Chapter 107: Final Farewell

ALEX

Ariel looks distraught—almost fearful—at the realization that she no longer has any healing powers.

“I can’t believe I was so stupid!” she says. “What am I going to do now?”

“It’ll be okay, love,” I say. “You don’t need powers to be an amazing queen.”

“But I ~do~ need them to help people,” she says. “Who’s going to heal everyone now?”

“That responsibility should never have been yours. No one can heal a whole kingdom. Maybe this is for the best… Now you can finally rest.”

~Is it bad I feel…relieved?~

I want to protect my mate from the pack’s demands…

“People will get hurt, Alex,” she says. “This isn’t just about my ego.”

I know that. And I know she didn’t mean to snap at me.

From the sound of tears in her voice, I know Ariel’s taking this hard. She must truly believe it’s her responsibility to make sure no one in the kingdom gets hurt.

“You’ve already done so much good. Nobody should expect more.”

“What about those crowds of people who need help? Some of them will die…”

“I don’t think Fate would have allowed you to interfere much longer anyway,” I say. “Really… This could be for the best.”

Ariel looks like she’s about to cry again.

I drop the rose onto the ground and wrap her in a hug. “It’s going to be all right.”

“What about the pack?” she says into my chest. “What about—”

“I’ll explain everything to the pack.”

“You will?”

“Of course. They’ll understand. I don’t want you to worry.”

“You don’t think I made a mistake?”

That makes me pause. I know I have to be honest with Ariel, but I don’t know the answer to that question.

I don’t like that the goddesses have been using her as a pawn in their sisterly spat. Perhaps it was right to distance herself from them.

“Alex?” she says. “You didn’t answer my question.”

I sigh. “I honestly don’t know. But I’m sorry you were ever in the position to have to make that choice. And I’m proud of how strong you are.”

~Is it really all over, though?~

NATALIA

It feels like we’re a family, and I haven’t felt this way in a long time.

I’m with Chuck and Xavi on a perfect day in the perfect picnic spot—in the orchard on the palace grounds.

“Applesauce for the little one?” Chuck opens the small jar and picks up a spoon.

Xavi grins and opens his mouth wide as Chuck feeds him, wiping his chin after each spoonful.

I’m continuously surprised by Chuck. I wouldn’t have thought this reclusive man would be so good with kids.

He’s already a better father to Xavi than Xavier has been. And this reminds me that I still need to tell Chuck the full story…

When Xavi refuses to eat his applesauce, Chuck eats it himself until the baby grabs for it again. I watch, pleased to see their connection growing.

“Chuck…,” I say. “You must be curious about Xavi’s father.”

Chuck doesn’t turn away from Xavi, but I see his eyebrows furrow a little before he responds. “Naturally.”

“I haven’t talked about him yet because it’s not an easy subject…”

“You don’t have to tell me.”

“But I want to!” I say a little too forcefully.

Chuck leans forward and lets Xavi pull on his long hair. He doesn’t respond to me, and I know he’s waiting for me to continue.

“Xavi’s father isn’t in his life. Or mine. Xavier refuses to acknowledge his son…”

The furrow in Chuck’s brow grows more pronounced. “Do you mean ~the~ Xavier? The one they’re trying to track down?”

I nod. “He isn’t a good man…”

Chuck waits for me to elaborate.

“He cheated on me. He abused me. He… There’s isn’t much he hasn’t done.”

Chuck turns to me and meets my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Natalia. You deserve better.”

I don’t want there to be secrets between us, so I push on: “He’s a criminal. He was convicted, but he escaped… He’s dangerous, and sometimes I’m so frightened he’ll appear and…”

I don’t know how to finish.

“It’s okay, Moonbeam,” Chuck says, wrapping an arm around me.

I hold back a sob.

“I’ll protect you now. What happened is not your fault, and I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”

I want to be honest. I want to tell Chuck that it ~is~ my fault. I knew who my destined mate was, and I chose Xavier anyway.

But I also want Chuck to keep holding me. And I’m afraid if I open up about that last detail, he’ll leave.

ARIEL

I’m still shaken as I walk down the palace steps and through the front door.

More than anything, though, I’m hurt by Selene’s betrayal. I still can’t believe she can justify sending the Hunters to torture me.

Having been let down by someone I had so much faith in only underscores the importance of relationships I can trust.

~I’ll never take a true friend for granted again.~

And, speaking of friends, Amy and Marius are due to leave for the Scripture Pack any minute now.

Even though I’m a complete mess, I have to see that they have a proper send-off.

The Scripture Pack isn’t too far, but every time I’m separated from Amy, it feels like the last time I’ll ever see her.

As Marius continues to delve into his past, it makes sense the couple split their time between the Royal and Scripture packs, but I hate to see Amy leave for yet another visit.

I see their car is already parked outside the palace, and I wave from a distance as I approach them.

Marius is stuffing suitcases into the trunk, and Amy, it seems, is supervising the heavy lifting.

“Amy!” I say. “Are you off now?”

“As soon as Angel here is happy with his game of suitcase Tetris,” she says.

“Excuse me, m’lady,” Marius says, “but most of these are yours.”

I wrap Amy in a tight hug. “I’m gonna miss you.”

Amy seems taken aback. I’m not usually the most emotive friend, but it’s been a rough day.

“I’ll miss you too,” she says.

“Don’t be too long,” I say as we part.

“I promise. Like the new hair, by the way,” she says. “Well, the old hair… It suits you best.”

“Thanks.”

“You and Alex still need a proper holiday,” she says, looking at me with concern. “Maybe you can drive up to the Scripture Pack one of these days, and we’ll all go to the beach.”

“I’d like that,” I say. “Let’s make it happen.”

Marius finally closes the trunk. I give him a goodbye hug too.

They climb into the car, and start pulling down the driveway.

I stand and wave, wishing they’d stay. I could really use Amy’s support right now, but she has her own life.

I chastise myself for being melodramatic. ~She’ll be back.~

Amy and Marius’s car winds its way down the hill.

I’ll miss them.

I wave from the palace gates until the car is only a red speck in the distance.

As I finally drop my hand, I hear a cold voice on the wind:

~“You’ve done well, my child.”~

Fate.

The words cause my heart to clench in pain. They’re the same words I once received from the Moon Goddess, but now I’m hearing them from her sister.

I experience none of the reassurance I did when I first heard those words. Now dread washes over me instead, and I struggle to respond with confidence.

“What do you want?” I say.

~“I only wanted to say that I’m proud of you.”~

~“You’ve severed your connection with my sister.”~

~“It can’t have been easy, cutting off the goddess who’s been manipulating you your entire adult life.”~

“Really?” I say. “You’re going to talk to me about manipulation? I thought I was done with both of you.”

A small breeze hits me, and it’s as if the wind itself is chuckling darkly.

“I’m done with both of you. I’m not going to play your games.”

~“If only you had that choice…”~

“I’ve renounced your sister,” I say. “I’ve given up my healing gift… Surely you’re satisfied now?”

~“Ah, my child…,”~ says Fate. ~“You still have much to learn. I won’t be satisfied until you’re with your destined mate.~

~“And, as for your friends, there are threads that I’ve destined to be long before you severed your connection with my sister.”~

The blood drains from my face as I wonder who this goddess will target next.

I look at my thumb in frustration, examining the scab on the cut I was unable to heal.

~“Don’t worry, my child,”~ says Fate. ~“This time, I let you say your final farewell.”~

As the understanding dawns on me, I break out in a cold sweat.

“Wait,” I say. “What do you mean? Is something going to happen to Amy or Marius?”

A strong gust of wind hits me and then passes through the trees as if transporting Fate away to do damage elsewhere.

“Fate!” I say. “Please!”

But there’s still no answer, and I don’t have any time to lose. If her words mean what I think they do, I need to get moving.

I turn and sprint up the drive, toward the garage.

I grab the keys from their hook on the wall and hop on my motorcycle. The engine revs for a moment, then I’m off with only one purpose on my mind.

~I have to warn them.~

I thought I could reject both goddesses, but it seems like I’ll always have to choose one over the other.

~And, right now, I think I chose the wrong sister.~

My heart clenches as I race down the highway.

Traffic is slowing to a standstill, but I weave in and out between cars until I see it—a plume of smoke wavering above the wreckage of a red vehicle.

It’s completely totaled, jutting through a smashed guardrail.

My heart stops.

~I’m too late…~