Chaos & Crowns, page 1
part #1 of Divine Articles Series
The Divine Articles
Flesh and Fangs (Book 1)
Chaos and Crowns (Book 2)
Hellfire and Hearts (Book 3)
Published by Flick-It-Books 2023
Copyright © 2023 by Em Livett
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
Em Livett asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. Em Livett has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.
First edition
ISBN: 978-1-959881-27-8 (ebook), 978-1-959881-25-4 (Paperback), 978-1-959881-26-1 (Hardback)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is available
Cover art by: MiblArt
Interior art and design by: Misti Flick
Editing by: Misti Flick
Contents
The Divine Articles
Dedication:
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Epilogue
Wavering & Wilde
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
About the Author
Also by Emarie Livett
Flesh and Fangs
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Dedication:
For Katie, a devout Elm lover like myself. You keep me going.
Trigger Warnings
Some of the themes in this book are darker in nature. If
you are uncomfortable with prostitution, sexual assault, foul
language, death, and violence, please exercise judgement in
deciding to read this book.
Prologue
Just beyond the imposing snowcapped mountains, hidden away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, sat the quaint but vibrant village of Oread. This peaceful hamlet was home to both human and fey who lived in harmony with one another. It was a place where a feeling of safety blanketed everyone despite their differences in race, species, or origin. The village did not need fancy structures or grand palaces; what it had was a humble but sincere sense of community.
The Driech perched herself on a bench, fully glamoured, appearing as a strikingly beautiful human with coils of scarlet hair that cascaded down her back. She couldn’t help but admire the sight before her. The townsfolk filled the dirt path in all directions, smiling and exchanging pleasantries while going about their daily errands. Now and then, one or two people would hurriedly approach her bench to ask if she required any assistance.
She put on her best act, denying their help with a grateful smile. They all grinned back, all of them blissfully unaware of just how much danger they were in.
A young, grinning boy ambled over to her with a glass filled with cool, refreshing water. “Here you go,” he said as he carefully laid the glass on the table. “It’s weawy hot out today, so you must be firsty.”
She smiled up at him in gratitude and took a sip from the cup of cold liquid offered to her.
Her brow arched in curiosity as she observed the little boy. He was no older than five, yet he acted with an astounding amount of fearlessness around unfamiliar people.
A foolish choice.
The Driech twisted her head, like a bird of prey spotting its lunch, and glanced somewhere in the distant blur before turning her gaze back to the boy. She shed her glamour, making sure he saw the entity she truly was underneath. Her rounded fingernails sharpened into razor-like talons and her plain eyes became glowing embers, as red as the shade of lipstick she wore. She studied him intently with her new fiery irises, watching his reaction.
The child’s eyes grew wide in fear, and he shrieked for his mother. He attempted to flee, but the Dreich snatched him by the shoulder before he could get away. His heart was pounding in his chest as a chill ran down his spine as the creature’s grip tightened around him.
“Wait, little one,” she cooed, her voice as soft as a bird’s song and as terrifying as a harpy’s. “You’re going to miss all the fun.”
A pack of kaanhounds echoed into the distance, their howls an answer to the Driech’s call. The little boy trembled, still held tight in the goddess’ hand. He cast his gaze upon her, tears stinging his eyes as he whimpered, pleading, “Pwease, I want my mommy.” His small voice cracked with fear and desperation as he searched for a hint of mercy from the being before him.
The Driech cocked her head toward one shoulder and pouted; her claws clattered against each other as she raised a finger, gently brushing away the tear that was sliding down the terrified child’s cheek. She looked upon him with a mixture of amusement and maternal affection.
“There, there, little one. I’m a mother, too. And your fear is absolutely delicious.”
Just as she released the child, the town roared into chaos. Twelve mangy looking canines stalked the townsfolk. They scattered like frightened mice, screaming and pleading for their lives.
The Dreich grinned, baring a set of teeth that were long, thin, and sharp like a row of daggers. Her dark eyes lit up with excitement, and she let out an evil cackle as she clapped her hands together.
The little boy staggered away, in a state of shock, as he watched the Dreich disappear into nothingness. He could still hear her deep, throaty laughter ringing in his ears.
He ran at breakneck speed through the narrow alleyways and wide boulevards. Looking everywhere for his mother while avoiding the vicious dogs that seemed to close in on him. His heart thrummed against his chest in a frenzied rhythm as he struggled to maintain hope, but it was fading quickly. Just when he felt like all was lost, a faint voice cut through the silence. He stopped in his tracks and cocked his head, an unmistakable glimmer of recognition coming over him.
“Mommy!” He shouted as he ran toward his house. A thin woman with curly blonde hair and antlers held the door open for him, screaming at her son to hurry.
With a kaanhound nipping fiercely at his heels, he frantically ran toward his mother’s voice as she screamed for him to come. The creature’s sharp teeth snapped viciously at the air. Panic seized the boy as teeth snapped around his leg, ripping his feet out from under him. He let out a piercing shriek, covering his head with his hands and bracing himself for the worst.
“Run!” shouted a male feyrie. The boy opened his eyes and saw the baker standing between him and the wolf, with nothing but a rolling pin for defense. “Go! Run!”
He scrambled to his feet, not turning back as he rushed into his mother’s arms. There was a chilling cry of anguish behind him, and his mother yanked him backwards just in time to see the hound rip into the baker’s throat, the wooden rolling pin still gripped tightly in his hand.
Baz stumbled across the dusty trail in his beastly form. Completely made of pure, unyielding muscle, with a coat of pale white fur that collected around his neck like a lion’s mane. His features were sharp and menacing, aquiline nose and pointed ears, eyes that scorched with determination.
His strides were powerful and commanding as he tirelessly prowled through Oread. He moved in an animalistic manner, as though some primal part inside him had taken over completely. Almost like something wild unleashed out into the world to wreak havoc and destruction wherever it went.
Wh
The boy and his mother watched with horror as the flames licked up the wooden houses like some malicious, living creature. He could hear desperate screams coming from inside them. Tears streamed down his face as he saw their homes turn to ash while Baz just stood there, arms folded across his chest in triumph.
The fire closed in on him and his mother. She tugged him behind her as she ran to check the back door, but her grip on his arm slipped. Fire-bitten boards fell from the rafters down around him, effectively separating him and his mother.
The boy curled into a fetal position, rocking back and forth as the heat from the flames stung his skin. He only hoped his death would be as swift as the flames that would consume him.
Chapter 1
Rei
Darkness surrounded me like a cloud of thick, black smoke. A length of rope was bound tightly around me, trapping my arms and legs to the hardwood chair. I could feel its harsh fibers biting into my skin with a fiery intensity. The material seared against vulnerable flesh like a hot iron, suffocating me in its grip. No matter how much I struggled, the rope refused to loosen, digging deeper and deeper until it felt as if it had completely infiltrated my bones. There was no escape, nothing I could do except grit my teeth against the pain.
“Hello?” I screamed through my tears. “Rhen? Elm? Anybody?”
A chilling, soft, feminine voice tickled the air at my ear. “Hello, darling.”
Shivers raked down my spine, sending a wave of goosebumps across my skin. No matter how hard I tried, I simply could not push past the darkness that seemed to dominate this place. My heart pounded in my chest and sweat trickled down my face. Dread washed over me with no end in sight. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. As much as I wanted to scream or cry out, I could not bring myself to make a sound.
Sitting in the midst of murky shadows, feeling an overwhelming sense of uncertainty, my bottom lip quivered. I was eternally grateful for the shield of darkness that hid my fear, but I knew enough about the Fey to know that the cloak of shadow and night wouldn’t conceal the scent of it.
“Who are you?” I hesitantly asked, my tongue like sandpaper against my lips.
She giggled, breath hot against my skin. Fingers grappled with the knot of the blindfold. It fell to the floor slowly, like a feather floating from the sky. The woman that knelt in front of me wore the most vibrant shade of lipstick I’d ever seen, so bright in fact that I could see it through the damp darkness. Her almond skin reflected a shimmering light in the background.
“I’m Drea. What do I call you?”
The distinct sound of a male voice reverberated off of the rock walls, filling the air with a familiar resonance. “Don’t answer that. Never tell a feyrie your name.”
My heart pounded, gratitude surging through me. I knew that voice. I was saved! Elm came to save me!
“Forget already, Prince, that I am no feyrie?” said the female. I arched my neck around her to where the young, white-haired male stood. Had he cut his hair? It was nowhere near the length it had been when I’d seen him earlier.
With scarlet-rimmed eyes and a tense jaw, he pushed past the woman toward me. I realized the closer he stepped toward me and into the faint light; he wasn’t Elm, but his twin. He moved with an eerie swiftness and wore a strained expression, like he had been through a battle of his own.
“She’s an innocent,” he warned her, staring at me. Blue eyes pleading, not just with the red-head, but with me as well. “And my future in law.”
A jolt of nausea rose from the depths of my throat. I’d seen Rhen send him away before. Any lingering feelings that she felt for him were replaced by hurt and anger. And though I did not know the extent of what he’d done, I respected my daughter’s judgment. I couldn’t wrap my head around why he thought he could ever win her back. Once Rhen had made her mind up, there was almost no changing it.
“I don’t intend to harm you,” said Drea, ignoring Baz’s presence. Light cast over her from cracks in the ceiling. “I just wanted to get to know you, darling. We are both mothers, after all.”
“You have kids?” It came out more judgmental than I’d intended. She looked young, but I was still technically a teen when I’d become a mother. Anything was possible.
Her fingers tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. The touch sent a chill down my spine. She leaned over and kissed my cheek. “Of course. I’m the mother goddess of fear and chaos, but most call me the Driech.”
Realization hit me like a slap in the face. Of course, I’d heard the others talk about the looming darkness that brought destruction in its wake. But they’d failed to mention that the dark force took the form of a woman.
I swallowed hard, peering around the proud woman to the prince. Dark, grim features stared back with a near blank expression. “She’ll never forgive you,” I said to him, “if you do this. Elm said–”
Red, unbridled rage surged through him. He advanced, shoving the goddess aside in one swift motion. His hand suddenly closed around my throat, his sharp talons biting into my skin, and drawing rivulets of crimson blood that ran down my chest, staining my shirt. Rendered speechless by fear, my eyes widened as I stared back at the male. Somehow, I could look past the facade and directly into his soul. Though he might have the face of a beautiful feyrie prince, something dark lay beneath those blue eyes.
“Never mention that name to me ever again.”
With several short nods and wide eyes as my answer, he released his grip. Turning back to Drea, he snapped his fingers. A dark blue flame rose and crackled from his palm.
“Where do you think you are you going?”
He swiveled, still holding the fire in his hand. It illuminated his face, and my mouth went dry. His shadow cast against the wall, revealing a monster beneath his beautiful skin. His massive body was terrifying, but it was the large, daemonic horns that stole my breath.
“I have a country to run. Forget already, Drea, that I’m now the King?” He mocked the powerful female with no reservations. I wasn’t sure what that said about him. He didn’t seem to be afraid of her, but I could taste the dark magick radiating from her breath as she leaned over me.
She wasn’t fey, and the sickly-sweet scent of her magick confirmed that. Whatever she was, it was much more intense than any feyrie magick I’d come face to face with.
She licked her bottom lip and stared at me with a bloodthirsty smirk. “I have big plans for you.”
Baz might not have been afraid of chaos personified, but I certainly was.
Not just for myself, but for my daughter.
Rhen
Sweat beaded on my skin, a single droplet rolling down my forehead and stinging the corner of my eye. I gasped, barely able to raise an arm in time to block Kol’s bokken inches before it glided across the skin of my shoulder. But it was too late; already I felt its hard edge tap against me.
Out of instinct, I stumbled back, feeling a searing heat where the wooden blade had made contact with me. The pain wasn’t intense, but I knew tomorrow I would wake with an ugly purple-blue mark.
“Ouch!” I whined, swiping the moisture from my face with the curve of my arm. Out of reflex, I pressed a hand against my shoulder where he’d landed the blow. “Dammit, Kol! I’m human, remember?”
The sylph made a throaty noise, and I answered by flicking an obscene gesture in his direction. Another chuckle blossomed from beneath his gleaming chest. He brought the sword down to his side, his lips twitching up into an arrogant smirk.
“Elm’s been too easy on you,” he said, swinging the hilt of the sword up and aiming its curved point at me. “Again.”
We’d been practicing in the snow since before dawn. He’d forced me to jog around the fortress until my knees wobbled and feet were numbed completely from the cold. That was hours ago, and we hadn’t even stopped long enough to eat breakfast.
