Chapter 171
Chapter 171
“Don’t test me, Kieran. Not about this,” I said. “Not about my children p>
For a heartbeat, we simply stared at each other. Then Kieran clinked his glass lightly against my untouched one.” Enjoy the summit, old friend p>
He walked away without waiting for a response, disappearing into the crowd with that easy confidence again.
I let out a slow breath and finally looked away.
“Still breathing p>
The voice came from my left. Cassian.
I turned to find him leaning casually against a pillar, arms crossed, eyes sharp but amused.
“Barely,” I admitted.
“I saw that little standoff. Impressive restraint. A few years ago, you’d have broken his jaw p>
“A few years ago, I thought breaking things solved problems p>
Cassian gave a small smile. “And now p>
“Now I know better.” I glanced around the room. “Though I’m not sure it makes much difference p>
Cassian shrugged. “It does to her p>
My gaze flicked toward him. “Ellie p>
“She doesn’t know you’re here,” Cassian said. “But she hears things. Word spreads
fast when Alphas gather. Especially when some of them can’t keep their mouths shut. That’s why her name keeps coming up p>
My jaw tightened again. “The rumors p>
Cassian nodded. “About her visions. About the goddess speaking through her. They’re everywhere p>
My fingers tightened around the glass. “And what are they saying p>
“The same thing they’ve been saying. That she’s a messenger. That the goddess has chosen her for some kind of greater purpose.” Cassian paused. “Some are calling her blessed. Others… think she’s dangerous p>
“Of course they do,” I muttered. “People fear what they can’t control p>
Cassian’s voice softened. “She’s fine, Nolan. Protected. She’s surrounded by people who love her p>
I looked away, my throat tight. “I know. That’s why I stay away p>
Cassian didn’t argue. He just studied me for a long moment, then said quietly, “You
did the right thing telling Lance the truth. He’s been different lately p>
I gave a humorless smile. “You mean less angry p>
“More… understanding p>
“That’s new p>
“People change p>
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I huffed a quiet laugh. “You’re starting to sound like Alaric p>
Cassian’s grin widened. “I’ll take that as a compliment p>
The two of us fell silent again, watching the room from a distance as the crowd continued to buzz-schemes and alliances, laughter that sounded like the clinking of knives.
Finally, Cassian straightened. “You don’t belong here tonight, brother p>
“I know p>
“You came anyway p>
“Because I needed to be reminded of what matters p>
Cassian tilted his head. “And what’s that p>
I looked toward the open balcony doors, where the moon hung low and cold above
the mountains. “That peace doesn’t come from power. It comes from what you’re willing to protect p>
Cassian smiled faintly. “You really have changed p>
“Don’t sound so surprised p>
“I’m not.” Cassian clapped his shoulder once. “I’m proud p>
I didn’t answer right away, but something in my chest loosened at the words.
When Cassian finally walked away to rejoin the others, I stayed where I was, my gaze drawn to the silver light spilling across the floor.
The whispers about Ellie, the rumors of divine favor-they should have angered me. Instead, they filled me with something else entirely.
Hope.
It felt alien. I had never believed in the goddess. Or maybe I had, but I had rejected her the way I reflexively rejected everything my partners had tried to force on me. Everything but the responsibility of leading the pack.
Whatever the reason, religion was something that had only ever filled me with dread and a bitter, miserable sense of loneliness.
But since that ridiculous test of faith that elder Rowan had forced on me, I’d been doubting myself. The rumors about Ellie were only growing stronger. If there was any truth to the idea that she was having visions, then it would be one more thing I had always gotten wrong.
If the goddess was going to choose a messenger, it made sense to me that it would be Ellie. Stronger than anyone gave her credit for, fierce and stubborn when she had to be. She was extraordinary.
But it was a selfish thought, too. Most of my thoughts were.
Because if the goddess really was speaking through her, maybe she was also guiding us both-through distance, through silence, through all the things we still didn’t understand.
After all, we were fated mates. Didn’t that mean that the goddess wanted us to be together?
I thought of Ellie, of that spark I felt every time we touched. It had always scared me.
But now… I craved it. For the first time in years; I didn’t feel lost.
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I felt steady.
I looked up at the moon, raised my glass, and whispered softly into the night:
“Keep her safe p>
The crowd went on talking, laughing, and plotting around me. But I didn’t hear it anymore.
I was listening for something else entirely.
Something older.
Something divine.
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