02-26-2023, 02:29 AM
Despite his own words to Dimitri, Aiden checked his Wallet and found the story in question. Mila Babanin had been on the scene, of course. Aiden had been accosted by the woman only once before. She had shown up randomly at his palatial manor house, asking a multitude of questions about his past and allegations put forth by Kyle Rice. Aiden was certain no person on Earth had ever had such a vindictive ex as Kyle Rice. Aiden had his own bodyguards escort her off the premises after he unceremoniously closed the door in her face. That had been half a year ago, right before Sage had come into his life.
Aiden watched the report with captions, as the lights went down and the music began to play. Half way through the report, a new video was sliced into the recording. Mila had been going down on a stranger in a darkened alleyway somewhere in Moscow. Sage. Of course, it was Sage’s own brand of mischief. Aiden closed his Wallet after the words ‘not her husband?’ flashed across the screen. He slipped the thing back into his pocket and turned to Sage, grabbing his face and planting a deep, rough kiss upon his tender lips.
How did I get to be so lucky? Aiden thought ruefully.
Nox came out onto the stage amidst a flurry of spectacle. Aiden let go of Sage and waggled his eyebrows, pointing towards the stage. His left hand grabbed Sage's right and held it firmly as they watched the show. It was more than apparent, to Aiden, that the setting was a 1920’s Mount Olympus. A stroke of genius on Nox’s part. Aiden had a long-standing infatuation with the era. It was a time of opulence and hedonism – what better era to combine with the outrageous mythos that made up Grecian memory? Nox had been on to something here. Aiden would continue to watch, of course, but thoughts of theatre began to form at the forefront of his mind. Would Nox want to turn this into a full stage musical? Aiden could fund it and happily.
Blue flames began to dance across Nox’s fingers as his body moved effortlessly with the rhythm. The role of Hades became clear as another dancer, Zeus no doubt, entered the stage and the two became entwined in one another’s presence. Aiden’s eyes were drawn to the blue flames that danced along Nox’s fingertips. An echo of the Power roiled through Aiden’s body and within moments, everything seemed to go black…
Lugh turned his head and plastered on a wicked grin.
The Druidess Tlachtga came striding down the stairs in a sleek white robe, her auburn hair in neat plaits laid across either breast. A crown of hawthorn sat upon the top of her head and an eye of indigo dye was painted across her brow. She wore a solemn expression as she made her way into the chamber.
Lugh twisted his lips in a playful manner and gave her a mock bow.
Tlachtga sighed loudly as Lugh played along. She batted away the attending guard as she made her way over to Lugh and dipped a knee to him in turn. Lugh bent even lower to the ground – forcing her to go lower. She grunted and complied. Lugh could not help but laugh heartily. He straightened and pulled her up into an embrace.
“It has been too long. I had heard you had gone off with Mug Ruith to study under the Olympians!” Lugh announced with a hearty chuckle.
“My father is on a fool’s errand, my King. I can assure you he knows all that they can offer,” Tlachtga spoke in an overly formal voice – one that did not match the expression on her face.
“Stop with that, Tlachtga. Call me by my name. We grew up together. I will not stand for formalities, and I am assured that your father does valuable work.”
Tlachtga relaxed visibly, taking a seat upon one of the benches that had been built into the curved walls. “Thank Danu for that. I can’t stand all this pomp. You know, working for your cousin makes me second guess my decision. The Olympians cannot be worse than High Prince Lecan.”
Aiden's hand had not left Sage's, in fact, his grip only strengthened as the vivid vision played out across his glazed eyes. Nox's performance was blind to him just as the first act had come to a close. Aiden's mouth hung agape as the vision played on, spittle starting to trickle down his chin as his grip on Sage's hand grew tighter and tigher. Dimitri finished off his drink and ordered another, looking over to check on his employer.
"Erm... Sage," Dimitri whispered in a near panic.
Aiden watched the report with captions, as the lights went down and the music began to play. Half way through the report, a new video was sliced into the recording. Mila had been going down on a stranger in a darkened alleyway somewhere in Moscow. Sage. Of course, it was Sage’s own brand of mischief. Aiden closed his Wallet after the words ‘not her husband?’ flashed across the screen. He slipped the thing back into his pocket and turned to Sage, grabbing his face and planting a deep, rough kiss upon his tender lips.
How did I get to be so lucky? Aiden thought ruefully.
Nox came out onto the stage amidst a flurry of spectacle. Aiden let go of Sage and waggled his eyebrows, pointing towards the stage. His left hand grabbed Sage's right and held it firmly as they watched the show. It was more than apparent, to Aiden, that the setting was a 1920’s Mount Olympus. A stroke of genius on Nox’s part. Aiden had a long-standing infatuation with the era. It was a time of opulence and hedonism – what better era to combine with the outrageous mythos that made up Grecian memory? Nox had been on to something here. Aiden would continue to watch, of course, but thoughts of theatre began to form at the forefront of his mind. Would Nox want to turn this into a full stage musical? Aiden could fund it and happily.
Blue flames began to dance across Nox’s fingers as his body moved effortlessly with the rhythm. The role of Hades became clear as another dancer, Zeus no doubt, entered the stage and the two became entwined in one another’s presence. Aiden’s eyes were drawn to the blue flames that danced along Nox’s fingertips. An echo of the Power roiled through Aiden’s body and within moments, everything seemed to go black…
Lugh turned his head and plastered on a wicked grin.
The Druidess Tlachtga came striding down the stairs in a sleek white robe, her auburn hair in neat plaits laid across either breast. A crown of hawthorn sat upon the top of her head and an eye of indigo dye was painted across her brow. She wore a solemn expression as she made her way into the chamber.
Lugh twisted his lips in a playful manner and gave her a mock bow.
Tlachtga sighed loudly as Lugh played along. She batted away the attending guard as she made her way over to Lugh and dipped a knee to him in turn. Lugh bent even lower to the ground – forcing her to go lower. She grunted and complied. Lugh could not help but laugh heartily. He straightened and pulled her up into an embrace.
“It has been too long. I had heard you had gone off with Mug Ruith to study under the Olympians!” Lugh announced with a hearty chuckle.
“My father is on a fool’s errand, my King. I can assure you he knows all that they can offer,” Tlachtga spoke in an overly formal voice – one that did not match the expression on her face.
“Stop with that, Tlachtga. Call me by my name. We grew up together. I will not stand for formalities, and I am assured that your father does valuable work.”
Tlachtga relaxed visibly, taking a seat upon one of the benches that had been built into the curved walls. “Thank Danu for that. I can’t stand all this pomp. You know, working for your cousin makes me second guess my decision. The Olympians cannot be worse than High Prince Lecan.”
Aiden's hand had not left Sage's, in fact, his grip only strengthened as the vivid vision played out across his glazed eyes. Nox's performance was blind to him just as the first act had come to a close. Aiden's mouth hung agape as the vision played on, spittle starting to trickle down his chin as his grip on Sage's hand grew tighter and tigher. Dimitri finished off his drink and ordered another, looking over to check on his employer.
"Erm... Sage," Dimitri whispered in a near panic.
Russian Dolls and Broken Gods, a new Fantasy novel by best-selling author, Aiden Finnegan, out this December! Preorder online and instore today!