Chapter 1
I sat in the tall grass as the warm sun shined on my face. I loved being in the garden of the palace. It was my safe haven away from the stuffy people inside and my mother.
My mother, Mirada, the Great Priestess of Centra, servant of King Rowan, was a woman of great power. While I was just a simple human girl without any power of my own.
My mother trained men and women who had been gifted by the goddess of life to be a part of the temple. They assisted the King’s army in battle as well to protect us from an attack. Though this was a rarity since demons and demi humans usually kept to themselves.
My privacy was broken when I heard laughter from the other side of a large bush like wall. I stood as quietly as possible to avoid being seen. Slipping back to head back to my room, they came into my view.
Heralt, the King’s son, was with a young priestess in training. I could tell from the white robe, with red and gold design that she was a priestess of the temple. They kissed hungrily and breathing heavy as he lifted her skirt. He lifted her and pinned her against one of the stone pillars as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
I needed to leave but my feet would not carry me. I watched as she brushed her hand through his honey blonde curly hair before guiding his face closer to hers.
He undid his slacks and in one quick movement, he entered her.
I turned and fled not wanting to see anymore. I brushed the red of my skirt free of wrinkles and made my way back inside the palace.
Upon entering, the warning bell sounded. I paused and turned to the direction of the sound. Were we being attacked?
“Aisling!” I turned to see my mother running toward me. She was dressed in her market clothes which I found was quite strange. She always wore her priestess garbs in the palace.
She rushed to be and grabbed arm pulling me closer. Pulling a white crystal out of her pocket, she then proceeded to place it around my neck. “Wear this. ”
I picked up the crystal from my chest to look at it but then was tugged forward by her hand on my wrist. Her grasp was painfully tight in her hold. “Mother? What’s going on? Who’s attacking us?”
My mother looked about as soldiers ran past us towards the main gate while we ran in the opposite direction. “Shifters.”
Shifters? Why? They have not fought us like this since the last great war. “Why?”
“They are after the goddess.” She huffed. We ran through the kitchen to the servant exit into town. She then pulled a couple cloaks that were stashed in the bush next the exit. I realized this escape was planned. She placed one upon my shoulder and pulled the hood over my raven hair. She looked in my matching green eyes and smiled sadly.
“You have grown to be so pretty.” She said brushing my cheek before tugging on her own cloak. She took my hand again and pulled me in between shops and houses to the back of the kingdom.
“Why are we running?” I asked as I tried not to trip as she turned me this way and that.
“Shush!” She whispered.
We reached the far back wall of the kingdom after passing people running in hysterics of the attack. The wall was tall and unable to climb. Until I noticed the gapping whole at the bottom. My mother got on her hands and knees to crawl through and I followed her.
I had never been outside the Centra before. The Forest of Briar was dark and quiet with the exception of the battle behind us. We climbed over fallen trees and through heavy brush to a mountain side shaded by the tall oak trees. A cave sat hidden the darkness of the shade.
The mouth of the cave called to me and I found myself following not my mother but the pull from inside. My curiosity burned as we entered. It seemed like any other cave. Cold and damp but it felt different. Like it held some great secret inside.
As we neared the back of it, my heart began to race. It was there in the dark, a man not that older than I, sitting against a wall in chains. His muscular chest was bare and his long white hair cascaded down his sides. His red robe that hung loosely about his shoulders, stood out in contrast to his soft white hair. He looked like a sleeping god as his chest gently rose and fell.
His solemn face was smooth with sharp curves to his jaw. His lips were a light pink. He was handsome. Probably the most handsome man I have ever seen in my life. I felt the need to touch him. To kiss those lips.
My mother stepped forward and muttered a enchantment. His long lashes fluttered open revealing striking yellow pools. He was a hound of the gods. And he was so beautiful. I thought they had left our land centuries ago.
She placed a necklace over his head before he came to. The necklace, I realized, was the same one as the one around my neck.
He looked up coming out of his sleep and began to growl. Two white pointed ears appeared on top of his head, a signature trait of his kind.
“Fucking bitch. What did you do to me?” He groaned trying to move his muscular arms and legs. I wanted to go to him but realizing how strange that would be, I stood my ground.
“I merely put you to sleep to protect your existence. The king knew where you were and would have killed you if it weren’t for me.” My mother said stiffly. She took a key out of her pocket and unlocked his chains.
In a blur, she was held up against the cave wall by her neck. He snarled at her. His eyes turning amber then a deep crimson. “Like the king could over power me…”
I gasped drawing his attention. He turned and stiffened at the site of me. I took that as an opening to approach and grabbed the hand that held her. “Let her go!”
His hand tightened and released only slightly. His jaw tensing. Strangely, I wasn’t being pushed away. I oddly felt safe with him. The touch of his warm skin under my fingertips sent a shiver down my spine. Was this what it was like to be with a man?
“I don’t care what you do to me.” My mother choked out. “Please protect her.”
He scoffed at my mother then sneered. “Why would I protect your daughter? I’m free. I can kill you and her right now.”
I wasn’t afraid of his threat. Instead, I pulled at his hand holding her. “Please.”
“She is the 5th goddess. As told by the prophecy.” My mother coughed.
He glowered at my mother’s strange words. What was she talking about? I have no god like powers. He looked at me curiously. He dropped my mother then grabbed me by the back of my neck pulling me close to him. I was flushed against his hard masculine body and my heart fluttered within my chest. He leaned into my neck and breathed in my scent gliding the tip of his nose over my skin. I shuttered against him touching his chest. He released me then turned to my mother.
“Lucky you, witch.” He grumbled. His eyes were heated with something as he looked at the opening of the cave. “I’ll protect her but I’m not protecting you.”
I felt anger rise in me but before I could say anything, my mother spoke.
“That’s fine. I won’t be going with you.” She said rubbing her neck. Her eyes were filled with relief and sadness.
“Wait! Mother, you can’t leave me.” I begged. She can’t drag me all the way here just to abandon me.
She cupped my cheeks and kissed my forehead. “I have to protect as many people as I can in Centra, You need to get to safety. The hound will protect you.”
I shook my head as tears fell down my cheeks. “No.”
She kissed my forehead once more in a hard searing kiss. “Go. Take her. With the necklace, she has no choice but to follow you. ”
The hound frowned then turned. In a blur he was gone. I turned back to my mother seeing her sad face before I was suddenly thrusted by an unknown force out of the cave.
