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

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

To save me.

the shield. Osiris‘ fangs were meant 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 the pathway to victory, and he

of rejoicing when we

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 Onyx didn’t agree; that I was certain.

in my lap, cocooned in my 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

reach out. But some beastly instinct took over me and I gripped at Neron possessively, holding his head and body to my chest

slowly relaxed, loosening my grip

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

18 Come

He jumped in

want him to hurt

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

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

burrowed my face 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

to hold back more tears.

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

I lost… I lost…

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 if he’d

in volume the closer they

me, on her knees. I relinquished my hold just a tad so that Neron could rest on her knees as well. His body

“S–Selene…”

them out and ignoring the slits of blood that stained her pallid palm. Diana hopped

a hiccup jerked my body forward. “Wh–what

mean?”

fading to pale pink, becoming translucent

sat up straighter, facing the goddess with inklings of confidence

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

“Me?”

you want Neron to return to the mortal realm, or

sister?”

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

familial connection. My mind thought back to our date at the mall, where he shared with me

make his mark on the planet that didn’t involve him leading a

wanted to experience everything that I had

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

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

him to

found Selene’s silver diamonds, and I nodded. “I want him back. I don’t want him to

want to live in a

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

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 shined a glittering ivory smile and rested her hand over mine, squeezing gently. “I know

I do this,

you try.” The red of the bond is now translucent, pallid pink.

I look back at Neron’s face once more, reaching out a hand and brushing away the

his heavy, chilly

Neron. I’m bringing you

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

hear a groan or felt the jerk of a

his heart to beat

returning, but not fast enough for my liking. Patience has