"Blood of my blood, breath of my breath." He took her hand in his. "Until the end of time."
"Blood of my blood, breath of my breath. Until the end of time."
A new bond clicked into place--a stronger bond. Freely chosen, nothing but truth between them. Connection! She reveled.
"You are my wife," he said, tracing his thumbs over her cheeks.
"And you are my husband."
Pride glittered in his dark eyes. Dark, but so bright. The stars were aglow. "We are going to have a beautiful life together."
"Always and forever." Gillian would fight for him, and make his happiness a priority.
And she would succeed. She could do anything! After all, the frightened mouse had blossomed into a warrior. The teenager afraid of men had grown into a woman who'd fallen in love with the most savage immortal ever to live. An ordinary girl had risen from the ashes of her own destruction to become queen of an entire realm.
Well, she would be queen of the entire realm soon enough.
Best of all? A beast with a frozen heart had melted, becoming the sexiest incarnation of Prince Charming ever to live.
My Prince Charming, anyway.
Smiling, Gillian said, "Introduce me to our people. I'm ready to begin our happily-ever-after."
Epilogue
Puck and Gillian had been bonded--again--for a little over a month. Not long in the scheme of things, but blissful nonetheless. They had introduced the Shawazons to the Connachts, and only fifty-three fights had broken out, with only eighteen near-deaths.
Puck considered it a raging success.
Cameron and Winter had returned to the mortal world to help Galen for reasons they hadn't shared with Puck. The girl Galen desired--Legion--had disappeared for the third--fourth?--time, and Galen was frantic to find her.
Rumors also suggested William was on a rampage about his book of prophecies and codes, and the "geek" he might or might not have found. A friend of the Lords of the Underworld--a demon-possessed woman named Viola--was now missing, and so was the fallen Sent One who'd been chasing her for whatever reason.
But, while things outside of Amaranthia were chaotic, things inside could not have been better.
Today Puck and Gillian had been officially crowned as king and queen of the Connachts and Shawazons. Soon to be High King and Queen of Amaranthia. He'd watched his wife dazzle their people with her beauty, wit, charm and strength, and nearly burst with pride.
She'd worn a fitted black dress with an open back, silver beads hanging from a high neck collar, draping over her shoulders in varying lengths, with blades tied to the ends. He'd wanted to rip each layer away with his teeth...and had, only hours ago.
Now she was curled up in his arms, drawing little hearts over his chest.
There would be resistance when they united the other clans, but they would overcome. They always did.
As for Sin, Puck had scheduled a meeting with the Sent Ones to negotiate his brother's punishment and return.
Could life be any more perfect?
He and Gillian had made the decision to start their family. One day soon, little dark-haired princes and princesses with whiskey-colored eyes would be running around their fortress.
Puck would be forever grateful that Gillian had trusted him with her new beginning, and honored to ensure she remained happy for the rest of eternity.
"I'm cold," she said as she shivered against him. "I need your fur."
He shifted into his beastly form, and she uttered a sigh of contentment. "Better?" he asked.
"Much."
He kissed her temple and combed his fingers through her hair, content, satisfied and, because of this woman, anticipatory. Every day with Gillian was sweeter than the last. Had he known what awaited him, he would have borne his sufferings with a smile.
Some fairy tales do not have a happily-ever-after...but this one did.
*
Dear Readers, If you are interested in reading the first handful of chapters (in The Darkest Warrior) from Gillian's point of view, check out The Darkest Torment (Baden's story). For those who have already read it, you might have noticed a few differences. I did my best to tighten everything for better flow and impact.
Wishing you all the best!
Gena Showalter
Glossary of Terms
and Players
Aeron--Lord of the Underworld; former keeper of Wrath; husband to Olivia.
All-seeing Eye--Godly artifact with the power to see into heaven and hell; aka Danika Ford.
Amaranthia--Desert realm, home to Puck the Undefeated.
Amun--Lord of the Underworld; keeper of Secrets; husband to Haidee.
Anya--(Minor) goddess of Anarchy, eternally engaged to Lucien.
Ashlyn Darrow--Has supernatural ability to listen to past conversations; wife to Maddox; mother of Urban and Ever.
Axel--Sent One with a secret. Resembles William the Ever Randy.
Baden--Lord of the Underworld; former keeper of Distrust; husband to Katarina.
Bianka Skyhawk--Harpy; sister of Gwen, Kaia and Taliyah; married to Lysander.
Bjorn--Sent One.
Cage of Compulsion--Godly artifact with the power to enslave anyone trapped inside.
Cameo--Lord of the Underworld; keeper of the demon Misery.
Cameron--Keeper of Obsession, brother to Winter.
Cloak of Invisibility--Godly artifact with the power to shield its wearer from prying eyes.
Cronus--Former king of the Titans; former keeper of Greed; husband to Rhea.
Danika Ford--Human female; wife to Reyes; known as the All-seeing Eye.
dimOuniak--Pandora's box.
Downfall--Nightclub for immortals; owned by Thane, Bjorn and Xerxes.
Elin--Phoenix/human hybrid; mate to Thane.
Ever--Daughter to Maddox and Ashlyn, sister to Urban.
Fae--Race of immortals descended from Titans.
Flashing--Transporting oneself with just a thought.
Galen--Lord of the Underworld; keeper of Jealousy and False Hope.
Gideon--Lord of the Underworld; keeper of Lies.
Gillian Shaw--Also known as Gilly Bradshaw; human female recently made immortal. Wife to Puck.
Greeks--Former rulers of Olympus.
Gwen Skyhawk--Harpy; consort of Sabin; daughter of Galen; sister to Kaia, Bianka and Taliyah.
Hades--One of the nine kings of the underworld.
Haidee Alexander--Former Hunter; keeper of Love; mated to Amun.
Hera--Queen of the Greeks; wife to Zeus.
Hunters--Mortal enemies of the Lords of the Underworld; disbanded.
Josephina Aisling--Queen of the Fae; wife to Kane.
Juliette Eagleshield--Also known as the Eradicator; Harpy; self-appointed consort of Lazarus.
Kadence--Goddess of Oppression; deceased yet in spirit form.
Kaia Skyhawk--Part Harpy, part Phoenix; sister of Gwen, Taliyah and Bianka; consort of Strider.
Kane--Lord of the Underworld; keeper of Disaster; husband to Josephina.
Katarina Joelle--Formerly human; Alpha of the Hellhounds; consort of Baden.
Keeleycael--A Curator; the Red Queen; engaged to Torin.
Kings of the Underworld--Nine rulers at war with Lucifer.
Lazarus (the Cruel and Unusual)--An immortal warrior; only son of Typhon and Echidna.
Legion--Demon minion in a human body; adopted daughter of Aeron and Olivia; aka Honey.
Lords of the Underworld--Exiled immortal warriors now hosting the demons once locked inside Pandora's box.
Lucien--Coleader of the Lords of the Underworld; keeper of Death; engaged to Anya.
Lucifer--One of the nine kings of the underworld; son to Hades; brother to William.
Lysander--Elite Sent One; consort to Bianka.
Maddox--Lord of the Underworld; keeper of Violence; father to Urban and Ever; husband to Ashlyn.
Morning Star--Thought to be hidden in Pandora's box; with it anything is possible.
br /> Most High--Also known as One True Deity; leader of the Sent Ones.
Olivia--Sent One; mated to Aeron.
Pandora--Immortal warrior; once guardian of dimOuniak (newly resurrected).
Pandora's box--Also known as dimOuniak; made of bones from the goddess of Oppression; now shaped as a small apple charm; once housed demon high lords.
Paring Rod--Godly artifact with ability to rend soul from body.
Paris--Lord of the Underworld; keeper of Promiscuity; husband to Sienna.
Phoenix--Fire-thriving immortals descended from Greeks.
Puck the Undefeated--Full name Pukinn Neale Brion Connacht IV. Keeper of Indifference; prince of the Connacht clan in the desert realm of Amaranthia. Husband to Gillian Shaw.
Rathbone--One of the kings of the underworld.
Reyes--Lord of the Underworld; keeper of Pain; husband to Danika.
Sabin--Coleader of the Lords of the Underworld; keeper of Doubt; consort of Gwen.
Scarlet--Keeper of Nightmares; wife of Gideon.
Sent Ones--Winged warriors; demon assassins.
Sienna Blackstone--Former Hunter; current keeper of Wrath; current ruler of Olympus; beloved of Paris.
Sin Connacht--Full name Taliesin Anwell Kunsgnos Connacht. Brother to Puck the Undefeated.
Siobhan--Goddess of Many Futures, cursed to live inside a magic mirror.
Strider--Lord of the Underworld; keeper of Defeat.
Taliyah Skyhawk--Harpy; sister of Gwen, Bianka and Kaia.
Tartarus--Greek god of Confinement; also the immortal prison on Mount Olympus.
Thane--Sent One; mate to Elin.
Titans--Rulers of Titania; children of fallen angels and humans.
Torin--Lord of the Underworld; keeper of Disease; engaged to Keeleycael.
Typhon--Father of Lazarus.
Urban--Son of Maddox and Ashlyn; brother of Ever.
Viola--Goddess of the Afterlife; keeper of Narcissism.
William of the Dark--Immortal warrior of questionable origins; adopted son of Hades; aka the Panty Melter and William the Ever Randy.
Winter--Keeper of Selfishness, sister to Cameron.
Xerxes--Sent One.
Zeus--King of the Greeks; husband to Hera.
If you enjoy Gena Showalter's bestselling
LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD books,
don't miss her all-new, sizzling paranormal romance series,
GODS OF WAR...
After being trapped in an ice prison for centuries, a group of
otherworldly immortals have finally broken free. In a bid to rule the Earth, their fight to the death resumes, and the whole world becomes a gladiator arena. But this time these savage warriors will risk more than their lives and the survival of their realms--they'll also risk
their hearts.
The epic saga begins with book one, SHADOW AND ICE,
coming soon from Gena Showalter and HQN Books...
Keep reading for artist Jennifer Munswami's incredible rendering of reader-favorite character William of the Dark! Our gift to you.
Love, Gena
Here is a sneak peek at the very first Gods of War novel, Shadow and Ice!
Shadow and Ice
by Gena Showalter
Chapter Four
Shudders racked Vale. Knox had caught up to her. Knox, whose eye sockets had turned black just before a cloud of darkness had surrounded her. Who radiated blatant masculinity, primal aggression and sent shivers down her spine with a single glance. Whose glittering blue gaze pierced her defenses and promised untold sensual delights. Who wielded his daggers with lethal accuracy, moved with inhuman grace--who had stabbed a man right in front of her.
Dangerous in more ways than one...in all ways.
"What, are you going to stab me, too?" she demanded as they slid down the tunnel she'd been so happy to find an hour ago. Every time her clothing snagged on jagged ice, she jerked to a stop until Knox pushed her free.
"Vale?" her sister Nola called, only a few paces in front of her.
Can't tell her I'm okay. Can't let Knox's focus on her.
"Go for it, then. Stab me," Vale told him, continuing as if her sister hadn't spoken. Please don't stab me.
"I'm not yet sure what I'm going to do to you, female," he said, his tone eerily casual. "If you aren't careful, pain will be involved."
Why did her synesthesia make her taste honeyed whiskey every time he spoke, even when he issued a threat? A taste both intoxicating and sweet, made all the sweeter as it blended with the ruggedness of his masculine scent, the perfect combination of exotic spices and whatever aroused a woman's most primitive lust. Plus, he somehow overpowered the disgusting clash of flavors caused by myriad noises.
Death noises, mercenaries still trying to murder each other.
Having run away from a few foster homes, young Vale had spent time on the streets. She'd seen things, terrible things. Beatings, crimes. Assaults of every kind. Each one had scarred her.
Some nights she woke up screaming and drenched in sweat, terrifying memories clinging to her subconscious. This--what she'd witnessed tonight--would haunt her just as badly.
Hysteria and panic burned through her, acting as fuel for her adrenaline. An ocean of blood...a bodiless head pitching past her feet...a sword amputating a hand. Her stomach heaved with revulsion, threatening to spew the few bites of canned fish she'd managed to choke down.
If you aren't careful, pain will be involved.
As Knox's words echoed in her mind, she got snagged by another crack, and stopped abruptly. She erupted, wiggling free of his hold, throwing another elbow. Contact. He grunted, blood pouring from his nose.
"Enough," he snapped. "Be still."
And accept her fate like a good little victim? Never! "I'm just getting started." She bucked, slamming the back of her head against his chin. Another elbow, then another. Breath gushed from him in a great heaves.
He snaked an arm around her neck and squeezed, allowing the hysteria and panic to conquer more ground. Nails in his forearm, clawing. He only squeezed harder, cutting off her airway.
"Bastard," she rasped. "Let...go...now!"
"Are you ready to behave?"
I'm ready to peel off your face!
The tunnel began to quake, the cracks burrowing deeper, stretching further. As the entire structure neared collapse, stars winked through her vision.
"Calm down, female," Knox said.
Must escape. Fight...harder!
"I can't get unstuck," Nola cried.
He moved his grip to Vale's waist, intending to...what? Sucking in a mouthful of air, she faced him. It was too dark to make out his features, or the position of his body. She did her best to ram her fist into his goodie bags. Success!
He grunted, then snarled. She braced for retaliation, even as she attempted to ram his goodie bags again. But...
He never struck back, only blocked the second blow and hurled himself against her. The abrupt motion pushed her into Nola, and they began sliding once again.
"What's happening?" Her sister's terrified voice ricocheted through the tunnel.
"You will not harm the females," another male snarled.
Vale tasted the citrusy tang of orange. Zion. He'd made a hasty introduction during the battle royale. He was as tall and muscled as Knox, with dark hair, black eyes, pale skin that appeared to have actual jewels embedded in select places, and a pair of spiked metal gloves on his hands. He too exuded untold savagery and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of carnality. More than once, he'd used his body to protect both Vale and Nola, taking blows meant for them.
What if he had saved in the cave now in order to hurt them later?
Better question: How were these once-frozen guys alive?
Speaking in a language foreign to Vale, Knox and Zion threatened each other. She knew they threatened each other. The menace and aggression they were throwing off gave them away.
As the two grappled, she wiggled free of Knox's hold. Up ahea
d, she caught sight of a glimmering green light. The exit! Relieved, she leaned into Nola to increase their speed, and put more distance between her and the brutes.
When they spilled out of the tunnel, Vale landed on top of Nola with a thud.
"Sorry, sorry," she said when the girl hissed in pain. No time to waste. Grabbing Nola by the coat, Vale rolled her out of the way just as Knox and Zion exited with even less grace than she had displayed.
As quickly as possible, she took stock. Night had arrived, northern lights streaking the sky with brilliant bursts of emerald and amethyst. So vivid. So cold! She lumbered to her feet, the whole world shaking, cracks spreading across the cavern walls.
Zion slammed a gloved fist into the ground. More shaking, massive crevices branching from the spot he'd punched.
Vale watched, horrified, as Knox fell through the widest opening, disappearing from view. Only, he must have grabbed a groove on the way down, because he swung his body up, up, legs first. There must have been blades hidden in his boots; with a single swipe, Zion was disemboweled.
She gasped, nearly vomited.
Little whimpers rose from Nola. "We have to stop them. They're going to kill each other."
"If we stick around, they're going to kill us. Come on!" Heart banging against her ribs in a desperate bid to flee, Vale jerked her sister upright. At least she'd had the presence of mind to strap on a pack before they'd dove into the tunnel. They would have blankets and medicine tonight.
As she ran, arms pumping, feet surely winged, northern lights highlighted a smooth path, but icy wind burned her eyes. Frick! She'd left her goggles behind. And her scarf. Nola was missing a glove.
Though they had the blankets, there was a good chance subzero temperatures would kill them before the men had a chance. Men who were...what? Ancient barbarians, as they appeared? How long had they been frozen? Why had they been frozen?
Had she and Nola somehow unleashed a horde of evil into the wild?
And how had the warriors frozen in the first place, without suffering any permanent damage?
Don't look back. The perfect slogan for today's adventures.
Vale swallowed a maniacal laugh. A business slogan, here and now?
Well, why not? The habit had developed in college, and tended to flare during stressful times.
On the first day of class, the professor walked in and said, "Have a new motto or slogan each morning to sell me on the reason you deserve an A, or fail the entire course."