Breed Me A God

PROLOGUE Kieran He was here. I stood by the window, fingers resting against the cold glass, watching as the car crept up the long, winding driveway. It moved too cautiously, hesitating like a mouse wandering straight into a trap. Good. He should be afraid. The driver pulled to a stop near the front steps, but for a moment, nothing happened. The engine hummed. The rain, soft, painted streaks down the windshield, distorting the shadowed figure inside. I already knew what he looked like—I had seen his file, traced my fingers over the photo, memorized the shape of him—but there was something satisfying about watching him sit there, gathering his breath before stepping into my world. Ezra Kade. The nanny. The word almost made me laugh. It was ridiculous, really. A grown man hired to care for a child that didn’t exist. I leaned against the window frame, feeling the cool press of the wood against my skin, and tilted my head. The rain was getting heavier now, darkening the stone steps, soaking the iron gates behind him. He didn’t move. Did he already sense it? The way the house loomed too high, the way the air clung too thick. This wasn’t a home. It was a mouth, waiting to swallow him whole. Finally, the car door swung open, and Ezra stepped out. He was tall. Lean. Pale. Dressed in dark slacks and a fitted jacket, like he thought professionalism was armor against whatever waited inside. He reached for his bag, then hesitated. He was looking at the house, at the tall windows that reflected nothing back at him, at the heavy oak doors that stood closed, waiting. He shifted on his feet. Then, with a breath, he moved. The moment his foot landed on the first step, something thrummed deep in my chest. Behind me, the door creaked open. “Kieran.” I didn’t turn immediately. I knew which voice it was—Lilian, the third eldest. Cold, never soft. Her heels clicked against the floor as she stepped closer. I felt her gaze sweep over me, assessing, before she spoke again. “Come downstairs. It’s time to meet your new nanny.” I let out a slow breath and turned to face her. Her expression was blank, but I knew she was watching for something. A flicker of what was underneath. A crack in the surface. I didn’t give it to her. Instead, I smiled, soft and vacant, and let my fingers curl into the hem of my sleeve. “…Okay.” The child returned. And the game began. ******* Content Warning This book contains dark and disturbing themes that may be triggering to some readers. Please proceed with caution. • Psychological manipulation (gaslighting, mind games, blurred reality) • Dubious consent / non-consensual themes (coercion, power imbalances) • Obsession & possessiveness (stalking, toxic attachment, unhealthy control) • Graphic violence & gore (blood, injury, death, explicit descriptions) • Torture & pain infliction (psychological and physical torment) • Cults & rituals (dark family traditions, blood oaths, disturbing ceremonies) • Abuse & trauma (emotional, physical, and s****l abuse) • Murder & death (brutal character deaths) • Isolation & captivity (locked rooms, restricted freedom, control) • Morally gray / villainous characters (no true heroes) • Betrayal & deception (hidden agendas, mind-breaking revelations) • Power imbalance & age gap (control and submission dynamics) • Dark family dynamics (manipulation, revenge, twisted sibling relationships) • Self-destruction & addiction (mentally and emotionally unstable characters) • Religious & supernatural undertones (worship, god complexes, eerie rituals)