Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 88 – Come Back To Me

“There is an ocean of silence between us… and I am drowning in it.“–Ranata Suzuki

Kiya

I was free.

My gilded cage had rusted, and the chains of darkness crumbled to dust.

Osiris was gone.

I should be celebrating. I should be running into the arms of my parents, sobbing tears of joy, relishing in my newfound freedom.

Instead, screams of absolute sorrow tore through my throat and shattered the sunlit atmosphere. My world had darkened. Artemis‘ broken howls touched the stratosphere to where I was certain the angels of heaven could hear her.

My legs moved on their own accord, splitting earth with each stomp toward the body that should thrive with life. The body that should rejoice in my liberation with incandescent sapphires and ivory smiles. The body I cradled in my trembling arms once my naked knees dropped to the dirtied earth.

“N–Neron?” My voice came out as a pitiful whimper. Footsteps echoed around me, but I didn’t bother to look up. I glued my eyes to the Alpha’s lifeless face, drenched in sweat. The wound on his neck exposed flesh and muscle, nausea resting like a stone in my stomach. “Neron… wake up, please…”

I didn’t want this to happen.

I shook him lightly, hoping to get some inkling of life, but got nothing. His body weighed heavily with death, void of the weightless life that kept his soul afloat. I kept calling out his name, hoping that this was just the devil’s trick on my mind….

But he wouldn’t answer me.

“Mija…” Mom placed her loving hand on my shoulder. “Neron is…”

“Don’t say it.” I sniffled, tears threatening to spill over my eyes. “Please, don’t say it…”

“But Kiya… it’s true.” Abigail added, trying to soothe the wound in my chest with her gentle voice. “He’s gone.”

“No! He wasn’t supposed to do this! He wasn’t…” The blood on his arms swirled like galaxies around the droplets of my falling tears. On my skin, they burned like acid, searing through my flesh and bone. Neron kept his promise; he didn’t allow Osiris to hurt me anymore.

But at the cost of his life?

He should’ve… he could’ve…

The realization hit me like two freight trains colliding, especially when Diana fluttered on Neron’s chest, releasing a broken hoot with her golds reflecting deep sadness.

Chapter 88–Come Back To Me

I… I killed him.

A strong tremor split my body in two. Pain bubbled in my chest and gushed out of my mouth like a hot geyser as sobbing and screaming. My throat tightened like a leash, but it did nothing to stop my painful screams as I clutched Neron’s body closer to mine and buried my face in his chest, hiding my tears from the world. Apology after apology tumbled out of my mouth with reckless abandon, muffled through his cooling flesh.

I’m sorry for hurting you!

I’m sorry for giving you scars!

I’m sorry that you, time and time again, throw yourself in danger for me.

I’m sorry that I couldn’t give the way you do.

I’m sorry for taking and taking like a selfish woman..

I’m sorry, Neron! I’m sorry, Onyx! I’m so… so fucking sorry…

it was I who ended the Prince

saved Neron’s life. His death was avoidable! But every scenario ended with

To save me.

to be in my throat; but Neron took the blow. And like a shield that’s been through hell and back, they fall apart. Neron’s final declaration opened

point of rejoicing when we

I was thankful for that. After a while, my sobs quieted down, but there was the occasional hiccup. Artemis‘ sorrow hurt the deepest. Because I knew she missed Onyx. Neron wouldn’t have done what he did if

I couldn’t put him on the ground–that was where he took hist final breath. Every wall I put up came crashing down, picking up dust in a

hazels, contemplative and worried. He expelled a massive sigh and tried to reach out. But some beastly instinct took over me and I gripped at Neron possessively, holding his head and body to my chest like he was a newborn baby, baring my teeth in

Kiki.” Anthony’s calm words calmed my beastly side and my arms slowly relaxed, loosening my grip on the corpse.

whisper carried the pain my heart couldn’t hold. “He wasn’t supposed to die. Not

18 Come Back

choice. He jumped in front of Osiris willingly, even

to hurt himself…I hurt

for his

suppressed sounds of my sobs starting up again. “I’m not worthy of his

what he did if he didn’t love you. I’ve watched this man consistently put you above

constantly sniffling to hold back more tears. My eyes were

me or mourn the loss of Neron. It only made my chest heave harder and strengthen my sobs. How was any of this far? What about the people who cared about and loved Neron? Adonis lost an uncle, Valerian and Kwame lost their brother, my pack lost an ally and

I lost… I lost…

died as quickly as it rose, my senses lulling me to peace,

echoed, growing in volume the closer they

love as she took her place in front of me, on her knees. I relinquished my hold just a tad so that Neron could rest on her knees as well. His body grew colder, and I failed to stifle yet another

“S–Selene…”

black locks, smoothening them out and ignoring the slits of blood that stained her pallid palm. Diana hopped on her shoulder, silent as a mouse. “This isn’t the end of

eyes widened as a hiccup jerked my body forward. “Wh–what do

mean?”

her palms. The red was flickering and fading to pale pink, becoming translucent to where I could see the ridges of the goddess‘ palms. “You always had a choice, dear Kiya. Whether it be accepting Neron as your mate or accepting your goddesshood, the choice had always been in your hands. Now, you must make

confidence that exposed themselves under the blanket of sorrow.

of the Moon Goddess. In minutes, both Neron and Onyx will arrive, leaving this vessel behind to return to the earth. I granted you clemency five years ago to be reborn, and you can do the same

“Me?”

to return to the mortal realm, or

sister?”

my choices. If I choose the latter, he’ll get to see his family again. Nuria and Lun–Auntie Essie would get to see him again. Neron will get

familial connection. My mind thought back to our date at the mall, where he shared with me the goals he would’ve accomplished if

world. To make his mark on the planet that didn’t involve him leading a pack he grew to

to experience everything

I received from my family. While I lived it up in Garnet Moon, he had to bend over backwards to make his father happy;

to have true happiness. He deserved to experience the joys

him to

silver diamonds, and I nodded. “I want him back. I don’t want

didn’t want to live in a world without him in

found none. Nodding, she leaned back on her heels. “You know what to

sure you want to entrust me with this?” I asked my goddess, cocking

within you. You are my avatar, but you’re also my daughter- what is mine is yours.” She

do this, I might not

you try.” The red of the bond is now translucent, pallid pink. “You have little

the stray strands that

fingers through his heavy, chilly

Neron. I’m bringing

pale flesh, mapping out every muscle fiber, artery, and vein within him. Rivers of white shimmered and mixed into a mosaic of healing

I ignored it and kept going. I kept pouring my energy into Neron, refusing to stop until I hear a groan or felt the jerk of a limb. My muscle strength was leaving in droves and my ears were ringing, but I poured and poured my holy energy in him without an

his heart to

Patience has never been my strong suit. I look back at Selene, an idea popping into my head, and she nodded, knowing what I was