Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign (Worlds of the Crystal Moon, Book 1) (12 page)

Mosley, Night Terror Wolf

Mosley looked up at his likeness and grinned as a wolf would. “I must admit, I look good up there.”

Sam smiled and then bent down to rub Shalee’s arms. “I have so many questions. I suppose they’ll have to wait until Bassorine returns.” He looked at Mosley. “Do you think we should get going as soon as she wakes?”

“I do,” Mosley replied. He sniffed Shalee’s hair. “Mmmm, berries. Perhaps we can talk along the way. I may have the answers to many of your questions.”

These questions were still on Sam’s mind: Why did he feel like he had met Bassorine before? Why did he understand the markings on the base of the statue? Why did the laugh of the red-eyed announcer with the razor-sharp teeth seem familiar? Why was Shalee dreaming about her staff? And, finally, how much of what they had been told was crap?

The genius wanted and needed clarification, or his mind would never slow down. He could only wonder how long it would be before he could ask the questions necessary to gain resolution.

Well, fellow soul ... as you can see,

there is much to learn as I move forward with the

telling of the Worlds of the Crystal Moon.

So what are you waiting for? Keep reading!

CHAPTER 3

A Lost Power

Lasidious and Celestria’s Home

Lasidious, God of Mischief

Celestria, Goddess of Beasts

FELLOW SOUL ... just before he fell, George heard Sam yell for him to get down from the base of the statue, but before he could comply, the shaking started, and his footing slipped. To compensate, George placed his hand on the chest of the bronze man, but that wasn’t enough. He was unable to grab hold of anything because the piece of the Crystal Moon he removed from the dragon’s back. It had occupied his grasp, and he did not want to let it go. The opportunist never let go of anything with potential value.

To George’s surprise, the floor had swallowed him, and the last thing he heard as he fell into the darkness was Sam screaming his name. As he tumbled head over heels, the hole closed, and he saw the light inside the temple fade away.

Since then, his heart raced. His pathetic life continued to flash before his eyes, and his little girl, Abbie, would be his only unselfish thought before he expired. He could only wait for the impact.

The Hidden God World

Ancients Sovereign

“Do you think Bassorine has figured it out yet, my love?” the goddess, Celestria, questioned while fondling the morning scruff on her lover’s chin.

Lasidious enjoyed her touch for a moment before he backed away. “I’m sure he knows by now I’ve pulled a fast one,” he responded as he circled the heavy stone table at the center of the room.

The gods’ home was warm, despite being created deep beneath the mountain range known as the Peaks of Angels. Celestria had softened the hardness of the rock walls with many elegant touches, and like the Temple of the Gods, the light filling their home originated from within the rock, but only in key locations.

Lasidious grinned. “If I know Bassorine, he’s thinking my actions are nothing more than a minor inconvenience. But I would wager he’s happy. The crystal’s disappearance will start wars, and you know how he loves to battle. I’m sure he’ll confront me in front of the others to appease his ego, but I’m ready for him. As planned, I’ll crawl under his skin to kindle his anger before I strike. He won’t know what hit that thick, scarred-up face of his when I’m done with him.”

Celestria circled the table toward Lasidious. She was the definition of elegance. Her eyes could have stolen the blue reflected from the clearest ocean and made it her own. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders and swayed across her back as she walked. If an imperfection was to be found anywhere on this woman, it would not be found on the outside. Every curve and gesture was flawless. Even her voice, an angel’s voice, was sweet and soft to the ears. She was worthy of being called goddess.

Lasidious continued to speak as he watched her move. “I have everything under control.”

“Do you?” Celestria replied. “I worry we’ll be discovered, my pet.”

The Mischievous One frowned. “You worry too much. We only used the opportunity the others provided to find a mortal who craved power and brought him to Grayham. You know the Book of Immortality wasn’t created yet when I snatched George from Earth. How could we be expected to obey a rule that didn’t exist?”

Lasidious sighed. “Be assured, I won’t break the laws on its pages. I’ll handle the mortal as required. I won’t do anything other than give George a reason to seek the power he desires.”

Celestria smiled. “You’re a clever god,” she purred.

Lasidious enjoyed the verbal pat on his back and then returned Celestria’s smile. His eyes turned bright red, and his teeth elongated to sharpened points.

“Stop that!” Celestria snapped. “You know I hate it when you make that face. You’re not handsome when you do that. I like my cute, little devil-god when he looks striking.” She stroked his face. “You’re not kissable when you look so mean.”

Lasidious shifted from one foot to the other as his appearance returned to normal. When his eyes were not glowing red and his teeth were not pointed, his appearance was debonair. With short, sandy-brown hair, blue eyes, and a chiseled chin, he was a tad less than six feet tall. His athletic build pleased his goddess and Celestria loved every inch of him.

The Mischievous One pulled Celestria closer, a frown creasing his brow. “I’m sorry. You know I love you. I won’t do it again. Well … not while you’re looking anyway.” Replacing the frown with another smile, he added, “I hate the story we told the people on the worlds. Why the Collective ever agreed to glorify Bassorine is beyond me.”

Celestria cupped Lasidious’ face with her hands, and gave him a long, soft kiss. Looking him in the eyes, she placed his hand on her belly. “Like it or not, he has the power to destroy us, my pet. I, for one, have no death wish ... nor does our baby.”

The goddess pulled away and adjusted a decorative setting on the table. “It’s too bad that exalting Bassorine was one of his conditions before he agreed to the creation of the Book. Fortunately for us, you masterfully manipulated him, my love.”

Lasidious sighed. “But he still has the sword, and we both know what will happen if he figures it out. He would take it all back.”

“But he’s afraid to risk it. That’s why you’re going to provoke his rage. You’re the only one who can make him angry enough to try to reclaim the power he lost.”

The goddess returned to Lasidious and touched her mischievous partner with a seductive playfulness. She leaned in and whispered as she pressed her body against his. “Have I told you today, I find you amazingly handsome? What a delicious couple we make.” She smacked her lips and tickled his ear with her tongue.

Lasidious trembled as Celestria continued. “I’m glad you’re unable to lie to me. We’ve found a way to trust one another, my sweet. If I was in Bassorine’s boots, I would not be as forgiving for the trick you played.”

Lasidious looked at her belly, smiled, and then frowned again. “You know I would lie to you if I could. It’s not natural for me to be so honest … even with you. Like I’ve said on a thousand occasions, I would never have drank your potion if it wasn’t for your intoxicating beauty.”

After a brief period of reflection, Lasidious continued, “Who am I kidding? Being with you is the best thing for me. Drinking your potion has given me not only you, but our baby as well. I can’t wait until our baby is strong enough to tip the scales of power. It will be awe inspiring to rule the others without voting.”

The goddess smiled. A dark intent was hidden behind her luscious lips. “Sometimes we must give in order to get, my pet. You’re fortunate that I found you irresistible, or I would not have required you to drink my potion.” She patted her belly. “With our baby’s power and the beasts of the worlds who serve me supporting us, we’ll be unstoppable. The Council of Dragons will be a powerful army against the others when our child is strong enough to force them into battle. We will rule without opposition.”

Lasidious nodded in agreement. “The last vote we had, I was worried the others would discover you were with child.” Pulling a chair from under the table, the Mischievous One took a seat and placed his ear against her belly. “I sat through that entire meeting nervous to the point of making myself sick. If they ever find out, you know the Book will punish us. The consequences of being made mortal are more than I care to deal with. I don’t wish to be banished from Ancients Sovereign. To perish before our son saw the end of his first season would be so … so ... so permanent.” Lasidious paused. A look of concern appeared on his face. “What if our other plan fails?”

Celestria sighed, “If our initial plan doesn’t succeed, the alternate is secure.” She reached down and rubbed his back. “I also don’t want to lose what is ours.” Grabbing her lover’s chin, she lifted his head and found his eyes. “Our baby will wield power far greater than the others. We needn’t worry about that. Why else would we have spent thousands of seasons plotting. We have nothing to fear. They’re solid.” She bent down and kissed Lasidious. “Have faith, my love.”

Lasidious frowned. “How can you be so sure?”

Celestria caressed Lasidious’ hand. “Neither the Book nor the others will be able to do anything to stop us once we succeed. With our power passing into our child, he’ll defend us from the Book.” She squeezed his hand. “Until then, we must stick to the plan and hide the baby from the others. He must live amongst the mortals until he’s old enough to rule.”

Lasidious stood from the chair, walked to the far side of the room and started to pace. “That’s the only part of our plan I don’t like. Sure, our son will defend us from the Book, but if the Book and the others choose to stand united, the battle would be lost until he’s older. Hiding him won’t be easy.”

Celestria responded with renewed vigor. “Hence the need to create diversions, my pet. That’s why you brought George into the worlds. You were right. His heart is filled with greed, and his desire for power will be easily channeled. All we need to do is influence the mortal to seize control of Southern Grayham, and war will follow. This should keep the others’ attention off my pregnancy. They’ll be forced to focus on the havoc.”