My Slave Goddess

The celebration echoed through the trees of the sanctuary. Music floated in the air, and glowing lanterns drifted lazily overhead. The elves danced, sang, and embraced the peace they had long been denied.

But I wasn't part of it.

Only the elder elves came near me. The younger ones, the beautiful elf girls I expected to see, kept their distance perhaps out of fear, perhaps out of reverence. Either way, I stood alone on the edge of their joy.

Finally, one of the elders stepped forward.

"My name is Elrion," he said, his voice gravelly with age.

I raised an eyebrow. "Alex. All this time we've been walking together and you never told me your name. Why don't any of you speak to me properly?"

Elrion offered a tired smile. "It's not mistrust. It's caution. You must understand we've lived in fear for a long time."

I nodded slowly. "What was that attack really about, Elrion? Why were you being hunted?"

He looked me dead in the eye.

"You really don't know?" he asked. "It's the Revelation. A prophecy. It says that the Hero and the Goddess will descend to purge all intelligent races except for humans and the lesser beasts. The rest of us? We're targets."

My eyes narrowed. "So that's what this is all about?"

"Yes," he replied. "The humans have become too powerful to resist. And now they're tools of the divine. We can't fight back anymore. Survival means submission."

I looked at the elder woman beside him fragile and trembling. All of them were old, tired, and worn down by fear.

"How are the others doing?" I asked. "Now that they have a place to stay?"

"We are? safe," Elrion said, bowing his head slightly. "Because of you."

I exhaled slowly. "That's good."

But something about the way he was watching me made my stomach twist. His eyes had a glint I didn't trust.

Then he turned to another elder.

"Bring Rosemary."

A few minutes later, Elrion returned, this time with a half-smile.

"To show our gratitude," he said, "we've arranged for Rosemary to accompany you tonight. She is gifted. And beautiful. Perhaps you'll even consider marriage."

My eyes widened. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on. I already have a goddess and she's probably listening very closely right now."

A tense silence followed.

"But fine," I muttered. "Just send Rosemary. No marriage."

The elders bowed and left. But no sooner had the door closed than pain exploded in my skull pressure, like divine thunder building behind my eyes.

And then I heard her.

Ashley.

"Why did you break divine law? Why did you help those filthy elves? Why did you enter the human world on your own?"

Her voice was like a blade in my mind.

"Do you want to stop being a god?"

Before I could respond, the door creaked open.

She entered.

Rosemary.

Her presence lit up the room. Delicate features. Soft silver hair. Eyes like morning dew. She looked barely older than a girl, yet there was grace in her movements.

"Is there anything I can do for you tonight, Lord Alex?" she asked softly.

I stared.

Then my nose bled.

"Ugh!"

Before I could move, before I could even breathe too hard, divine retribution struck.

A bolt of light. Pain surged through me. I dropped to my knees.

Ashley had punished me.

Darkness swallowed everything.

I don't know how long I was out.

But in the silence, thoughts began to stir.

Why am I still obeying her? Why am I following orders like a pawn?

No.

Not anymore.

I woke to the sound of chanting. Elven voices filled the sanctuary with haunting harmony. The music was beautiful free and alive.

I turned to see Rosemary sleeping peacefully beside me. Her head rested near my shoulder.

I stood slowly, tempted to step outside and join the celebration. But before I could, I felt it again.

That pull.

Ashley.

"We're done here," she said coldly. "Let's return to the kingdom. Finish your mission."

I clenched my fists.

"I have a wife now. Stop dragging me around."

She appeared before me in divine radiance. Eyes blazing.

"Insolent vessel," she snapped. "You dare speak back to your goddess?"

"I'm not your puppet," I growled. "I've had enough."

Rage flickered in her eyes. "You will die."

She lifted her hand.

I froze. I couldn't move.

She stepped closer. Her voice dropped into a hiss.

"I can't harm anyone else in this world. But you?"

Her fingers hovered over my chest, glowing.

"I can do anything I want with you. Even kill you."

Her face was inches from mine. Her divine presence overwhelming.

And then

A stupid, reckless, wonderful idea formed in my head.

As she leaned in

I struck.

One bold move. I grabbed her and kissed her.

A deep, fearless kiss.

For a heartbeat, she didn't move.

Then

BOOM.

Lightning tore through my body. My muscles convulsed. Pain flared.

She zapped me with everything she had.

I hit the floor, twitching and smoldering.

But even as I coughed smoke

I grinned.

Totally worth it.