“Please, tell me again how a single nymph overcame my best warrior?”

Tibane stiffened her posture. She already steeled herself on the way back to Tamulan for Zafira’s reprisal. “Kirilamei cheated, she used nature to bind and knock me unconscious.”

“Remind me then, why I even bother keeping you in my service.” Zafira rubbed her temple. “Did you manage to secure the human?”

“We have him detained in the room upstairs.”

“Detained? I can assure you that won’t be necessary.”

“I just thought after what happened we might not want to risk losing another.”

“Silence.” Zafira raised her hand. “I will oversee your incompetence this last time. Make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Zafira required absolute obedience and knew that much of her planning depended on reliable partners. If she wanted to liberate an entire planet, she’d need the best and a little more. The young Alseid, such a fragile girl but with so much potential. The fact that she bested Tibane only made her all the more interesting.

“My people informed me that you are a teacher,” Zafira said as she entered the chamber. A night bud hung in the corner, bathing the room in a soft glow. A veil hid the face of her guest and showed his form. She strode forward and brushed her hand through the curtain. Rope strapped the man to her bed by the arms and ankles. Unable to defend himself while she had the liberty of doing whatever she pleased. What Tibane didn’t understand was that she wanted him to struggle and give him a chance to escape. Destroying his hope gave her far more satisfaction than simply seeing him tied up.

He frowned, pulling his brows to form a deep crevice on his forehead as he took her in. It didn’t suit a man of his age, to make himself look older. Tibane’s unit had done an excellent job cleansing and preparing him for her. “Untie me, woman!”

Zafira sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. She slid her hand down the coarse length of the rope and undid the first knot. “In return I expect you to teach me everything you know. I happen to be a keen student but I can make it worthwhile for you.”

“A learned woman, what on Earth for?” He rolled his eyes away from her and fumbled for the knot holding his other arm in place. “No, never. I shall not have it. Untie me and escort me to the station so I may press charges against such unruly conduct.”

Zafira grinned, bashing her long lashes at the headmaster. “You wish to play first. I’m in need of some… distraction.”

She crawled on top of his chest and pulled her knees in tight until she heard him squirm under the pressure. The man laid unmoving with his mouth open and at first Zafira thought she might have gone too far and killed him until she made out fine dust particles hovering in mid air.

“I was wondering when we might meet again,” Zafira said, flinging back her hair. “I’m afraid I’m in the middle of something right now.”

Eris stepped out from the shadows and took on her human form. A goddess with milky white skin and wavy lavender hair. Zafira’s skin became lighter after aligning herself with Eris but doubted she’d ever become that white. She wore a long dress that came down to the floor with a deep cut to show off her divine allure. “When you planned on taking back Gaia, I didn’t think it would revolve around pleasuring yourself with men.”

“This is serious work,” Zafira said and hopped off the mortal. “I’m adding the finishing touches to my plan. By the time the cove reopens I’ll be prepared to exact my revenge.”

The Goddess of Chaos shrugged and strode past Zafira without so much as a glance. She took in the bound man and snapped her fingers at which he went up in a cloud of smoke.

“Aw. I wasn’t finished, yet.”

“I’ve already helped you twice and now you’ve let one of your captives escape. Isn’t he the one I warned you about in my vision?”

Zafira stiffened, knowing that Eris lent her gifts but could easily take them away from her again. “He’s not a threat. Their entire race is weak. It should be easy to overcome them once I have planted the seeds and regained control over the dominion.”

“I hope so,” the goddess said, fading into the shadows once more. “I’d hate to lose such an adept pupil.”