A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Eighty 

“No...,” I whispered, the words choking out of my throat. 

Almost a whole day. I‘d slept for almost a whole day. My vision hadn‘t taken place just after sun*set*, it had been just before sun*rise*. And now an hour or so had already passed since then. 

I felt myself go completely numb, releasing Lucy‘s hand from my grip. 

There was a crumbling beginning within me. Like I was falling... falling into an Abyss that was completely o f my own making. One that was a hole I‘d been desperately trying to swim away from these last four years, trying so goddamn hard to believe that there was still good in people. That even though I had been rejected, killed and abandoned by everyone around me, that there was still potential for people to do better. That I could do better. 

And now it seemed the final betrayal had embedded its dagger. The one I knew I wouldn‘t ever survive. And, apparently, neither would my parents. 

... There was no one left.‘ 

...No one. 

...I was alone.‘ 

Just as fate seemed to have always planned for me. 

And everything felt... so empty. 

“Oh... I didn‘t… I didn‘t realise,” I whispered to myself in a daze, the world slowly moving around me. 

“Miss...?” 

“...I didn‘t realise we were playing that sort of game.” 

... Ready to do this my way?‘ My prior self‘s voice then whispered in my head, offering to give me the support I so desperately craved right now. 

It was the kind of help I would have instantly turned down before... but now? 

Honestly, I was starting to wonder why I‘d been so opposed the entire time. She had managed to endure years of hell, doing whatever it took to survive and prove her worth. If anyone knew how to keep working when it felt like the world was falling apart, it was her. Only she possessed the strength I would need now. 

...What did I even have to lose anymore? Myra? Cai? My parents? 

And I felt myself slip deeper into the hole inside. 

“There‘s something I need to tell you but I...,” Lucy said to me, disjointedly. “But I–I can‘t, I‘m sorry... –.” 

“It‘s okay,” I said, stopping her, my body quickly becoming calm. “I already know he ordered you to stay quiet about what happened in the hospital. I already know about....” 

I couldn‘t finish my sentence though. Speaking of my parent‘s demise still felt wrong. 

Surprise crossed Lucy‘s features, my knowledge taking her aback since there was no way I should have known. 

“Miss? How do you...?” 

“Don‘t worry about that. We have bigger things to concern ourselves with now and I need your full concentration.” 

Without waiting, I then walked over to where Lucy had laid out the outfit I was going to wear today and began changing tugging on the long sleeve dress over my head. 

“But the plan is ruined,” she objected. “Plan A is now far too risky and Plan B is...” 

Her voice choked to a stop as the Alpha order constricted her. But I didn‘t need her to elaborate. I already knew what she was trying to say. 

Plan A would now mean ordering not just one, but two Alpha bloods. A feat I wasn‘t sure I was capable of pulling off even when it had just been for Tytus with wolfsbane in his system. 

you‘re right,” I said, fastening the finishing touches to my attire. “Which is exactly why we‘re going ahead with Pian C. 

Miss? Plan C? You never mentioned there was a Plan C.” 

Contact Iris. Tell her it’s time,” I instructed, proceeding to grab the last of everything I needed. 

The reason Lucy didn‘t know about Plan C was because no one knew about it except for me. 

It was something I‘d come up with at the same time I had the others. A plan I had continually pushed away, knowing it shouldn‘t ever be used, knowing it was something that only *shet would do. However, it wasn‘t a backup for if I failed to order Tytus, or if Aleric failed to challenge him. 

No, it was what I‘d come up with for in the event the worst–case scenario happened, the absolute point of all else failing 

It was a plan that had to be completely hidden from everyone else in order for it to work. The ultimate trump card, the final stand. I had never wanted to resort to it, let alone consider implementing it. But I had prepared for it nonetheless. 

Because Plan C was for in the event Aleric betrayed me. 

End suddenly I found myself in that very position. 

Contrary to Aleric‘s request, I did not seek him out before the meeting. 

From everything Lucy was forbidden from telling me, yet everything I had already witnessed myself anyway, I knew it was too dangerous. Who wouldn‘t be expecting some sort of trap? 

After all, if he could kill my parents so easily then what else was he capable of? He‘d deliberately chosen not to challenge Tytus once the order came through, showing his alliance to him over me. Hell, he most 

who had leaked the information about

he‘d made his message

wanted to take his succession naturally, not by

whether our argument yesterday really was enough to drive this kind of response; whether it really had demolished our trust to the point of him making the first move. But there was another posibility also one where I recalled his dark eyes the day before, already knowing what monster was possibly dormant inside of

now. Wondering about the motives wasn‘t going to bring my parents back to life.

do, get through the day, and then reassess once it was all over. On even the slightest chance that Aleric really was planning

Chapter Eighty 

completely oblivious to what had transpired the night before was only going to work in

to do; never staying in one spot for too long, never giving in

time for the big

and the entire room on the

saying but I didn‘t need to. Their faces said it all... Sympathy, sadness... caution, disgust. It seemed I was once again the daughter of a traitor; this scenario being one

head up high, I walked over to where Aleric stood,

but inside all I felt was complete calmness; my mind

left to arrive was

the fuck have you been?” Aleric hissed in a low voice, his hand grabbing my

low enough as a few Elders turned their heads in our

forced a polite smile on my face and pulled my arm free of his grasp. The same hands that

been a little busy this morning. But what‘s a few hours when we have our entire lives together, right? It

inside

“What are you–” 

then Tytus entered, ending all chances of continuing the conversation, and

us into a union… and then had our parents killed.‘

Tytus said as he walked to his

sat back down, filling the space around him.

a joyous one of celebrating not only young Aria‘s birthday, but also her union with my son, Aleric,” Tytus said to the council and warriors present. “However, it is with a heavy heart that I announce to you all now that there are some who will not be present for this monumental day. A day where every daughter deserves to be with

‘Lies.‘ 

didn‘t actually give a shit

most of you have already heard,” he continued. “But a situation arose yesterday whereby I was made aware of a plan. A plan to poison me during a routine doctor‘s

**** 

dearow pace Bettid Mootout I could feel everyone‘s eyes on me but

the everything from me, they would

most 

en 

, tp 

tuetta yo 

h e 

truly sorry for your loss and that it happenel4g/ l focused on mine. “Naturally, I have some questions for you see is can still find some happiness today in what is otherwise a desweh.”

bowing my head respectfully “side the o dedication you put into this pack. And whilst, of course, numer realise their actions are ones more befitting those of all , 2014, t is just unfortunate that not

4 06415 there

06,” 

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differences 6 tumay 

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, 105 1004) 

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“I know we have had hope you feel you can come to me with anything should but through circumstance, you will also be gaining a

once more, acknowledging his olles which, 10 latxa better word, was

you 21001a 

is itching to get the collar off after all of these months and believe the statt

chesi began pounding...

laceho ang the

stant approaching me, walking with intent as he

key... 

*Thump, thump*... 

next to me, desperate to get my attention,

It was too late for anything he could possibly say to me now. Therboot would

Sinking ever deeper... 

further into the

turning back now as I relinquished myself over to it.

to himself as he

quick work

after the key was turned several times, the satisfying click then echoed into the

I

fell to the ground next to me with a heavy clank... but i barely

felt as though my body was alight, coming alive with the mass amount of energy that poured through me, and I gasped at the air as

abilities, the difference in my strength was extremely noticeable. Noticeable enough that I struggled to even remain standing, having to take a few seconds

months I‘d trained with a resuaint that essentially made me human, forcing me to work harder to get results. Now it appeared as though I

Chapter Eighty 

than ever before.

last long though as a shiver of nausea then

I knew exactly what it

I didn‘t have

please go ahead,” Tytus