Chapter 159
Chapter 159
He smiled, something kind but knowing behind it. “The goddess does not wait for readiness, child. She waits for courage p>
I exhaled slowly, then reached out.
The moment my fingers brushed the crystal, the world tilted.
Light bloomed from within it, flooding the room in silver. I gasped stumbling back, but the light followed me-swallowing everything.
It was the same light that has touched Nolan during his test of faith, but stronger, more insistent.
Then I was standing somewhere else.
The air was heavy with mist. A forest, silent and endless, stretched around me. The moon hung low and full, and beneath it stood a woman in a gown the color of frost.
Her hair was long and dark but streaked with white, her eyes shimmering with that same light. When she smiled, it was like the world exhaled.
“Mother p>
The word came out as a whisper.
She nodded once, her voice soft but echoing everywhere at once. “My daughter p>
Tears burned behind my eyes. “I don’t understand. You’re-how p>
“There isn’t much time,” she said, her expression turning solemn “The bond between our world and theirs weakens. The goddess reaches for you because you are the bridge p>
“The bridge?” I repeated, heart pounding.
“You have the blood of generations of women touched by the goddess. You’re destined for this, Elaine. I’m sorry that I wasn’t there to teach you. I’m sorry that you have to learn like this. You have to restore balance, my girl. You have to face this danger before it can destory everything p>
I tried to make sense of her words, but everything felt too vast, too bright. “What am I supposed to do p>
“Listen,” she said simply. “Listen, and remember who you are p>
I almost laughed. It felt like a slap in the face. Remember. Like it was so simple. So much of my life was lost in the dark. The accident that took me away from my family as a child, the accident that cost me my memory when I first got pregnant. Things came back in fits and starts but there was still so much that I couldn’t remember.
She stepped closer, touching her fingers to my temple. The contact burned and soothed all at once, a rush of warmth spreading through me.
Images flooded my mind-flashes of wolves running beneath the moon, of two packs standing side by side, of a dark figure watching from the edge of the forest. And beneath it all, a single whisper from the goddess herself:
Balance must be restored.
The vision shattered.
I gasped, collapsing to my knees as the light faded. The cool air of the sanctuary rushed back in, and Alaric was suddenly there, steadying me.
“Easy,” he murmured. “Breathe p>
My heart hammered. “She-she was here. My mother. I saw her p>
He nodded. “I know p>
I gripped his arm tightly, feeling the strength in his grip holding me up. “She said she said something about balance. About danger p>
ײ
Alaric’s expression darkened just
slightly. “Then the goddess has chosen well. I know that this is frightening, but you aren’t alone It will make sense soon, I’m sure. Your have us to help you through this p>
I looked up at him, trembling. “What does that mean p>
He helped me to my feet, his grip firm but gentle. “It means,” he said quietly that your mother’s gift didn’t die with her. And that the goddess’s voice has returned to Moonstone through you p>
He paused, searching my face. “But it also means whatever threatens her peace is coming closer. And we will need to be ready. I will do everything possible to support you through this Freed you to promise me something p>
The candles flickered, their flames bending toward the crystal as if drawn by its pulse.
“What do you need me to promise?” I asked, my voice sounding soft and uncertain in the heavy chill of the room.
“Promise that you won’t hide from me. That you’ll come to me when you need guidance and support p>
I turned to look at the moonstone again, its light dimming slowly, the silver veins still faintly glowing.
Somewhere deep inside me, I could still feel the echo of her voice, the warmth of her hand.
For the first time since the accident, since the amnesia, since everything I felt whole.
But I also knew something else, something unshakable.
“I promise,” I said softly.
The truth echoed in my mind and I couldn’t tell whose voice it came from.
Peace never lasted.
And whatever was coming next had already begun to move.