The first war of Armageddon, that was forty-five years ago. It lasted a decade.

Ten long years of blood, suffering and death... and life. Down came the Angels and with their advent, my kind came into existence once again.

Nephilim.

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The war had begun and I was barricaded in the Rivinlyte castle with the vast majority of

Aradia and Avon royalties, mainly women and children.

I was lying, restless in bed with Milah and Sierra. We had taken to sleeping in the same place, comforting one another. While I was all for that, it stopped me doing what I'd planned to do since the Aradian army rode to war.

Killing Brutus. Tonight, I would not be daunted.

Milah and Sierra were fast asleep beside me. I eased out of bed, careful not to wake them and inched out if the room through the window with the help of my Ardenite.

There was a good number of guards left behind to protect the Castle and its occupants. I managed to sneak past then and found my way to where Brutus was being kept. The door wasn't guarded by anyone but, it was locked from the outside. I went in and looked around.

He was on his bed, asleep. The very sight of him filled me with revulsion. I eased closer, quietly. He stirred but didn't wake, scratching his chin and smacking his lips in his sleep, clearly having an enjoyable dream. Something Willow would never be able to have.

I unsheathed the dagger I'd brought along and the air was suddenly filled with the scent of wolfsbane. I'd previously dipped the blade in essence. It had been difficult to procure but the stress would be worth it.

He had recovered from Rhydian's beating. He would never recover from this. I raised the dagger, its sharp end pointing at his vulnerable chest.

" Drop it Devenity."

The familiarity of the voice alone was enough to make me drop the dagger. It felt, soundlessly to the bed as I stared wide eyed at the person standing by the doorway.

It was Willow. I blinked at her in utter shock. " Willow... but you're... you're-"

" Dead?" She raised an eyebrow at me and then laughed. " I am. Luna wanted me as a messenger so, here I am."

She walked towards me and I noted her body shimmered in the pale candlelight. She wasn't really here.

" It's good to see you once again." She said and I looked up at her. I could see through her bed. I felt tears prick at my eyes. She really wasn't here.

" I miss you so much."

" Don't worry about me. I'm resting and I'm resting well. You, however do not have that luxury just yet. Luna wants you where the war is. You're needed there."

I shook my head. " I don't think I can leave the palace. Security is tight."

Willow nodded.

" I know." She held out her hand and I reached for it, surprised by how solid her fingers felt between mine.

The room began to melt away and I found myself in a snow laden forest. I thought momentarily of Brutus lying peacefully in his 'cell' but that anger anger faded away when I realized I recognized this location. I'd been here before, in my vision.

" The camps are that way." She pointed and I turned to see but, when I turned back, she was gone

My breath caught in my throat. I shouldn't have let go of her hand. I inched forward, scanning tye woods desperately for any sign of her.

" Willow!"

" I don't want to see you anytime soon, Deven." Willow's voice carried in the wind.

I stopped and stared off into space, a smile tugging at my lips at her words. " You won't." I promised.

I turned back in the direction she had pointed me in. I recognized the clearing. Soon, it would be overrun both armies clawing at each other.

I could see the camp spread out beneath me from where I stood. It was vast and I wasn't sure how I would find Rhydian here.

" Halt!" A guard in Aradian colours appeared, startling the life out of me. He paused as recognition set in. " Lady Bellefleur. W-what are you doing here?"

" I need to see Rhyd- er the Alpha king."

〰️〰️〰️

As we neared a large, half open tent, I could heard Rhydian's voice already.

"...with our men flanking the left side, we can-" He paused and I knew it was because my scent had reached him already.

The interiors of the tent was brightly lit with flaming torches. Rhydian and his Chiefs were gathered around a table, looking down at a map.

" Your highness, I stumbled upon-" Tye guard started but, Rhydian silenced him with a raised hand. His narrowed eyes were on me and I could tell he was angry, especially when he said in the most monotone voice ever,

" Leave us."

When the tent was empty, he ran his hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. " I should have known you'd pull something like this. You're even more stubborn than I am."

I shrugged, running my hand along the map. " We should be worried about the children we'll spawn then."

But he had no interest in humour. " What in all the realms possessed you to leave the safety of the castle and come here."

As he spoke, he moved closer and planted a kiss on my forehead.

I frowned up at him. " I thought you'd be angry at me."

" Oh I am." He smiled at me. " I'm also glad to see you but, you're leaving. Now." He took hold of my hand to lead me out.

" I can't go." I pulled against his hold. He let my hand fall. " The moon goddess wants me here."

He looked incredulous. " I don't think I like this goddess lady of yours. What the fuck does she want you here for?"

I paused. Willow hadn't said much about that other than that I needed to be here. " Er... I don't know. Willow didn't tell me."

He looked even more incredulous. " Willow?" His forehead creased in concern and he cupped my chin. " Deven-"

I moved away, rolling my eyes. " I'm not crazy. Willow brought me here because the moon goddess wants me here for... something."

Rhydian sighed and touched foreheads with me. " Well, I'm glad... a little. You didn't kill him."

His words startled me. I pulled away and looked at him, questioningly.

" His scent is faint on you. You were in his cell."

" Room." I corrected.

" Fine, room." He (word for when someone agrees.) " I don't smell any blood. I'm proud of you, Deven." He said and kissed my forehead.

I pursed my lip. I still wanted to kill Brutus but decided against telling him that. Willow was fine though, maybe even better than when she was alive... oh, Brutus could go to hell. Willow was better now. That was all I would care about.

I shivered at the cold wind that blew into the tent and wished I'd had the chance to get a cloak before being whisked here. It was snowing here and the cold was deathly. Rhydian led me out of the tent, into another which was clearly his quarters . It was warmer here and Rhydian draped his cloak over my shoulder. I smiled up at him.

" Devenity, you need to go back. It's not safe here." Rhydian said and I knew he knew there was no way I was leaving.

" Send me away then." I said with a shrug. " You know I'll just come back."

" I'll have a guard tie you to your bed." He warned.

I raised an eyebrow at him and leaned closer. " Really? You'll let another man tie me to my bed?" I asked, playing with the fastenings on his tunic.

" On second thoughts..." He trailed off, almost breathless. " Definitely not.'

I let go of the fastenings and sat on his bed, looking at my feet.

" I'm sorry." I whispered and he sat next to me. " I was angry... I didn't want to see reason."

I looked up at him and relaxed when I saw the smile on my face. I knew he wouldn't drag it out like I had.

" Make it up to me then." He said quietly and my smile widened.

" Here? The eastern army can break through any second."

" I guess we have to be quick then."

I ran my fingers along his cheek, then trailed it down the neckline of his tunic and pulled him down on top of me.

" Be quick then.' I whispered, brushing my lips hurriedly against his. I didn't even realize when we both got naked but, I saw myself wrapping my bare legs around his waist as he thrust into me.

It was almost painful but, I was grateful for the pain. I needed it, him. The feel of his powerful chest pressed against my aching breast, the scent of him that wafted from his hair was intoxicatingly sweet. I leaned closer and pressed my nose against his neck, reveling in his scent while he rode me.

In a second though, we were on the floor having fallen off his bed. Rhydian didn't care. He was still in me thanks to my legs around his waist and was eager to continue. I stopped.

" Not on the floor." I whined.

" What?" I asked breathless. His forehead was covered with sweat, his eyes blazing green. Fuck, his face was mesmerizing. He must have heard that thought judging by the the pleased smile on his face.

" We've never made love on a bad." I whined. Our first time had been in the Fields during the festival and then, it'd been up against a wall during the ball in the castle.

Rhydian laughed as he carried me back to the bed.

" Happy?"

I nodded with a smile and laughed. He was on me again, eagerness written on his face. He paused and flipped me over do I was lying on my front then, I felt his hand hard against my behind as he smacked it.

I cringed at the pain.

" That's for telling me not to touch you." He whispered in my hear.

" Really? Is that the hardest you can hit?" I asked teasingly and be froze, staring back at me in disbelief.

" Did you just taunt me?" He finally found his voice. " I'd watch my words if I were you." He leaned close against me, his engorged member pressed against my behind and whispered into my ear, " I can make you scream, Deven."

" Make me." I said and he took the challenge and grabbed my waist, pulling my butt high up in the air. He pushed my head down into the pillows and grabbed a fistful of my hair. I felt him, hot and throbbing against my entryway.

" Rhyd-" I began. I wasn't even sure what I was going to say. The rest of his name dissolved into a scream as Rhydian slammed his whole length into me in one single thrust.

The breath was knocked out my lungs and I panted. He was in deeper than ever before and I convulsed around, my orgasm racking through every nerve in my body.

Rhydian breath was hot against my ears. " I've not even started with you." I felt him slide out of me an braced myself for the impact of his thrusts and rightly so. My back was beginning to ache and the ache spread as his thrusts intensified. He pulled at my hair, drawing me closer to meet his thrusts and scalp burned, bring tears to my eyes.

His assault on me was savage. I doubted I could take anymore and then, his tempo increased. My back was near breaking point when I felt his seed, hot and moist well up in me.

The feel of his release in me sent me over the top and I came again, pressing my gave against my pillow to stifle my screams. Rhydian pulled out of me and I collapsed on the bed, spent.

He slapped my behind once again as he got off the bed and proceeded to pull on his clothes. I remained on the bed, to tired to bother getting dressed and stretched.

I could still see the want in Rhydian's eyes. He wanted more. I was almost grateful for the war.

" Nothing to say?"

I groaned at the ache in my back. " I think you broke me." I said and he laughed. He sat on the bed and played with the ends of my hair.

" I wish we were elsewhere. I could just lie here and be here with you."

I was going to say something but then I felt something strange. I sat up. It was noisy outside but there was something quiet about the air. I got off tye bed quickly and pulled on my clothes.

" Something's wrong." I told Rhydian as I rushed outside the tent. It was snowing harder than earlier and I was soaked in a minute of standing in the snow.

The soldiers went about their business. It all looked exactly like before but I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.

" Come in Deven or you'll freeze to death." Rhydian said and that was when it happened.

It sounded like breaking glass, only a thousand times louder. The barrier had come down and we all felt it. The blast of wind it created was far and wide, surely. It was so strong, I was thrown off my feet.

Rhydian caught me before I could fall.

" Shit!" I heard Carrison's voice. " The barrier is fucking gone."

Rhydian nodded, all traces of his smile gone from his face. " We'll feel the full force of their army now."

I was to shocked to speak. It was finally sinking in that the war was beginning and I was right in the middle of it.

" Devenity." Another familiar voice. I was surprised to see Mother Diana appear beside me but, I was glad. Someone as well versed in magic as she was would be invaluable here.

The venomous look on her face though, made wonder if she was here to us. She trained her angry eyes on the Alpha king .

" You werewolves will get your comeuppance." She said and roughly placed her hand on my shoulder.

I could feel myself drifting and I realized what she was doing.

" No!" I screamed but, it was too late. The camps faded away and so did the cold. The room I was in was warm and spacious. It reminded of the throne room in Rivinlyte castle and who else was seated on the throne but the king of vampires, Lorian.

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