Page 20 of Crazy as Hell

Viktor reacted instantly, throwing up more defenses and twisting his body away to avoid the worst of the impact, but she was more powerful than he’d expected. The magical shockwave struck him like a physical blow, driving him backward several steps. Cassian wasn’t so lucky. The blast sent him flying back against the trunk of the tree, knocking the breath out of him. He grunted at the impact, then hit the ground hard, landing flat on his back.

As strong as he was, Viktor knew he would have trouble defeating a god. Still, he was willing to try. He stepped in front of Cassian, shielding him with his own body when the female raised her hand to attack again. Before she could, she let out a loud gasp as the tip of a glowing purple sword suddenly punched through her chest from behind.

Her entire body went rigid. For several seconds, everything seemed to come to a halt. No one moved. The leaves stopped rustling. Even the wind stopped blowing. She simply stood there as if trying to process what had just happened. Slowly, her gaze lowered to the brilliant point of the glowing sword protruding from the center of her chest.

Blood seeped from the wound, slowly staining the bright blue fabric of her suit. Her eyes widened, and she tried to speak, but no sound came out. She slowly turned her head as though trying to see who had delivered the fatal blow, but before she could, the sword was violently ripped free. The sudden release of the blade made her crumple to the ground with a heavy thud.

As soon as she took her final breath, her body disintegrated into tiny particles that were scattered into the wind until nothing was left.

Viktor’s breath caught in his throat when he finally got a look at the female holding the purple sword. Even in the dark shadows, she was utterly magnificent. Her glowing eyes flickered like green fire, and she had a faint halo of light emanating from her like an aura of power.

He blinked, and the light instantly vanished, disappearing as if it had never been. He couldn’t sense her magic at all, but she was obviously a powerful supernatural. And yet, despite every instinct warning him to be cautious, he knew she wasn’t a threat to him.

Because she was his mate.

That realization struck him the moment their eyes met. Something inside him shifted. A powerful, instinctive certainty settled over him, leaving no room for doubt. He felt an intense wave of loss and longing that was accompanied by a strange ache in his chest. It was as if seeing her made him realize something vital had been missing from his life.

For years, he had wondered if he would ever be fortunate enough to find her. He had imagined what it would feel like to finally meet the female destined to share his life, but none of those fantasies could have prepared him for the reality of her. The connection between them was immediate and overwhelming.

His soul recognized her.

Now that she was standing in front of him, the emptiness inside of him vanished. The restless ache he had never been able to name suddenly made perfect sense. She was the missing piece, the answer to a longing he hadn’t even realized he carried. She belonged to him. That thought echoed through every part of his being, filling him with joy.

“Good riddance.” Her lips curved into a beatific smile. “Hi. I’m Naomi Locke, and I’ll be your savior today. Please follow me to the closest exit before the bad guy cavalry arrives.”

“Who in hellfire is she?” Cassian groaned as he sat up.

“My mate. Watch your tone when you speak to her,” Viktor growled. There was a sharp pain in his head as another wave of déjà vu slammed into him. The ache in his chest also intensified, and he pressed a hand there as if that would somehow stop the strange sensation.

“Jokes aside, we need to leave. Now,” Naomi commanded.

Hearing that was enough for Viktor.

He lunged forward and wrapped his hand around her wrist, slapping his other hand on Cassian’s shoulder. In an instant, he teleported them directly to his private villa located on a small island in the South Pacific. The island itself was a secluded paradise, hidden from mortal maps and shielded by powerful wards that made it feel untouched by the rest of the world.

That made it one of the safest places in the Human Realm.

The three-story private villa was located at the edge of a crescent-shaped beach. Constructed out of pale stone, smooth wood, and walls of glass, it blended seamlessly into the tropical landscape surrounding it. Palm trees swayed lazily in the breeze, their fronds lightly brushing against the wide balconies that overlooked the crystal clear water. Beyond the white sand beach, the lagoon shimmered in shifting shades of turquoise and sapphire, protected by a distant reef where waves broke in soft, foaming lines.

Behind the villa, dense greenery climbed the hills, bright with flowering vines, trees with glossy leaves, and bursts of color from exotic blooms. The salty air was filled with the fragrance of those tropical flowers and the faint sweetness of the fruit growing on the trees. Near the center of the small island, water spilled down the rocks in a quiet waterfall, flowing into a stream of fresh water. The gentle sound mingled with the steady hush of the ocean, making the entire villa designed like a serene temple.

The villa itself was open and airy. High ceilings with exposed beams stretched above polished stone floors, while gauzy white curtains drifted in the breeze from wide doors that stood open to the balconies and terraces. Spells kept the elements at bay, allowing for the doors and windows to continuously remain open.

Comfortable seating areas were arranged on each floor to take advantage of the breathtaking views. Every room was decorated with simple elegance, highlighted with rich fabrics, handcrafted furniture, and other small touches of comfort.

For Viktor, the villa had always been more than a retreat. It was a refuge, a place he had created for moments when the rest of the world became too loud or too dangerous. No one came there unless he expressly allowed it, and no enemy had ever breached the island’s defenses. Under ordinary circumstances, bringing a stranger there would have been unthinkable. But the female standing before him wasn’t unknown to him, and the situation they had just escaped was anything but ordinary.

Naomi glanced around the large living room and nodded in approval. Some people might have thought the combination of pale wood and stone and bold black accents in the room was boring, but she liked the simplicity. The only splashes of color were the bold fabrics used for the cushions on the cream-colored sofa and chairs and the stunning artwork framed on the walls.

She was aware that Viktor was still holding onto her wrist, but didn’t bother pulling away from him. Actually, she liked the contact, and felt like it grounded her to reality in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time. Glancing at her mate, she felt her stomach flutter with excitement.

The last time she had seen Viktor, he had been suspended over a pit of devil fire, bruised, bloodied, and far too close to death for her to truly notice anything beyond the horror of their situation. She remembered the pain in his voice. The dullness of his glowing blue eyes. The desperation in the way he had said her name.

Now, standing in the bright, airy living room of his private villa, she finally had the chance to really look at him.

Holy hellfire, Viktor Ze was devastatingly handsome.

His dark silver hair was cut short in a style that likely helped him blend in with humans, but there was nothing ordinary about him. The color gleamed like moonlight over steel, stark and striking against the hard angles of his face. He had sharp cheekbones, a strong jaw, and a mouth that looked far too tempting. But it was his eyes that hit her the hardest. Glowing blue and impossibly bright, they shone like twin stars, ancient and beautiful, and focused entirely on her.