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.” 

head. “Aria, think this

for my mistake. If the worst–case scenario really does happen... I‘m going to confess. There is no other

already and knew too well the destruction they left behind. This time the cause wasn‘t even for power or territory...

my voice 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 and let people die

to death? What then, huh? I can‘t save you from that, Aria. You know as well as I do what the punishment for treason

before killing me. He likes the status image I

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

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 Thea then… well… worst–case scenario, I‘ll be

he said flatly.

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

You don‘t... whatever.” He sighed in frustration, giving up on whatever he wanted to say and opting for

you going to say?”

“Nothing. Forget it.” 

Chapter Sixty–One 

to hide my irritation. “I say something or do something

better left

killing off innocent people for the sake 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 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. I never

don‘t give Alpha commands,” he retorted harshly. “You can‘t just pick and choose which title you want whenever it suits

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

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 to that point,

both in the wrong here, I knew that. 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. It was a cocktail for short fuses and high tempers. Which was exactly why the best decision here was for us to walk away before saying something

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

and effort we‘d put 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 my

this, Aleric. Just... trust me. You‘ll have my support

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

a small smile. “Maybe we‘ll catch Jonathon tomorrow and be dragging his ass

“Hopefully.” 

of us moving. I could see on his face that he looked as though he wasn‘t exactly pleased with the outcome, but I was happy

I said, motioning towards the car. “I‘ll drop you off at the packhouse

you going?” he asked,

Chapter Sixty One 

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

to go prepare for the

that I was now familiar

m y cell to the trial grounds in my previous timeline. James barely knew me in this life 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 the

greeted me, inclining his head

nodded back in acknowledgement. “James. How is

“Same as always.” 

anything further and instead

pair of familiar gold ones staring right back at me.

not today, and definitely not over the last few

are you?”

taken me a moment to find my voice, my sense of 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

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

me lose my composure. I could see in his eyes what he was really telling me and it only made things so much

my throat and tried to refocus.

bring myself to do it. He would know what that meant, what two paths would potentially be waiting for me now.

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

feels a little less... prison –y. Kind of feels more like home arrest now… if my home was

to give him a smile at his attempt at

I couldn‘t speak freely with him and yet there was so much I wanted to speak about. It was torture.

the door within listening range but my

hoped desperately that he saw just how sincerely I meant

sensing exactly what I was feeling, and inside I could feel that

for this anymore. I felt overwhelmed, like I couldn‘t breathe. “I should be going… I’ll come by to check on you again... When I

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