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Maren sucked in sharply between her teeth.
The Chastry might discourage worship of the older gods, but even they never spoke against Ceres.
If she died, then would their world die with her?
“It is a heavy burden.” Crystalline tears ran down the goddess’s cheeks. “The task that lies before my harbinger is great and rife with suffering. If you accept this calling, you will bleed and you will struggle and you will grieve. And yet, the chance of holding that happiness you tasted will burn brighter with each act.”
It sounded impossible—something for a great hero, and not a girl who knew only of towers and forced visions. But she couldn’t forget the feeling of her knight’s arm around her waist, his teeth branding her neck…
Maren swallowed hard. “Can… can I save him?”
“Oh, my dearest child,” Ceres said. “You can help save them all.”
“Then I accept.” Maren firmed her jaw.
“I thank you.” The goddess kissed her forehead. “Blessed be, my child.”
When the goddess’s lips touched her skin, energy rippled outward. It traveled across Maren’s body, a quick almost-burn, as if she’d stood too close to a bolt of lightning. The sensation lingered on her cheekbones, and spread into her hair, almost as if wings of power wrapped across her face.
“Now go,” Ceres said. “The road is long, and you have many beats of your wings ahead of you.”
Maren turned to find the door to her room was unlocked.
“How did you—” She turned back to the goddess, but Ceres had vanished, and all that remained was a smattering of moss across the cold stone floor. Thank you, she thought, for this chance.
She had no wish to carry those items the Chastry had forced upon her. There would be no tinctures for this journey. If she had a vision, it would come when it willed. So she would leave their idols and their brews, and leave with nothing but her clothing and her desire to find her knight.
It was the work of a moment to gather up her few items and cross the room to the heavy wooden door.
Her fingers closed on the handle.
Who are you, that the goddess would come to you? The voice of the priest seemed to whisper in her ear. It must be demons, come to lead you astray. For no god would choose a child of the Nameless as their vessel.
The whisper made terrible sense—it matched everything she’d been taught since she’d been brought to the tower. Yet she couldn’t believe that Ceres had been a demon.
Demons didn’t mourn. Nor did they give their victims hope.
And it was hope that burned in her chest now.
If a storm was needed, then she would bring it. She would take all the pain and fury from her years in this tower and use it to fuel her journey. She would become a starling forged of lightning, who beat her wings across the land until she could claim her home—and her love.
“Hold on,” she whispered to the memory of her knight. “I’m coming.”
With only a set of clothes wrapped in a sheet and a simple cloak, she walked out the door.
NOT THE END
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this window into the monstrous knights of the spreading dark. Alas, forces conspired against me having the preorder quite ready for the first book in this series—and my knights are far too deliciously tortured to have anything but the best.
Want to know when the first book goes up for preorder? Sign up to my alter-ego’s newsletter and I’ll be sure to tell you.
If you weren’t already aware, you’ll be delighted to know that Dee St. Holm has a The Monstrous Duke and I out now in the world of The Monsters Ball—a shared world featuring twelve stand-alone stories by twelve monster romance authors. While each tale stands alone, you’ll enjoy interconnected relationships and a veritable cornucopia of easter eggs. You can see all the books here.
Fancy a little more murder with your ballrooms? You can preorder The Harpy And The Gentleman, a regency monster mystery romance now!
Sassy harpy heiress, Lady Enid DeWhitt, is an independent lady of means. Theo Essex a penniless noble with a brilliant legal mind. Together they become embroiled in a deadly conspiracy and entangled by a fiery passion—both of which threatens to consume them.
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