The crash felt like being chewed up by the universe and spit out across time. Her soul has been transported to the god realm and she didn't even remember, but her bones felt different. Thicker. Faenet was exploding with the video of Nythera disturbing the ritual and sending her here. She wasn't even aware.
Rhiannan's body lay twisted on the cracked, cold marble floor of a place that absolutely wasn't Andopeer. Her bones screamed. Her skin steamed. Blood painted a jagged trail from her scalp to her thighs, and her gown, once elegant and enchanted, was torn and soaked.
Everything hurt. She groaned. Gagged at the stench of herself. Tried to push herself up.
She blinked once. Twice. Her body gave out completely.
And then she passed out cold.
Liam was not having a good century.
First, the shadow realm tried to eat his court. Then, two of his strongest vamps tried to leave for a rave in Berlin. Now? A half dead goddess just exploded out of his mirror.
With a bang and a shriek, the ancient mirror in the throne room shattered from the inside out raining glittering shards across polished black floors and throwing every remaining vampire into chaos.
"WHAT IN BLOODY SATAN'S LEFT NIPPLE!!"
Liam stopped. Blinked. Took in the sight of a woman, she was broken, bleeding, gorgeous, and sprawled on the floor like some apocalyptic offering.
Silence fell throughout the vampire court as the scent of fresh blood perfumed the air.
A low growl came from one of the younger vampires as he prowled closer, sniffing.
Liam moved before he could reach her. A blur of motion, a hiss of power, and the idiot was on the floor with Liam's hand around his throat.
"She's mine," he said, voice so low it echoed.
"Sire....she reeks of goddess. Her blood, it smells divine."
"And now she reeks of you being a fucking idiot. Touch her again and I'll stake your dick to the wall." He snarled threateningly.
The vampire didn't argue, just nodded and backed away slowly. Liam was the Vampire King, way more powerful than regular vampires. They knew not to fuck with him. He was hilarious, but he would rip your throat out while laughing.
Liam turned back to the woman on the floor. His senses screamed with ancient recognition. Mate bond. Goddess fire. Prophecy.
He wasn't supposed to feel anything anymore.
But he did.
And it pissed him off. A fucking mate bond? After all these centuries? He has thought for sure there was no mate out there for him. Yet here she was.
He scooped her into his arms gently, cradling her like the rarest treasure. She moaned...soft and painful. Her eyes fluttered but didn't open.
"Shit," he muttered. "You're far too pretty to die in my living room."
Liam's vampire court was ancient, powerful, and full of drama.
Selene: His second in command. Cold as frostbite. Once a lover, now his enforcer.
Darius: The scholar. Glasses, tattoos, and a nasty left hook.
Iskra: Wild. Unpredictable. She dances while she kills and smiles while she feeds.
Thorne: Liam's oldest friend. A vampire berserker. Nearly feral.
Milo: The youngest. Sassy. Loves blood and vintage pop music.
They watched as Liam laid the unconscious goddess in his bed and ordered everyone else out.
"She needs healing," Selene said. "We don't know who she is."
"She's mine," Liam said again. "That's all you need to know."
Over the next three days, Rhiannan's body healed slowly. Liam refused to leave her side. His blood was ancient and rare and it fed her power and sealed her wounds.
He held her hand, whispered insults at her unconscious face, and panicked when she flinched in her sleep.
Until the third night.
When he dreamed of a woman wrapped in moonlight. A goddess.
"Protect her," she whispered. "The gods will test her. You must make sure she survives. She is everything."
He jolted awake.
And in that moment, Liam knew three things:
1. The world was about to burn.
2. This woman would light the match.
3. And he'd rip the world apart to keep her breathing.
"Come on, goddess," he whispered, brushing her hair back from her cheek. "Wake up. I'm not funny when I'm alone."
She didn't stir.
But her lips curved. Just slightly.
And he grinned like a madman.