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? 

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

was too much. All of it it. My already weak body, the news of a ghost coming back to haunt m e… and then having to witness it for myself. I couldn’t do this anymore. I reached up and wrapped my arms around his torso, pulling him down towards me. He had to act quickly to use his arms to support himself so he didn‘t

mate or child. I already knew that was his fate if nothing were to change, I didn‘t need to be reminded.

I released my grip on him, allowing for us both to sit up. My eyes were painfully sore and puffy, my body

“I’m sorry…,” I mumbled.

might have mentioned that already once

half–smile

I just saw because I’m really confused.” He sat down with his back against the wall and drank from my 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 of annoyance in his words. “You’re clearly not fine. Stop feeding me that same bullshit line. You weren’t fine with Aleric and you’re not fine with whatever hell that was. If you don‘t tell me then I‘m marching you

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 wanted to know

took a deep breath. “It’s the Goddess mark,”

what?” “L… I see…,” my voice trailed off. A flash of Cai‘s dying face came to mind and I shuddered. I couldn‘t tell him. If I told them then I would need to explain my rebirth and it was something I wasn’t ready to talk about

my past 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

to talk about it,” I said finally. “I really am sorry. I

“Just… believe me when I tell you… I feel like this Goddess mark is

murders and 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

at that for now, having

some of the damage I’d already done, and he had even given me a new strict diet plan.

slowly and an uneasy looking Lucy came walking in. I was confused about what she needed at first before I finally realised the date. I couldn’t believe I’d almost

the interruption, Miss. I’ve finished organising most of the things you’ve asked for, ” she said and handed me a manilla