Page 87 of Cheating Fate

“Xendia?” he asked as if she just said something ludicrous. “She’s utterly indifferent to me.”

Although her face was half covered like the others, Xendia’s physical reaction loudly broadcast that the Divine’s response shocked her.

Zhara vigorously shook her head.

“No, your Holiness. I promise you that she adores you,” she insisted.

“My dear, I’m not just the most powerful diviner of Dantor, but I’m also an empath,” he countered in a gentle and reasonable tone. “I would know if she held any positive emotions towards me. As far as she’s concerned, I might as well be a piece of rock by the roadside.”

This time, Xendia audibly gasped, and shook her head in what I believe to be an involuntary denial response.

“You may be an empath, but I can see souls. And there is no doubt whatsoever that she bears you great affection. However, I understand why you may not perceive it,” Zhara said in a suspicious tone as she narrowed her eyes at Xendia. “There’s some sort of dampener muting her soul.”

Xendia stiffened and examined herself with confusion before glancing back at my mate.

“What do you mean?” the Divine asked.

“She’s talking craziness,” Gotia interjected, anger with a sliver of fear audible in her voice.

“SILENCE, you wretch!” Taseus shouted. “Why do I have a feeling we’re about to discover yet another thread in your endless web of deceit?”

Zhara took a couple of steps towards the platform where Xendia and eleven others were sitting. She tilted her head, her eyes slightly going out of focus as she observed something beyond our capacity to see.

“There’s something artificially stunting her emotions and her aura. It’s like part of her soul is fighting to break free from a virtual cage,” my mate said pensively.

“Are you wearing a dampener?” Taseus asked Xendia in a stern tone.

She vehemently shook her head.

“No, your Holiness. At least not that I know of,” she replied with genuine confusion.

“Is there anything you wear that you never take off?” Zhara asked.

Xendia started shaking her head then froze. Her eyes widened before she raised her right hand to stare at some of the jewelry adorning it. She jerked her head up towards the High Priestess, her lips parted in shock. Gotia lifted her chin defiantly.

“The ring,” Xendia whispered in shock before turning towards Zhara. “The High Priestess gives every new member of this court this ring to wear before we first stand in front of the Divine. We are strictly forbidden from ever removing it. She warned that she would know if we did, and that it would result in our immediate expulsion.”

“Why in Gharah’s name would you require such a thing?” Taseus asked Gotia in a dangerously low voice.

“It is a test of discipline and commitment,” Gotia said in a haughty tone. “If they aren’t able to follow such a simple instruction, then they do not deserve to serve in the Divine Court.”

“Always a deceptive answer ready on that blasted lying tongue of yours,” he hissed before shifting his attention back to Xendia. “Take it off.”

“Yes, your Holiness,” she nervously replied as she promptly complied.

“Throw it away,” Zhara added.

Once again, Xendia obeyed and threw it towards Gotia. Seconds later, Taseus gasped. He slowly rose to his feet, mouth gaping in shock and his right palm pressed to his heart as he stared at Xendia. She clasped her hands before her and uneasily shifted on her feet under the intensity of his gaze.

Snapping out of the shock he felt, Taseus shook his head as if to shake himself out of a dream then glanced at the other members of his court.

“How many of them have dampeners?” he asked.

“All of them,” Zhara replied immediately.

“Remove them!” the Divine shouted.

As one, the Initiates and Hallowed Knights removed their rings and threw them to the ground. Taseus pivoted as he looked at each of them, flabbergasted. He lifted the mask off his head, revealing a stunning face with the same golden eyes he’d passed down to my mother and me. A flurry of emotions fought for dominance on his beautiful features. Confusion, awe, disbelief, and something akin to sorrow dominated.