Page 20 of Vampire's Promise
“I don’t even know what that means, other than you guard mortals?”
“I’ll tell you once we know for certain we won’t become a meal for some strange beast.”
The screech came again, but this time it had moved further away, which was hopefully a good sign. Both she and Kian relaxed and continued eating in silence. When they’d finished the last sandwich, she finally spoke.
“The guardians were created by your uncle, Zarek, a very long time ago to help protect the mortals. I suppose, he worried their enemies might follow them and try to harm the humans to get to the gods after the war. As far as I know, we’ve only ever fought with demons to keep the mortal world safe.” She stared into the fire. “Though there was a spell where we thought there would be a war with the Draki, but that was caused by Hades’ grandson, who is now a soul in purgatory. Lowan caused a lot of problems for us and the humans.”
“Do you mean the Great War?”
She lifted her head. “Great War?”
He nodded. “There is an empty temple back home that belonged to four brothers. It is forbidden to go there, and their names have never been spoken. Stories say they brought shame upon our world and caused the death of those we cared for. It was those gods who started the Great War of god against god.”
“That would be your family they speak of, and it wasn’t them who started it. It was the murder of your mother.” Suddenly, an idea struck her. “What happened to the mortals in your world?”
He had been staring outside the cave and brought his focus back to her. “The gods that started the war slaughtered them.”
“All of them?”
“Yes.”
“And this is what you are taught as a child?” she asked in disbelief.
“It is. Why?” He went back to studying the darkness outside. Was this conversation making him uncomfortable?
“Your history is wrong. It was your mother who was slain because she was human and loved by a god.Thatwas what caused the war.” She moved until she sat next to him, forcing him to look at her. “It was your family that saved many of the humans by relocating them.” She frowned. “Does it not seem odd that all the mortals that worshipped the gods and goddesses of your world are gone? Who worships you now?”
“No one.” He looked away again, and she knew he was hiding something.
“Kian, what are you not sharing?”
He worked his jaw and inhaled a breath, letting it out slowly. “Ardea, she is a goddess of truth and she told me of my mother and father.” He looked at her, his eyes filled with pain and something else. Something that tore at her. Fear.
“She told me my father was the god of vision and my mother mortal. I was in your world to find him.”
“And that was when dick-head dragged you away. I saw you in a vision. Saw what happened and went to your father to tell him. Your entire family is looking for you and probably me by now.”
“I need to get to him.” He fingered his thick, dark hair until it became a sexy mess. “I had a vision as well. One that I’ve shared with no one as who would believe me?”
“What did you see, Kian? You can trust me.”
He looked as if he might not speak, and then he did. “The destruction of––” His words were cut off by the rock beneath them moving violently. The exact spot where they sat gave way, and they fell. Darkness swallowed them in its gaping mouth and shut out all sound except for Gwen’s scream.
Argathos feltthe ground shift beneath him as he stared at his siblings. It was so strong that a nearby bust of their mother fell off its pedestal and smashed into several pieces.
Aidyn raised a brow. “Is that an omen?”
The shaking stopped, and everyone stared at each other for a moment before moving on with their plans. Zarek was the first to step forward.
“I’ve dropped the protections around the temple. They know we are here.”
“And you already have a visitor,” Mia, Hades’ mate, said. “The goddess of truth. Would you like me to show her in?”
Zarek gave a nod. “We will see her in the main hall.” Then he spun and walked away, leaving his brothers to follow. Once they were inside the cathedral-sized room, Zarek and Qadira took to their thrones while Argathos, Hades and Aidyn took their seats next to their brother. Moments later, the wooden double doorswere opened and Ardea walked down the deep purple carpet until she stopped several feet away from Zarek. Bowing her head, she dipped to one knee, her snow-white gown pooling on the carpet around her and her warm brunette hair fell forward.
“Majesty. I am honored you receive me and most happy you have returned.” She lifted her head, her blue eyes sparked with truth. “I am happy to see all of you healthy and well.”
“Ardea,” Zarek said. “Your presence is most welcome, as you are one of the few I trust. Tell us, what has been going on since we left.”
