A Gift from the Goddess

Book 2 Ch#8

“Alright a little game sounds tun,” I finally replied “But you‘ll be disappointed to learn these sa 40 uiterior motive in talking to you You‘ve just piqued my ouliouity, is all 

I tried to laugh it off but Kieran didn‘t seem to notice as he immediately set his drink dowi ks. expression tuming serious as he looked me over. Almost as if I could feel hin soniniwing even Iittle detail about me 

But that confident look of his. It took all I had to just calm my heart down, the nervous thumping inside becoming so loud that I was worried he‘d hear it. 

For a man who could seemingly read me so well could he really pull this off? 

“Your eyes give you away a lot,” he started, leaning forward enough that I could still hear him as he spoke in a low voice. “Don‘t get me wrong, they‘re very pretty, but they also betray you.” 

At this proximity, his scent was beginning to overwhelm me. His compliment wasn‘t helping either. I’d never been affected by small things like that before, but with him, it felt almost 

involuntary.

“I think you‘re probably reading too much into it,” I replied quietly, smiling, “Besides, I thought you were meant to be guessing my thoughts, not theorising my tells.”. 

*That’s true….

He moved in a little bit closer again, and I felt as though I became trapped by his gaze alone, unable to move away even if I wanted to. Which, of course, I didn‘t. 

No, at this distance, I was helpless to stop myself from thinking about how flawless his features were. How his defined jawline was such a perfect shape that I could easily picture how my head could fit under it, nestled against his neck comfortably, 

“Mine,’ that word repeated inside my head, but I bit it back. 

“You‘re thinking... ‘why am I so attracted to him?‘” he said, sending a jolt of surprise through me 

But after quickly scrambling to find a logical explanation, I realised it was clearly just a magician’s trick. He was influencing my thoughts with his behaviour so I‘d be pressured to think what he wanted me to.

I laughed his guess off and simply called him out on it. 

“How incredibly vague yet conceited of you to think so,” I said, amused. “I thought this was a game of guessing my exact thoughts, not giving yourself a backwards compliment.” 

However, this didn’t seem to deter him in the slightest and a smirk spread across his lips 

“You‘re thinking.. why does he make me feel this way?** 

I laughed again 

“I just told you that you can‘t use ambiguous statements to win It‘s like bogus fortune telling. 

pot going to wor=–* 

And then his hand reached out and touched mine, tincing lightly against my skin Spreading those spaiks through my body that made my breath catch in my throat 

I stared at his hand as he gently enveloped my own, the warmth starting to make me foto concentration.

*Mine.’ That same unrelenting thought kept trying to force itself aloud, 

He closed the final bit of distance between us, coming in until he was speaking almost diiectly into my ear. His scent making it impossible to breathe without his influence. And with one hand holding my own, his other moved to my waist to hold me in place. 

“You’re thinking.. ‘why does it feel like sparks against my skin?” 

In surprise, I sharply looked back up towards him, only I found myself now merely inches away from him. So close, I could feel the warmth of his breath against me. 

My gaze trailed down from his eyes until I became fixated on his lips, those thoughts from earlier starting to invade my mind once more. Wondering just what it would be like to feel them moving against mine. To taste what they looked to promise me. 

“Mine.’

His hand then moved, coming up until it found my cheek and his thumb started tracing along my jaw. Sending more sparks through me. But the entire time he did that, I was still transfixed on his lips, watching them closely as he continued to speak.

“You’re thinking… that you want to kiss me.”

pleasure of his presence started to sweep me away. Letting myself relax into the touch that made me

him and there was nothing I could do. Nothing I wanted to do. Like a spell, he had me now completely at

‘Mine… mine….‘ 

in closer, so close our lips were almost touching, I felt as a shiver went through my body. Tempting me to make the first move, as if promising

wanted it… I wanted him... and I finally felt that last piece of restraint melt away.

give in, my own

just as I was about to make contact, his

“…Mine…,” he whispered.

enough for reality to

grasp, hugging my

you know that?” I demanded. “How could you possibly know that?! Out of every single word you could possibly say, you somehow manage to say that exact

his hands to calm me, but it did little to seatbe my

a big deal I can

like a light

answer me,” I said, gutting my teeth *I asked how you knew that How

just happened, taking a momento tealise just how

me?” I asked in a hushed

My feeling of illness and lack of control, my inability

was and eyed it warily. It didn’t explain my initial reaction, but perhaps he’d also done something to me back when he

do to me?”

not expecting me to say it.. or maybe not expecting me to realise the truth.

No!” he said, offended

closer but I instantly matched his step

Don’t touch me!” I

what the commotion was. Their faces filled with confusion and intrigue as they fed off the drama unfolding. Acting as if they

Kieran hissed, grabbing back my attention “Give me

him freely talk to me, he almost made me succumb to a state of unknown A state where I had no control. And, in my life, control was everything. He should be lucky that his attempt of drugging me didn’t accidentally result in his death, because that was the true worst case scenario

* Raven”

“No… I’m not doing this.

of punishment would be worth that risk. Not to mention that this man was clearly mentally ill if he could so easily

was done. The way I saw

as fast as possible. Slow enough to not draw attention by onlookers, but still quick enough that I felt assured

able to chase me without

out sounding from somewhere behind me.

the eyes of my father wholknew was watching

make sure I didn‘t randomly pass out or show other side effects of the drug. Telling myself over and over again that all I

if something was hollowing out my chest the further I travelled

‘who’ was waiting

shook off the thoughts instantly

anything like it. A drug with such a specific yet fast chemical

as I arrived back to my bedroom. Doing everything I could think of to stop myself from feeling the effects. But, ultimately, there seemed to be no escape.

was still only one thing on my

Kieran.

next day feeling slightly better than when I‘d gone to bed. And though

another day or so before the effects wore off

could only hope. This feeling

said suddenly from my door, breaking

I recognised it immediately.

Gavin

not feeling well enough for training today,” I yelled back. I was far too tired from the whole ordeal

revealing that it wasn’t only Gavin alone… I knew instantly what it

Raven,” my father said. “Did you sleep well?”

no. No. No.

please don‘t do this, sir,” I said, panic starting

nie land out, presenting ing with the familiar ljaridcuffs I wotild be required to