Wed to the Wild God
When I find a gorgeous stranger in an alley, covered in blood, you'd think the logical thing would be to go to the authorities.
Not me. I take him home.
I've got my reasons, though. See, Kassam is cursed with hedonism. He's a god from another world, accidentally stuck in ours. Anyone (and everyone) around him falls under his spell. It's impossible to resist. Like scratching an itch. And being around Kassam? Boy, do I itch.
But trying to send the god home to his world is a near-impossible task. Between everyone we meet trying to kiss him and the gods of this world trying to get rid of him, I'm in over my head. There's only one solution that will keep me safe -- marry him. Being the wife of a god will protect me from immortal machinations.
Now, I just need to figure out a way to protect my heart from Kassam himself.
Pantheon of Aos
The High Father
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The Twelve (as of the last Anticipation)
Magra, Lady of Plenty
Tadekha, Goddess of Magic
Riekki, Peacekeeper and Knowledge-bringer
Anali, Lady of Light and Health
Belara - Goddess of Beauty
Aron, Lord of Storms, Butcher God of Battle (Bound to the Battle God)
Kalos, One of the two Dark Brothers, Lord of Disease
Gental, God of Family
Kassam, Lord of the Wild (Wed to the Wild God)
Rhagos, Lord of the Dead, one of the two Dark Brothers (Sworn to the Shadow God)
The Spidae, Lords of Fate
Vor, God of Seas
A Note About Content
As always, please be aware that some of my books sometimes contain objectionable content. This is my effort to let readers know so they can be alerted and prepared for such things in their reading…or skip the book entirely! It’s up to you what your limits are.
If you don’t want to be spoiled, skip ahead to Chapter One! If you are here for spoilers, continue on.
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SPOILERS AHEAD SPOILERS AHEAD SPOILERS AHEAD SPOILERS AHEAD SPOILERS AHEAD SPOILERS AHEAD SPOILERS AHEAD
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First and foremost! These books contain themes of death and rebirth, as do all the Anchor and Aspect books. If you find death triggering or thoughts of impending death triggering, this might not be the read for you.
At a few points in the story, the heroine is assaulted. Not sexually, and not by the hero.
There are mentions of an abusive parental figure and drug use.
Also — the hero is the Aspect of Hedonism, which means he is Up. For. Anything. And while the hero and heroine in this book are utterly faithful the moment they meet, there are references to the pansexual hero’s adventurous past. He continues to be adventurous with our heroine, and between them there’s a bit of light bondage, light spanking for both parties, toy action, and pegging. Oh, and someone turns into a tree during sex off-screen.
I felt it would be inauthentic to Hedonism to make him totally vanilla so Kassam is definitely a bit more in the spice department. If you are looking for a spice rating, my normal books are probably a warm three, this one would be a four, and a five would be no-holds-barred.
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SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE SPOILERS DONE
Enjoy!
— Ruby
1
(Author’s Note: If you are reading this on a device and it skipped straight here, please page back to read the content warnings if needed. Thank you! — xoxo Ruby)
CARLY
"I'm telling you, sweetie. Be careful out there. You never know who to trust in a city like this."
I lift my shoulder, using it to hold the phone to my ear as I clean a mug behind the bar. It's almost opening time, so I need to make this call to my mom short, but I can hear the worry in her voice. "Have you seen anything weird outside your apartment, Ma? Any weirdos at work?"
"No! I'm not worried about me. I'm worried about you. You know they never found those two girls that went missing from that building." Her voice drops a worried note. "They were both young and pretty like you."
It's nice of my mom to think I'm pretty, but that might be a mother's love affecting her there. I'm sure I'm cute enough—my shaggy reddish blonde hair with thick bangs and my sprinkle of freckles across my snub nose ensures that I get decent tips—but I'm not a model. "One of them was a client of yours, wasn't she?"
"The blonde one, yes. I did a card reading for her right before she disappeared. Weirdest thing." My mom pauses. "Carly…I didn't tell you, but I did a reading for her after she disappeared because I wanted to see what would come up. I did a three card spread and do you know what I got?"
"No, what?" My mom lives by her card readings.
"Death. The King of Pentacles. And The World."
"Okay."
"I remember reading her and she got Death and King of Pentacles that day, too."
I pick up another mug, wiping it down to get rid of any water spots. "I thought you told me that didn't mean actual death."
"It doesn't. It means a big change in life. But…Carly…" I can practically hear my mother swallow on the other end of the phone. "I've done three more readings for that young lady and those three cards come up every time."
Goosebumps prickle over my skin. "No shit?"
"No shit."
"Did you shuffle well?"
"I know how to use my cards, Carly." My mother sounds offended. "This is what I do for a living."
"I know, I know. I'm just trying to understand how that could happen."
"The cards are trying to tell me something. That's how it happened. She's dead. I know it. I just don't have any proof and her killer is out there somewhere."
"Did you do a reading for the other girl?" I ask absently, glancing at the clock. Five minutes until four pm, which means I need to get a move on. I've got to cut some limes and change out one of the kegs, and it's easier if I get it all done before we open our doors. Charlie saunters in from the back with a fresh load of beer steins for me to wipe down, and reaches over to turn on the TV behind the bar. I gesture at my phone, indicating I'll end my call, and he nods and walks away. "The one you didn't know?"
"I did."
"And?"
"Death keeps coming up on hers, too. First card I turn over every time. And then the Lovers. The Hanged Man is always the third card—self-sacrifice. Do you think she gave her life to save the other girl?"
"If she did, it didn't work, judging by your other cards."
"Carly!" My mother admonishes me in a sharp voice. "I'm worried!"
"I know, Mom, and I love you, but we're about to open up and I can't be on the phone." I glance over at the doors to the bar, and I see one of our regulars peering inside, waiting to get his first after-work beer. Shit. I set the mug down. "I really have to go," I tell her, hopping out from behind the bar and grabbing my phone before it drops from my shoulder. I head for the door. "Can I call you tomorrow?"