A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Thirty-Eight It had Alpha Tytus written all over it. He had ‘coincidentally’ chosen a night my father was out of town and my mother was shifted t o work at the hospital. This meant it would be just me… and Aleric. It seemed I had assumed incorrectly that Tytus was done trying to play matchmaker with us. When I had been accepted as a probationary Beta heir, naturally I had thought the surprise dates would come to an end. Did he think I was going to fail in my endeavour to best Alexander? Or was his idea that I could be persuaded to drop out of the running for the title if I fell for Aleric?

Putting all of that aside, I now found myself with less than seven hours to get the entire house ready.

To have the Alpha or Alpha heir come for dinner was considered a high enough honour already, but hosting Aleric would just make things more difficult. I‘d never found him an easy person to please in my past.

I worked tirelessly, from the moment I found out he was coming, to organise everything down to the most minute detail. From briefing the attendants on behaviours to avoid around him, to creating a menu for the cooks so they could prepare Aleric’s preferred foods, nothing was left to chance.

By the time I was finally finished organising, I found I only had an hour for myself to get ready and dressed.

And then, finally, the time came.

As Aleric entered the house, I saw him pause a moment to take it all in. I wondered what was going through his mind and couldn’t recall if he‘d ever come here before. But judging from his face, he didn’t remember either.

“Greetings, Alpha heir,” I said, bowing my head.

“Evening, Ariadne,” he replied. 

I looked up and saw him staring at me strangely already. Had I done something off? I wracked my brain but couldn‘t think of anything. 

“It‘s an honour to receive you tonight,” I continued. “If you‘ll follow me to the parlour, we can sit there while we wait for our meals to be ready....” 

We walked into the large sitting area with two couches. I stood at the doorway, allowing him t o move first to choose where he would sit. When he‘d made himself comfortable, I purposely sat on the opposite couch with just enough distance. Close enough to not be rude, but far away enough that I didn’t have to worry about flinching at any of his sudden movements.

“So, how have you been, Ariadne?” he asked finally, after several moments of silence had passed. “It’s been… a week since our last meeting?” “Yes, Alpha heir,” I said. “I‘ve been well. Yourself?” 

“I‘ve been good...,” he said, his face turning that same odd frown again. “You can call me Aleric, you realise? You’re a Beta heir now. The formalities aren‘t required.” Oh… so this was why he’d given me that look at the door. I’d found it easier to call him Alpha heir these last few months, the sound of his real name on my lips always leaving a bitter taste.

I clenched my jaw, preparing myself to force to words out. “Apologies… Aleric.” He regarded me warily. Obviously, something else was still bothering him that he hadn’t mentioned.

an excuse to not keep the conversation going. We sat down in the dining room, Aleric at the

food started to come out then and I was grateful everything had been prepared exactly the way I had instructed. The spread was diverse enough for even four people, but I hadn’t wanted to leave anything to chance. I looked up to check on Aleric, to gauge his reaction, but he seemed completely fine; this being at least one comfort to my anxiety. I knew I’d

your

it‘s all great,” he said. “Thank you.” That didn’t tell me much but at the very least he

that, we both began

good. I went to a northern territory called the Opal Tide. It‘s the central

he said, trailing

if he wanted to talk about something but wasn’t

“Nevermind.”

to the airport 

eating his food. A part of me was curious and wanted to know what he’d

our meal in silence after that. I wasn’t sure what to talk about o r whether I should even try to start a conversation or not, and

was delicious, thank you. Please tell the cook they did a great job.” “I’m glad to hear that,” I said, genuinely relieved everything had gone as planned. “Do you think I could trouble you for a cup of tea?” Oh, he wanted tea? I suppose I could make him some. I stood up and began

stared at him confused. He said he wanted tea? I was getting him

boil me some water as I

to place it on the table in front of

him to have moved so quickly, and

…Right onto his leg.

“Please… no, I’m so sorry.” He was patting at his leg with a napkin, wincing from the pain, when suddenly his eyes looked up to meet mine. I had messed up. I had messed up so badly. “I’m sorry, please,

with a tone of irritation now. And then he started walking towards me, looking unsettled

I was already trapped by the wall. And then finally he’d had enough. “Why do you always have this reaction to me, Ariadne?” he snapped, frustrated. “I don’t get i t! What have I done to you? What could

mutely, unable to

we literally had only spoken maybe five times growing up.

I saw him. Really saw him for

me. This was a teenage boy who was probably still learning who he was himself. He had the same midnight curls and green eyes, but his face didn’t have the same lines from battle he’d acquired over the years. He

because I can’t

with a sad desperation, as if this had been something piling up inside him for a long time now. “Because whenever I look into your eyes, all I see is a reflection of myself, seen in the form of some kind of monster. And it