Reckless Souls (Saints Academy, #1)
KC Kean
To Laura,
For listening to my inspiration for this story, and envisioning it just as I did.
For teaching me pinterest, and making everything so damn pretty as always!
You’re a queen, thank you!
Prologue
R age.Destruction.
War.
Darkness attempts to overwhelm the bright sky as chaos continues to swirl through the air. The
chill that follows the blackness, sends shivers through our bones.
Despair consumes us, forcing our survival instincts to the forefront. We must protect ourselves,
by any means necessary. And we will.
We have the power to build an army.
But simple human soldiers will not do.
We are Gods, kings among men, and in our wake we’ll ensure we are immortalized within story
books and tales of lore.
Angels.
Demons.
Vampires.
Shifters.
We will rule the world, protecting ourselves from the evil that is the Goddess Nyx, the ruler of
the night, just as Zeus proclaimed we will.
We won’t settle until her force is gone.
We won’t settle until the threat on our lives has been eliminated.
We won’t settle until we are the supreme leaders.
This time shall be marked in history as evolution. Young and old supernaturals working
together as the world has never seen before to create a safer future.
Whatever the cost.
Whatever the pain.
We shall prevail.
“Dead. She’s dead!” The cries of glee sound distorted and distant, but I know them to be true all the
same.
The sun has barely risen as I step out onto my balcony, looking down at the town square below as
people dance and sing together. Rejoicing that the evil that consumed us all has been vanquished from
this world.
Two hundred years.
For two hundred long years, we’ve been creating our armies, fighting this battle, and searching for
the evil that is Nyx.
I grip the railing, my knuckles turning white as I look around the streets.
High rise buildings frame the cobbled square below. Little cafes, shops, and bistros line the
pavement, with tables and chairs scattered around waiting for guests to take a seat, but they’re long
forgotten now in favor of a more energetic celebration.
I’ve never seen so many people dance before. Not in public, and certainly not in the town square.
But I guess these extraordinary times mean people will temporarily lose their inhibition.
The huge billboard attached to the building across from me flickers, the pixels quickly forming as
Zeus appears on the screen.
Our hero.
Our leader.
His smile fills the screen as the camera slowly zooms out, capturing the God from head to toe for
us all to worship. With his almost white hair swept back off his face, and his pearly white teeth on
full display as his blue eyes sparkle, he looks every inch the almighty God you'd expect him to be.
Impeccable. Personable. Our savior.
Adjusting the cuffs of his tailored shirt, he slowly lowers his hands into the pockets of his dark
gray trousers, before he finally speaks. The noise from below is silenced as we all wait with bated
breath for our idol to address us.
“I’m sure you’ve heard the news,” he starts, pausing for dramatic effect before he continues. “The.
War. Is. Over,” his voice booms, ricocheting off every wall as cheers erupt from below again. It’s
almost like he’s standing right here in front of us, hearing the joy as he glances around and waits for
the noise to settle before he speaks again. “With my bare hands…” He raises them up in the air like
they’re his weapon before slowly lowering them into his pockets. “I brought Nyx to her knees in the
early hours of the morning, and there’s nothing else to say, but the rest… is history.”
“It’s over! It’s all over!” I hear someone below cry out, raw emotion in their voice as they chant
the words on everyone’s minds.
“In the coming days, arrangements will be made to make our lives much more comfortable going
forward. I have plans for how we can work as one, united and triumphant, in the aftermath of this
war,” he says, his smile infectious as he reassures everyone that the worst is behind us. “We all
deserve harmony, peace, and structure moving forward. Simple things we’ve not had for so long.
Now is our time, with Nyx and her entire bloodline gone, no evil will ever hurt our world again!” he
booms, certainty in his eyes as he pulls his hands from his pockets and splays them out wide, almost
like he’s embracing his people.
I wet my lips, stepping back from the railing as his smile widens even further. “The Hexagon, a
joining of all kinds, will oversee the new laws to protect and serve you. Always. I can’t wait to lead
us to greatness.”
Moments later, the screen goes black and the cheers pick up again. The magic in my chest swirls,
excited, giddy, and desperate to unleash with the knowledge we will no longer suffer.