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.” 

head. “Aria, think this

the worst–case scenario really does happen... I‘m going to confess. There

participated in too many wars already and knew too well the destruction they left behind. This time the cause wasn‘t even for power or

to help him see reason. “Aleric, if you really cared 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.”

What then, huh? I can‘t save you from that, Aria. You know

to a pole for the rest of my life before killing me. He likes the status image I provide too much. The ‘Winter Mist Saintess‘.

Saintess‘ freedom. You‘ll

trying to help him see reason. “That‘s at least a more manageable problem. One thing at a time here. First, I‘ll call an emergency meeting scheduled for just

said

bristled my temper once more. “Aleric, what the hell is going on with you? Is this really due to dealing with the devout follower backlash or is this about something else? is it

He sighed in frustration, giving up on whatever he wanted to say and opting for silence instead.

were you going to say?” I

“Nothing. Forget it.” 

Chapter Sixty–One 

I said, not bothering to hide my irritation. “I say something or do something and

making smart decisions and knowing when some things are better left unsaid. Would you

clenched my jaw at the direct insult. “At least I‘m not fine with killing off innocent people for the sake of avoiding a smaller confrontation. Wars don‘t solve all your problems, Aleric. What are you really afraid of here? Is it that you‘re insecure over whether I‘ll usurp you one day?

give Alpha commands,” he retorted harshly. “You can‘t just pick and choose which

I had overstepped that line. Instead, a moment of icy silence hung between us, neither of

through his dark wavy hair. “Just... do what you think is right, Aria. We‘ll deal with whatever

out with this investigation the last few months, spreading our free time too thin with all the additional work it brought us. It was no surprise really that we were both now in each other‘s faces the second that war was finally at our doorstep.

neither choice presented was the best decision here. Both paths ahead had their own obstacles, their own pros and cons. And whilst it felt as though Aleric‘s opinion on this right now seemed off, I had to give him credit where it was due. If it hadn‘t

After all the time and effort we‘d put in, it was now just as much Aleric‘s choice as it 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 he was found to have been

to do this, Aleric. Just... trust me. You‘ll have my support with whatever happens

rubbing tiredly at his eyes. “Aria...

I said with a small smile. “Maybe we‘ll catch Jonathon tomorrow

“Hopefully.” 

he wasn‘t exactly pleased with the outcome, but I was happy that he seemed

the car. “I‘ll

asked, starting to walk with me.

Chapter Sixty One 

needed to go next. Only it wasn‘t somewhere I wanted to

go prepare for the

a cold hallway, my feet leaving an echo as I went. I‘d come here frequently enough that I was now familiar with these walls, but their contents had continued t o be a source of

me in this life when compared to the last but my respect for him had remained. Those last moments

inclining his head slightly in respect.

acknowledgement. “James. How is

“Same as always.” 

and instead opened the door,

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 to

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 that. We were forced

you?”

hinted at any complaints even once since coming 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

replied. “It‘s

almost made me lose my composure. I could see in his eyes

throat and tried to refocus.

myself to do it. He would know what that meant,

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

it at least feels a little less... prison –y. Kind of feels more like

couldn‘t bring myself to give him a smile

were quiet for some time, neither of us knowing what to say. I couldn‘t speak freely with him and yet there was so much I wanted to speak about. It was torture. He was right there in front

mouthed to Cai silently. James was at the

hoped desperately that he saw just how sincerely I meant that.

feeling, and inside I could feel that pit of guilt clench. Everything was

I said, no longer having the strength for this anymore. I felt overwhelmed, like

turned my face and was about to stand up when his hand suddenly shot out,

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