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,

worst–case scenario really does happen... I‘m going to confess. There is no other way. The side

it happen. Not 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 territory... it was over releasing an innocent man. A man accused of

me do this. Please don‘t

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

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

we‘ll have every Goddess devout nutcase on our doorstep demanding their Saintess‘ freedom. You‘ll become a martyr within your own oppression. We‘re potentially trading

a more manageable problem. 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 using the meeting

said flatly.

plain refusal bristled my 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 him that much? I know you guys don‘t get

sighed in frustration, giving up on whatever

you going to

“Nothing. Forget it.” 

Chapter Sixty–One 

arms defensively. “You always do this,” I 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 you‘re thinking about.

when some things are better left unsaid. Would you like me to teach

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 involvement and had been helping me during

Aleric. Just... trust me. You‘ll have my support with whatever happens afterwards, I

rubbing tiredly at his eyes. “Aria... that‘s not...

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

“Hopefully.” 

looked as though he wasn‘t exactly pleased with the outcome, but I was happy that

towards the car. “I‘ll drop you

he asked, starting to walk

Chapter Sixty One 

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

to go prepare for

I went. I‘d come here frequently enough that I was

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

heir,” he greeted me, inclining his

back in acknowledgement. “James. How is the prisoner today?”

“Same as always.” 

anything further and instead opened the door, accompanying

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

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

are you?”

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 the circles forming

thanks,” he replied. “It‘s good to

composure. I could see in his eyes what he was

and tried to refocus. “You

meant, what

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

shrugged. “Can‘t complain. Since being upgraded to the larger room it at least feels a little less... prison –y. Kind of feels more like home arrest now… if my home was

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

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

I mouthed to Cai silently. James was at the door

hoped desperately that he saw just how sincerely I meant

me with concern, as if he was sensing exactly what I was feeling, and inside I could

you‘re doing okay,” I said, no 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 you again...

face and was about to stand up when his hand suddenly