Page 1 of Of Vows and War: Special Edition
I
Act I
Deception and Candor
Prologue
In a universe so vast—so all-encompassing—it was no surprise that world walkers were revered.
Perhaps that was why Asta felt so uncomfortably bored in her life. She had the ability to travel through galaxies, to learn—to thrive—tolive.But Padon, who was funny and handsome and so very good with his tongue, did not have the curiosity that she did. Her sister and her father understood that deep desire to be more than a crown, but her mother sided with the holder of Death and Creation.
Yes, Stella understood what Asta did not. There was no satiating the curiosity that ran through her daughters’ veins. Which was why, when her husband desired to bring their daughters world-walking, Stella wished to say no. In the end, she allowed Sol to go, but forced Asta to stay. Asta was their heir, despite being younger. She and Padon had a wedding to plan and so much to learn. They did not have time to sightsee. Their place was on Shamay.
Asta would forever associate that moment with guilt, for this would be the last time she ever saw her father and sister. Stella would live with regrets rather than guilt, for she wished more than anything to have spent one more moment with her doting husband—her soul bond. She would give anything to kiss her oldest daughter’s forehead—to hold her tightly and remind her of her magnificence in times of doubt.
Decades would pass. Then centuries. Stella would search and search, but she would not find them. Her own world would suffer for her absence at first, though her tear-filled moments of presence were not much better.
One day, the empress would stumble upon a world unlike any other. This world, with its beautiful yellow sun and its immense magic, reminded her of her lost husband—of the curiosity she once sought to stifle. Stella would explore the world, finding she did not quite like the creatures that called themselves fae. Though they looked like her kind with their pointed ears and sharp features, they did not settle within her bones comfortably. Instead, their presence weighed heavy in her stomach, like a bad pastry. They were conceited and flamboyant, all things she and her family never were.
So she would search on, stumbling across a vast continent, one that held creatures with round ears and no magic in their veins. They were kind and happy, but more than that, they were eager to learn.
The holder of Sun and Moon would do something abhorrent in her daze. She would gift the short-lived creatures her essence. From the skies she would steal the magic of their nearly white sun and the shadowy moon, raining it down upon the entirety of the continent known as Eoforhild. Mortals, as the fae called them, fell to their knees in thanks. And soon they would call her goddess. Soon they would worship her.
Back on Shamay, Padon—a strong and almost simple creature—found himself stepping up. He knew one thing above all else, he would save them. There was no doubt in the male’s mind that he belonged on the throne, just as he was absolutely certain that he was meant to have Asta at his side. She was his equal, perhaps even his superior. She washis.
How wonderful they were together. Every morning he would awaken her with coffee and breakfast, with words of affirmation and love. He would slip beneath the blankets and rip screams from her mouth. Then he would rule with her in Stella’s absence during the day, sneaking peeks at her dazzling silver eyes and hair beneath their teal sun. At night, Padon would once more ravish her, consuming everything she offered. And as she closed her eyes from fatigue, he would whisper his love to her.
Their life was perfect.
Until it was not.
And maybe it was his own inability to see past that utter bliss he existed within that prevented him from noticing when Asta no longer returned his declarations of love. Nor did he catch on to her aloofness during the day. Even worse, Padon did not notice Asta’s misery.
As a certain pink-haired beauty would say, this was Padon’s greatest sin.
Chapter One
Perdita
Gritting my teeth, I prepared for the bone-deep chill of the air to become the all-encompassing freeze of the Ibidem Sea. A wave soared over the starboard side, and all I could do was sign to my crew, “Incoming!”
The impact of the waves on a ship was dangerous.
The crash of the water upon a demon was deadly.
It hit me head-on, water shoving its way down my throat and drenching my clothes—my leather pants and cotton shirt doing nothing to save me. My hands gripped the gunnel despite how slippery the wood was quickly becoming. Desperately, I ordered the goddess, Stella, to keep me upright.
Once the water cleared, I doubled over with a cough, drying my lungs. With a glance back, I saw the crew doing the same. That was all the encouragement I needed.
“Get those fucking sails stowed!” My violent and sharp signs were cut off by the crack of thunder as another wave smashed into the Abaddon, my center of gravity shifting as I was knocked off my feet. I flew across the deck, using every bit of my magic to keep the others up so CJ could have enough time. Sea water surged into my mouth once more when I gasped in pain at the feel of my body slamming into the wooden bulwark. Forcing my eyes open despite the salty burn, I called upon my shadows.
One moment I was being slowly drowned by the sea that had seen most of my formative years, the next I was atop the crow’s nest, gasping for air. Lightning streaked the sky, painting my ship in a silver glow—a haunting image.
Looking down, I caught sight of CJ’s strained face as she pushed out her Water power. Her screams were silent to my unhearing ears but practically vibrating beneath my feet as she attempted to fight the flood, just as Bek’s determined instructions likely battled for dominance against the booming thunder above. Watching as CJ’s mouth moved in response, I realized how hopelessly she was working against the sea.
With a sigh that burned my throat, I finally conceded.
My shadows seeped from my skin, crawling down the ropes and sails, seeking a foothold on the Abaddon herself. I willed them on, not so much as breathing until every inch of my beautiful ship was wrapped in their cool embrace. Then I thought of home.
