Avenging (The Rising Series Book 3)
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Authors: Holly Kelly
THIS book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the authors' imagination or are used factiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Avenging
Copyright ©2015 Holly Kelly
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-63422-086-6
Cover Design by: Marya Heiman
Typography by: Courtney Nuckels
Editing by: Cynthia Shepp
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The burning pit of hell would be too good a place for her husband. Sitting on the bank of a river with her back against a tree, Coleta held back tears as the horror of the situation assaulted her and sent waves of pain and nausea through her. He tried to kill her. The man who vowed to love and cherish her tried to murder her. And what had she done to deserve it? She’d dared to argue with him. Was that truly something worthy of death?
She listened for her pursuer. He would be coming soon. She had stopped to rest five minutes ago. Slipping out from behind the tree, she fought to stand on trembling legs. Looking down, her heart pounded at the sight. She’d been so desperate in her escape that she neglected to assess her condition.
Her blouse was ripped open, revealing an open, gaping puncture on the upper part of her left breast—the site where her husband had plunged a nine-inch carving knife into her. Blood flowed from the wound—branching down over her stomach and soaking her jeans. Sickened by the sight, she covered it with what fabric was left of her shirt. She only made it a few steps before her trembling legs gave out. Collapsing into the rotting leaves, she gasped at the wave of pain that swept over her. When the searing pain weakened to a deep throb, she wept softly—realizing she would probably die. It was miles to the main road, and even farther to the nearest town—a town with no hospital. A wracking sob shot pain through her body and made her stomach cramp.
A shout in the distance drove fear into her heart. She dragged herself behind a bush, preferring to die alone in the woods to facing her husband.
Horse hooves pounded the ground as a familiar booming voice called out, “Coleta!”
She let out slow, controlled breaths as she sat, unmoving in her hiding place.
The horse let out a snort as the pounding came to a stop. “Coleta! I know you’re there. I’m sorry for what I did. I admit I overreacted. Please, let me help you!”
The sound of rushing water filled the air. Something was happening. Could it be a flash flood? Curiosity overrode her fear as Coleta peeked around the bush. The river swelled as a man’s head broke through the surface. She stifled a gasp at the sight of the muscled man. He held a trident in his right hand and had a tailfin instead of legs! The water washed back, and the tailfin disappeared, leaving the man standing on sandaled feet. Coleta trembled, her thoughts churning in confusion and shock.
“Triton,” Coleta heard her husband say, with venom in his voice. “What business do you have here, sea-god?”
“You have overstepped your bounds, Ares. I don’t care if you wage war among the humans, or even among the gods on Olympus, but when you stir those in my domain to war amongst each other, you have to contend with me!”
Ares? Did this man just call my husband Ares? And my husband called him Triton? I must be dreaming
“Are you threatening me?” Her husband’s booming voice shook the ground. Coleta pressed her hands against the ground to steady herself. She hissed shallow breaths and crawled carefully forward to get a better look. Her heart leapt with the hope that perhaps this Greek sea-god could save her. If he knew what her husband did, would he help her? Would he care?
For now, the sea-god’s eyes were locked on her murderous husband and his eyes were locked on Triton’s in return. They stood, feet braced apart and weapons raised—Triton with his trident and her husband with a sword. They truly looked like Greek gods—Coleta shook, trembling uncontrollably. She clamped her mouth shut to keep her teeth from chattering. Her stomach rolled. She closed her eyes and breathed slowly, trying to keep from vomiting.
“I’m warning you,” Triton said. “Stay away from the sea.”
“Or what?” her husband answered.
“Or you’ll have a battle on your hands.”
“Ha! Do you really think you can win a fight against the god of war?”
Triton stepped forward, the ground rumbling with every step. “No, I don’t think…” he narrowed his eyes and smiled, “…I know.”
For a moment, Coleta considered calling out, but her fear wouldn’t allow it. Her heart pounded when she saw her husband’s eyes. She’d never seen so much hate, not even when he tried to take her life. His eyes literally burned with it. “Your arrogance will be the end of you, sea-god,” he said.
“And your stupidity will be the end of you. This is my last warning. Another breach and it will be war between us.” At those words, the river swirled around the god and he disappeared in a watery vortex.
Coleta’s eyes widened at the impossible sight. As soon as the god was gone, she looked at her husband and found he was looking back at her. Her blood turned to ice.
Attempting to scramble to her feet, the world seemed to whirl around her. Strong arms clamped around her chest. Pain flared, making her gasp. This was impossible! A moment before, he’d stood twenty feet away from her. Now he had her in his arms.
“Awe, Coleta,” he said and shook his head. “You weren’t supposed to see that.” He gestured to the river. Looking down on her injury, he blew out a breath. “That knife really left a mark, didn’t it? I’ll bet it hurts.”
Coleta tried to push him away, but exhaustion weakened her. She would have collapsed in a heap on the ground if her husband hadn’t been holding her.
Or
was
he?
Things became so surreal that she didn’t know what was real and what was her imagination. Perhaps she was hallucinating. She had experienced a great deal of blood loss. For all she knew, she’d passed out and was having a vivid dream. That had to be it! She couldn’t possibly be married to a Greek god. What Greek god of war would want a human girl?
“W—what are you going to…?” Her voice cracked, and she couldn’t seem to finish her question.
“What am I going to do with you?” He smiled. “Is that what you were going to say?”
She didn’t answer him. She was much too afraid. She hoped she
was
dreaming. More than anything, she wanted to wake up from this nightmare and find herself safe in her loving husband’s arms.
Ares leaned forward, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered, “As you wish, my darling.”
And then she woke up.