Mike Carss

Thank you so much. 🥰 Yes, at times I questioned whether the story was frustrating some readers (you among them) a little too much? As I've said in other chapters, I've learned a lot from the feedback you've all given me. I can't thank you all enough. ❤️

Only Rabiah knows the answer, but whatever the outcome was, it would be bad.

Thank you. ❤️ Regarding Theodrik the daemon and its home (the hells), yes, I wanted to subvert expectations. I've always liked the idea of a friendly demon. A good example of "you shouldn't judge someone by their looks alone."

My work is done. 😉

That means a lot to hear. Thank you. ❤️

Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it. 💗

Thank you. 💗

Based on the comments in many chapters, one of the biggest points of contention was Nathan's decision not to seek help when the pain returned in his arm and chest. The title of this novel is Strength of Fate, and when Nathan was bitten, his fate was sealed right at that point. Nothing he could've done would've changed his outcome. Let me explain: The iratxos that ambushed him were brought by the daemon's (Theodrik) presence. By that point in the story, Theodrik had already flown south to escape the cold of winter. Later, it was revealed iratxos were appearing in the south due to the daemon's migration. Others were attacked by the iratxos, and soon after, the symptoms of their bite became known. Nobody knew of the iratxos' origin, however. They called them goblings. So at that time, there was no cure for the slow toxin. It was only much later that a treatment was discovered (told by the doctor at Etton Crossing) but since Nathan was one of the first to be bitten, that cure didn't exist yet. Does that redeem Nathan's choice to not seek help when the pain started? No, of course not, but his decision to hold back was based on a few factors. First, sometimes people make bad choices. That's what makes us human. I wanted Nathan to be flawed, but also wanted to show growth that he was becoming a better person. From a storytelling perspective, I wasn't interested in telling a story of him trying to find a cure. Nathan was a selfish person, but over the course of the story, he showed that he's capable of considering others' wellbeing. His actions before the first book (assassinating Lord Helmsley's son) were the basis for all the trouble throughout this second book. The daemon's presence—and the resulting iratxo threat—was his fault, albeit indirectly. Regardless, he realized this and decided to take action. Ultimately, his sacrifice at the end could be seen as a kind of redemption for all the pain and death he caused in the past. Though I will admit that his choice is marred by selfishness again. At the beginning of this chapter, had he not suffered the horrible experience where he thought he was dying, chances are high that Cormac would've been the one sacrificed. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed these insights that might not have been obvious. I really enjoyed reading all your takes on how Nathan could've cured himself of the toxin. There were some excellent ideas. And in case you were curious: personally, I don't believe in fate. It's just a useful storywriting tool. 😉 I'll quote the great line from Terminator 2: "The future is not set. There is no fate, but what we make for ourselves."

The ocean. It lapped at Nathan’s face as he tread water. Naked, and taking in the warm sunlight, he scanned the horizon from his low vantage point. No land was within sight. The depths—a deep blue—mirrored the clear sky. He had no memory of his arrival here. Waves broke against the bow of a distant boat behind him. He turned to find Brohm aboard a small ship, its sails taut against the breeze, and Nathan called out his name. The big man caught sight of him and waved with an affectionat

Over the course of the two novels, Nathan has slowly changed for the better, but his selfishness is still in full swing here. As you said, he doesn't realize it. Right now, all he cares about is what little time he has left with Brohm.

Throbbing pain awakened Nathan from his slumber. He rubbed his arm, bringing temporary relief from the soreness, but it did nothing to ease his mind. Denial couldn’t last forever, and every time the pain flared up, he pondered if the beginning of the end was upon him. Judging by the angle of sunlight creeping into their suite, accompanied by the hubbub on the street below, he deemed it to be midmorning. Turning toward Brohm, he found him watching Nathan through half-opened eyes. The big ma

Haha! I hope that gave you guys a chuckle. 😄 That scene was just giving Brohm the opportunity to show that he's trying his damnedest to control his anger. That said, of all the people that deserved a punch in the face, it was that guy. Earlier, someone commented about the laissez-faire attitude toward homosexuality in Nathan and Brohm's world. It's certainly more accepted there than our own planet, but as we've seen in this chapter, bigotry still exists. Boo!

When the story is complete next Thursday (two chapters left, plus an epilogue), I'll share some insights that likely aren't obvious about Nathan's plight.

At least Nathan didn't follow through with Rabiah's request to murder Edouard. That would've left the child without a father.

Days passed uncounted while Nathan’s leg healed. The ointment worked wonders, effectively treating the burns and promoting new skin growth. By the time Nathan could walk normally again, his mind nagged him they should return to Rabiah, but he didn’t want their furlough to end. His arm—in pain more often than not—did little to ruin his mood. There was no point in worrying about his inevitable end, and he refused to let it hinder his time with Brohm. The big man didn’t appear to care about their m

Truth. I was so torn while writing this scene.

Stepping through the portal proved to be an unsettling experience for Nathan. Crossing the threshold brought on a rising buzz, but not one heard aurally, instead somehow deep within his head. The ground, composed of a delicate stony structure, crunched under their boots—not unlike stepping on tiny insect carapaces. Breathing was unpleasant. The air was stale, tasting of bitter metal. His exhaled breath plumed visibly, akin to being the middle of winter. While the air was cool on his face, it was

Haha! Well, couriers and mail services do exist in this world.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks! ♥️

Aww, I'm not laughing at you guys. 🥺 I just don't want to spoil anything.

It's vague on purpose. It was only used is a rough guide while writing to keep travel times consistent. And yeah, I kept in mind whether they were travelling on a road or not. For example, the time trekking through Dead Man's Pass was double compared to travelling by road.

While my earlier comments were a bit defensive, my attitude has since changed. You said it exactly: "just a difference of opinion," and not at all wrong, either. The events that occur before the start of this story were simply a vehicle to put Nathan (and Brohm) in a terrible situation. I didn't care about those details when I was writing because neither Nathan or Brohm would care. All they're trying to do is survive. In any case, I was middle of writing the first draft of my third novel while posting these chapters, and I took those constructive criticisms to heart. The biggest takeaway was to make sure the MC doesn't take overly dangerous risks or make bad decisions based on what he already knows. That's not to say he doesn't get into trouble, but I hope his reasons are understood and accepted. Both in this book and the sequel, readers have commented on Nathan's "stupidity." In hindsight, these "stupid" choices were my way to create tension -- poorly executed, I suppose. 😉 I appreciate the comments you've written in the many chapters. I hope you'll continue to enjoy the story, and perhaps read the sequel, which I feel is much better in many ways.

Nathan and Brohm tucked into the shadow of night, away from the street lamplight. Before them stood the city’s massive northern portcullis, guarded by a few armoured men. They chatted amongst themselves casually, sometimes laughing, their voices echoing against the nearby buildings. The streets were empty, a fact Nathan found strange taking into account the size of the city, but then he considered their distance from the pubs. The buildings here appeared to be more business-oriented. Owners usua

She understands that secrecy is paramount. If anyone in Etton Crossing found out they had a demon following them, can you imagine the trouble they'd end up in? I don't think anyone would take them seriously if they said, "Hey, Theodrik's friendly. I swear!" 😅 As for Rabiah's motives? She's definitely a wild card at this point.

Morgana's warning wasn't entirely clear. She said that to break the spell, one needs to speak of it aloud. That's pretty vague. Right from the start, though, Nathan and Brohm know that speaking or writing their true names won't break it. Also, if they look at themselves in a mirror, they can see the illusion. Only Theodrik can see through their disguise. Nathan asked to keep that information private, and Theodrik reluctantly agreed. For Nathan's sake, I would hope it keeps its promise. As we know, his choice to keep these things secret only harms him, but it's ultimately his decision. Perhaps he'll trust someone enough in Etton Crossing to ask for help.