Chapter 1

I woke up with my head in a daze. “I had the weirdest fuckin dream…” I said to Titan as I rolled over to face a woman in my bed that I don’t remember bringing home. “What the fuck…” I said out loud and then I gripped my temples as pain shot through them momentarily. 

Suddenly memories of the night before came rushing into my mind. This woman was Haven, my girlfriend. “Jesus, don’t tell her I forgot who she was, she will rip my balls off.” I said to Titan with a silent laugh. I didn’t want to wake her. It must have been one hell of a night if I forgot my own girlfriend, sheesh…

I snuck out of bed and headed to the shower. After the night we had, I definitely needed a damn shower. I’ll tell you what, she is fucking good in bed. Thoughts of our encounter last night made my dick hard, so I turned on the cold water. I had a coven meeting this morning and didn’t have time for a repeat, unfortunately. 

After I calmed myself down, I got out and dried off. I picked out a black suit with bronze accents and bronze shoes. My hair was perfect after showering, which was a normal occurrence for me. Not a hair out of place, just the way I liked it. I did one last mirror check which was my morning ritual. Or, you know, anytime I saw a mirror.

“Damn, you are sexy.” I said to myself. Titan was howling in approval. That Wolf was always hyping me up! “Let’s go.” I said to him. I walked back into my bedroom where Haven was still sleeping soundly. I gently kissed her on the side of her temple. 

“Have a good day sweetheart, I’ll be back later.” I whispered to her and then I materialized to my meeting. Before I walked in, I had the weirdest feeling that something wasn’t right. I couldn’t quite place it though. 

I racked my brain trying to remember what had happened the night before. I remember my brother, Raphael, interrupting my walk with Haven and being all weird. But after that besides the sex I can’t really recall shit. 

Hmm, fuck it. I didn’t have to think about it right then. I pushed the thoughts from my mind. and I headed into my meeting. The room stood still when I arrived, as it should. “You may be seated.” I said to my Priests. 

“First line of business. The Witches have their monthly Esbat ritual on Saturday. I expect those in attendance to be on their best behavior. There will be a Human sacrifice, so you are all aware. I know they don’t always do that, but this full moon they will be, and they wanted us to be aware. We have had some issues with the Hybrids trying to intervene, I would like those in attendance to watch the perimeter mostly. As our treaty with the Witches entails, we are mainly their protection during situations such as these. Is that understood?” I asked. Unanimous nods from my Priests confirmed that they understood. “Next line of b…” I started to say but then a sharp pain radiated through my temples causing me to stumble back and grasp my head. 

Suddenly memories of a battle, Haven in the middle of it. My brother Raphael was restrained by Roxy, who was a Risen. Myself and Atreyu were bursting through the barrier throwing everything we had at her. But as soon as the pain came, it left, taking the memory with it.

“Sir, are you ok?” Kyrian, my second in command, asked while rushing to my side. I shook my head and stood back up. “Yes, Kyrian. I'm fine. Just a sharp pain, but it’s gone now.” I said. He nodded and went back to his place next to me at the head of the table. 

“As I was saying.” I continued, and then another sharp pain radiated through my head, this time bringing me to my knees. The memories I had previously forgotten radiated through my mind again with a vengeance this time. 

It was like a movie playing on repeat. All the memories of Haven I had come rushing back. She wasn’t my girlfriend… She was a fucking Forsaken! And she was obsessed with Raphael. Obsessed enough to start a war over him rejecting her. What the fuck did she want with me? 

And then the memories were swept away as I tried to reach out and grab them... They were gone. I regained my composure again with Kyrian by my side. “Kyrian, you will have to lead this meeting. I’m having some sort of issue.” I huffed through the mind link. “Excuse me.” I said to my Priests, and I materialized back home.

I needed to sit down for a moment. I sat on the bronze couch in my foyer, feeling dizzy and strange. I knew I had memories of something that flashed back to me, but I couldn't for the life of me remember what they were about. I knew it was important, it had to be… But what was it? 

Just then my brain fog lifted, and I felt completely normal again. I looked up to see Haven walking through the foyer towards me. Damn she was beautiful in her black crop tank with a skull on it and daisy dukes. She was barefoot with a puka shell anklet, and her toenails were glittering with silver polish that matched her silver nails. 

“She could definitely use a new color.” I said to Titan, he snickered in response. I made a mental note to put some bronze polish in the bathroom for her. “Hey, I missed you when I woke up!” Haven said enthusiastically. Her voice was angelic and made my heart flutter. 

She wasn’t even marked, and I felt this way. “Damn.” I said to Titan. He growled in approval. “I had a coven meeting, angel.” I said to her, and the thoughts of the memories I was trying so hard to retain slipped from my mind as if they were never even there. All that mattered was Haven. I stood and pulled her into my arms, inhaling her scent which was strange… Like the forest after a fresh rain but comforting. All of my worries melted with her in my arms. 

“How did I get so lucky to find a dime like you?” I asked her playfully. “Oh, you’d be surprised if you knew.” She said with a chuckle. I didn’t even care what that meant, I was elated. She could have asked me for anything in the world right then and I would have obliged. I was wrapped around her beautiful little finger.

“So, Kyrian is running the meeting for me today. I have been experiencing some head pain this morning and thought it best to come back home. That means I have all day to do whatever you want to do.” I said to Haven with a wink. 

“Head pain?” She questioned, and she seemed a little worried. “Yea, it’s nothing really.” I said. “I’ll be right back.” She replied, and she disappeared into the kitchen. I followed her and she turned to hand me two small pills. “Take these, they will help your head.” She said. 

I snapped to produce a glass with a bronze liquid inside. I always drank my brandy bronze, it was my color, after all. 

I popped the two pills and chased them with the brandy. Snapping when I was done to remove the cup. She nodded at me in approval. I had no idea what the pills were, but if Haven gave them to me then they must be fine.

We headed to the living room and sat down on the black couch with bronze pillow accents. “I wonder who the Witches will choose as their Human sacrifice for tomorrow's ritual?” I asked Haven. 

They never brought Humans from our town of New Orleans, they always went a lot further to get someone. Rumor has it they had a list of volunteers. Once the sacrifice was made to appease The Ancestors, the promise of eternal life was given. 

The Hybrids who were always causing trouble had agreed to give their blood before death, in order to allow the Human to turn into a Hybrid after death. They then went to live with the Hybrids and start a new immortal life. 

Not such a bad deal if you ask me, your Human life for a supernatural life. I couldn’t think of anything better. I could never imagine being a Human, that thought is so strange to me. I had been a Reaver my entire life, for as long as I can remember. Being a Human just seemed so weak to me. All those emotions you had to feel, and all that pain? Yea, I’ll fuckin pass.

“I’m not sure who they will pick this time.” Haven replied, pulling me from my thoughts. “I am required to attend being the ruler of the underworld in the French Quarter after all. Would you like to join me?” I asked Haven, knowing she would say yes. 

“Of course.” She murmured. Good. I thought. “Hey, let's go grab drinks at TwentyOne. I know it’s literally 11am… But mimosas?” I asked. 

“Ok, that sounds great, my love.” Haven purred. I would never get tired of her voice.