A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Twenty-Five 

His shining eyes stared directly at me and I had to fight the urge to look behind to see if someone else was standing there. But no, I could feel the touch of his hand against my cheek, even the warmth emanating off his skin. This was real, he could see me.

“Aria…,” he said weakly.

“I’m here,” I replied.

I wasn’t sure how to react. I was still unnerved by the whole situation. All I could do was stare down at him confused and uncertain. Was this part of the vision or had something changed? “…Aria,” he called again. “Cai? Can you see me?”

I wrapped my fingers around the hand he was using to touch my cheek Maybe he was too weak to see me.

“.Aria.” 

I frowned at him. It was starting to feel more than just being unable to see me as he persisted i n trying to call out for me.

“Can’t you hear me? I’m right here.”

His eyes continued to bore into mine intensely before, finally, it was like he saw me. I watched as his expression changed to one of worry.

How could he be worried about me? He was the one who was dying.

“Aria… wake up.” “What....?” 

Wake… up? 

and I was looking up at Cai, his concerned face close to mine a s he was bent over my body. It was just like in my vision, I could feel his hand was on my cheek as a few tears had escaped my eyes. Had he actually not seen me as held laid dying then? Was it just a mesh of the two realities as they transitioned? It had already been a frightening ordeal having to confront him like that without the

towards me. He had to act quickly to use his

curse every day. Had it really been necessary to be shown all of that? Caius Knight would die at the age of twenty–one with no Luna, mate or child. I already knew that was his fate if nothing were to change, I didn‘t need to be reminded. This wasn’t like Myra where being able to see it happen in a vision had

him, allowing for us both to sit up. My eyes were painfully sore and

“I’m sorry…,” I mumbled.

have mentioned that already once

couldn’t reciprocate the joking half–smile he gave me

water bottle. I could see a small frown on his face as he was trying to process the situation. “Is this like a medical condition you have? It was if you were asleep… except your eyes were open the whole time.” I shook my head. “I’m fine now, really. I’m sorry for worrying you.” I did my best to give him the best reassuring smile I could manage. “Aria! Enough,” he suddenly said loudly, a tone

a few days in order to conduct extensive tests. And I could see I’d upset Cai, my chest tightening with the guilt of seeing him like that. He was worried and

deep breath. “It’s the Goddess mark,”

voice trailed off. A flash of Cai‘s dying face came to mind and I shuddered. I couldn‘t tell him. If

life, how could I even begin to explain what I’d seen? ‘O h, by the way, Cai, I saw your death. Sorry about that. It was

not ready to talk about it,” I said finally. “I really am sorry. I hope that this

believe me when I tell you… I feel like this Goddess mark is shaping up to be more pain potem than

was now having to fight harder for my right to be left alone. Not to mention that, if I somehow didn’t get assassinated by someone before my coming of age, then it would need to be classed as a miracle. This mark prevented me from ever being able to run away or even to live a

but he finally agreed to leave it at that for now, having

physical exercise for at least a week to allow my body to recover some of the damage I’d already done, and he had even given me a new strict diet plan. I gave it to the cook at my house and told them to keep it quiet from my parents in exchange for a pay

looking Lucy came walking in. I was confused about what she needed

Miss. I’ve finished organising most of the things you’ve asked for, ”