A Gift from the Goddess

Book Two – Ch.# 35

“My name is Rheyna…,” I said. “Rheyna Knight.”

How strange to say it after all this time. It wasn’t something I felt all that connected to nor had any particular fond memories of. It was simply the only thing I could recall when the orphanage had asked me who I was. Just my name and nothing else. Not even my parents.

“Allison?” I asked when she still hadn’t spoken.

Something about the whole situation seemed off. The alarms in my head were still screaming at me to run… and yet I did my best to keep ignoring it.

Only… Allison now hadn’t moved. Almost as if she were frozen in place.

“Allison? Did you hear me?” I asked. “Aren’t you… aren’t you going to check your book?”

But with her eyes cast down, her lips started to whisper something very quickly that I couldn’t hear.

“…Allison? What are you….”

And it was as I took a step towards her that her eyes then suddenly snapped upwards, staring at me with an expression that took me aback. A hatred within them unlike anything I had ever seen.

“…A Devil of the Mist,” she finished quietly.

“What? What do you mea-.”

But before I could ask, she then stood up and began talking as if reciting from an old book.

“Beware the Silver Saintess, her hair as silken thread. With her consort mate of power, the people wept and bled.”

“Alli-.”

“And beware the Siren’s call, his eyes as gold as ore. With whispers of manipulation, they’ll hold you in their thrall. And if you breathe despite this, a devil still awaits.

Because forever lives another, the deathless angel mate.”

“Allison!” I yelled, beginning to panic. Stop!”

And I took a step back in confusion, unsure what was happening.

“You were meant to be dead,” she hissed. All of you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Just stop and-.”

“NO!” she screeched. “Your words won’t work on me. I should have seen it earlier, the signs were all there. But I see you now. I see what you’re doing. Your power won’t work so long as I stay true to the Goddess’ path.”

And before I could do anything else, she then walked over to a glass cabinet, only turning back around to face me once she had retrieved a dagger.

“You’ve been influencing all of us to accept you. You with your silver tongue and golden eyes,” she spat. “Is this some sort of infiltration mission? Here to finish us off in revenge? Because I already lost my mother because of you. I will not go down easily.”

She moved into what looked to be an amateur defensive position, shakily holding the dagger up towards me. Me… who was still frozen in shock over what the hell was happening.

Because my mind was trying to piece together what she was saying… why she suddenly wanted to attack me… and the reason slowly dawned on me.

My family, the pack I must have once belonged to….

I was… a Devil of the Mist.

The same pack who had gone to war with Ashwood, who had apparently caused countless deaths and tarnished their traditions. Who were all allegedly insane.

…The ones who had caused the death of Kieran’s mother.

But there were bits I didn’t understand.

wasn’t sure what that meant. I couldn’t remember ever doing

was like some distant, twice removed cousin. Maybe I didn’t even share the same blood and was just a child of

if that mattered right

it was clear that Allison had made up her mind… and she took a few

don’t do this,” I warned. “I don’t want to

merely screamed at me angrily.

easy to get along with, somehow feeling

anything,

that just another trick? Does he know? Did you bewitch him

was getting closer and closer now, too close for comfort. Soon, I would run out of room within the small space of the archives. A

…Fight or flight.

which felt right.

“Stop, Allison, please.”

back then hit a shelf, I knew it was too late.

if I ever saw one, but I did

at me, forcing me to push her away.

too strong as she almost fell.

was I meant to do here? Attack her? She was blocking the exit

open, I was relieved to see the guard, Finn, come

asked, shocked by the sight

“Help me, plea-.”

guard, I hadn’t paid attention to Allison’s advance. And before I could plead for assistance, her dagger then came swiping towards me. Something I didn’t have time to properly deflect… and I caught

in pain, persevering through it to pull it

flow, but it

the Mist!” Allison yelled to the guard. “Her real name is Rheyna Knight. This entire time she’s been deceiving

was prior to a few days ago. Please, you have to help me.

pleas fell on deaf ears as Finn’s face immediately changed. A darkness

said, taking a step closer, and I cursed

was clear that it wasn’t just Allison who would prove to be a problem once the information got

was it. I was

no longer safe for

And now…

quickly and hopefully

Allison’s lips then, drawing my attention back over to her, and I found her

dagger of blessed silver. Such an injury should take hours before our ability to heal works. And yet for her, merely minutes were needed. Only Devil’s have been known to

years. I’ve been on medication to counter it ever since I arrived at Ashwood. It’s probably just helping the process along by still being in my

she screamed, and she tried

time I’d had

entailed getting the hell out of here by

kick to her gut, sending her flying backwards.

“Allison!” Finn yelled.

to me, a warning growl rumbling

I don’t want to hurt anyone,” I said. “Just let me go and I’ll leave. I

not be leaving here alive,” he said, and he

Goddammit.

never experienced any sort of combat herself. Finn was a warrior, someone I assumed had probably trained with Kieran

manoeuvring around them, but I knew at some point I would either need to counter or make a run

as I quickly brought my hand up to prevent a jab from hitting my shoulder, it momentarily left me in a defenceless position. Because the wound instantly opened back up, causing me to cry out in pain. This was my first time experiencing

grab me and throw me to the

me go…,” I struggled.

that wouldn’t

Alpha arrives,” he said, pulling something out

the shiny silver cuffs as they came out, dangling with

me. Whatever else happened, I could not allow him to