“Tarrin,” the man gasped, pressing his back to the stone as though he could escape, his fingernails scraping the smooth surface of the altar. “My name is Tarrin.” He took deep breaths, his chest heaving, a sheen of sweat over his body. “If you’re going to do what I assume you’re going to do, you could at least call me by my name.”

A little late for Valentine’s day, but I couldn’t resist another chapter of this dark little tale. Chapter one is here.

Tarrin took a great, gulping breath, as though emerging from underwater, and the god was above him, his eyes glowing, pupils gone, nothing but bright amber light, his horns towering and golden, his wings spread wide.