A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Sixty–One 

“...What did you just say?” I asked, my voice thick with disbelief. 

“I said they‘ve declared war,” Alexander repeated. “They‘ve said that if we don‘t release Caius before sunset tomorrow that they will officially announce their intent to bring him home by force.” 

Less than twenty–four hours. I had less than twenty–four hours to free him or we would be initiating a war. 

...And it would be my fault. 

“It‘s not enough time,” I whispered, the panic rising inside me once more. “...It‘s not enough time... It‘s not enough time.” 

I took a step backwards as my mind continued to whirl. This was it. Everything had been leading to this moment and it was finally here. 

“Is there anything else I need to know?” Aleric asked him. 

Alexander frowned as if he‘d expected him to have a different reaction.“... No? Just that we received a letter from the Silver Lake just now... —” 

“You can go then,” Aleric interrupted. “Thank you for telling me as soon as possible.” 

“What? ....Uh, yeah, okay...,” Alexander said, confused. 

He took a few steps backwards, still unsure as to why he‘d been dismissed so quickly, before finally turning around to leave. 

As soon as Alexander was out of sight, Aleric immediately turned his attention to me. 

Everything was spinning, making it hard to focus. What could I possibly do to stop this now? Maybe confronting Thea myself and trying to get her to confess again? But no... that energy inside me had become disconnected, like a flickering light whenever I tried to grasp it. I remembered how sick it made m e last time and didn‘t think I could force anyone to follow my orders right now even if I wanted to. A parto fme knew that doing so would be reckless... potentially deadly. 

“Aria,” Aleric said, his voice cutting through my thoughts. It was enough to make me look up to him, meeting his gaze directly. “Breathe. In and out.” 

As he said the words, I realised my breathing had become shallow, my concentration on thinking taking priority. Slowly, I breathed in deeply and back out again. 

“You‘ve got that same expression that worries me,” he said. “The one where I leave you alone to calm down, only to find out you’re acting completely insane a few days later. We don‘t have time for that anymore. I need smart Aria right now, not self–destructive Aria.” 

He was right, I needed to slow down and think properly. Confronting Thea myself was far too risky and 

almost certainly wouldn‘t work out in my favour. 

And so, I closed my eyes, my breathing still shaky, but I did my best to focus. 

I went over it all in my head, thinking through the different possibilities, the different outcomes... but with the limited time we had left, there wasn‘t much we could do. 

Shaking my head, I frowned. “There‘s no time, Aleric... our best hope is that Jonathan accidentally reveals himself tomorrow or Thea slips up.” 

“... That‘s cutting it pretty close,” he said. 

“I know... which is why I have one more solution as a backup plan that is almost guaranteed to work.” 

He crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. “If it‘s quaranteed then why don‘t we just implement that one first instead?” 

I bit my lip, unsure if I should tell him. I already knew what his reaction would be. 

“Well... because..,” I started hesitantly. 

His frown deepened for a second before finally, he understood what I meant without me even needing to finish. I could see the recognition on his face when he realised what I was planning. 

“No, no way,” he said, a tone of finality in his words. “You‘re not doing that.” 

“Aleric, I don‘t have a choice.” 

“You‘re throwing your life away,” he argued. “Everything you‘ve worked towards, everything you‘ve fought for. You‘re going to give it up for him?” 

“I‘m not giving it up for him... I‘m giving it up for the pack. Both packs. I‘m giving it up to save innocent people.” 

shook his head. “Aria, think

can‘t let thousands of people die for my mistake. If the worst–case scenario really does happen... I‘m going to confess. There is no other way. The side effects of my punishment do not overrule the lives of innocents. You‘re the one who needs to think clearly

well the destruction they left behind. This time the cause

let me do this. Please don‘t ask me to stand by and let people die for me. I don‘t need their names weighing on my soul any more

from that, Aria. You know as well as I do what the punishment for

of my life before killing me. He likes the status image I provide too much. The ‘Winter Mist Saintess‘. No,

Saintess‘ freedom. You‘ll become a martyr within your own oppression.

meeting scheduled for just after lunch tomorrow. In the morning before that, we‘ll see how Jonathan goes with Thea then… well… worst–case scenario, I‘ll be using

said flatly.

temper once more. “Aleric, what the hell is going on with you? Is this really due to dealing with the devout follower backlash or is this about something else? is it Cai? Do you really hate

frustration, giving up on whatever he wanted to say and opting

don‘t‘ what? What were you going to say?” I

“Nothing. Forget it.” 

Chapter Sixty–One 

said, not bothering to hide my irritation. “I say something or do something and you just go quiet instead of telling me

when some things are better left unsaid. Would you like me to teach you how that‘s

of avoiding a smaller confrontation. Wars don‘t solve all your problems, Aleric. What are you really afraid of here? Is it that you‘re insecure over whether I‘ll usurp you one day? Gather followers of the Goddess around

“You can‘t just pick and choose which title you want

was right, I had overstepped that line. Instead, a moment of icy silence hung between us, neither of us

first,” he said quietly in defeat, running a hand through his dark wavy hair. “Just... do what you think is right, Aria. We‘ll deal with whatever happens after when we get

this investigation the last few months, spreading our free time too thin with all the additional work it brought us. It was no surprise really that we were both now in each other‘s faces the second that war was finally at our doorstep. It was a cocktail for short fuses and high tempers. Which was exactly why the best decision here was for

I was sure neither choice presented was the best decision here. Both paths ahead had their own obstacles, their own pros and cons. And whilst it felt as though Aleric‘s opinion on this right now seemed off, I had to give him credit where it was due. If it hadn‘t been for his support over these last few months, I would have been worse off and probably done something far more drastic already by now. I n a

in, it was now just as much Aleric‘s choice as it was mine since it was technically his life on the line as well. He‘d lied about

like I want to do this, Aleric. Just... trust me. You‘ll have my support with whatever

tiredly at his eyes. “Aria... that‘s not... Yep. Okay, sure. Thank

smile. “Maybe we‘ll catch Jonathon tomorrow and be dragging his ass into that meeting instead.”

“Hopefully.” 

as though he wasn‘t exactly pleased with the outcome, but I

towards the car. “I‘ll drop

you going?” he asked, starting to walk with

Chapter Sixty One 

much time left but I knew exactly where I needed to go next. Only it wasn‘t somewhere I

to go prepare for the

that, I found myself walking down a cold hallway, my feet leaving an echo as I went. I‘d come here frequently enough that I was now familiar with these walls, but their contents had continued t o be a source of pain for me

when compared to the last but my respect for him had remained. Those last moments he‘d gifted me with my father had been precious. Although it did feel almost surreal to see that he would be the warrior on duty today given

heir,” he greeted me, inclining

back in acknowledgement. “James. How

“Same as always.” 

instead opened the door, accompanying me

a pair of familiar gold ones staring right back at me. He was seated at a small table that had been set up to the side.

was to run to him, nestle my head into his neck, and wish for the thousandth time that this wasn‘t real… but I couldn‘t. Not here, not today, and definitely not over the last few months, had I been able to do anything remotely close to that. We were forced to strict professionalism due to the ever present eyes

you?” I

coming here but I knew it had to be hard. I could see the circles forming under his eyes and how he‘d lost a little bit of weight. It was all signs of him paying

he replied. “It‘s good to

I could see in his eyes what he was really telling me and

my throat and tried to refocus. “You too.”

myself to do it. He would know what that meant, what two paths would potentially be waiting for me now. But, more importantly, he would know that this was

umm… I just wanted to check in and make sure you‘re still hanging in there,” I half lied, taking a seat at the table opposite him. “Are

“Can‘t complain. Since being upgraded to the larger room it at least feels a little less... prison –y. Kind of feels more

I couldn‘t bring myself to give him a smile at his attempt at humour.

were quiet for some time, neither of us knowing what to say. I couldn‘t speak freely with him and yet there was so much I wanted to speak about. It was torture. He was right there in front of me, within arm‘s length, and I couldn‘t even touch him.

sorry.” I mouthed to Cai silently. James was at the door

hear me, I hoped desperately that he saw just how

me with concern, as if he was sensing exactly what I was feeling, and inside I could feel that pit of guilt clench. Everything was

for this anymore. I felt overwhelmed, like I couldn‘t breathe. “I should be going… I’ll come

turned my face and was about to stand up when his hand suddenly shot