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.” 

his head. “Aria, think this through

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.

again. I‘d participated in too many wars already and knew too well the destruction they left behind. This time the cause wasn‘t even for power or

back down to help him see reason. “Aleric, if you really cared about the Winter Mist, and I know you do... you‘d let me do this. Please don‘t ask me to stand by

you from that, Aria. You know as well as

chain me to a pole for the rest of my life before killing me. He likes the status image I provide too much. The ‘Winter

nutcase on our doorstep demanding their Saintess‘ freedom. You‘ll become a martyr within your

One thing at a time here. First, I‘ll call an emergency meeting scheduled for just after lunch tomorrow. In the morning before that, we‘ll see how Jonathan goes with

he said

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 him that much? I know you guys don‘t

Aria... You don‘t... whatever.” He sighed in frustration, giving up on whatever he

what? What were you going

“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 whatever it is

smart decisions and knowing when some things are better left unsaid. Would you like me

you one day? Gather followers of the Goddess around me and take over what you feel you‘re entitled to? Let me give you a quick tip for avoiding that future; don‘t piss me off.

Alpha commands,” he retorted harshly. “You can‘t just pick

was right, I had overstepped that line. Instead, a moment of icy silence hung between us, neither of us wanting to concede. Finally though, his eyes softened, sighing in release o

running a hand through his dark wavy hair. “Just... do what you think is right, Aria. We‘ll

We had burnt ourselves out with 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.

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 way, I owed him.

since it was technically his life on the

too,” I mumbled. “It‘s not like I want to do this, Aleric. Just... trust me. You‘ll have my support with whatever happens afterwards, I

eyes. “Aria...

I said with a small smile. “Maybe we‘ll catch Jonathon tomorrow and be dragging

“Hopefully.” 

though he wasn‘t exactly pleased with the outcome, but I was happy that he seemed to be on board at

towards the car. “I‘ll drop you off at

you going?” he asked, starting to walk with

Chapter Sixty One 

where I needed to go next. Only it wasn‘t somewhere I wanted

off to go prepare for the

come here frequently enough that I was now familiar with these

in this life when compared to the last but my respect for him had remained. Those last moments

heir,” he greeted me, inclining his head

back in acknowledgement. “James. How

“Same as always.” 

didn‘t say anything further and instead opened

as the room beyond came into sight, my eyes immediately darted around, searching until they fell on a pair of familiar gold ones staring right back at

couldn‘t. Not here, not today, and definitely not over the last few months, had I been able to do

are you?”

guilt always hitting me hard whenever I got to see him. He hadn‘t hinted at any complaints even once since 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

well, thanks,” he replied. “It‘s good to see

his eyes what he was really telling me and

tried to

every intention of telling him the news of the war conditions proposed by the Silver Lake but, seeing him now, I couldn‘t bring 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 goodbye. Regardless of how it went, tomorrow Cai would be free. I‘d make sure of it.

you‘re still hanging in there,” I half lied, taking a seat at the table opposite him.

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

couldn‘t bring myself to give him a

so much I wanted to speak about. It was torture. He was right

to Cai silently. James was at the door

though I knew Cai couldn‘t hear me, I hoped desperately that he saw just how sincerely I meant that. How

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

longer having the strength for this anymore. I felt overwhelmed, like I couldn‘t breathe. “I should be going… I’ll come by to check on

up when his hand suddenly shot out, clasping my wrist to