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SERIES WILL CONTINUE.
READ ON FOR A SNEAK PEEK OF THE NEXT BOOK.
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You are cordially invited to the Annual Trevis Games. Please have nominations of five fighters within the week. Accordance to the treaty and entertainment agreement, placement will continue to be held in the city of Celtia governed and overlooked by War Angel, Gabe Christain, within the Coliseum. There will be a total of fifty fighters from ten different ruling regions. Assure that your nomination meets the deadline or you will forfeit your position.
Let the games begin.
Sincerely,
The High Council
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So, the games begin. I released a small tendril of my darkness to envelope the invitation in flames. I sat swirling the blood in my wine glass in contemplation. My room engulfed in darkness like always. The crackling flames of the fire pit was the only source of light within the room. Shadows leaked from me and danced over the walls in swirls as if trying to fight off the light from the soulless shades arrayed from the flames. My shadows were always living and breathing. They were after all an extension of myself. I could never fully contain the power within me. To do so would near suffocate me. My darkness always swirled around me, if only to give me breathing space.
It had been a long time since I was able to release that pent up frustration and I built up for only one reason, and that was the war to come. I looked down at the dead woman who bled out at my feet. She had displeased me greatly. My hunger and need for Vivian was only thirsting more, now not even an outsource harem could quench any appetite. I looked at her now crusty face that was covered by her yellow hair. Her mouth and eyes were wide open in horror. The most beautiful of her court, they said. What rubbish. She was nothing but a sincere whore trying to steal my power. Thus the ability of her kind to drain and eat away at another’s strength and power. But to so carelessly attempt to prey on me, especially while I was on edge was ludacris and something I wouldn’t stand for.
I swatted my hand in the air so a small amount of invisible force would push her hand off my chess board in front of me. I gazed at it longingly and took another sip. My hackles were rising and I wanted this game to come to a close. I didn’t anticipate the Volv to make a move so quickly. The massacre on the city weeks ago was only a side result of them not being able to take Vi. Because of that though it put her under scrutiny and so I couldn’t send her out for many jobs until the media simmered down. My poor kitten was getting frisky just from staying in the house for so long. That attack had slowed my plans and now I have to deal with them alternatively. The interlacing and timing of the Trevis Games might be very convenient. A smile pressed on my lips. I knew exactly how I could place Vi in this pile because no matter what, almost all of it centred around her whether she realized it or not. I just had to keep her alive long enough to reap those rewards.
All I could see was Vi on the board. Her face, her lips, her body–sprawled in front of me for my delicacy. I needed to take her. Had to claim her as mine. But I knew the moment wasn’t right. I rubbed at my clean shaven jaw that hasn’t grown hair for lifetimes now. I required control for how I would next play this out.
Another player had recently introduced himself in my game and I found many ways for him to partake. I took another gulp of the heated blood that never cooled trying to bite back my hatred for Gabe. He had imprinted on what was mine with that stupid fucking Angel Kiss ritual. I tapped on my glass in impatience. It could however work in my favour. But I would me contending with my own self-control. I could destroy him from the inside–through that bond I could force Vi to drive him mad. He now knew it was me who killed his friend, Luke, and yet he hasn’t said anything to the Angel Council. Because he couldn’t, he didn’t have enough proof.
I smiled again at the chess board moving my prized piece and admiring its positioning. That plan might work very nicely, I thought to myself as I scanned the board and saw all the pieces I could wipe out from that position. Yes, I liked that plan a lot. From the Queen Chess piece to the images of my Guardian Vi, all I wanted was to lap in the silky milk of my kitten. My cock thickened in size just thinking about it and again I growled in frustration. My claws edged further out from the tips of my fingers and clawed at my leather seat. This blood flow would only pound for her and I needed her to truly suck that out of me, if only to relieve me for a few minutes.
“Destiny,” I summoned. Within seconds she had used the bracelet I had given her to teleport into my room directly. Her hair was in upheaval and her eyes were still dazed. She must’ve just been sleeping. She looked over my naked form that sat on the leather couch and glorified at my hard cock.
A shade of jealousy crossed her face as she looked over the woman who had tried to please me only an hour before her body now going cold. That temper of Destiny’s flared in her eyes like her fire demon might burst through. I gave her an effective look. I didn’t desire her nor appreciate her jealousy. She swallowed hard and walked over to me sassily. She dropped to her knees obediently and suctioned her lips around my cock. I arched into her, threading my fingers through her hair.
This is why I summoned Destiny so much. Because her hair was similar in length and curls to my beautiful Vi’s. Although her hair, scent, and everything else was different, I could still envision this to be the very thing I had been meaning to claim for thousands of years.
My Vi, before you know it, you will be mine. I pressed her head down further and sighed at the noise of her choking and unpreparedness to take more of me.
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“And remind me why the fuck I have to do this again?” I snapped at the pompous photographer. I was balancing on a light see-through floor floating on the lake just behind our Lakehouse. Little digital balls hovered in the air to create projections and reflect the sun so it wouldn’t interfere with the lighting of the shot.
Since the massacre within Shabeah and the attack made by the Volv I was under heavy scrutiny as to whether I was a part of the attack. I was basically housebound for two weeks now and instead of kicking ass I was requested to promote a new bikini line, to make my fame look once again a little more humane.
“Because we need to erase images of you covered in blood as a Hellhound rampaging through the city with stunning human-like images to glorify you in a different light,” the blonde bimbo with a high pointed ponytail said from behind the plump photographer.
“Who the fuck are you again?” I asked her. She had cosmetic planted pointed ears, cheekbones and eyebrows. I could’ve grafted her face myself for free if she really wanted. Small pink pointed lumps textured her skin. I don’t know what fashion craze or demon she was trying to be but I certainly didn’t see the allure. She huffed at me, those fake slitted cat eyes trying to pin me.
“We’ve gone over this. I’m your publicist,” she growled calling over the hair stylist. I slapped his slow-moving hand away as he attempted to ‘fix’ me.
“The fuck do I need a publicist for? I’m a Guardian not a model,” I hissed at the photographer who tried to sneak in a few photos.
“I’ve been to all of your photoshoots already,” the human publicist snarled. “I’ve been working with all of you Guardians since day one. You remember me so quit pretending like you don’t!” I bruised her ego more than frustrating her over the photo shoot itself.
“It’s going into Winter and you have me out here in Bikinis!” I spat crossing my legs and sitting with my hands strapped over my chest snarling.
“Oh for god’s sake you don’t even feel the cold!” The publicist snapped. I ignored her and looked down on my silky floral pink one piece that was vibrant against my too pale skin. The edges of the swimsuit were crisp and flicked out like metal sheeting. Large slick shoulder pads rounded near my face. Parts of my glowing tattoos were visible on the edges of my collar bone. The pink tattoo that marred my shoulder thanks to Gabe himself was completely covered. I covered it every day with a concealer so no one would ever see the marking of the Angel Kiss that connected us. That would be dangerous for the both of us if anyone else found out. Besides the two of us, only Haymen knew and that was one person too many. I began playing with my numerous earrings in boredom.
“I am over this! It’s infuriating I just can’t work with you!” She threw her hands up in the air and turned to take a breather. I charmed a wicked smile. It was true, I didn’t feel the cold but I couldn’t help but want to piss her off.
Click. I looked at the photographer in shock as she smiled over the photo she had just taken. “Perfect,” she said. Her short curly black hair bobbed as she nodded vigorously in approval. The publicist swung around and smiled at the result. I breathed out heavily in the grumps. I was done with this glamor thing. I was penting up with far too much sexual frustration and hunger to hunt. Surely, Haymen knew what he was doing to me. I was riding stir crazy up the walls. I looked over to the back of my Lakehouse noticing the orange alleyway cat that hung around more often during these two weeks. Even from this distance it looked as if it were almost smug. I growled under my breath. A swirl of wind swept through and everyone gasped in a cold shudder, tightening their thick coats. I didn’t feel the chill they felt but breathed out the piece of my crimson hair that had blown into my face.
“Why the fuck are we even promoting a bikini line in Winter?” I asked tapping an extended claw onto the glass flooring. Part of my succubus was now crumbling and revealing herself.
“Just do as you are told. I am here–” The publicist began until her eyes widened in horror. I smirked down at the small crack that began on the see-through flooring. I only eyed her but noticed the six others, including the photographer squirm. “Now Vivian,” she began. I clicked my extended claw that was my succubus’s against the flooring again to shut her up. The crack spread wider.
The vicious smile spread on my face. “Dear chatty publicist,” I said sweetly, my menacing smile unable to be contained. “I am a rather good swimmer,” I said having in mind my water demon. “Are you?”
“Haymen will be angry! The amount of money it would cost to replace this equipment and–”
My cheeks rose further into a devilish smile making my eyes almost squint. My smile was far too big. I tapped one more time into the hub of the crack with triumph. It began cracking all the way through and made a defiant split. I jumped back into the water turning into my water demon and splashing into its depths. Gills split open along my ribs, under my arms and legs. My ears elongated into thin tips as I reached for the surface again and broke the surface so I could watch.
The entire flooring cracked in half. The six of them began to awkwardly squirm and scream as they yelled out to others on the docks. I watched in triumph as they sank and screamed into the icy cold water that I personally found rather refreshing. The screams of mortification and swearing from their embarrassment was music to my ears.
i lapped them as they swam back, making sure they made it. I swam briskly throughout on my back luxuriously enjoying the swim. Miss publicist would often spit acid like words of having Haymen reprimand me. Pfft. Like she had the power to convince him to do so.
I made sure they got there safely. It was a prank after all not a death sentence. When a small boat came out to collect them I knew that they were safe and continued towards my lakehouse. I jumped out of the water and onto my personal veranda to my room. I shifted in the air, my light blue tattoos glowing as I returned to my usual form. As soon as my feet lightly padded the ground I ripped off the tragic one piece that was iconic to fashion these days.
I stood there naked with a smile on my face as I watched the humans be rescued.
Meow. I looked up onto the rooftop to the orange alley cat that didn’t fear me, surprisingly. It jumped off and onto the back of my neck. Its claws digging in as it almost slipped off. It was a welcomed pain. The cat only began visiting three weeks ago and I couldn’t sense anything demonic about it. It seemed to enjoy me most when I shifted into my cat demon form and she didn’t seem to mind the curious alleyway cat. Now it loitered around from time to time. I haven’t begun feeding it yet but it was often on my mind. The stupidity of a Guardian having and feeding a house cat was what had stopped me.
I scratched it behind its ear as I walked over to the open box on my office table. I padded around the bottom and collected the first romance book on top of the pile. I had ordered twenty just to try and get through the few quiet weeks I was housebound. I walked over to my bed, still dripping from my luxurious swim and sat upright against the headboard in my bed and began to read. The alleyway cat jumped off my shoulder and began to rub against my leg in appreciation of idly being patted as I began on the first chapter.
I didn’t dare use the Trinity necklace while I was housebound because Haymen had been sporadically checking up on me more often than usual. He already knew that I had the necklace but I didn’t want him to see the compulsion I had towards it. There was something very special in that world and broken city, something that I felt connected to and instinctually I knew that I had to keep Haymen away from that. I had to keep him away from anything that sparked my interest or was deemed special to me.
I waited out my opportunity. Since the city and personal attack on myself the Shadow Mind dreams and attacks had lessened. For now, everything seemed to be at a stand still. The calm before the storm, I thought. I flicked over to the next page accidently slicing my finger. A small nick but I allowed the dark black substance to make one fine droplet on my book. I breathed out a frustrated sigh as my thoughts unknowingly rested on Gabe and when I saw him last those two weeks ago. I heated in my core instantly, sexually frustrated and derived from the one creature my body wanted to claim. I curse this Angel Kiss. I growled and pushed the alleyway cat off me, walking over to have an icy cold shower. I hated how my body reacted only to the thought of him.
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I gazed out the window as a lightning bolt struck outside the city. I was sitting in my office chair, stretching out my wings along the span of my slick wooden desk. They stretched powerfully, igniting a small burn along their frame and muscle. I tenderly lowered them again. I rubbed the knots in the back of my neck, rolling my shoulders. I was only now coming near the end of piles of paperwork that was left while I was in Shabeah, the renowned city of demons. It had been two weeks since then and I was caught up with the concerns and attacks within my own city. Sixteen humans and one fellow angel had been killed. One of my soldiers had been compromised by the Volv and gone rampant during the same hour as the attack within Shabeah. It took only a few minutes for him to be taken down but the loss was a heavy blow.
Torrin, my second in charge, had ruled over my city in my absence. He maintained it as expected except for the paperwork he conveniently forgot about. Only he could ever get away with it. Sly bastard, I smirked to myself. Torrin was the only person I had told in depth about my discoveries while in Shabeah. About the Volv, that Haymen was Luke’s rightful killer... and about Vivian. Torrin, my old friend and one of the few warriors that survived alongside me during the last Great War didn’t say much about the Angel Kiss that now intertwined Vivian and me. The damage had already been done.
Another bolt struck the ground in the distance. The rain poured against the glass in buckets. I stood up and pressed my hand to the glass, looking over my city, Celtia. My breath fogged it before me. The bright lights of the night and city glowed. Restaurants hovered in the air reacting to the magnetic force beneath the city. The waterfall within the center of the city flowed up instead of down. A central park for only angels to play on top of. It was bare now because of the late hour.
I myself was standing in the highest building. At the very top of my own enterprise where I overlooked the city. Forty levels up, my office was on the thirty-ninth level. My second apartment was at the very top. It was to accommodate for those times and days I couldn’t leave the office. It seemed a constant these days. I couldn’t remember the last day I had actually spent in my own mansion which overlooked the city opposing me. I imagined it in the distance, hovering like most of the CBD singular mansions.
I have a revolving office so as I waited patiently, I was able to see all parts of the city. Hundreds of cars still functioned at high speeds despite the hour. Colorful garments and furs caught my attention on the big screen central over the stadium as a game played. It was a traditional sport played by Angels involving one singular ball amongst a brut of two angel teams. To say the least it was rather brutal. We had an outside team come in tonight, I could hear the stadium roaring from here.
Across the stadium was the Coliseum. I sighed in angst. It couldn’t have come at a worse time yet I couldn’t delay it either. The lights were bright as cleaners and painters varnished the seating and walls. Only a few weeks now until the Trevis Games begin. It was built on the old city, parts of it still surrounded by ruins and cobbled stone. Opposed to the rest of the high-tech city, it momentarily looked like a part of Shabeah had been placed there. It disgusted me to see. I never wanted a reminder of that demonic, disgusting city again.
Even with that said... I teleported out into an alleyway within Shabeah. It was the same spot that I had first met the orange alleyway cat and she ventured to the same spot every night. She meowed when I appeared and jogged over to me. I scoped to make sure that no one was watching. I had met this alleyway cat when I was first investigating Vivian. This was where Vivian had killed the monster who abused and murdered children within the orphanage that he looked after. That was the evil that would’ve drawn the Volv in there to kill and cripple so many of those tiny minds.
This alleyway was when I first heard the jingle of Vivian’s cat demon and from there we ran to the pier and fought. It seemed like a lifetime ago and yet it was so close to my heart that it hurt. I could sense her within the city and I knew more than likely when I teleported into this city for only those few seconds she probably sensed me. As tempted as I was to see her, I had to make sure that never happened. Ever.
I picked the cat up and teleported back to my office. The alleyway cat was very open to me and had played to be my spy master ever since our first encounter. Much to my surprise it quite enjoyed Vivian’s company so it didn’t mind sharing its encounters and impressions of her. It began visiting her when I first stayed in her Lakehouse. We were divided by rooms but what she was up to I was later informed by this furball.
The bright lights of my circular room hurt my eyes in comparison to the darkness of the stinky streets of Shabeah. I sat down in my chair scratching the back of the cat’s ear. She dared to play with me, fearless she was. She struck at my fingers; rather savvy. I smiled at her as she opened her mind to me and showed me her memories and impressions of Vivian.
The furball had been watching her from a distance when she was posing in bikinis. Some absurd fitting one piece. Although I couldn’t deny that she certainly made it look fantastic. It had nothing to do with bikinis. It was just her. All curves and pouting lips. I smiled when she looked directly at the cat almost pissed off as she watched on. I even sensed that the little furball found humor in it herself. I was surprised when Vivian played a prank on them and shattered the sleek, invisible flooring they stood on. I shook my head almost laughing with her.
She was as menacing as always. And despite being filled with demons and destined for evil, she hovered close until safety was close by. That was something I imagined no one noticed about her and she would never admit herself. The same happened with the children at the orphanage. She mightn’t speak or intend to do good deeds. She wasn’t good. But against her own beliefs she had a conscience.
Either that or I was hoping she did. The pull was far too great to deny after the Angel Kiss and I wondered if I were simply seeing things that I wanted to. To justify that the person I chose to perform such a ritual on was deserving. I hoped that over time, being separated by space, I would be able to move on and not find this heavy weight in my chest that yearned for her. I performed the ritual so that my debt was repaid and her life was saved. Now, I wasn’t so sure if that was the only reason I had decided to keep her alive. I growled in frustration unsure as to what my own feelings were anymore. Was it all from the ritual or was this truth from my heart?
The ginger alleyway cat clawed at my hand to shake me from my daze. Snarky little thing. She drew me back into her own memories of Vivian. She was very fond of her and was almost gloating that she could share that comfort with her instead of me. Vivian manifested out of the water, dripping and very naked. I pushed away from the memory for a moment. The way the alleyway cat and I saw her was very different.
My body coated almost in a cold sweat with desire. My cock was aching rock hard from the vision alone. What has that woman done to me? I ached to touch her, to thread my hands through her soft hair, to kiss her and fully complete the ritual–to entirely claim her as my own. Small patches and memories of her grabbing a romance novel and reading it began shifting through my mind. I internally laughed that she was still reading them but my body caved in heats of fluctuating desire distracting me from all sense of humor.
The cat showered me with images of itself rubbing against her naked and still dripping body on the bed. I shot right up eyeing the evil creature who sauntered off fully aware of the strings she was playing. I stood up again and shuffled uncomfortably. I was rock hard and envisioning the beads of water that slowly dripped from her thighs. I looked down on my right forearm at the three distinctive lines and tattoo that matched the one on Vivian’s shoulder. Our imprint.
“You’re a little shit,” I said to the cat before placing my finger on the corner of the circular glass at the bay of the window. The cat meowed in response walking over to its food and water bowl. From my touch the glass slowly opened and removed the protection between myself and the pelting rain. I freefell from the window enjoying the cold beating snap of the thundering rain. I dropped close to the ground, liberated by the fall until I snapped my wings wide and beat them back to the top. I swept through the pounding rain, coating my body entirely with freezing cold water.
Images of her naked frame continued to creep in. Her delicate swirls of tattoos, her curves, silken skin, the long-curled hair. I scanned over the city within the pelting rain trying to take my mind off the images.
The Volv had been after her. Of that much I was certain. For unknown reasons, Haymen kept her as a prized mare and after seeing how he had been a part of her death and rebirth, I knew that he had history or knowledge of who she truly was. There was something special about her which is why I kept a watchful eye on her through the alleyway cat. No one else loitered around her for the time being which meant for now she was safe. I had no doubt that she could look after herself but what she was up against was more than her typical demons. If Haymen and I hadn’t intervened that time the Volv ganged up on her... who knows what might’ve happened to her. I ground my teeth at the thought. And it had been Haymen who absolutely obliterated them. His power when unchecked was a lethal rage. It was my only assurance that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her but it didn’t devoid the question as to whether he would put her in harm’s way for his own gain.
My head began to ache and my wings were freezing and numb from the wind and cold. I snapped my wings shut and freefell again.
I just had to make sure that I never saw her again because if I did... I wasn’t sure what I would do or if I would let Haymen walk away with her again.
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Thank you to everyone who has been a part of and supported my author career so far. My journey has been trialing but every step of the way I’ve been encouraged by all of you.
A special mention to my younger sister, Jasmin who for the longest of times has been my biggest cheerleader. No doubt in mind of my endless possibilities and many coffees and late night chats. You don’t know how much you inspire me and I am grateful to have you backing me up in my corner.
I love you all and honestly find the courage and strength to continue writing because of how much support and kind words you offer. I hope you enjoyed this read x
Kia grew up in the Darling Downs Region in Queensland, Australia. Graduating High School, she pursued a career in freelance journalism. In 2014, having always had a passion for writing fiction, she decided to follow her dream of becoming an accomplished author.
During the weekdays Kia works at her Monday to Friday job in Logistics and Transport. She leaves her book worlds to the night and weekends, being well described as a driven young woman.
Now living in Brisbane, Australia, Kia has a can do attitude, a strong will and the touch of kindness that makes it hard not to fall in love with her. Announced 'The Best New Author of 2015' by AusRomToday, she has no intentions of stopping. Kia Carrington-Russell is definitely the new author to be looking out for.
Learn more about Kia at www.kiacarrington-russell.com/ and follow @kia_crystal on Instagram.
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The Three Immortal Blades
Possession Of My Soul
Possession Of My Heart
Possession Of My Fate
Phantom Wolf Series
Phantom Wolf
Sia
Phantom Eye
Phantom King
Token Huntress Series
Token Huntress
Token Vampire
Token Wolf
The Shadow Minds Journal Series
My Escort Series
My Escort
My Exception
My Expectation
Taming Himself Series
Aroused
Taste
