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? 

feel his 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 it just a mesh of the two realities

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

already knew that was his fate if nothing were to change, I didn‘t need to be reminded. This wasn’t like Myra where being able to

finally calmed down, I released my grip on him, allowing for us both to sit up. My eyes were painfully sore and puffy, my body ached still from the

“I’m sorry…,” I mumbled.

have mentioned that already once or twice… or ten

couldn’t reciprocate the joking half–smile

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

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 what was wrong. I owed him

a deep breath. “It’s the Goddess mark,” I said slowly. “It

came to mind and I shuddered. I couldn‘t tell him. If I told them then I would need to explain my rebirth and

explain what I’d seen? ‘O h, by the way, Cai, I saw your death. Sorry about that. It was my bad? I‘d either sound completely insane or, if he did somehow believe me, he would probably not want to

I said finally. “I really am sorry. I hope that this

I tell you… I

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

reluctant but he finally agreed to leave it at that for now, having

on a new training schedule. He had banned me from any physical exercise for at least a week to allow my body to recover some of the damage I’d already done, and he had even given me a new strict diet plan. I gave it to the cook at my house and told them to keep it quiet from my parents in exchange for a pay rise. Finally, a few days into my mandatory bed rest week, I was upstairs in my room

what she needed at first before I finally realised the date. I couldn’t believe I’d almost

I’ve finished organising most of the things you’ve asked for, ” she