#The Imperium Chronicles

[theimperiumchronicles]

Happy New Year! How are your characters celebrating? Do they even care? Are they still hungover? Is there a completely different celebration for the passing of time? 🎆

Happy New Year, sweet Tori!! <3

I'll answer for a few of my WIPs below the cut

@theimperiumchronicles - those who are topside celebrate in whatever city they are in. In Imperium, the Horsemen throw a huge masquerade party in the Palace for all of their friends. After the events of The Horsemen's Ball (Book 1 out this year), they are NOT going to celebrate topside EVER again. *snorts*

Uffern - Uffern is not on the same calendar as the Earthly realm and Imperium. Kellen hosts a massive ball as well and invites deities from other realms as well as the aristocracy of Uffern. This can cause some issues as not everyone he invites gets along with one another.

@devil-in-the-details-ay - Depending on which Pantheon you are referring to, the dawn of a New Year takes place at different times of the year. Some of the Pantheons are on lunar calendars. For those who celebrate on January 1, some feasts and festivities would seem relatively familiar to anyone on Earth. Astaroth and Yara celebrate on their private island with two other special people. Who those are? Well, keep reading to figure it out. *winks*

@behindthesemasks - There is a massive celebration at the plantation home with all of Melania's friends. There are rituals and offerings to the ancestors. Thanks are given for the previous year and prayers are offered for blessings to be bestowed in the year to come.

@inopinatus-ea - While Emery and Adelia will soon be forming their own traditions, currently Branoc hosts a huge bonfire at the Palace for his entire family and aristocracy of the Kingdom of Annisgwyl. There are ceremonies that take place involving both Raiden and Emery. It is a joyous time with plenty of food and drink, most people being passed out drunk long before midnight arrives.

@magical-mistakes-vm - Ceremonies are held in the great woods that surround the Nachtnebel estate. Offerings are given to the gods and the ancestors. Elmar of course calls upon the animals to take part as well. It is a high holiday for the Dunkelheit Coven. Festivities go long into the night.

@mystsoftime - Due to their ages, Dante and Trevarius long ago stopped celebrating the New Year. The turning of a new year is a bittersweet time for Renata. For the most part, Dante and Trev try to distract her from thinking about the year passing and all they have lost in the past year, and how long it has been since she lost her family and the man she loved, although her new love with Dante has been a huge balm to that ache. It may just be that this next year, they will have something extra special to celebrate *winks*

@princess-of-thieves-id - Both Inara and Diyan's families had huge celebrations at their palaces for the turning of the new year. However, now that they, and Arik, are aboard the vessel, a new celebration will have to be formed. What that will be? Not even I know, but I'm sure these three will come up with something. They are full of surprises for each other and me, after all.

@tapperhet-em - When Meeri's father was King, the Palace would hold a huge ball to celebrate the passing of one year, and the beginning of the next. There were fireworks, dancing, drinking, and feasting into the wee hours of the morning. Now, with the five friends being on the run, there will be no celebration this year. Once they are able to find a location where they are able to relax, that may change, but they have little to celebrate this year. There will probably be a fire in the fireplace and some animal the men hunted roasted over it. Also, thanks given to the gods that they have made it to the end of the year alive.

@whileyouwait-dm - When you are as old as creation itself, the passing of years has little meaning to you. Now, however, Djall has Miriana in his life and his realm. This puts a new spin on things. His Overseers and his Generals also have taken a general liking to her, so they are going to want to make her happy. As she is adjusting to life in a hell realm, a little party might be in order, one will have to see. *grin*

I hope this is what you were looking for <3

[thiniusphaedradez]

Phaedra came to Imperium with a clear purpose: to support her sister. Now, she finds herself at the center of an unexpected whirlwind involving Dez and Thinius. While she is accustomed to being the whirlwind, this situation is uncharted territory for her, but she is embracing it fully. She understands that the future may not be as carefree as it seems. Her sister harbors deep, invisible wounds that require attention, and Phaedra is determined to manage her feelings for the two men who have captivated her. She intends to keep them on their toes, confident that they will challenge her in return. However, they are all unaware of the dangers lurking within the palace walls. How these threats will manifest is yet to be revealed, but Phaedra is ready to face whatever comes their way.

[leandreandyael]

Yael has endured a lifetime of pain, fiercely protecting her sister from similar suffering. Now that she is safe in Imperium, she is determined to move forward with her life. She is supported by a warrior with whom she shares an intriguing connection that demands her attention. Furthermore, in "The Horseman of Famine," she discovers another bond that mirrors the one she has with Phaedra. While the significance of these connections might be unclear, one thing is indisputable: she can trust them. Given her past, that level of trust is invaluable.

[graeadalicia]

Grae is completely captivated by his new mate, Adalicia. With Kellen's blessing secured, he will arrange for her tutors to commence her education immediately. However, as is often the case in Uffern, things rarely go according to plan. Demons frequently disregard orders, and when his clear instructions are ignored, chaos erupts. When Adalicia confronts the true demon within him, she must decide: will she flee in fear like a scared rabbit, or will she accept him for who he truly is?

[casperiusandmartenique]

Mattheus, Matty, has meticulously crafted a cunning plan to topple his two brothers. Feeling utterly marginalized by their lavish and ruthless demon-dealing empire, he is determined to make them rue the day they cast him aside. Although he failed to capture Martinique during his recent visit to her extraordinary realm, fate has shifted, and she now finds herself within his domain. With a network of powerful allies and access to strategically significant locations, Matty is primed to execute an elaborate web of deception and manipulation that will ensure both of his brothers crumble beneath the weight of their underestimation. The time for retribution has come, and he is ready to strike.

[amayadartan]

Dartan stands in stark realization of the mistake he has made. It was never his intention for Amaya to come to harm; she is more than a mere companion—she represents a deep, unbreakable bond. Now, as they are torn apart, he feels an acute sense of loss and the weight of his actions. He watches from a distance as she grows closer to others, and with each new connection, the bond they once shared seems to pulse with a renewed intensity.

Determined to amend his past mistakes, Dartan is fueled by a fierce desire to win back not just Amaya’s trust, but the respect and redemption of those around him. Yet, looming over him is Abriella’s ominous prediction, a shadow that threatens to engulf him. Will he find a way to atone and emerge stronger, or will fate declare him vanquished, banishing him from the imperium forever?

[adrielandanna]

Annabella had only opened up to one man since her husband had died centuries before, only to have her heart shattered. Adriel had waited since the dawn of time for his one true mate to arrive. Now the Angel and the Grigori are trying to come to grips with the reality that they've been thrown into with one another. Unfortunately, they won't get much time to do it as someone from Anna's past desperately needs her help, and she never turns down a friend.

[wrathcomescalling]

Their bond surpasses that of ordinary siblings; it runs soul-deep. The Prince of Wrath has arrived, and they have made the decisive choice to allow him to stay. As events unfold following his arrival, uncertainties will emerge, but unexpected turns are certain to shock everyone and dramatically reshape the course of Imperium.

[cljordan-imperium]

(My spirit animal is a wee hedgie, so that is how I henceforth shall be representing myself)

Revision and edits #3 done on my novel. 54,448 words. Gonna need beta readers very soon. *heavy sigh**very heavy sigh and nervous*

Start rev 4 tomorrow.

@saltysupercomputer @watermeezerswildwandering @pheita @writingmaidenwarrior @dreaminggoblin @toribookworm22

[eva-and-jasper]

Eva Smith Shelby owned by @evita-shelby

[theimperiumchronicles]

Now that we know what Jasper and Meredith are going to be getting up to in NOLA, maybe we should get caught up with Annabella and Adriel. You know that they won' stay in Imperium once they hear that Jean Pierre and Armaund are under investigation. Nothing In NOLA escapes their knowledge for long...

Coming soon...

@watermeezer @saltysupercomputer @abalonetea @frostedlemonwriter

@crowandmoonwriting @jadeglas @ashirisu @mama-ivy

@toribookworm22 @pheita @dreaminggoblin @writingmaidenwarrior

If you'd like to be added to the tag list, please just comment.

[leandreandyael]

Deacon has always felt alone in the world, even among the other Horsemen. Yet as he assists Abriella's friend, he is forging a powerful new bond unlike anything he has encountered before. He may not fully understand its significance, but one thing is clear: she now holds a greater place in his heart than anyone else in existence.

[jaspermeredith]

3

Chapter 2

Jasper has an idea...everyone should be scared...

Jasper didn’t trust Meredith, and Meredith did not trust Jasper, but they had agreed to work with one another.  The time spent the rest of the afternoon after this agreement was used to pull all of the different volumes off of the shelves that they would need to do a thorough investigation.  Jasper also was trying to determine how to keep Annabella and Adriel from discovering the mission that Meredith had been given. 

She was now sitting cross-legged in one of the large, plush, leather chairs in his library, looking over an old tome that he believed had the history of Jean Pierre before in it somewhere.  Even he wasn’t quite sure where the Grigori came from before he had turned up in New Orleans.  He’d never really dug into it either, not really caring.  Watching her, Jasper was vexed on how to keep his friends from all killing her, whilst simultaneously proving two of their innocence.  Answering to the Phanuel was not on the top of his “to-do list” anytime between the current day and the end of time.

“Finding what you are looking for, Princess?” Jasper leaned back in his chair, crossing his long legs at the ankle atop the leather ottoman before him.  He was currently leaving the research up to her, since she was the one who had all of the details.

Meredith’s eyes rose from the typed text before her, but her head stayed bowed over the book.  The look she pinned him with just made him smirk, which made her eyes narrow.  “I’m not a princess, we covered this.” Her eyes rolled, and she looked down at the book again before she blew a puff of air to try to get an errant lock of hair out of her face.

“Touchy, touchy there, are we, sweetling?” Jasper leaned over from the other side of the table, reaching forward to let his fingers skim her forehead to remove the lock for her.  He swore that he saw her jaw clench and he loved it.  Getting under her skin was a favorite pastime of his.

There was a heavy sigh.  “Must you?  Really?”  She tried to ignore him. She failed.

“Oh, why yes, darling, I very much must.”  He grinned and put his hand on the top of the book to flatten it down on the table they were both leaning over.  This earned him a glare, which made him smirk all the more.  He loved getting under her perfect exterior, he couldn’t even say why.  “If you aren’t learning what you want to know from that, I do have another idea how we can find out the information.” His head tipped, waiting for her to ask.

For a full minute, silence filled the air of the library.  It was probably the first actual silence there had been since Jasper had caught her in there. Meredith, however, was trying to figure out what his angle was, because she couldn’t believe he actually wanted to help her.  “Well…carry on…what is this idea you have, Jasper?”  She finally gave in and asked when it was clear he was not going to volunteer the information.

With a smirk that he saw caused her to have to purse her lips to keep from another snarky response, he replied: “we’re going to live together in my mansion in the Garden District of New Orleans.  Blend into society as a couple.” His smirk grew as he watched her eyes grow wider and her jaw go slack.  

reblog banner - @cafekitsune

[graeadalicia]

14

As they rest in silence, Grae has some thoughts.

Grae pulled out Adalicia tight against him, cradling her head against his chest and holding his arm tight around her waist. He wanted her to feel safe, he wanted her to feel loved, and he wanted her to feel cherished above all. In the coming days her life would completely change from everything she had ever known. Going from a slave to the Consort of the Chancellor of Uffern would be something that she couldn't even imagine.

The clothing that was in the armoire in her room was just a start of all that was to come. He could see that already that overwhelmed her. In two days, her tutor would arrive to teach her manners and customs. After that, comes another tutor to teach her diplomacy and languages. After that, another would come to teach her the etiquette for the balls and for meeting royalty from other realms, and even landed gentry of Uffern.

Adalicia would learn this all, and not all of it would be taught in the most gentle of manners. He worried about her. She was such a delicate and innocent flower, and she was entering a world where delicate was not something she could be. It was a world where often the royalty was hard on others and judgmental. Their words were biting and they stung. The women were catty, with insults that would slice to the very bone of the person they were facing. He wondered how Adalicia would handle that. He wondered if she could stand up to someone like Persephone and Calliope. Could she handle the insults that they would make against her?

Actually he didn't worry about Calliope. Of the two princesses within the castle, Calliope would never hurt anybody. Persephone, that was who he was worried about. Her jealousy was legendary, as were her temperament, as Kellen was currently facing. And, he worried about the jealousy that Persephone would have over the fact that she and Grae had once been lovers. Finding out that he had now made Adalicia his Consort would no doubt bring about another temper tantrum. Not only had she been taken from her, he had made her his Consort. Elevated her status in his life from a slave to just below being Betrothed. It was not a slight that she would take lightly, of that he was sure. And he was sure that there would be a confrontation between himself and Persephone, because he would not let the woman that he was coming to care very deeply face that alone.

Grae was still trying to figure out exactly why he cared so deeply about Adalicia. The whole thing had started as a way to get under Persephone's skin, and now he held her in his arms as if she was the most fragile thing, the most important thing, in his life. There were very few things he had ever faced Kellen over, let alone been willing to become physically violent over, but he had been willing to do that for her. He had been willing to take on his best friend, a man that he loved like his brother, to keep her at his side. And he would do it again. Grae would do it over and over, if it meant she didn't leave him.

Somehow, Grae already knew that he would be stronger with her at his side. That if she went with him into negotiations, that he would do better, that he would know more of what was going on. She truly could be his eyes and ears when he was distracted with the art of the deal. He was not sure how he knew it, but he was certain that she would become the jewel in his crown as Chancellor. There were stories in antiquity of such things happening, but he had always considered them just that, stories. They were tales told to children, to have them dreaming of futures. Yet here he was with that tale becoming his reality. But then, she wasn't just a slave, was she? Adalicia was queen. She was a fae queen, a fae queen who was the last of a royal lineage. A fae queen who escaped extermination by the his own best friend, and the King of Uffern. She was an enigma that was now his bonded wife, because somehow the beauty he held within his arms had known the words to the marriage vows that she should not have. And she had recited them effortlessly, with no hesitation, with no reservation, and with true heartfelt emotion in her eyes and deep affection in her voice.

Grae had seen the way she had reacted to Kellen, he could not have that happen on a daily basis. He would not have the woman that was to become his wife destroyed, so that she could do little more than cower in the corners and shadows. Unlike Kellen, he did not relish in the destruction of others. He did not find joy in watching those around him reduced to smallness, so that he could feel great in their presence. He was not like Kellen, and he had always prided himself in that. He would not watch the woman that was to stand by his side as his bride become what Kellen would have as his.

Grae was still processing it all. Parts of it were still sinking in, and it still felt surreal, and he didn't know how to take it all in. But he wanted to. And as he felt her slip into the soft caress of sleep, he swore a vow unto himself that no matter what came in the coming days, he would protect her from the harshness of royal life. He would make sure that the tutors knew that they were to be gentle with her and guide her but not destroy her, as they often did the princes and princesses that they train. She was to be treated as if she was made of the most fragile glass. She was not to be dropped or harmed in any way. If they caused even one tear to fall, they would face his wrath, and it would be of epic proportion. One finger lay upon her, one harsh word delivered to her heart, and he would destroy the one who did so.

[casperiusandmartenique]

Casperius recognizes that his brother is absolutely correct. He has significant changes to make in his life if he wants Martinique to be a permanent part of it. The priority now is to address everything before she uncovers the truth about the life he’s been living, not the facade he has presented. With Cormoran poised to intervene at a moment's notice, there’s no time to waste. The fact that another brother, Matty, is lurking in the shadows adds even greater urgency to the situation.

[talonandelilah]

4

WARNING - SMUT

That ends in a bit of a surprise

Holy fuck, he was done for. He’d been to heaven and had ambrosia and he’d rather kiss her than have it again.  Her hand massaged his balls then his cock and he knew that he’d made the point that he found her sexy as fuck.  He groaned into their kiss, sucking on her tongue and biting her lower lip as they pulled back and he looked into those eyes with challenge.  Come on girl, show me how bad you want me…I’ll be all yours, on my knees and worshiping you…

That kiss scrambled her brain and made thinking hard.  She didn’t want it to end.   But Talon kissing her had given her what she needed, and she was going to use it.  “I haven’t gotten anything else?  You sure about that, Feathers?” Her hand pressed against his hard cock that pulsed back in return.  “Seems I have the ability to get you pretty hot and bothered, now don’t I?”

“So for all your blustering and your puffing out of your chest, you must like the…what did you say?”  She nipped his bottom lip and as they were once more in a deep kiss the button on his jeans was let loose and the zipper dropped.  “Oh yes, the pale skin, red hair, and my ugly freckles.” Her long and nimble fingers wrapped around his cock and stroked once.  She saw his eyes roll back and he uttered a growled curse.  “What was that?  Did you just admit defeat?”

Dear god, she had the softest hands he’d ever felt and he just about came with one stroke of her hand.  His hand tightened in her hair and his forehead came to hers, fire burning in his eyes.  “Never, Red.”  He took her back a step, her hand slowly stroking him was making it hard for him to concentrate.  “I think I’m the one winning here…” His lips curled in a smirk before he nipped at her lips.

She scoffed and he loved it.  Fuck, she was a keeper.  Another step.  Another.  Another.  And the wall.  He grinned. “Oh yeah, Red Hot, I definitely won.” With a snap their clothes were gone and he saw her eyes go wide and his smirk grew.  “And now I’m gonna claim my smokin hot fuckin prize, girl.”

She didn’t even resist when he lifted her up and pinned her against the wall.  One word and he would have stopped.  One ounce of resistance and he would have backed off and put their clothes back on.  Instead her arms went around his neck and those long, sexy, silky legs wrapped around his waist.  It was all the encouragement he needed.  His girl, yeah…HIS…wanted him like he wanted her.

Talon kissed Delilah deep, his tongue invading her mouth as he claimed her with his cock, them both moaning into the kiss. Fuck she was tight and felt so damn good around him.  It was hard not to go fast and hard with how good she felt, but he didn’t want to hurt her.  This was definitely a first for him, but she was no ordinary woman.  Far from it.

Del’s fingers combed into his hair, pulling him even deeper into their kiss, moaning as he claimed her over and over.  Every thrust he made into her was pure pleasure and her legs tightened around him with the rhythm.  He fit her so perfectly and was driving her quickly to the precipice of pleasure, something no other man before had done.  Then again, no man had ever turned her on as fast or as much as Talon just had.  Nor had she ever had sex with a man on their first “date”.  So many firsts with him, and she had a feeling that there were many more to come.  

She felt the building pressure of her release in the pit of her belly like a winding coil and it felt delicious.  Every touch, every kiss, every thrust just built it more and more till she could no longer hold back.  Her head tipped back and her back arched against the wall as his name fell from her lips in a rapturous moan.  Fingers dug into his back and her legs tightened around his waist.  She swore the world tilted on its axis and the room spun.  

His girl was gorgeous when she came undone.  Fuck, he could watch her do that every day, and kinda planned on it.  As her slick core clamped down and spasmed around his cock, he increased his pace and took her harder.  His own release building and his pleasure increasing with each thrust.  She was fucking perfect and damn it if he wasn’t enjoying the fuck outta this.

Talon tried to hold out and prolong her pleasure as long as he could, but he finally reached the point of no return and thrust hard and deep as he spilled his seed inside her.  “Damn it, Red, you feel so fuckin good.”  He growled in her ear as he held her still afterward, both of them trying to catch their breath with hearts racing.  His nose was buried in her hair right next to her ear and she smelled like heaven.  Everything about her was perfection.  His.  She was gonna always be his.  He just had to figure out how.

“Hold on, beautiful.  I”m gonna get us somewhere more comfortable.”  He almost whispered in her ear and then the wall was gone from her back and they were in a different room.  This one was almost completely dark, a light purple glow from randomly placed recessed lights in the ceiling.  Talon deftly moved onto his bed on his knees then gently laid her on her back with his body covering her once they were better situated.  “There we go, Red Hot.”  He grinned at her in the dark light, brushing a lock of hair off of her face that had fallen there when he laid her down.  Fuck, she was gorgeous.

Everytime that she looked at Talon, Delilah had to wonder if he was real or if Brie had put her in some kind of coma and he was some hallucination.  He seemed too perfect.  They seemed too perfect together.  They had meshed too well, it had moved too fast, and laying in his bed with him on top of her felt way too good.  Then she noticed something on his neck and tilted her head.

“Tal, why were you hiding a neck tattoo earlier?  Does it mean something?” Lightly Del traced over it with one finger, the pattern ornate and flowing, she found it beautiful.  “Am I not supposed to see it?”  She looked at his face again and met his eyes.  He looked confused and that made her a little scared.

He didn’t HAVE a neck tattoo.  What was his girl…no…she wouldn’t tease him about....oh fuck!  Without saying anything Talon was up off the bed and into the attached bathroom in an instant and flipped on the lights which were way too fucking bright after being in the two dim rooms.  As his reflection greeted him though, there it was and he couldn’t deny what he saw.  Holy FUCK!