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…

was

life. His death was avoidable! But every scenario

To save me.

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

is the point of rejoicing when we need

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 and hold Artemis

arms. 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 pile of forgotten debris. My family was feeling

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 over me and I gripped at Neron possessively, holding his head and body to my chest like he was

my arms slowly relaxed, loosening my grip on the corpse. “Neron didn’t die in vain. He protected you until

to do that.” My hoarse whisper carried the pain my heart couldn’t hold. “He wasn’t

18 Come

He jumped in front of Osiris willingly, even if

to hurt himself…I hurt him too

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

not fair! It should be me that’s dead, not Neron!” Moans escaped my mouth through the suppressed sounds of my sobs starting up again. “I’m not worthy of his sacrifice, Tony! He had so much to

in Neron’s hollow chest again, the heat of pure shame burning through me. “He wouldn’t have done what he did if he 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 his dad. I don’t know what was going through his head, but he spoke with actions. It’s a shame we

death…” I choked, constantly sniffling to hold back

heave harder and strengthen my sobs. How was any of this far? What about the people

I lost… I lost…

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 continued to cradle Neron as

the closer they came

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 so that Neron could rest on her knees as well. His body grew colder, and I failed to stifle yet

“S–Selene…”

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

as a hiccup jerked

mean?”

snapped her fingers and a faint red cord connecting my 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 choice, dear Kiya. Whether it be accepting Neron as your mate or accepting your goddesshood, the choice had always been in your hands.

facing the goddess with inklings of confidence that

the Realm 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 for

“Me?”

want Neron to return to the mortal realm, or proceed

sister?”

in my throat. 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,

and brother–in–arms, but he’ll be alone, 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

make his mark

wanted to experience everything that

lived it up in Garnet Moon, he had to bend over backwards to make his father happy; don the mask and conceal his genuine

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

wanted him to

found Selene’s silver diamonds, and I nodded. “I

live in a world

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

you sure you want to entrust me with this?” I asked my goddess, cocking my head to the side. “Revival is your

is yours.” She shined

do this,

try.” The red of

face once more, reaching out a hand and brushing away the stray strands that clung to his temple from sweat. With a heavy breath, I cradled him again

through his

on, Neron. I’m

mapping out every muscle fiber, artery, and vein within him. Rivers of white shimmered and mixed into a mosaic of healing magic. White strands of flesh and muscle began repairing, connecting like wires, and reinforcing themselves with his cells. Wounds littered Neron’s body. Too many to

my head, blurring my vision, but 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

heart to

enough for my liking. Patience has never been my strong suit. I look back at Selene, an idea popping into my