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.

of me would give me an excuse to not keep the conversation going. We sat down in the dining room,

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

your

said. “Thank you.” That didn’t tell me much but at

that, we both began

I’d done something wrong. I cleared my throat. “So… how was your exchange?” He looked directly up at me as he spoke, and I tried not to jump at the sudden eye contact. “It was good. I went to a northern territory called the Opal Tide. It‘s the central

trailing

as if he wanted to talk about something but

“Nevermind.”

to the airport 

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

I wasn’t sure what to talk about o r whether I should even try to start a conversation or not, and so I

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 walking to the kitchen. “Ariadne, what are you....”

confused. He said he

again, leaning back into his chair. I paused another moment, still unsure over whatever that was, but proceeded on my way to the kitchen anyway. I asked the attendant there to boil me some water as I prepared the tea leaves. They, too, gave me an odd

about to place it on the table in front of him when suddenly his

expecting him to have moved so quickly, and dropped

…Right onto his leg.

against the wall. “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,

it’s fine, Ariadne,” he repeated with a tone of irritation now. And then

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!

mutely, unable

had only spoken maybe five times growing up.

him for the first

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 was younger, purer. I’d been so caught up in the past

because I

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.