centuries serving as a roost for the strix. Kicking the foul mess of bones out of the way as much as he could, Silvas leaned down and lifted her up.
The moment Diana’s feet touched the stone, she glanced around, her face filling with horror as her eyes rested on a small skull. She grabbed a protruding rock and leaned over the side, her body spasming as she vomited. He closed the distance between them, gently drawing back her hair before stroking her back with one hand until she ceased heaving. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she straightened, giving the entrance a dark glare.
Inside he could hear the low creaking sounds of the strix stirring as his ears turned toward it. Pulling his sword free, he reached back instinctively to grab ahold of his mate, anchoring her to his side. They couldn’t fight that way, but as they entered, he felt better having her in his grasp for as long as possible.
The sound of brittle bone fragments was loud underfoot as they entered the cavern. Silvas immediately concentrated on the flow of power through his body and pulled at a thread of it, drawing it through him. His magic was typically limited to his influence on the forests, but summoning light was a skill that most immortal races possessed, and all gods could accomplish with minimal effort. While he didn’t need light to see, he wouldn’t leave Diana so impaired. He felt a crackle of warmth around the crown of his head as his antlers sparked, releasing a burst of light between their inner spikes. The glow didn’t cast its illumination far, but it served their purpose.
The light cast its glow on tall pillars carved from the natural cave formations as detailed carvings and paintings graced smoothed walls gilded in many places in gold and adorned with precious stones. In the distance, he could see a giant tripod brazier. An angry sound drifted through the cavern—a muffled, shrill snarl.
Bones skittered loudly as something moved heavily in the depths of the winding cave system. A raspy flutter of huge wings echoed around them. His eyes slid to Diana, feeling her anxiety rippling through their bond. She kept pace at his side, her movements fluid despite her unease. An arrow was already notched in her bow, the string pulled marginally back in preparation to fire. Reassured that she was prepared, he crept forward, taking care to make as little noise as possible.
The resonance of an unmistakable scrape of large claws dragging against stone was followed by the loud clatter of falling stones as the strix drew closer from within the heart of her nest. She was still too far away to see accurately, even with his superior eyesight, except for the brilliant yellow eyes that appeared like a pair of glowing sparks, flashing at them as a raspy chuckle filled the spaced.
“Strangers to whet my appetite?” she queried. He could hear the click of her teeth, and her wings appeared as looming inky shadows within the dark. “I think so,” she hissed to herself, each vowel drawn out in her aged voice.
There was a rush of air and a loud thump that sent billows of dust and dirt toward them. Silvas gestured to Diana to hold her position as he warily stalked forward. His eyes narrowed. He was able to see much further beyond the glow of the illumination than Diana. A slim silhouette moved, and an ethereally beautiful woman emerged from the shadows. Her dark hair hung in a wave down her back and large golden eyes peered at him, a tiny smile tugging on red lips. A gray gown ghosted around her legs as she drew closer. She exhaled a strange perfume that rolled through the cave. It glittered briefly, thickening into a curtain that seemed to surround him, confusing his senses.
He blinked his eyes as everything blurred and tilted around him, godly power surging through the air. There was something almost familiar about it, but he couldn’t quite grasp it. Where was he? What was he doing? His eyes refocusing, Silvas smiled in welcome. His mate smiled as she walked toward him, the fragrant flowering vines crawling up the walls slid against her skin as she brushed by him. His body hardened eagerly as he watched her drawn nearer, her hips moving seductively with every step. His smile slipped a little in confusion. Since when did Diana walk that like? For that matter, how did he