Chapter Three
Zander was utterly fascinated by his new mate.
He was well aware that she was frightened of him, but she seemed to be adapting to the situation quickly. Since he had brought her to the In Between, she had been doing her best to cover up her unease with sheer bravado and false outrage. He shouldn’t have found such behavior endearing, but he did.
In fact, he thought everything about her was appealing.
The moment he had woken up in that cursed Realm of Illusions, his mind had been hazed with rage and confusion. Acting on instinct, he had almost annihilated everyone in the cavern, including his own brethren.
The only thing that had saved everyone was his mate.
Unlike the other reapers who had shared his imprisonment, Zander had retained bouts of painful awareness while he’d been unconscious.
His unique abilities had kept him from completely succumbing to the curse that had been cast upon them, but that came at a terrible cost. Whenever he woke, he was tortured by the knowledge of what was happening around him, forced to witness time passing while he was powerless to speak or move.
As the centuries passed, Zander tried countless ways to break free from the magical restraints that bound him. However, all his efforts were constantly thwarted since magic from all six races was needed to unravel the spell.
While he’d been trapped by the curse, he’d passed the time thinking of countless creative ways to get revenge against those who had wronged him.
He’d also been immersed in memories of battles and bloodshed.
Admittedly, there were times he had trouble deciphering the difference between dreams and reality, and the torment of helplessness had slowly driven him to madness.
During the moments he’d been awake, his only companion throughout the long years had been another dark god named Merlin, who had managed to avoid being ensnared by the curse.
Merlin had created a small sanctuary within the Realm of Illusions where he protected the slumbering reapers.
Because of his sacrifice, they had remained safely hidden away from their enemies.
Using a scrying mirror, Merlin was able to keep track of what was happening within the six realms while he was stuck in the Realm of Illusions. Since he developed a habit of speaking out loud to help with the isolation, Zander had also been able to get updates about current events.
Unfortunately, he only understood half of what he’d heard.
It was distressing to learn just how much had changed while he had been imprisoned, but he was more upset about the problems his absence had caused within the six realms. He wasn’t just known as the God of War because of his love of battle.
He was War, one of the Four Horsemen, and a Keeper of the Seal.
He was the balance between good and evil.
While some believed good should always triumph over evil, Zander knew that wasn’t always the case.
The fundamental truth was that they were both necessary within the universe.
Good and evil were not simply opposing forces locked in eternal conflict.
They were two sides of the same coin, each necessary for the existence and definition of the other.
Without darkness, light lost its meaning.
Without evil, good would perish.
Conflict and struggle were necessary in order for virtue to be tested and proven.
That interplay ensured that the realms continued growing.
It was vital for the evolution of both individuals and civilizations as a whole.
A realm dominated solely by good would become stagnant.
Challenges needed to be overcome, adversity vanquished to inspire courage, and there needed to be mistakes from which to learn from.
Conversely, a realm consumed by evil would descend into chaos and despair. No world could survive if it were devoid of hope, compassion, or the possibility of redemption. True harmony could only be achieved when both forces were kept in check, each tempering the excesses of the other.
During his absence, that balance between good and evil had become alarmingly unstable. Although he wasn’t solely responsible, he acknowledged that he shared some of the blame.
Now that he was free, it was essential for him to once again help restore the balance.
Part of that would include tracking down the last few fuckers who had cursed him and his brethren and exact bloody vengeance for what they had done.
As a Keeper of the Seal, he also needed to make sure all of the magical seals within the six realms remained intact.
But most importantly, he needed to bond with his mate.
The moment he woke up in the cavern, his mind was a haze of exultation from finally being free and confusion. The familiar feeling of rage had taken over when he sensed so many powerful supernaturals in the vicinity, and his immediate reaction had been to lash out and attack.
At least, it had been before he’d sensed his mate.
He’d dreamed of meeting his mate countless times during his long life.
Had wondered what she looked like and what type of personality she would have.
He’d mourned while considering he might have missed his chance to meet her while he had been trapped by the curse.
That had almost driven him insane, but he held tight to a small glimmer of hope to keep him going.
The reality of her was so much more than he’d ever imagined.
He’d sensed her presence before he saw her.
Kami was a bright, shining beacon in the darkness.
Even through his madness, that instinctive recognition had caused a tingle down his spine.
His soul had called out to hers. And when he had finally got his first look at her, he knew the wait had been worth it.
Kami was a rare beauty, with ethereal features that seemed enhanced by a generous touch of natural magic.
She had a graceful brow, high cheekbones, and lush lips that shifted from a curved smile to a fierce frown in an instant.
Adding to her charm were her adorable pointed ears, which were a hallmark of her fae lineage, and her luminous pale skin had a subtle glow that hinted at the power simmering within her.
Long, white-blonde hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of moonlight.
The pale strands shimmered with a silver sheen as if woven from frost itself.
The shorter strands in front framed her delicate face, accentuating striking pale blue eyes that reminded him of glacier ice.
When she looked at him, it was as if she could see straight into his soul.
Winter Princess, while accurate, wasn’t a title that did her justice.
She was a true goddess.
An overwhelming need to possess and protect her made him teleport them directly to a place he knew no one could follow them.
The mating frenzy had hit him hard, but sensing her fear of him had helped him regain enough control to leave before he could claim her.
Nothing was more important to him than his mate, and he would always protect her.
Even from himself.
There was comfort being back at the In Between.
Leaving Kami in his bedroom, he did a quick patrol around the island to ensure that it was secure and free of intruders.
Even though no one could teleport there without his permission, he hadn’t been home in a long time, so he needed to personally ensure his mate would be safe there before he could relax.
Thoroughly checking the island’s defenses, he made sure there were no breaches in his safeguards.
He’d even added a few more layers of magical wards just for the hell of it.
Once that was done, he used magic to change his clothes and refresh himself. A long, hot soak in a bath would have been enjoyable, but he couldn’t stay away from his mate that long. Returning to her, he had decided to remain in the shadows to watch her and listen to her thoughts.
Listening to her unedited musings gave him insight into who she was faster than speaking to her.
Although spying on his mate was not exactly an honorable way to learn about her, it was definitely more convenient.
When he felt a twinge of guilt, he ruthlessly pushed it aside.
Normally, he didn’t have a problem taking any shortcut available to reach his goal, but she was the exception to his every rule.
He was captivated by what he heard, though it was a little frustrating how quickly she jumped from one subject to the next.
His mate was a fascinating creature. Besides being beautiful, Kami had a strong inner spirit.
She was also far more kind and compassionate than she gave herself credit for, though he understood her reason for hiding that part of herself away from others.
Beneath her vibrant exterior, she carried the weight of her lineage and the scars of her past. She had learned early on that vulnerability could be dangerous, especially in a world where power was currency and trust was a rare commodity.
Despite the trials she had endured, she never allowed bitterness to take root in her heart.
Instead, she channeled her pain into humor and sarcasm.
Discovering her lineage had been surprising, especially finding out that she was the daughter of his enemy. He understood why that would scare her since she didn’t know how he would react to that news.
Admittedly, his reputation for being brutal and unforgiving was well earned.
He was a powerful god and a peerless warrior.
Even his name had the ability to make people tremble with fear, and entire armies had surrendered rather than face him in battle.
When it came to his adversaries, he showed no mercy.
His vengeance was swift and brutal, and once he was locked on a target, he didn’t stop until they were destroyed.