A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter 61

Chapter Sixty–One 

“...What did you just say?” I asked, my voice thick with disbelief. 

“I said they‘ve declared war,” Alexander repeated. “They‘ve said that if we don‘t release Caius before sunset tomorrow that they will officially announce their intent to bring him home by force.” 

Less than twenty–four hours. I had less than twenty–four hours to free him or we would be initiating a war. 

...And it would be my fault. 

“It‘s not enough time,” I whispered, the panic rising inside me once more. “...It‘s not enough time... It‘s not enough time.” 

I took a step backwards as my mind continued to whirl. This was it. Everything had been leading to this moment and it was finally here. 

“Is there anything else I need to know?” Aleric asked him. 

Alexander frowned as if he‘d expected him to have a different reaction.“... No? Just that we received a letter from the Silver Lake just now... —” 

“You can go then,” Aleric interrupted. “Thank you for telling me as soon as possible.” 

“What? ....Uh, yeah, okay...,” Alexander said, confused. 

He took a few steps backwards, still unsure as to why he‘d been dismissed so quickly, before finally turning around to leave. 

As soon as Alexander was out of sight, Aleric immediately turned his attention to me. 

Everything was spinning, making it hard to focus. What could I possibly do to stop this now? Maybe confronting Thea myself and trying to get her to confess again? But no... that energy inside me had become disconnected, like a flickering light whenever I tried to grasp it. I remembered how sick it made m e last time and didn‘t think I could force anyone to follow my orders right now even if I wanted to. A parto fme knew that doing so would be reckless... potentially deadly. 

“Aria,” Aleric said, his voice cutting through my thoughts. It was enough to make me look up to him, meeting his gaze directly. “Breathe. In and out.” 

As he said the words, I realised my breathing had become shallow, my concentration on thinking taking priority. Slowly, I breathed in deeply and back out again. 

“You‘ve got that same expression that worries me,” he said. “The one where I leave you alone to calm down, only to find out you’re acting completely insane a few days later. We don‘t have time for that anymore. I need smart Aria right now, not self–destructive Aria.” 

He was right, I needed to slow down and think properly. Confronting Thea myself was far too risky and 

almost certainly wouldn‘t work out in my favour. 

And so, I closed my eyes, my breathing still shaky, but I did my best to focus. 

I went over it all in my head, thinking through the different possibilities, the different outcomes... but with the limited time we had left, there wasn‘t much we could do. 

Shaking my head, I frowned. “There‘s no time, Aleric... our best hope is that Jonathan accidentally reveals himself tomorrow or Thea slips up.” 

“... That‘s cutting it pretty close,” he said. 

“I know... which is why I have one more solution as a backup plan that is almost guaranteed to work.” 

He crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. “If it‘s quaranteed then why don‘t we just implement that one first instead?” 

I bit my lip, unsure if I should tell him. I already knew what his reaction would be. 

“Well... because..,” I started hesitantly. 

His frown deepened for a second before finally, he understood what I meant without me even needing to finish. I could see the recognition on his face when he realised what I was planning. 

“No, no way,” he said, a tone of finality in his words. “You‘re not doing that.” 

“Aleric, I don‘t have a choice.” 

“You‘re throwing your life away,” he argued. “Everything you‘ve worked towards, everything you‘ve fought for. You‘re going to give it up for him?” 

“I‘m not giving it up for him... I‘m giving it up for the pack. Both packs. I‘m giving it up to save innocent people.” 

his head. “Aria, think this through

thousands of people die for my mistake. If the worst–case scenario really does happen... I‘m going to confess. There is no other way. The side effects of my punishment do not overrule the lives of

This time the cause wasn‘t even for power or territory... it was over releasing an innocent man.

about the Winter Mist, and I know you do... you‘d let me do this. Please don‘t ask me to stand by and let people die for me. I don‘t need their names weighing on my soul any more than I already have.”

you to death? What then, huh? I can‘t save you from

for the rest of my life before killing me. He likes the status image I provide

Goddess devout nutcase on our doorstep demanding their Saintess‘ freedom. You‘ll

One thing at a time here. First, I‘ll call an emergency meeting scheduled for just

he said

more. “Aleric, what the hell is going on with you? Is this really due to dealing with the devout follower backlash or is this

whatever.” He sighed in frustration, giving up on whatever he wanted to

what? What were you going to say?” I

“Nothing. Forget it.” 

Chapter Sixty–One 

do this,” I said, not bothering to hide my irritation. “I say something or do something and you just go quiet instead of telling

are better left unsaid. Would you like me to teach you

of here? Is it that you‘re insecure over whether I‘ll usurp you one day? Gather followers of the Goddess around me and take over what you feel you‘re entitled to? Let me give you a quick tip for avoiding that future; don‘t piss me off. I never wanted the job anyway. Why do you think I‘ve tried so hard to become

pick and choose

moment of icy silence hung between us, neither of us

a hand through his dark wavy hair. “Just... do what you think is

that we were both now in each other‘s faces the second that war was finally at our doorstep. It was a cocktail for short fuses and high tempers. Which was exactly why the best decision here

to give him credit where it was due. If it hadn‘t been for his support over these last few months, I would have been worse off and probably done something far more drastic already by now. I n a way, I owed him.

was mine since it was technically his life on the line as well. He‘d lied about my involvement and had been helping me during all of this mess. If

not like I want to do this, Aleric. Just... trust me. You‘ll have

“Aria... that‘s

I said with a small smile. “Maybe we‘ll catch Jonathon tomorrow and be dragging his ass into that meeting

“Hopefully.” 

facing each other, neither of us moving. I could see on his face that he looked as though he wasn‘t exactly pleased

I should probably head off then,” I said, motioning towards the car. “I‘ll drop you off at the packhouse on the way if

you going?” he asked, starting to walk with

Chapter Sixty One 

wasn‘t much time left but I knew exactly where I needed to go next. Only it wasn‘t somewhere I wanted

prepare for

down a cold hallway, my feet leaving an echo as I went. I‘d come here frequently enough that I

to the trial grounds in my previous timeline. James barely knew me in this life when compared to the last but my respect for him had remained. Those last moments he‘d gifted me with my father had been precious. Although it did

greeted me, inclining his head slightly

back in acknowledgement. “James. How is the

“Same as always.” 

say anything further and instead opened the door,

darted around, searching until they fell on a pair of familiar gold ones staring right back at me. He was seated at a small table that had been set up

neck, and wish for the thousandth time that this wasn‘t real… but I couldn‘t. Not here, not today, and definitely not over the last few months, had I been able to do anything remotely close to

are you?” I asked stiffly.

here but I knew it had to be hard. I could see the circles forming under his eyes and how he‘d lost a little bit of weight. It was all signs of him paying a price he hadn‘t

well, thanks,” he replied. “It‘s good to see you.”

eyes what he was really telling me and it only made

cleared my throat and tried to

intention of telling him the news of the war conditions proposed by the Silver Lake but, seeing him now, I couldn‘t bring myself to do it. He would know what that meant, what two paths would potentially be waiting for me now. But, more importantly, he would know that this was goodbye. Regardless of how it

to check in and make sure you‘re still hanging in there,” I half lied, taking a seat at the table opposite him. “Are they treating you

“Can‘t complain. Since being upgraded to the larger room it at least feels a little less... prison –y. Kind of feels more like home arrest now… if my

I couldn‘t bring myself to give him

say. I couldn‘t speak freely with him and yet there was so much I wanted to speak about.

the door within listening

knew Cai couldn‘t hear me, I hoped desperately that he saw just how sincerely I meant that. How much weight I really

with concern, as if he was sensing exactly what I was feeling, and inside I could feel that pit of guilt clench. Everything was

no longer having the strength for this anymore. I felt overwhelmed, like I couldn‘t breathe. “I should

my face and was about to stand up when his hand

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