AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It doesn’t matter,” I said, stepping in front of Rumir. “I don’t care how we ended up mated. It’s only important that we are. This changes nothing.” I smiled at Lucian. “We still have each other.”
Even though there was so much going on, so many questions that needed answers, this needed to be settled once and for all. And seeing the relief in Rumir’s eyes told me I was right.
I laid a hand over Rumir’s heart, and he covered it with his. I could feel him, our bond drawing tight between us. But I could also feel his broken heart.
I knew of his insecurities—that he didn’t think he was worthy, that he’d felt alone for a long time, without having anyone on his side. But I wouldn’t let him slip back into that state of mind. He wasn’t losing me. He’d never lose me.
And one good thing about me and this virus? I could fight it. After all, I was standing here right now, and I hadn’t murdered anyone, though I was still tempted to give Fate a kick. But the situation wasn’t as bad as it could be. I just had to find the light in the darkness.
And for me, Rumir and Lucian were that light.
I smiled as Rumir squeezed my hand. "You can't get rid of me so easily," I whispered, and he smiled.
Then a strange sensation ran through my arm. I looked down at my hand and snatched it away when red veins appeared beneath my skin. I stepped back and looked at my other hand. The same thing was happening with it.
“No!” I yelled at Rumir and Lucian when they moved closer. “Please, stay back. I just—I can feel something moving inside me.”
The veins moved up my arms, to my neck and face, and I could feel them all over the rest of my body. They were consuming me.
I looked at Hekate, who was eyeing me closely. She looked at the other gods, then turned back to me.
“What’s happening to me?” I asked through clenched teeth. “This doesn't happen to every infected soul, does it?”
As quickly as they came, the red veins receded, and my heartbeat slowed to its regular pace.
"What you're infected with, Natalie"—I held my breath—"is unlike what drives other souls crazy. For you, the virus is reverting to its natural state… as divinity. We've tested the virus and found components of divinity in it belonging to a god who was sealed away long ago,” Fate explained.
Say what now?
I sat down, as did Rumir and Lucian.
“I thought you said none of the gods were behind this," I said, and Hekate nodded.
“Not a god in this realm,” she answered. “And this god is not like me and the others.”
I frowned, confused. “What are you saying?”
“Wait, you don’t mean the primordial beings, do you?” Rumir asked with shock.
I looked around, waiting for someone to explain who the hell primordial beings were.
“Are you telling me one of the Primordials—the ones who made the Imperium gods and the universe itself—is poisoning this realm? I’ve never heard anything about a primordial being locked away.”
"Yes," Zeus said, "that's precisely what she's saying. And one of them was indeed sealed away, though that’s not common knowledge. But it’s the reason we gods are powerless against this virus. We can't fight something that was created by the ones that made us."
"Okay, hold on…" I stood up, unable to keep still. "Can someone explain to me what kind of beings you're talking about? Are you saying there are gods more powerful than the Imperium?”
“Yes,” Fate replied. “Executives of the Imperium are the creator gods, but they had creators too. And their creators are more powerful than you could ever imagine. The primordial being responsible for this virus is Tedara, the Mother of Chaos. Which brings me to our next step.” She paused—for effect, I thought. “We need you to lead us to her, Natalie. Only you can help us put an end to this madness.”
