Through The Gates Of Splendor Audiobook Novels & Stories

They’ve breached the outer walls, their armor and skin gleaming, their weapons soaked in the multi-colored blood of the evil creatures they’re cutting down. “We need to get inside while they’re occupied,” Rowen says as we run toward the gates. “Before reinforcements show up.” “Anyone see a way in?” Alexander asks, scanning the structure. The gates are obvious—two massive obsidian stone doors, smooth and polished to a mirror shine. They gleam in the combined glow of hellfire and angelic light. You can see where they’ll part, but there’s no handle, no lock, no seam to manipulate. The clash of war echoes around us, the sky full of cries and steel. I see the four Thrones fly out to meet three fi

He looked at Kavros, and for the first time, there was no anger in his gaze. “I don’t need pity from the ghosts of the past.” “I came here not to become a god, but to become myself.” Kavros paused for a long moment. Then slowly raised his hand. The fiery spear dissolved, turning into red dust drifting into the air. “Very well, your blood no longer screams. You are worthy of stepping through the next gate.” The sky above them cracked. Golden light shone from the fissures, forming a new gate, larger, darker, but with a far deeper aura.

He must exit via the gate to the human realm. Before him are four gates: human, supernatural, gods, and hell. Colton must choose the correct gate. I see him pause and look . Gate One has roses without thorns perfect in every way. I hear his thoughts. ‘Too perfect, my world has both beauty and pain.’ I smile. Gate two is covered in purple and gold roses with thorns. ‘Magical like the supernatural realm.’ Again I smile. Third gate burns but red roses covering it don’t. ‘Maybe but I should look at the fourth to be sure.’

“Then I’m with you. Whatever happens.” Aaron’s tone was dry. “Touching sentiment. Try not to get vaporized.” Ignoring him, I walked to the Gate. The air around it was thick, humming with energy. The closer I got, the louder the whispers became—thousands of voices overlapping, crying, begging, promising. You can end it. You can free them. You can be what she could not be. I lifted my hand. The marks on my skin responded instantly, light and shadow twisting into a spiral. The moment my fingers brushed the Gate, everything exploded.

For a second, no one moves. Then— BOOM. Massive iron gates begin to open, splitting down the middle like the mouth of a sleeping beast waking for a sacrifice. I exhale shakily. “Oh my God…” Nina places a gentle hand on mine. “Just breathe. You’ll be fine.” But her reassurance feels small against the scale of everything in front of me. The moment we pass through the gates, the atmosphere changes, heavier, colder, richer. Guards snap into formation as our car glides across the courtyard paved in dark marble.

I feel bigger than the stars and planets around me. Something is pulling me upwards, stars, and planets becoming distant. I turn away from all of these to enter two huge sets of gates made of gold and diamonds. The gates shine brighter than any stat I have ever seen. There is a figure facing away from me who's features are blurred by the clouds. The moment I look at that presence, peace washes over me. My feet carry me forward towards, through the gates, and towards the peace. "Angel" my feet stopped at the threshold of the gates listening to the voice, which calls for me.

Nightfang's pack house wasn't even one hundred years old, as we approached the enormous gates, long trumpets suddenly echoed through the valley. The sound startled me, the guards atop the walls immediately straightened and one after another, they struck their spears against the stone. Boom! Boom! Boom! The great gates slowly began to open, rows of armored royal warriors lined both sides of the entrance. And every one of them lowered a fist over their heart as Kael rode forward. "Welcome home, Your Majesty." The unified voices rolled through the courtyard like thunder. I instinctively shrank back, this world...was far larger than anything Rowan Nightshade had ever imagined.

I wasn’t exactly shocked—just amazed that something this grand even existed. “I’m glad you’re already impressed by the gate,” he said coldly as he pressed the horn. A few minutes later, the gates slowly opened. “Wow,” I breathed. “How is this even possible?” “There’s still a lot you haven’t seen,” he said quietly. “But remember—some thorns are beautiful enough to attract you… and poisonous enough to destroy you.” I turned to him, startled. “What does that mean?” I asked. “What does that have to do with any of this?”

The glow flared, alive again. “Kael,” a voice whispered, not from the darkness, but from inside him. He staggered back. The black veins along his neck shimmered like living shadow. You closed one gate, the voice said, almost gentle. But the others are opening. Kael slammed his palm against the wall. “Not through him.” No, it murmured. Through you. The stone cracked under his hand. The light within him surged, uncontrolled. For a moment, he saw flashes, cities burning, wolves turning on each other, the sky split by golden fire.

I feel myself shaking so badly that my teeth audibly tap together. I was already scared of César on a normal day. I was already tense around him, already careful with every breath, every look, every word. But this voice... this voice is different. It is darker. Deeper. It is serious with something I don't want to understand. Something ancient and cruel. My tears drip hot and fast between my fingers as I lower my hands, and that's when I see them. The gates. Huge. Tall. Black iron twisted into sharp spikes. They loom in front of us like the entrance to the underworld, rising out of the ground like claws waiting to snap shut. My stomach twists violently, acid rising in my throat.