Thorns of Fate: Serendipity Saga Book One

Chapter Eighteen

I couldn't quite shake the exhaustion that had locked down on me, even after we made it back to Damien's manor. Carson slid out first, scooping me into his arms, resting my head on his chest. He pressed a light kiss to my forehead, issuing goodnight wishes to Kellic and Anton as he made his way inside.

I was kind've in and out for the walk to his room, struggling to rouse myself. "It's alright," He shushed me. "You can sleep. We'll talk in the morning." His voice was a balm to my sleepy self, luring me farther under the waves.

I only realized we'd stepped over his threshold when the lighting shining on the inside of my lids changed to a softer tone. I squinted one eye open, looking up at him.

"Why are you always warm?" I mumbled, snuggling his chest.

He glanced down at me, a smirk on his lips. "I've told you," he replied. "Hybrid."

I traced my fingers along his chest. "What does that mean?" I asked drowsily.

He pulled the covers back with his fingertips and laid me beneath, kissing my forehead. "It means I run at a warmer temperature than you, than even humans. So I'm always warm. It's nice that you're so cool. It gets to be too warm pretty quickly."

He kissed my lips and I gleefully kissed back. "I like your warm," I whispered, cuddling closely to him as he nestled in beside me. I cling to him, resting my cheek above his heart. It pounded out a solid rhythm, quickly luring me to my slumber.

I opened my eyes onto the roaring stadium. The crowd was on their feet, shouts of Achillia rising from them. I lifted my arms in victory before turning back the way I had come. The gate stood open for me, the green-eyed god waiting there for me.

As I reached his side, he took me by the hand, leading me through a maze of corridors until one final door stood before us. Just as we stepped forward to emerge into the light, the emperor blocked our path, flanked on either side by hooded figures.

The man separated us, his arms held back protectively. "You issued the order yourself, Emperor. She is free to go," he growled.

The Emperor stared up at him. The man at my side had a few inches on him and glared down his nose. "I said she was free," the Emperor began. "Not free to leave."

The green-eyed man who felt so familiar growled, low in his chest. The Emperor gestured forward, rippling strands of dark energy erupting from the gathered figures. The whips of power grabbed the man, throwing him from his feet. They burst forth more power, lunging at me.

I gathered strength in my palms, pulling from the righteous fervor of the crowd. My hands billowed with light and the dark energy hissed away. I helped the man to his feet, drawing the gladius from my hip and brandishing the blade, pushing energy down to its tip.

A ball of pulsing blue-white light emitted there, spiraling threateningly.

The Emperor shrank back and gestured to his entourage. Hands reached up, pulling hoods back, revealing a variety of women. They muttered chants, dragging more dark energy forth.

"This won't go well for you," I warned, crouching low.

"Kill them," the Emperor chimed anyway, stepping back beyond his guards. There were six women in total and they tried hard to keep up with me.

I leapt forward, my hands clenching around the nearest neck to me before wrenching to the side. With a snap, she fell to the ground, her energy fizzling out.

Five heads swiveled up to me, fury, pain, and fear filling their features. Hands lifted, pulling dark clouded energy from the ground beneath us.

I pushed more energy through my body, becoming a beacon of light that burned away the dark. I leapt toward my savior, clasped his arm, and dragged him away with me to safety.