Zara’s POV
As the goddess let forth a wrenching cry, a surge of agony coursed through my entire being.
I let out a gasp as the agony spread throughout my body.
As the goddess grieved for her mate, I could sense every feeling she was experiencing, listen to her inner monologue, and see him through her eyes.
I turned my face away; I could not continue to watch.
I couldn’t help it.
The goddess’s grief over losing her mate was palpable to me as well. I could almost feel the depth of her suffering. It was as if I had been there before; it was that familiar.
Tears were now freely falling. I needed to have her pain relieved.
“Oh, Celia.” I broke down in tears, unable to bear to watch this any longer. “Help her, help her, please. Save him for her. Save him for me!”
I could see the concern in Celia’s eyes as she turned to look at me. My request was heard.
“I will try my best,” she murmured. “But I will not be able to control what happens…”
“I understand,” the Goddess and I responded in unison. “I will live with the consequences…”
With a swift nod, Celia knelt over the lifeless body of the man and summoned his soul from the spirit world.
A blast of white light penetrated the heavens, revealing golden gates.
Nic mumbled in astonishment, “The spirit world,” as he glanced back at me, his expression betraying his confusion.
“Release him,” Celia called to the heavens. “Return him to his body. The Goddess needs her mate by her side!”
Gradually, the golden gates swung open, and a cloaked elderly man stepped out.
“He is the gatekeeper,” Beta John answered my unspoken thoughts. “He is here to attend to her request.”
My eyes, now watery, passed over the man. His concern and even anger were palpable, even through the hoodie that obscured his face. Returning spirits to the earth was something he despised.
The gates closed behind him, prompting me to yell out in surprise.
“You called, Celia.” I felt a little chill run down my spine at the man’s deep, authoritative voice.
“How does he know Celia?” I whispered under my breath.
“She is the connection between the spirit and the living world,” Beta John stated.
“Has she done this before?” I asked.
“No,” Beta John responded. “This was her first… and only time.”
The underlying caution in that statement was audible to me. Dark and ominous, it sounded.
“The goddess wishes to have her mate back,” Celia answered, her voice quivering.
“Is this so?” He inquired tenderly, his eyes shifting to the goddess.
“Yes,” the goddess cried out as she wiped away her tears. “Please return him to me. Please! I beg of you!”
“Returning him will upset the balance,” the gatekeeper warned. “You will suffer a significant loss to make up for his return.”
“What is he talking about?” I inquired, feeling frightened by his statement. What could he possibly take?
Beta John’s eyes turned sad, and he hesitated to respond. He flat-out avoided returning my gaze.
“Tell me,” I growled. “What was the price she paid? What did she give him?”
“She traded a life…” he whispered.
“Whose life? Mine?” I asked.
“No,” he uttered, his expression beseeching.
“Then whose?” I snarled. “Tell me!”
“Your brother’s…!”
“Wait, what?” I let out a gasp; my pupils dilated. “I have a brother?”
“Had….” Beta John’s voice grew quieter. “As soon as his time runs out, the gatekeeper will release your brother’s soul back to the world in exchange for his.”
“How-”
“Do you understand the consequences?” Just as I was about to ask another question, the gatekeeper resumed speaking, and I quickly returned my focus to him.
I need to stop this!
“No, no, no!” I sprang forward and shouted, but then the worst pain ever struck me in the core, bringing me crashing to my knees.
Despite the agony, I got back on my feet and tried to push myself ahead. “Stop! The price is too steep for his return!”
However, the wind seemed to carry my voice away, and I found myself standing beside Beta John once more.
“It is already done,” Beta John said, stopping me. “This is merely a recollection. Nothing can be altered by you.”
“Yes,” the goddess answered clearly and released a heartbroken sob. She knew what she was about to sacrifice, yet she continued.
“So be it!” I felt my bones chill when the gatekeeper yelled out. “Release them; return their souls to their bodies!”
“Them?” My breath caught as I stared back at Beta John in disbelief. “Is he releasing…?”
The gates swung open, allowing the two souls to descend as a gentle breeze swept down from above.
“Yes, he returned both,” Beta John answered. “The Goddess never specified which mate she wanted to return.”
“But he is in her arms!” I hissed angrily. “He certainly should have known!”
“That’s not how it works,” Beta John stated.
I was suddenly nauseous, dizzy, and cold, and blood drained from my face. Everything around me grew hazy, and my world began to spin.
A jumble of voices merged into one, echoing in my head.
How could he do this to her?
“You should know this,” the gatekeeper said. “This cycle will continue to occur.”
The goddess sobbed as she watched her mate’s soul return and take his first breath, the second soul disappearing into the forest.
“He will no longer have any purpose in this world once she comes of age,” the gatekeeper stated, pointing to the man in the goddess’s arms. “Eventually, he will be unable to keep her safe…”
“W-what is he talking about?” My entire body went limp as I stuttered, and a piercing scream slipped from my lips!
“Zara, are you okay?” Beta John yelled out to me. “Celia, stop the-”
As I was about to lose my footing and plummet to the floor, powerful arms encircled my waist. The familiar honey and vanilla scent enveloped me in a comfortable and warm cocoon, releasing some of the hot, flaming pain burning under my skin.
Was this the gatekeeper’s doing?
He stood there, his eyes shining under the hoodie, drawing my uneasy attention to him.
He knows I am here?
Can he see me watching this?
As the heat consumed my body, I let out another agonizing cry.
“Nic,” I whispered, grabbing his arm, my tongue heavy in my mouth. “Take me home…”
Nic picked me up bridal style, and my body went limp in his arms. I could barely hold on to consciousness…
It felt like an eternity before I could open my eyes. The pain coursing through my veins.
We were back in the room. Nic was cradling me in his arms. He seemed upset.
“You are heating up,” he said, his eyes turning black.
“What’s going on?” I stuttered in pain.
“You passed out,” Beta John said. “Your heat-”
“The potion isn’t working,” Celia exclaimed as she hurried over. “You need to mate, or else…!”
****