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…

end, it was I

of various outcomes that could’ve saved Neron’s life. His death was avoidable! But every scenario ended with him jumping onto the path of

To save me.

And like a shield that’s been through hell and back, they fall apart. Neron’s

when we need to plan his

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 Onyx didn’t agree; that I was certain. I wanted to reach out

breath. Every wall I put

kneeled in front of me, his hands folded on his knees. My eyes, red and blotchy, met my brother’s hazels, contemplative and worried. He expelled a massive sigh and tried to reach out. But some beastly instinct took

calm words calmed my beastly side and my arms slowly relaxed, loosening my grip

carried the pain my heart couldn’t hold. “He wasn’t supposed

18 Come

know, Little Bit, but he made his choice. He jumped in front of Osiris willingly, even if it

didn’t want him to hurt himself…I hurt him too

that.” He reprimanded. “You aren’t responsible for his death; don’t carry responsibilities that aren’t

be me that’s dead, not Neron!” Moans escaped my mouth through the suppressed sounds of my sobs starting up

didn’t love you. I’ve watched this man consistently put you above himself through the amount of shit thrown at him, from us and

I choked, constantly sniffling to hold back more tears. My eyes were burning at

and strengthen my sobs. How

I lost… I lost…

the surrounding voices quieted to deafening silence. Tearing my face from Neron’s chest, I watched my friends and family fade behind a wall of growing white. Fear died as quickly as it rose, my senses lulling me to peace, recognizing the world I was in. My arms ached for relief from the tension, but I

the closer they came to

front of me haloed around the goddess I know and love as she took her place in front of me, on her knees. I relinquished my hold just a tad

“S–Selene…”

Her hand reached over and buried itself in the Alpha’s black locks, smoothening them out and ignoring the slits of blood that stained her pallid palm. Diana hopped on her shoulder,

a hiccup jerked my

mean?”

heart to Neron’s materialized between us. Selene cradled a loop in 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

with inklings of confidence that exposed

to the Realm of the Moon Goddess. In minutes, both Neron and Onyx will arrive, leaving this vessel behind to return to the earth. I

“Me?”

the mortal realm, or proceed into

sister?”

I looked down at Neron and contemplated on all 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 his family back, like he always

walking the earth without a familial connection. My mind thought back to our date at the mall, where he shared with me the goals he would’ve accomplished if fate didn’t push

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

experience everything that

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

happiness. He deserved to experience the joys of freedom without the confines of his Alpha

him

eyes found Selene’s silver diamonds, and I nodded. “I want him back. I

to live in a world without him

my eyes for doubt but found none. Nodding, she leaned back on her heels. “You know

I asked my goddess, cocking my head to the

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

I do this, I might

in that statement is ‘might.‘ You’ll never know unless you try.” The red of the bond is now translucent, pallid pink.

the stray strands that clung

his

Neron. I’m

shimmered and mixed into a mosaic of

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

heart to beat

on…” I whispered, my eyes tracking his face for movement. The color of our bond was gradually returning, but not fast enough for my liking. 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 about