Darkest Temptation (The Dark Ones Saga 4)

I could feel Bannick’s rage on the other side of me, but it wasn’t one of war. It was jealousy.

He had his eye on the woman like she held the world’s secrets.

No, things would never be the same again.

And days later, when Sariel slept with the woman, when they produced the world’s first Dark One — we were punished.

I cried out as lightning split the sky in two, as black snow began to fall across my face, as The Creator once and for all looked upon us, and then turned away.

And his turn caused darkness to descend like a choking blanket around each and every one of us.

I ripped at my armor.

Pried it from my body so I could breathe.

“He’s gone.” Armaros fell to his knees. “The Creator has left us.”

“Our punishment was not as severe as it should have been,” I whispered.

I watched as Bannick took to the skies, his white wings carrying him higher and higher to the Heavens until he started to fall.

I gasped in horror as his body increased speed then hit the ground with earthquake-like severity, and when I ran over to him to help, all I saw was black broken wings.

And red in his hair, as if his defiance had caused The Creator to mark him for death.

“There is only one thing we can do,” Armaros said, turning away. “We earn our way back, whatever it takes, guard the human plane as The Creator has asked. We must be vigilant in watching. We must not look away.”

Bannick stood and shouted at the Heavens, then he fell to his knees again and cursed The Creator to the abyss.

“It may be too late for some of us,” I whispered.

The vision shifted, and suddenly I was in a small hut with Armaros staring me down like I’d done something unforgivable. Maybe I had. A thousand years had passed, and still no word from The Creator.

Not even when I’d built altars for Him.

When I’d praised His land.

When I’d built up forests with my bare hands, made trees sing His name.

I’d hunted with the wolves, helped them feed their young, interacted with the Alpha as if he was my own kind.

They were favored among The Creator, built from His very hands, their flesh kneaded by the very trees and dirt they protected. The protectors of earth, I honored them, and He still refused to honor me back.

I may as well be dead.

I took a seat opposite Armaros.

His eyes narrowed, and then he flinched. “What have you done, brother?”

“Nothing that can be undone.” I shrugged and took a seat as Bannick waltzed in with a victorious smirk like I’d actually given in to his evil ways.

Armaros shifted his attention back to me. “Do not listen to him.”

“So, I should listen to you?” I yelled. It was all for show; it always was when it came to Bannick, but he didn’t need to know that. Only Armaros truly knew me, knew my soul desire to create not destroy. “I have everything I need here.”

“Yes.” Armaros sighed. “We rule dust and destruction. How lovely for us, and how benevolent of him, right, Bannick?”

Bannick slammed his hand onto the table between us. “Don’t you see? We will be here suffering for millennia.”