Goddess of War Read Online Free

very good. I told you Errison was one of the good ones.” She landed on Preeti’s lap, sat down and crossed her legs. “Now, what are we going to call you?

 
    THE NEXT DAY Preeti put on her new Seer uniform. A loose blouse was tucked into her flared skirt that reached her ankles. Her waist was pulled tight by a draped red sash that circled around her waist and over her right shoulder where it tied in the back.
    She’d needed another girl to help her accomplish the intricate presentation of such elaborate new clothing.
    Olia was trusted by Errison. A girl of seventeen, she was quiet, obedient, and friendly.
    With short brown hair that barely went past her chin, Olia was beautiful to Preeti. It was her green eyes that captivated her.
    Something about green eyes always left her enchanted. But Olia always seemed to keep hers lowered, as if she was too unsure of herself to look upward and into the eyes of others.
    Olia helped Preeti pull her calf-length boots on and secured the cloak to the hooks on her blouse. Lastly, she pulled her cloak’s hood over her hair. Leather gloves completed the uniform.
    Everything from her eyebrows up, and chin down was covered which was fitting considering her favorite tattoo was on her forehead. The same woman that helped her get dressed had also chopped her bangs for her, covering the tattoo.
    Now she would blend in with every other human.
    “You look lovely, goddess,” Olia said in her soft voice.
    Preeti smiled at her, wishing she had a mirror to see herself. She’d just have to trust Olia’s account of how she looked.
    Vineet waited for her outside the female quarters in a uniform of his own. He wore black pants, a stiff white shirt that was tucked in, and a black cloak.
    Preeti noticed how Vineet’s eyes lingered on Olia as she walked down the stairs and away from them on the thin path between two rows of rose bushes.
    She glanced back at him before disappearing into the crowd of monks and recruits.
    Preeti held back an amused smile, not wanting to embarrass her brother for being attracted to a pretty girl.
    Still, it was difficult. Vineet never looked at any other girls like that before.
    Preeti and Vineet were meant to be opposites. They were once in training to rule all of the gods, meant to be the balance Aden desperately needed.
    War and peace were now impersonating human missionaries of the gods.
    Ironic.
    Sometimes Preeti wished that she could have been the Goddess of Peace instead of War, but her father had explained to her the reasoning to why the world needed war. Sometimes people had to fight for what they believed in. War had its very own piece in the greater scheme of things.
    Balance was key. Now that balance had shifted with Litha in charge.
    Goddess of Law or not, Litha was corrupt.
    Preeti grinned when she approached Vineet. “No one even suspects anything,” she whispered to him.
    His eyes scanned the crowds of young men and women as they filled the inner courtyard. “It feels quite odd, doesn’t it?”
    Preeti shrugged. “I kind of like it. What freedom we have.”
    “I suppose,” Vineet said, still sounding unsure. “So. What am I to call you now?”
    Preeti leaned forward, her eyes bright. “Raina.”
    “Raina,” he repeated. “Like the falling water from last night?”
    She nodded.
    “I like it.”
    Raina giggled. “And what about you?”
    “Allan.”
    Raina’s smile faded. She straightened up. “Like mother,” she said in a voice so soft that she could barely hear it herself.
    Just thinking of their mother, Allana brought a pain to her gut that threatened to make her burst into tears.
    Allan hugged her tight. “We will avenge her murder. I promise.”
    They broke apart when Errison approached them, sucking his teeth. “Public displays of affection, even for siblings, is not allowed. You won’t see any Seer’s embracing in view of others. You are to emulate warriors of wisdom, piety, and courage.”
    Raina and Allan