A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

Warm. 

It was so warm. 

Everything around me felt like it was burning, our skin already flushed enough from the training just prior. 

...And I wanted more. 

With one hand tangled through his dark hair, my other was tracing slowly down the front of his chest, feeling every muscle under my touch. And Goddess was it flawless. His body moulded against mine perfectly, as if it had been made to fit there. 

... This is wrong,‘ a voice whispered inside. 

And yet that thought only seemed to excite me further. 

It felt a million times better than I thought it would, his mouth moving hungrily as it responded against mine. His lips softer than I would have ever imagined. 

...Stop... 

There was a sense of urgency, a sense of need as I clung to him, pressing myself up against him closer, desperately searching for as much contact as possible. 

... You need to stop.’ 

No, I really shouldn‘t have wanted this, wanted him, but it was like a flood gate of buried emotions unexpectedly poured out, mixing with new ones I hadn‘t even noticed before. And the result was a desire shooting through me that felt insatiable. 

His body then shifted under me, trying to sit up and I moved back to allow it, giving him the space he‘d need to get himself free without leaving too much distance. 

But it was as he tried to bring his hands out to touch me, probably having momentarily forgotten the cuffs were even there, that I suddenly realised what was happening. 

As the metal from the silver dagger loudly sounded out against the handcuffs, it was as if someone had just thrown a bucket of cold water over me. 

....ENOUGH! 

....And I immediately pulled myself away. 

“Give me a second...,” Aleric said quietly as he began to free himself. He hadn‘t even realised my abrupt change in mood yet. 

But, without waiting, I quickly stood up and took a few shaky steps backwards. 

“...Aria?” Aleric asked, looking up at me now confused. 

“I–I made a mistake,” I said, my heart still pounding heavily, my head cloudy. 

...And I knew I‘d messed up badly. 

Because nothing about our situation had changed. I still didn‘t know his future, I didn‘t know what would happen to him, or if there was some sort of trigger that would set him down the same path... I still couldn‘t trust him implicitly. Not entirely. 

In fact, the only thing I‘d learnt about our situation over the last few months was that there were now even more factors from both inside and around us that were completely unknown. Especially that one ever 

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

nagging issue.... 

Power, 

I‘d already once seen what his drive to achieve that had cost. Seen just what he was willing to sacrifice in order to reach that status. 

...Who was to say what he‘d eventually be willing to do this time? 

Was it just waiting inside his core, ready to change him into that power–hungry man once more without 

any moment‘s notice? When dealing with the abilities of a Goddess, who could say for sure? 

I‘d made a deal with him to keep our relationship professional for that exact reason. A way to avoid any conflict of interest should the worst–case scenario happen in the future. 

somehow I‘d already

yet another mistake, one that could have also had severe impacts on the pack... just like it had with Cai.

are you talking about?” he said, slowly standing

shouldn‘t have done that. That‘s

“Seriously?” 

I just wanted to leave. There was nothing good that would result from talking about any of this the day before my birthday.

quickly turned around to walk away...

that way and I understood why that was. I completely respected it. I didn‘t question it because, given everything you‘ve apparently been through, it would be stupid of me to think that I‘d ever have a chance. How could I when some bastard already

walking.

now? Not even the tiniest

make an impartial decision between you or their best interest. I‘ve already seen a future where I‘ve given myself to you and seen

then? This is what our future will look like together? Barely trusting one another, silently wondering if the other person will rip the carpet out from

bit my lip but remained silent, not having an answer

“I‘ve done everything humanly possible to prove to you that I‘m not *him* That I’m worth your trust and respect. And now.., this? You lead me on and then rub salt in the wounds for shit that isn‘t even my fault? Things from a past that I have no

tipping over the edge. It was fueled only more on from the

confirmation that you no longer want

Actually, I wish you‘d told me sooner. Because if I‘d wanted to make yet another catastrophic mistake by sleeping with someone, Aleric, I could have just run

seemed to do it.

instantly turned dark and the loudest snarl ripped through his chest, an aura coming off him that would have made any lower ranks

I couldn‘t seem to help it though. It had left my mouth before I could stop it, being said purely out of

and manner... well, it only succeeded in sweeping a sense of calm throughout my body. Immediately, all my anger left me as I stood

that was that I was making the right

and quickly turned around, walking out the room before I said anything else

closed behind me, an onslaught of anxiety and guilt immediately began

hell had I just done

danger to himself and others,‘ the voice inside

Oh, great. 

but it appeared she was back, having taken

would have just stayed gone since now was definitely not the time for her to be filling my head. No, I needed to

handle this myself, thank you,‘ I hissed back internally, continuing on my way. I needed to cool

for me before tomorrow. She was

surprise

about it yet was

and dagger from the gym at some point today? I left in a hurry and

it further but thankfully kept quiet, acknowledging m y request with just a bow

a while, now exhausted from everything that had transpired; including using my abilities. It was a room for privacy... and welling in my own

he said wasn‘t remotely called for, especially when I knew he was probably right. Or, at least, he was justified in what he was saying from his

was him I was so angry at. I had been keeping a barrier between us, purposely ensuring

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

me. Like I was grasping at any excuse to keep that distance, even though he really did appear to

the smallest possibility that I might have been getting too close. And now I‘d found out in the worst possible way after

Just a momentary lapse in judgement or...? When had I

remembering how it felt. Remembering how his mouth had responded to

flushed through my body.

After tomorrow. 

after tomorrow. For now, I just needed to cool off for a bit before I go and apologise to Aleric. I needed to

him out to talk, I became conscious of just how tired I‘d already become, my eyes quickly becoming heavy against my own will. I

Okay, fine then. 

have one small nap...

from my sleep, waking me up to

darkening, early night beginning to fall already outside as was evident from the few windows

how did I even get here?

for the source of the noise only to find Lucy walking, heading in the direction of my mother‘s office.

called out

No reply. 

it seemed as though I was

I needed to see, but it didn‘t take long for us to arrive at our

could even make it to the door,

little from his abrupt exit. “I wasn‘t expecting to