Of Darkness and Crowns (Goddess Wars 2)

“Shut up!”

Lake cocks his chin. “My Liege…?”

Gripping my head, both hands tearing at my hair, I bang the back of my head against the Crusher’s metal hull. Nothing will end her nagging. If I thought grinding my brains out with the Crusher would rid me of Bale’s endless rant, I’d order Lake to run me over right now.

The dark goddess is furious.

My detour with Kal wasn’t how she planned our invasion of the palace to go…obviously. But I’m my own man, still. At least that’s what I’m determined to prove.

She’s your ruin, Prince.

And with that last statement, I bound from my seat and hover over Lake in the driver’s compartment. “To the den.”

Lake only hesitates for a fraction of a second before shifting into a lower gear; the Crusher picks up speed. Any one of my generals in Perinya would have advised differently. Would have—calmly and respectfully—warned not to unwittingly lead our enemies right to our hideaway. But again, the Otherworlders do as told.

And I’m not a fool. I suspect we’re being trailed. My people and army would be the fools not to—and I still have the highest regard for my people.

However, my desire for revenge overrules logic.

I want Kal to pursue me. I want her in my court. Playing by my rules. I can almost see her there, so close to the ocean, the breeze blowing her dark hair around her face as she wields her sword. Beautiful.

Dangerous. Bale’s voice echoes in my head like a warning.

I scoff at the moon goddess. Of course my lovely Nactue is dangerous. She wouldn’t be nearly as fun if she didn’t pose a threat. But I’m getting off track. I had a precise plan. A near month of planning now for nothing all because I let my excitement over seeing Kal get out of control.

Now I’m stuck that much longer with Bale.

But oh, how it was almost worth it—the taste of her lips. The feel of her body…becoming hot under my touch. It wasn’t damn near enough. My blood boils with the overwhelming need to have her now more than ever.

As the Crusher gains ground over the open terrain, I ease back into my seat, confident that soon this will all end. One way or another, I’ll be freed of Bale’s insistent, pressing voice in my head. Because I can’t take it much longer. Either the goddess will get her damned relic, or I’ll slit my own throat.

Careful, Prince. Those are hazardous thoughts.

I laugh. “What’s wrong?” I tease. “Scared of losing your whipping boy?”

Lake’s hiked, corkscrew eyebrow is his only acknowledgement to my outburst.

What will happen once their goddess is no longer cocooned inside me? I wonder how far their respect goes for the man who brought forth their goddess. Just how far their loyalties stretch. From what I’ve seen of the Otherworlders, I suspect not too far.

Hell.

Rubbing the back of my neck, feeling the constant headache that torments my brain, I ponder just how to get what I need while ensuring what I want.

Kal simply bringing me the relic and shard would remedy everything. I almost laugh, the thought of the Nactue leader just handing it over—no fuss.

I raise my eyebrows as Bale’s voice turns alluring.

Force her…set a trap. You know where her heart lies.

Yes, I do. Sinking my hand into my pocket, I palm my token.

I love my country.

The sound of waves crashing against the limestone washes over me, and I feel at home. The tangy scent of salt in the air settles on my tongue, its moisture slicks my skin, wrapping me in a balmy blanket of comfort.

There was nothing more intolerable than my time in the Otherworld…other than possibly my short stay in the goddess forsaken, sweltering land of Cavan. The first moment I stepped back into Perinya, I swore never to leave it again.

And I won’t have to, as long as I can keep my wits and finish what I started.