Read Online Claimed by the Order (S-Gods, #1) by J. Johanis - Free Book Online Page A

Shamash was breaking the news to Seth—that Marduk was off bounds.
    When Shamash parted, Seth stormed into the theater, fire burning in his eyes. Marduk instantly regretted coming, but he clung to Shamash’s promise, and struggled to collect his confidence. Stopping before the class, Seth’s eyes gravitated to Marduk.
    “Welcome back, Marduk,” Seth said, staring right at him. “How’s your ass?” Several gods laughed, and Marduk’s stomach flipped. “The way you ran out of here yesterday, I wasn’t sure you had the balls to return.”
    Marduk closed his eyes, gritting his teeth. He couldn’t say a word to provoke this god. Seth started in on his lecture and soon had the students taking up arms to practice dueling with one another. Seth handed each deity a sword as they came down from the seating, until Marduk approached.
    “Step aside, Marduk!”
    A weight pushed down on his chest. The impulse to flee twisted his insides, but he did as Seth said, waiting by the railing as Seth handed out the last of the swords. When Seth finally finished, he turned toward Marduk and made a move in his direction. Marduk stepped backward, staying out of Seth’s reach. Then a smile curled onto Seth’s lips.
    “Come here, Marduk.”
    “No ... you’re not supposed to touch me.”
    Seth’s expression darkened, and he lunged at Marduk, grabbing him by the neck and smashing his back against the railing with his weight.
    Marduk’s heart beat out of his chest while Seth laughed in his face. “You really think Shamash is going to save you?” He breathed down Marduk’s neck. “What do you imagine he’d say if I told him my dick was in you first? Do you think he’d still protect you?” Fire shot through his core, and he struck at Seth’s chest, desperate to break free—but Seth was too strong. Tears began to leak from his eyes.
    Seth laughed again. “You know, Marduk, you may have sweet talked Shamash, but it’s not going to stop me from fucking you. I’m going to finish what I started, and if you run off crying to Shamash, it’s going to be your word against mine.”
    Marduk’s sense of hope from that morning began to fade, and a sob escaped his throat. Then a voice broke him away from his misery.
    “Lord Seth.” It was Aya who spoke. Seth turned his head to face him. “The great god Shamash, director of the college, has asked me to deliver Marduk to him halfway through your course.”
    Seth tightened his grasp on Marduk’s hair as he glared down at Aya.
    Marduk stole a sideways glance at his classmates. They were all still dueling with each other, and none of them seemed to notice Seth’s aggression. Then Seth returned his attention to Marduk and growled in his ear.
    “Don’t ever let me find you alone,” Seth said, releasing him and stepping back. Aya grabbed Marduk by the arm and led him out of the theater. Marduk walked beside Aya for some time, still in shock from what happened. When they were well into the gardens, Marduk stopped abruptly, leaned forward, and grasped his knees, attempting to collect his senses.
    “Are you really taking me to Shamash?”
    “No, Shamash just asked me to get you out of there if Seth tried anything.” A wave of relief washed over him, though he didn’t want to feel gratitude toward Aya or Shamash. Marduk avoided Aya’s gaze and slowly stood back up.
    “What now?” he asked.
    “Well, we can just hang out until our next class begins.”
    Marduk shot Aya a look. Aya had saved him from Seth, but Marduk wasn’t about to forgive him so easily. He still hated this god.
    “I don’t care for your company,” Marduk finally said, ignoring Aya’s hurt expression. Without waiting for a reply, he turned away from Aya and trailed deeper into the gardens. Too much had happened in too short a time. He needed time to clear his mind. He wanted to do what Shamash expected of him, but he had just gone through hell, and it was impossible to return to class as if nothing had