Chapter 67: 68: The Gifted One

ARIEL

The energy in my palms flickers and fizzles as I struggle to recall a positive moment with my mother.

My mind races backwards, flipping through childhood memories in search of even just ~one~ half-decent interaction with Dianne.

My favorite toy when I was a little girl was a wooden sword Dianne thought was dangerous.

She was right that I needed to be careful with it. One time, lunging at an imaginary enemy, I ended up tripping over myself and skinning both knees.

I was terrified she’d give me the “I told you so” speech, but instead she cleaned up my wounds and kissed them better.

~Now it’s my turn to heal Dianne.~

I feel the Moon Goddess’s presence, though the connection isn’t stable. The same words she told me nights ago seem to be playing on repeat:

~You must close the rift of the past if you want to open a new path forward.~

Dianne’s shoulder droops and quakes beneath my hands as she tears up in confusion and pain.

I don’t have time to parse the Goddess’s words. She seems to be speaking about my family, though. I decide to trust Dianne.

I want to spare her as much pain as possible.

I concentrate on the affectionate feeling the memory of Dianne caring for me generates.

Warmth flows through my palms, transferring energy from me to Dianne.

She gasps.

It’s painful, but I continue until I feel the wolfsbane leeching from her body, and the wound beginning to heal.

Dianne’s eyes go wide as she watches her shoulder knit itself back together.

She looks back and forth between me and the spot where her wound should be.

“What—how?”

I smile at her wonder. Dianne isn’t easy to impress.

“Ariel… You healed me…”

“How does it feel?”

“Like I was never shot. You healed me. Amazing.”

I feel self-conscious. “It’s not me: it’s the Moon Goddess. She’s the one who amazes you.”

I hear a pair of heels coming down the hall, and I panic.

“Dianne, look… Please don’t tell anyone.”

She nods quickly, and I hear the door open. I jerk my head up to see Natalia. Her expression is cold, unreadable.

Dianne glances at Natalia and then back to me. “You’re wrong about who amazes me, Ariel… I never saw it before, but I always should have known. You’re the gifted one.”

Natalia looks like she’s holding back tears. Then her face turns red, and she storms away.

“Excuse me,” I say. “I have to—”

I pass my father in the hallway as I follow Natalia. I gesture for him to join Dianne and hurry on after my sister.

I catch up to her before she leaves the palace. “Wait, stop.”

“What?”

“What you heard…”

“That you’re Mom’s new favorite?”

I know what that’s like. And I don’t want Natalia to live with the gaping hole I used to feel. “What can I do?”

“You can let me see Xavier.”

That catches me off guard. “Natalia… He’s dangerous. We can’t trust him.”

“Xavi needs his dad, Ariel.” Her voice is sincere, devoid of its usual artifice. “Please don’t deprive him of that.”

Natalia must really believe in this argument. Personally, I think growing up without a father is preferable to having Xavier in his life.

But it’s none of my business, not really. She’s the mother. It should be her decision.

As much as I hate to do this, I need to make more of an effort with my sister. I’ve been connecting more with Dianne. Maybe it’s possible with Natalia too.

“Please,” Natalia says. “For your nephew…”

I can tell she means it. I don’t like it, but I have to agree.

Xavier might be my prisoner, but Xavi is Natalia’s child.

ALEX

I walk toward the guest wing of the palace in search of Vivian. I need the human ambassador’s advice more than ever before.

Dom disagrees with me, but I know the president is a good man.

The treaty he wants us to sign is historic. It will allow us to take a stand against the violent Hunters, together.

When I think of everything those bastards did to Ariel, I’m motivated to do whatever it takes to destroy them forever.

The phone call was uncomfortable, but I shouldn’t let a little tension cloud my judgment.

The president was just concerned about Vivian’s safety. It’s normal for a leader to want to protect his citizens.

He feels we can’t protect ourselves sufficiently.

There was a border breach. And there was an attack.

As Ariel said, Vivian could have died.

If the Hunters are crossing our border at will, then that’s all the more reason to protect the treaty.

I find Vivian in the library. “How are you feeling—after the ambush?”

She looks startled. “All right. I’m glad Ariel was there. Without her…”

“We need to ensure it doesn’t happen again. The president wants to establish a military presence here, on my territory.”

She nods slowly.

“What do you think?”

“It’s not unprecedented for us to offer help to our allies when they’re in need of protection, especially when the situation is serious…”

“You think I should let him do it?”

“What did you tell him?”

“Nothing yet…”

“The treaty is important. I think…you should protect it.”

I know when asking the human ambassador for advice to expect her to put a particular spin on the president’s offer. She’s one of them, and she represents their interests.

But she believes in the same cause my father did, so she must have some wisdom to offer me.

She must have integrity.

“You know the president best… Your advice is to allow his troops into the Royal Pack then?”

Vivian emits a long breath. “Yes. He’s your ally.”

“Of course.”

“We’re here to help. And this—this visual symbol of the human-werewolf alliance—will send a strong message to the Hunters.”

She looks at me. “I’m honestly…concerned the president will lose faith in the unification ceremony if there’s another incident.”

“Thanks, Vivian. I know I can trust you.”

I leave the ambassador to her browsing.

~A strong message.~

It’s not surprising she echoed the president’s sentiment. But a strong message is what I’m afraid of.

VIVIAN

When Alex leaves me alone with my thoughts, they start running wild.

~What if President Cooper decides to use the Hunter attack as an excuse to introduce a military presence here?~

~Would that genuinely be a help?~

~Did I give Alex good advice?~

In my capacity as ambassador, I know the answer to these questions doesn’t matter. No matter what President Cooper’s motivation, I’m here to support him.

It’s my responsibility to represent the humans in this treaty. It isn’t in my job description to give advice to the king of the werewolves.

I can’t waste this opportunity by undermining the very interests I’m here to support.

It would be better not to ask these questions, then.

But I can’t help myself. Against my will, I begin to feel my wolf in my mind.

I’m not just a human; I’m half werewolf. And, like it or not, I also care about the well-being of the Royal Pack. Of all werewolves.

“What have you gotten us into?” she says.

I try to stifle her presence, but I can’t.

I look at the library’s door, still rocking on its hinges from the king’s exit. I have half a mind to go after him and take back everything I’ve said.

But only ~half~ a mind.

If I betray the humans, I’ll have nobody left. I’m only half werewolf, and neither humans nor werewolves will accept me for who I am at heart.

But I was raised by my father, and I should be grateful I’ve made it this far undiscovered.

I didn’t get to choose to be raised as a human, but I was. And it’s too late now to change that.

My wolf retreats from my mind as I become more resolute.

I feel like I’ve escaped a close call now that my wolf is silent again. She’s been more vocal lately, and it scares me.

She almost convinced me to betray my position.

“Am I becoming one of them?”

ARIEL

I’m allowing Natalia to see Xavier. But I’m going to keep a close watch over her. Over him. And I’m going to ensure no harm befalls my nephew.

I watch Xavi in Natalia’s arms now as I lead them down to the dungeon. He looks so comfortable, so trusting in his mother’s embrace.

Locks of chestnut hair fall over his sunflower eyes. He’s growing fast, and I can see more likeness to me every day.

I’d want to protect him no matter what. Still, there’s something about his striking resemblance that especially reminds me to take care of him.

Even when I was Xavi’s age, my bond with my father was unbreakable; I won’t let Xavier hurt or influence his son negatively.

I won’t let him take advantage of his son the way he’s used Natalia.

There’s an anxious feeling growing in the pit of my stomach as we descend ever lower beneath the palace. Nothing good could be kept this deep underground.

I wonder what living down here has done to Xavier.

When we reach the dungeons, the guards part for us without question. Accompanied by the luna and queen of the werewolves, my sister doesn’t have to sneak by them this time.

I’d be angry that she still managed to manipulate me into giving her what she wanted if I wasn’t convinced that she really is doing this for her son.

I know firsthand how painful it is to see my ex-mate. Our ex-mate.

My heart rate increases as we make our way down the corridor, getting closer to him with every step we take.

~How will he react when he sees us? When he sees ME?~

But we’ve reached Xavier’s dank cell now. And it’s time we face him together.

The first thing I see as my vision adjusts to the dim light are his eyes, glowing through the shadows.

A lantern on the wall casts a slice of light into his cell as he takes a step forward, illuminating half of his rugged face.

His eyes continue to burn with an intensity that takes me aback.

Despite the silver shackles binding his wrists, his presence is as commanding as ever. He’s somehow even bigger than I remember him.

My heart leaps into my throat. I want more than anything to portray confidence, but I feel like I could wilt under that glare.