Ferocity

Dedicated to Ash for making the gorgeous cover and for being at truly beautiful person in general. I love you, Princess Pickle. <3 Guys, please go shower her with love [and penguins]. She freaking deserves it the most out of anyone I know.

This is the first romance I have ever written, so please go easy on me. And comment with your constructive criticism, if you have any [or yell at me for completely ruining this genre. Either is fine. I appreciate both].

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He had never meant to fall in love.

Yes, he had seen Light before in the mandatory council meetings. But never like this.

Gone was the stoic, unreadable expression. She no longer had to be careful about what she expressed or how must respect much be shown while others were talking. She even had to hide all feeling during those blasted moments.

But now, free from duty's clutches, she was beautiful. It seemed that her fancy gowns were replaced by a simple dress. Yellow, white, and pale lilac. It shimmered and writhed as she danced, each movement fluid. The light followed her as it always did. It looked to have a slightly brighter halo only around her, like a pale, mourning spotlight.

And Alteon knew, as soon as he saw her prancing, picking wildflowers, and laughing a bright, tinkling laugh like a wind chime, that he was doomed. No matter what he told his mind, demanding that he turn away, he just couldn't. Not until he heard the nearly silent footsteps of Sapharina.

"A little preoccupied?" were the first words out of her lips as she took in his shadowy form.

Concealing his alarm, his eyes flicked to the girl that plagued his thoughts and away just as quickly, but a split second was enough for Sapharina to see where he had been watching.

As the goddess of warfare, enthrallment was a foreign concept for her, especially when it was with a person. And so, Sapharina laughed. "You can't be serious."

Alteon knew he was at a disadvantage if he wished to elude Sapharina. She was cunning, evil, and cruel. And although she wore a blood red gown that was very similarly cut compared to Light's, she couldn't have possibly been any more different in appearance or personality. Her flowing black hair matched her predatory eyes, and flawless cheekbones brought out her full red lips. With an eyebrow arched, she looked like any regular girl. Yet Alteon knew much, much better.

"Of course not," he said, composed, warily studying Sapharina. He was aware that she was currently unarmed, but she was known for being dangerous and deadly. Any sudden movements and he'd find himself easily pinned to the grassy floor with a stiletto heel to his throat.

Moments of silence passed with Sapharina studying his face. She might've been observant and a brilliant liar, but there wasn't an immortal that couldn't be fooled. "I believe you," her icy voice said at last, but her eyes held the barest glint of confusion.

Oh. Sapharina had been teasing. Thankfully, he had looked like he was judging an enemy, not staring at a girl.

Oblivious to Alteon's relief, Sapharina spun around, her lush hair flying then settling back around her shoulders. "I pity you, being forced to have to spend all day and night with her," she tsked. "It's a rather unfortunate part of being Darkness, I imagine. But the war will be won, and she will be neutralized like the rest."

The war between the immortals was becoming chaotic. Sides had already been chosen, and neither would cave.

Alteon blinked, realizing he was supposed to answer her unasked question. "I'll leave it to you. Taking her out will be simple. Light is pretty weak anyway," he said, leaving out the fact that he secretly thought she was the most dangerous out of all of the enemy immortals. He would know, after all, having been the first to fall for her.

"I'm glad you think so," Sapharina said, not turning around, "because you're the one who will have to destroy her."

As it sank in, he stared at her back incredulously. "I beg your pardon?" He knew full well that she would be smiling with those full lips of hers. It was an expression he had seen all too often, right before she killed.

"You heard what I said. I don't have any time to add a minor goddess to my already full hit list." She spun around again with perfect elegance and grace; Alteon was starting to think that she couldn't stay still. "I might be good in combat, but that doesn't mean I have the time to slit the throats of every immortal out there. Besides, it seemingly fits since Light is stealing part of your domain."

His domain was only the night, not the day, but he bit his tongue.

"Demon asked me to check on you," she continued, finally offering an explanation for her unwelcome appearance. "He told me to pass on the message that he had something to discuss with you. I don't know what he's thinking or why he's ordering me around." She laughed humorlessly. "I'm not some damned messenger."

Alteon didn't know how to respond to that. "Shouldn't you be busy right now?" He asked, annoyed, secretly hoping she would leave. He really didn't want to deal with Sapharina, and he started formulating a theory that Alastor had sent her solely because he knew that she was the only person Alteon was dead terrified of.

Sapharina stiffened, straightening her spine. "You're right. There's a small skirmish in southern Sudan I'm missing at this moment." She sighed, sounding a little put out, but it quickly morphed back into frosty disdain. "Just tell Alastor that I actually did talk to you; I don't want him nagging down my neck for the next millennia for thinking that I didn't pass on a sentence." Without another word, or even a tutted goodbye, Sapharina stalked deeper into the darkness of the trees like a lioness waiting to pounce upon its unsuspecting prey. Her heels created a soft, reverberating sound against the forest floor in her wake. And just like that, she was gone.

With the immediate threat no longer present, Alteon turned back to the girl of his nightmares. Light. He needed to dispose of the feelings he felt for her quickly. They couldn't carry on. For the sake of both of them, he blocked the feelings out and shut his eyes. No more of this. He would not love a girl.

Light was obviously oblivious to the exchange that had just taken place. She was stooped down by the edge of a stream, tending to some flowers growing in the riverbed. Her golden hair fell in wisps, and curly tendrils framed her face. Looking up, her eyes met Alteon's for a moment even though he knew she couldn't see him. There was nothing more innocent in the world than her expression. She was just a girl.

And that girl had no idea of the conversation he had just held or that he was watching her. But most of all, she didn't know that sooner or later, she would end up dead by his blade.

Alteon turned and crossed farther into the shadows, following the same path Sapharina took. Only the trees bore witness as he silently vowed to kill the girl he loved.