Chapter Thirty-One
Ryder had called all of the Elite Guard to the war room to finalize the logistics of getting that many Fae to the Tree and a tentative outline of what we could potentially face. Ristan had reluctantly joined us; he still wasn’t quite himself and Ryder had confided to me that Ristan had taken both his mother and Olivia somewhere and refused to discuss any of the details with anyone. Not even his King.
“Zahruk,” Ryder said as the last of the guard walked in. “Floor is yours,” he finished, sitting beside me and reaching for my hand.
I looked at where our fingers were combined. As his thumb rubbed tenderly in the palm of my hand, I felt his love, and it gutted me to know I felt empty inside instead of whole. I loved him, but the idea of losing our daughter and sons was all I could think about. I had to save the Tree, and I needed to concentrate on it and it alone.
I rested my head against his shoulder as Zahruk went over the final details, and I felt the pain as if it was my own. I knew it wasn’t, and I’d begun to think this eviscerating pain wasn’t only mine. I was a part of Faery, and Danu’s words kept playing in my head.
She’d created me as the Goddess of Faery, and if so, what did it include? Was my pain tied to a dying world? If it died, did it mean I would also die? Or would I cease to be the Goddess of anything and just continue on? I’d tried calling for her again after Adam had gone to inform the Dark King and Queen of the situation, but nothing had happened.
“Synthia,” Zahruk said softly.
I lifted my eyes to his, and nodded in agreement, of what I wasn’t sure of. I’d agree to pretty much anything if it got me to that Tree.
“She wasn’t listening,” Ryder said as he pulled me out of my chair and onto his lap. “Zahruk is going to go scout the area in beast form. When they’ve cleared the area and are sure no Mages are near, we will go to the Tree.”
“Sounds good,” I replied.
I could feel another God or Goddess close to us, as if they were hovering. I watched as all but Ryder and Ristan cleared from the room, and then spoke slowly, clearly, and deadly.
“Show yourself or I’ll kill you,” I seethed as I felt myself growing angry. I hated being spied on, but this one had been privy to our entire plan. I wanted to know who they were and why they were here. A Goddess shimmered in and stood less than three feet away from me. I’d felt her power skimming over me. I’d felt it before with Danu, and yet somehow I’d known it wasn’t Danu doing it this time.
“You never speak to another Goddess in such a crass way, child,” she said gently as she came into focus. She was beautiful, and yet she had certain coldness to her. “Newborns have died for less—and how did you know I was here?”
“Who the hell are you?” I asked carefully.
“I am the Goddess of Destiny,” she said softly as she watched me.
“Bitch,” I growled.
“I could kill you,” she warned.
“You can’t kill me,” I whispered as I watched her. “You’ve put me through hell. You’ve brought me to my knees and have enjoyed my pain. You’re sick and twisted. I wondered who would be pulling the strings, since Danu is only powerful enough to set destiny on its path; someone else had to be pushing for it. That would be you, and I’d like to know why.”