A Gift from the Goddess by Dawn Rosewood

Chapter Eighty–Three As soon as the words had left my mouth though, I slowly started to take in what I was actually seeing before me. 

Because it was Cai, but... true to the excuse he‘d provided, he really didn‘t seem well. 

I could recall how he‘d appeared worn out the last time we’d met, however this was on an entirely different level. 

He looked pale with dark circles under his eyes, perhaps having even lost some weight. The difference in his appearance was almost like an entirely different person from the man I‘d first met all those years ago. 

“Aria,” he greeted, his voice having a rasp to it that hadn‘t been there before. 

And, inside, a pang of guilt hit me. 

It seemed I really had dragged him out of his sickbed. 

“Take a seat,” I said, gesturing to the chair on the other side of my desk, and he complied. “I appreciate you coming here to meet with me.” 

“You didn‘t give me much of a choice,” he replied. 

I simply nodded in turn. “Well, you can‘t blame me. Your pack is still refusing to join the alliance and you can probably figure out what that means given my current position.” 

“I‘m not refusing you anything, Aria,” he argued, a cough following his words. “I‘ve been too sick to be involved with politics; something that has lasted for months now since no one can figure out what‘s wrong with me. Yet, despite sending word to you of that very fact *multiple times*, you still insisted! come here.” 

“You won‘t be able to sit idly by in your bed if your pack is being killed outside your doors,” I replied harshly, my eyes narrowing. “Apologies for dragging you out here but surely you can understand the very precarious position we‘re in right now. Only you can help convince your father to join back into the alliance.” 

“Really, Aria? Not even five minutes and already you‘re threatening a war?” 

“Do you even understand the full gravity of the situation, Cai? There are only two options for me here. Either you join our alliance again... or I‘ll have no choice but to declare war. You already know I would rather avoid the latter.” 

“I came here only because you said you needed me, Aria,” he said, his eyes meeting mine with unwavering intensity. “Needed *me*. Not my title.” 

And, suddenly, just like in the past, I could start to feel that magnetic energy form in the air around him, wanting to draw me in and listen to him. To give in to him and try to make things right. 

Only I knew exactly what it was this time. 

And it had nothing to do with what ** wanted to do. 

hissed, pushing past the influence threatening to

easy to tell when he used it. And it definitely wasn‘t natural. Internally, I scolded myself for

confused by

just telling you the truth,” he said slowly. “Using me for what I can offer you politically

Chapter light bree 

not what I‘d had

I mean stop doing that thing,” I replied, gritting my teeth. “It might have worked to get me into

you on about?”

as though he really didn‘t know anything about the original lineages or his

fact of the matter was that it was definitive confirmation that he‘d been influencing me during the times we were together. Now I would never know if what I‘d felt during

over that realisation. “If you agree to speak to your father about joining the alliance, I, in return, will let you speak to Elder Luke. There are things about you that, apparently, you don‘t even know about yet, things that would

get this straight...,” he said, his frown deepening. “You want to withhold access to someone who might have vital information to potentially cure me... on the condition I serve your

do

evidently, was the final straw for

standing up, and began walking to the

though, trying to make it there before him... only I was too late.

a second,” I said, finally catching up. “Cai! Think about what you‘re doing. About what

at me. It was

I found something

know who you are...,” he started coldly, “...but you‘re not the girl

words if it hadn‘t

discovery I couldn‘t believe I‘d failed

been hidden behind him the

chance to leave, I then snatched his hand away from the handle and, with m y other hand, I grabbed his throat, pushing him back up against

choked out in surprise, struggling to pry away my grip.

him now. Not just because of the training and my mark, but he was significantly weaker in his condition. He wouldn‘t

demanded, my body instantly ignited in a rage I

you‘re talking about,” he wheezed.

would be no way out of it this time. I would finally

play stupid!” I screamed back. “I can smell her on you! You think I don‘t know what that

senses from my shift, I hadn‘t initially picked up the obvious difference at first. I‘d brushed it off thinking it was just me smelling his

no. Now I was up close, there was no mistaking it. No mistaking that overly