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Someone had to be willing to die to save me. That was the only way to break the curse.The voice in my mind sounds old and powerful, as though her dragon is still speaking to me.You showed great courage, proving that you are worthy of my help.
Her comment from before makes more sense now. I assumed she simply meant that I’d have to be brave to climb into the lake with her, because honestly, getting into pitch-black water with a freaking dragon takes a lot of courage. What she really meant was that she’d have to take me to the point of death and see if I was still willing to save her. At no point had I tried to use my power to save myself, which is strange because that’s become my first reaction after my intense training with Luna and my mates. It’s as though I knew she wasn’t actually going to kill me.
Twisting to tread water and keep myself in place, I wince at the pain in my abused body.
I apologise for your injuries. It was the only way.
I can’t say that I fully understand, but it obviously worked, and she rewarded me in kind. Having been trapped in this lake for so long, I would have thought she’d be desperate to get out, yet she seems to be hesitating. Tilting her head upward, she stares towards the surface, longing painted across her beautiful face.
No one will remember me up there.
The voice is so quiet in my mind, I almost think I imagined it. This fearsome goddess has incredible power, and she’s still afraid of the world above. I suppose the wide world above is scary after being down here so long. Everything will have changed, and she won’t recognise anything. That doesn’t mean that it’s all bad though. My world has changed completely over the last few months, both for good and bad, but I met some amazing people in the process, and I wouldn’t change it. She can be anyone she wants to be. There’s nothing holding her back.
Her golden eyes shift to me, looking thoughtful.Yes, it is time I forged a new future for myself. You are very wise for one so young, she replies, and I realise she had been reading my thoughts the entire time. Before I can fully process that, a slow, malice-filled grin pulls at her lips, revealing her long, pointed teeth.
Let’s go get our revenge.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Staring up at the exterior of a huge arena, I shake my head. Of course it’s in an arena. It’s not the one we were in last night, but a whole new one that I’ve not seen before. How many of these things does the council have? I know they’ve used magic to keep them hidden, and that will have helped with construction, but it must have cost a fortune in materials and labour. After all, they are hiding their use of magic from their people, so how they’ve managed to get away with it blows my mind.
Our escorts have formed a circle around us while we wait for the signal that we’re allowed to enter, and I have no doubt that they would attack at the first sign of us showing any hint of disobeying their rules.
The rules are simple—keep quiet and follow orders.
After a sleepless night, Syn and I look a little worse for wear. Making the most of what might have been our last night together, we spent a majority of it talking and staying close. There was nothing sexual about it, mostly because we were in the woods with little shelter, but also because we’re still healing from his betrayal. We shared everything that needed to be said with our words, and everything that didn’t with our bond, becoming closer than I ever thought possible.
Thanks to this, it makes keeping quiet easy. We’ve already said our goodbyes should this not work out, and we promised to find each other in paradise where I know I will eventually be reunited with my mates. Holding hands, we do as we were told and wait, the chill from the early hour finally easing.
The goddess I rescued, who told us to simply call her Belua, disappeared to hunt, something I’m exceedingly glad I don’t have to witness. She may look beautiful and young in her human form, but I know what hides beneath her skin, and it terrifies me. She didn’t tell us what she’s hunting, and honestly, I don’t want to know, but I’m pretty sure it’s not the rabbits and squirrels we’ve seen in the forest. She promised to return when we needed her most, and I had no real choice other than to agree. I wasn’t about to have a fight with a goddess who could change into beasts.
Unlike last time, we didn’t sneak into the city, and instead, we walked proudly through the main roads. Once again, it was strangely quiet, but we were aware of the eyes watching us. We weren’t stopped, and it was only when we reached the meeting point from yesterday that several werewolves stepped out. They were all in human form and wearing matching uniforms, but I could hear the soft padding of wolves in their animal form nearby.
I didn’t recognise any of them, but the hatred in their eyes as they looked at Syn told me they worked for the council. One of them gruffly informed us that we were to follow him, and his tone left no room for argument. At that point, with my father, friends, and mates at risk, I wouldn’t dare do anything to jeopardise their safety. The remainder of the walk was silent, and thankfully, not too far. Stepping through the buildings and empty streets, it felt like a ghost town.
Now, as the sun lights up the sky and burns away the early morning mist, I quietly take in everything around me, enjoying the beauty of the forest despite the situation we’re about to face.
“Do you think she’s coming back?”
Syn’s voice is so quiet, I almost don’t hear it. He’s risking a lot by talking about Belua while we’re surrounded by enemies, but when no one shouts at us for speaking to each other, I assume they’ve not heard us.
“I trust her.” Squeezing his hand, I hope he understands what I’m not saying.
Belua is currently our secret weapon. She wants her revenge, and from the wrath that fills her, I have no doubt that she will get it. She will return. The council will have no idea that we managed to convince the goddess of beasts to fight with us after I rescue my family.
I fully intend to win the trial and save everyone, but knowing the council and queen, they will have some sort of fail-safe in place to make sure that doesn’t happen. They are not willing to lose, and for them, my death is the only acceptable outcome. Whether I win or not doesn’t stop the fact that they are planning to kill me, they’ve been very clear about that, it simply means that my mates will be allowed to go free if I win. Of course, I have my own plan, and that includes taking the queen and council down as soon as I get my mates and family back.
The council doesn’t know that I still have access to my magic and the power of a goddess in my blood.
“Come,” one of the guards barks, not bothering to wait and see if we follow.
The harsh tone breaks through my thoughts, and I glance at Syn. His expression is serious, not giving any sign of emotion, but his bond is fully open. Waves of his love and trust in me fill me with confidence and warmth. I’m not doing this alone.
You will never be alone, little moon, the goddess whispers into my mind, reminding me once more how blessed I am.
I send my own wave of feeling back at Syn, squeezing his hand. As one, we stride forward, our shoulders rolled back and heads held high as we follow the werewolf into the tunnel that I assume leads inside the arena. A sense of déjà vu washes over me as we walk through the dim light, reminding me of what we were doing last night. This time, though, we’re surrounded by werewolf guards, and my anxiety is for a totally different reason.
Stepping out from the tunnel, I shield my eyes from the bright lights beaming down on me, my sight needing time to adjust. From the hiss beside me, I know Syn is having the same issues. Star isn’t bothered at all, her trot at my side never faltering.
