her holding cell until she cools off,” Chaval’s voice pushed through her fog and pulled her back to the surrounding reality.

She offered a nod. After coming back from his hiatus, Chaval had accepted an offer to help round up any immortals who broke human or immortal laws. Aidyn, their king, had worked with the human government and it was decided that some immortals had to be held in check. Chaval was a Sumari warrior. A half demon, half fae who held more power than most immortals other than the gods. He was perfect for the job of the enforcer. Grabbing the valkyrie by the collar, he lifted her to her feet, then vanished.

“Brother, what are you doing here?” She hugged Marcus, still feeling a bit off by the pull she had felt a moment ago.

“Your niece has been asking when you are coming to see her. She is excited to tell you about school.”

“I am such a bad aunt. I will come soon, I promise. How is she getting on?” Since Ariana was the oldest guardian child, her parents had decided it best for her to attend school, so she had children her own age to hang out with. Problem was, the guardians didn’t have such an institution, since there had been no children born to them in centuries. Ariana was the first, which made her a very special girl indeed.

“She is doing well. I think sending her to the Draki school was an excellent choice as was moving back to Vandeldor.”

“I’m happy you guys made that decision. It’s nice that the Draki and guardians are back home, and the children can have a normal life again.” Vandeldor had been the home of the guardians and dragon shifters since the beginning of time. While some from both sides lived in the mortal realm, many had moved back home.

“Also, if you ever visited, you would know that Lucan and Sabin are expecting their first child.”

“What wonderful news!” Lucan was one of her brethren and Sabin a demigoddess who had been Lowan’s sister. It had been Sabin who had helped destroy her brother and, after all the couple had been through in their life, they deserved this happiness. “I will come home soon, I promise.” She pulled her brother into a hug.

He squeezed. “I plan to hold you to it.” Then he backed away and faded into the crowd. Once he was gone, she once again scanned those who still milled around her, knowing full well the man she was searching for was no longer there.