Jewel of the Gods

By Mary Bernsen

Sold at the age of seventeen to the king of the realm, Ursula has spent the last four years serving as his submissive concubine. She has grown to love him with a fierce loyalty, but when he orders her to kill a spirited young girl, she simply cannot obey.Her master does not take defiance lightly, so Ursula must find the girl she spared and return her to the king—or lose her own head. Her search leads to the girl's former employer, a handsome man who introduces Ursula to a world of experiences and freedoms she has never known. Though thrilling and intoxicating, she knows this new lifestyle is only temporary.She must finish her quest and return to her master...before this new, softer kind of love has her questioning everything.
Jewel of the Gods is the second novel in the fiery and passionate Beyond the Gods series by Mary Bernsen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CTP Publishing
• Release date: Dec 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781634222945

Mary Bernsen

Mary Bernsen is a southwest Florida native currently living in North Port with her two beautiful children and a third, much larger child that she affectionately calls husband. She is the Amazon Best Selling Author of Healing The Bayou, The Ganga Shift, and Beyond the Gods series.She also writes young adult romances under her pseudonym, M.E. Rhines.

Book preview

1

U rsula! Get up.

The tormented cries of my master called to me for what seemed to be an eternity. I begged my body to respond to him—a twitch of the hand or a wiggle of the nose. Anything to tell him I could hear him through my darkness.

Ambrosia’s fists had been unexpectedly heavy. Such a dainty girl should not be capable of such force. Just the same, my body was surging with a pain that suggested I had been buried in boulders. Past the numbness of my lips, the familiar taste of my own blood danced on my tongue. After having the taste of mineral linger for so long, I feared my mouth would never give way to any other sensation again. I couldn’t begin to imagine the damage she had done to my already-lacking features.

My stomach tightened with pleasure even with my pain. No matter what she had done to me, I had the solace of knowing I had hurt her far worse. The conceited little wench would never again look in the mirror without recalling what she had done to my love.

A sudden sadness chased away the momentary elation because of the memory I had unintentionally brought to myself. The image of Poseidon pinned against his own castle by way of his nephew’s blade would haunt me for the rest of my days—however few I might have left.

Where had the guards been when he was screaming? There could be no doubt they heard the echoes of his agony. Though the Trident of Atlantis was gigantic, the material in its walls was effective at sending even the smallest footstep echoing through its corridors. Poseidon’s well-earned paranoia drove the design to ensure he would hear an attacker coming. The guards had likely taken the opportunity to flee from their prison.None of them shared the dedication to Poseidon that I had.

Ursula, Poseidon hollered again.

Tears stung my eyelids until they fought their way to the bruised flesh of my cheeks. His voice was pained and ever-weakening. Somehow, I had afforded myself the foolish fantasy that his anguish was at my expense. The idea of my king crying for me was an intoxicating illusion that kept me company in the loneliness of my own mind.

In truth, he only spoke to me now to beg for help. He had not touched me, which likely meant he was not able. If he had been, I was sure his rough hands would give little care to my battered body. He would force me to wake if for nothing more than to pay for my insubordination. Picturing him still held captive by the sword turned my stomach. By now, his own blood would be pooled at his feet. It wouldn’t kill him; as a god, he was immortal and such wounds were generally healed with ease by his own body. But a prolonged exposure to the impalement might keep him from being able to regenerate, leaving him with a nasty hole in his gut. An easy target for his enemies to exploit. Fear for my own safety couldn’t stand against the urgent, unwavering need I had to save him. I screamed in silence to my muscles to comply with my demand to move. The realization I was his only hope was enough incentive to will my body to rocket forward, and I sat up with a shocking pain that wracked my whole body.

Biting down hard, I breathed through my teeth to push the pain to the back of my mind. I have to help him! I blinked through the blinding light that seared my eyes, burning them without mercy. My right eye was swollen shut, but I could see him through the left one.

Poseidon’s head hung with defeat. His hands clutched at the blade that stuck him in place, paying no attention to the slices his grip caused in the flesh of his fingers. The image sent my heart plummeting. I had never seen him in such a pitiful state.Climbing to my feet, I stumbled about like a newborn sheep finding its footing. The sounds of my clumsiness caught his attention, and he looked at me. I froze to gauge his reaction. I wouldn’t deny him freedom, but I was not eager to release him only to receive a lashing.

When his lips curved into a welcoming smile, my heart fluttered with relief. I ran to him with as quick of a canter as I could manage.Master, you’re awake! I held his face in my hands to examine him.

His white beard was rusty with dried blood. His smile had replaced it with more fresh, deep red liquid that dripped from his teeth.I was afraid I had lost you, he said through labored breaths.

No. I shook my head. You cannot lose me.

I moved in to embrace him, but my own gut was stuck with the butt of the sword still protruding from his stomach. He winced as the weight of my body inched it forward a bit, and I jumped back. It needed to come out, but the thought of causing him more discomfort strangled my heart.

I’m sorry, I whispered as I took hold of the grip. I’ll have to remove it for you.

Preparing himself for the oncoming sting, Poseidon nodded and closed his eyes. With a firm tug that took all the strength I had left in me, the sword came free from the mercury wall. While Poseidon dropped to his knees with a grunt, I fell backward, landing on my bottom.

I scurried over to him on my hands and knees. Are you all right? What do you need?

He groaned, clenching the hole in his abdomen. Beads of sweat covered his brow, and his white hair was soaked with perspiration. Blood spilled out from it in never-ending spurts. Before long, we sat in a puddle of it. The bleeding wouldn’t stop, that much was becoming clear.

Help me up, he demanded.

Wedging my shoulder under his arm, I tried to lift him. Even with his efforts to assist me, the attempt was in vain. We were too wounded, too spent to accomplish it. His back fell into the wall again, and he slid down it to return to the spot he had just been.

Get the guards, Poseidon managed.

I’m afraid they have gone. I fought back sobs, knowing if I gave into them it would only add to the hysteria building in the room.

They’re not gone! They are still searching for our intruder. I can hear them. Listen.

I heard nothing, though Poseidon was far more accustomed to picking out the faintest of noises in the deepest corners of his castle.Being careful not to slip in the moisture at my feet, I hurried down a hallway to find the king’s men. I didn’t have to go far before the sound of scuttling footsteps from the half a dozen guards came from all around me. The deeper inside the Trident I went, the closer they became.The labyrinth of hallways might have been enough to confuse many others—noises bounced through them so chaotically most wouldn’t be capable of locating the source. But I had memorized the echoes of my prison in the years I had been here.I rounded a right corner, and my target approached. The sight of them sent shivers of fury through my limbs. They had not fled, so why had they not answered their god’s cry for help? I would see to the beheading of every one of them once they had served their immediate purpose.I stalked over to them with clenched fists at my side. Where have you been? I demanded.

They darted their eyes to one another, mouths agape, and faces drained from fear. The condition of my face was enough for them to see they had made a grave mistake. Their captain stepped forward.

The master instructed us to find the prisoner.

Did you not hear Poseidon’s agony? He requires your immediate assistance!

We were instructed by Poseidon himself not to return without the wandering maiden regardless of any ruckus we heard from his direction. His dark disheveled hair fell into his eyes as he regarded me with a cool indifference.

The maiden is not just wandering now. Because of your flagrant stupidity, she has escaped and—

He waved his hand in the air to cut off the oncoming tirade before it began. You won’t address me with such disrespect, servant. I have spent far many more years at the king’s side than you have warming his bed on the rare occasion that he fancies you.

I shrank back, remembering myself. I was nothing more than his bed maid, and I was in no position to chastise any member of the castle’s staff.

I apologize, Tardis. I looked down on my own reflection showing from the silver ground as I curtsied to show my submission. The king does still require your assistance, however. He is injured quite badly.

Tardis brushed past me with his guards following closely behind. I waited until the last man was ten steps ahead, as was customary, before I proceeded.Biting my lip, I fought the urge to order them to quicken their pace. They marched as though they were making their rounds about Atlantis, collecting taxes. Tardis thoroughly enjoyed the pain that came with the anticipation of his arrival from the residents. He would bathe in the power of making them watch their neighbor empty their pockets.

Once Poseidon was in view, Tardis’ urgency changed drastically. He feigned being out of breath as though he had been rushing to aide his ruler. His deception, though irritating, was hardly important. What was of issue now was that Poseidon would be made more comfortable so he could recover.Helplessness filled me as the men picked up the man I loved and carried him up the stairway. I followed them, but Tardis closed the door to Poseidon’s quarters before I could enter. I paced the length of the long, narrow hallway. He wouldn’t die, I repeated. He may be injured, but he couldn’t die.

Finally, Tardis’ men departed from the room. Light, hesitant footsteps carried me to the doorway, and I peered inside. Poseidon was safely tucked in bed, his breathing returned to normal. Sitting up, his massive torso was above the sheets far enough to expose the wrappings that bound his wound. Blood soaked through them. They would need to be changed soon and often.Tardis stood over him with crossed arms and a furrowed expression. He spoke too softly for me to hear. His wrists glistened red from dressing Poseidon. My stomach tightened with jealousy as I watched them. I should be the one he relied on for such things.Ursula, you know how I hate when you linger in the doorway. Poseidon glanced in my direction only for a moment before his attention returned to his captain.

I didn’t move, unsure of which direction to take. He had not invited me in, though he had not dismissed me either.May… may I enter? My voice shook with uncertainty. I was generally not brash enough to request an invitation to his bedchamber.

Poseidon huffed. Yes, yes. Come in.

How are you feeling? Inching into the room, I stopped just next to Tardis. His lips pursed with displeasure at my presence.

About as well as you look, I suppose.

Recalling the bruises marring my flesh, I recoiled, turning my face from him. Poseidon had a strict requirement of his female servants. They had to be of a certain aesthetic standard—not so beautiful as to force him to lose control, and not so ugly as to make him lose interest. Ambrosia would have been only a single night’s enjoyment before she was beheaded for trespassing. My only hope of not being sent away was if he would allow time for my face to return to its normal state of average.

I will leave you then, I said. And don’t fret. I will keep myself out of sight until I have healed.

Before I could turn on my heels, his hand grabbed my wrist, and I breathed in the familiar pleasure of his skin on mine. I couldn’t allow it to soak in before fear infected my thoughts. This was not a grip of affection. It was a fierce hold of betrayal and demand.

Leave us, Tardis, he commanded.

Tardis did as he was instructed, and we were left alone. Pulling on my arm, Poseidon brought me closer to his bedside until I was sitting on the edge of it.

Poseidon, I’m sorry I—

You have a debt to pay me, wench, and I won’t allow you to forget that.

Yes, Master. I will repay it without protest.

He stroked my thick black curls in a way that could have fooled me into a false sense of love and security had I not known him better. The only time he played with my hair was to soothe before he made a particularly unpleasant demand. It had worked once upon a time, but now it only sent a sour feeling swirling in my stomach. Dreading whatever was coming, I swallowed hard.

The sword was in my gut too long, he explained. I cannot regenerate on my own.

I was afraid that might have been the case.

I will require assistance, Ursula.

I nodded. You need me to fetch Chiron, then.

2

Wobbling underneath me, my knees protested more violently with each step I took. The jagged, damp rock of the staircase was slick, and the darkness surrounding me closed in, taunting my fear of this place. Sticky sea salt burned my nostrils the closer to the bottom I came.

Poseidon knew how terrified I was of coming down here. He could have easily sent one of his guards, but I suspected this was my punishment for not killing that twit Ambrosia when he had instructed it. Beneath the castle was where some of his darkest horrors were carried out. It was here he kept his prisoners and performed various deplorable acts of torture. The air was always thick with evil and contempt. I avoided it whenever possible, but there would be no getting out of this order.

Holding out my torch, I scanned the floor of the dungeon for rats before continuing. A tiny pair of eyes flickered back at me before disappearing into a crack in the wall. I breathed out deeply, summoning the courage to continue the narrow path that split a body of water in two.The splash of a siren in the ocean below me had no doubt been meant as a distraction. The hideous creatures lurking at my feet were aware of my phobia of water… and them. They