Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 128087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
“Embrace who you are, Prince. Accept that you are the one and only tribrid, a fire lord, and a worthy consort for a titan.”
Lazaar didn’t speak for a long moment until his stomach began to rumble and his heart rate soared.
He’s coming.
A second later, the ground trembled with heavy footsteps and a steady marching cadence. Lazaar leapt to his feet, unable to contain his anticipation, and rushed toward the bars, clutching them for dear life.
“Embrace it,” Oleksandr encouraged, “know how strong you are and control it. You are far more powerful than your starvation.”
The metal doors to the prison were pulled open, and the first thing that struck him was the scent of honeysuckle, oranges, and stimulating energy.
His fangs pushed through his gums, but he released a long exhale, closed his eyes, and reached for his core. When he opened them again, his incisors no longer touched his bottom lip, and his heart wasn’t trying to escape.
The Titan of the East came into view and stood in all his glory in front of six imposing women.
Lazaar didn’t speak as he gazed up and down at his supposed life partner. He was gorgeous beyond words. Even in the darkness, Zepharali was like a ray of sunshine he couldn’t look away from.
He’d never felt this kind of want, had never been rendered breathless at the sight of any man or woman.
Lazaar had been sheltered from intimacy and romance. Perhaps the people planted in his world had been forbidden to engage him in such acts.
Regardless, he never thought he’d experience something that wasn’t in his nature.
Or so he’d been led to believe.
Perhaps having a beloved made those sensations—like the throbbing between his thighs—rise within him.
He didn’t hate it, but nothing being done about it was making him delirious.
Lazaar swallowed a lump of anxiety and nervousness when Zepharali’s gaze traveled over his body.
Oh no. He doesn’t like the way I look.
Lazaar glanced down at his ratty clothes, the mud and caked-on grime from days ago. Lazaar was nose-blind to how he smelled. Gods only knew he must smell like a rank troll.
Oleksandr cleared his throat to get Lazaar’s attention, then nodded in Zepharali’s direction. He’d remained silent as if awaiting something.
Lazaar licked his dry lips before he dipped his chin to his chest. “My lord.”
Zepharali hummed as if he approved and stepped close enough for Lazaar to reach between the bars and touch him.
“You are willing to speak to me now?”
Lazaar was breathless and dazed, but he managed to answer without his fangs dropping. “Yes, my lord.”
Lazaar
Zepharali didn’t take his radiant eyes off him when he told whichever daughter was closest to release him.
“But, Father, he might—”
“Please do as I ordered, Meloidia.” Zepharali stroked Lazaar’s cheek, a soothing gesture that made the cell vanish. “He will not harm me.”
He didn’t know how his beloved was so sure, but he was right. Lazaar would never hurt or attack anyone. He was a peaceful man despite his lineage.
When the bars no longer separated them, Lazaar wanted to fly into Zepharali’s arms and bury his face against his throat.
“Why have you been sent to my world? What does Mother Earth and my brother, Orestes, have to do with all this?”
Lazaar didn’t look to his guardian any longer for help, knowing he couldn’t give him assistance. “I was sent for you, lord.”
Zepharali squinted. “Why?”
It wasn’t long before his insatiable thirst tried to constrict his throat, but he used every ounce of energy to force it down.
“I’m in danger in the Earth Realm.”
“What kind of danger?”
“I’ve only recently learned of my true descent. My mother is an all-powerful mage of the Coven of Ember Flames who used her lore to get into my fathers’ beds to create me. The first tribrid.”
The titan’s pulse throbbed in his neck, pumping his blood so loudly Lazaar couldn’t concentrate.
“Who are your fathers?”
What? Huh?
His mind was so out of sorts he couldn’t understand basic words.
“Tribrid, who are your fathers?”
“I don’t know,” he whispered.
Zepharali inched closer.
“Are you telling me the truth, Prince Lazaaras Nyateagor?”
He groaned at the sound of his newish name on the titan’s full lips. His proximity caused his fangs to descend despite all the energy he exerted.
“I can explain, lord.” Oleksandr inched forward, then paused as if waiting to see if his tongue would be burned off. “If I may speak.”
“You may.”
“Lazaar was never told of his true mother and fathers. He’d been convinced he was orphaned. For his protection, not deception.” Oleksandr sounded upset about it for the first time. “His fathers believed he could be good if guided by good. That is why they risked their lives to go to the Earth Realm and plead to the Mother for help.”
Lazaar was beginning to loathe this story.
“His fathers are Zar’uuth Nyateagor, the Lord Warlock of the World of Dark Days, and Al’goth Nyateagor, Fire Lord of the Ash Lands.”