#excerpt five

CHARACTERS: Marid, Atenus, Araceli 

"They told me I was supposed to be holy. A Goddess amongst men. A beacon of light and hope. If they could think, I wonder if they'd be horrified of what I've become."

She looked at me from the corner of her eye. Painted lips curving into a smile that border lined on being cruel.

"I guess after all this. I'm the farthest thing from that."

"No...I think...you're still a beacon of hope."

I looked at her with what I hoped was a convincing smile. My gaze softening just the slightest. Perhaps in an attempt to please her.

"I am?"

"Yes. I mean, all those people you've killed. They were all terrible...right? Even your own father was a brutal tyrant."

She seemed to contemplate those words. A hum leaving her lips as she swirls the red liquid in her cup. She soon set it down, instead opting to turn around and wrap her arms around my waist.

"You're not wrong."

"Is that surprising?"

"...no."

I would've seen the smile if her face wasn't buried into my chest. My own smile widening at the fact I'd seem to have pleased her.

"They told you your fate. Said it was written in the stars. Then you said fuck that. And opted to write your own. I think that's admirable. Not many people have that sort of courage."

My own arms finally came to rest across her. Fingers trailing patterns into the bare skin on her back.

"And yet you still ended up my husband. So there's no surprise you aren't complaining about my actions."

This made me laugh. Although I stopped myself quickly. Covering it up with a cough.

"I'm only your husband in name. I'm not a fool, Araceli."

My head turns just a bit to stare at the sleeping man in our bed. I remembered that I'm supposed to hate him.

"You know I love you. Despite my...actions."

I turned my attention back to her. Pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"I know. I will never doubt your love for me, my queen. Just as you should never doubt mine for you."

She laughs softly against my chest. I've yet to decide if it's a warm sound or a dark one. I reminded myself that I'm not supposed to care with a shake of my head.

"We'll make it through this. All of us will Ara. I promise."

"I know."

"Good. Don't forget."

"I won't."

I hum at her acceptance. It's a good sign. It means she's stable. It means she's healing.

"You should rest, Atenus. We have much to do tomorrow. According to Ettor."

She sounded all too bitter at the prospect of work that will undoubtedly be easy for her.

"Will you rest soon as well?"

I tilt my head to the side and actually look down at her. Admiring the way her snowy white locks fall over her face and shoulders when she leans back to return my stare.

"I will, at some point. Sleep is...almost meaningless to me. Guess that's a perk of godhood."

She giggles while releasing me. Her eyes sparkling in the dim lighting of the night sky. I shake my head and sigh.

"Very well then. Rest well, my queen."