Chapter 91

*He turned his gaze back to the stage where everything was frozen. He began to walk away from her and his body slammed into an invisible barrier. He glared at her.*
*“What do you want?”*
*“To talk to you.”*
*He growled in frustration. He wanted to get back to his dream, knowing that Lily would have been in his arms, safe, in mere minutes.*
*“Talk.”*
*She eyed him curiously. “You have no worry that I am here?”*
*“None. You’re either here to punish me or congratulate me and considering I’m still breathing it’s the latter.”*
*She laughed again. “You’re sisters weren’t so defiant.”*
*“Good for them.”*
*She tilted her head. “I have tested both of your sisters and so far one has proven to be worthy of her title.”*
*Lukas stuck his hands in his pockets. “Let me guess. Kalani?” She nodded. “Why hasn’t Sasha passed yet?”*
*“Her test is still going on.”*
*“Okay. So, why are you here?”*
*“You love the human girl.”*
*“I do.”*
*“Is that why you killed on the field, to protect her?”*
*“Yes and no. Those people were responsible for many crimes against the dragon species.” He glanced at Lily. “But she is my mate and they threatened her. She will always come first in my eyes.”*
*The Goddess studied him for a moment before waving her hand. The world around him faded into nothingness, shifting into another place and time. The Goddess sat on a fallen tree and gestured for him to do the same. He sat angrily, wanting this over already, so he could get back to dreaming of Lily.*
*“You know, I have given you the ability to walk through dreams as the bringer of death. You can learn anything about anybody from viewing their dreams. Why have you never used it?”*
*He rolled his eyes. “Just because I have the power to do so, doesn’t mean that I should.”*
*“Watch. There’s something I want you to see.”*
*He fell silent, waiting for whatever he was here to see. He didn’t have to wait long for his mother to come into the clearing. She knelt in the middle of it and began to pray. After a few minutes, the air shimmered and the Goddess appeared in front of his mother. He glanced to the side and she was still beside him as well as across the field. He sat forward, his attention captured now.*
*“Mother Goddess, I beg of you to give me the power to punish the Queen of Queens for her crimes against my mate.”*
*The Goddess shook her head. “I cannot, my child. Her perceived crimes against your chosen mate are false. If you wish to talk about crimes against mates, we may. Specifically the crimes you committed against your fated mate’s chosen mate.”*
*His mother tensed. “Mother Goddess, she had him spelled to attack me and then she came to me. She-”*
*The Goddess grew larger as fury poured out of her. “You tried to take him from her. She made a mistake which she tried to fix. You couldn’t let it go and decided to punish someone who was almost fully innocent.”*
*“Mother Goddess-”*
*“Stop this foolish insolence. You have no idea what you are speaking about.”*
*“I want to make her pay,” his mother stubbornly argued.*
*“I will do no such thing. She has been a good queen, mate and wife. So were you until Eis’ death.” The Goddess reached for her. “Let me take the pain away. I will give you another.”*
*His mother jumped to her feet. “NO! I LOVE EIS! THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER! I DON'T WANT ANOTHER!”*
*The Goddess sighed. “Then, my dear child, there is nothing more for us to discuss.”*
*She disappeared and his mother screamed out in anguish. She sank to her knees, sobbing. A few moments later, a man stepped out of the trees and went up to her. He touched her shoulder.*
*“I can help you get revenge on her.”*
*His mother looked up at him. “Who are you?”*
*He smiled down at her. “My name is Donald Slonsky.”*
*She wiped her nose. “Are you sure you can help me?”*
*“Of course. Come with me and I will show you how.”*
*She took his hand and the scene faded into another. This time Slonsky was kneeling on the ground in front of the Goddess, begging for forgiveness. She ignored his pleas as she paced back and forth.*
*“You have changed my plans for reinstating the trio. You have prolonged my process and for that you must pay.” She stopped in front of him. “I will let you live to see the outcome.”*
*She leaned down and sucked air in. A cloudy white gas came from his mouth and was absorbed into the Goddess’s body. She let him drop to the ground.*
*“I have given you immortality. Nothing you do to yourself will end your life. Only the trio can. And just for future reference, all of her plans will fail. I have built in safety nets for them, because of you.”*
*She disappeared and he sat up. He sighed. The scene faded back to the stage where Lily was still frozen. He turned to look at the Goddess.*
*“I want you to know that I have found you worthy of being the Bringer of Death.” She paused. “Now, I do have to let you know that your mate needs to be stronger than the one you have. Do you want me to change her?”*
*He clenched his jaw. “No. I want Lily.”*
*“Do you trust me?”*
*“I do.”*
*“Then let me give you another mate.”*
*“No.”*
*“There will be hardships for you two.”*
*“Then I will be there with her through them all.”*
*“It won’t be easy.”*
*He met her eyes. “I am the Bringer of Death. I won’t be so easy.”*
*She studied him for a moment, before nodding. She leaned forward to breathe on him. His body spasmed and he felt power surge inside of his body. Energy hummed through his blood and his muscles throbbed. A scream pierced the air and his body jerked. *
Another scream sounded and his eyes opened. Lily was leaning over him with tears streaming down her face. He reached up to touch her face as his body still hummed with the power flowing through him.
“Lily, sweetheart. Are you okay?”
She threw herself onto his chest, sobbing. “You were shaking bad.”
He rubbed her back. “It’s okay. I’m okay. I’m sorry I frightened you.”
She sniffled and didn’t respond. He tucked her back into his side, murmuring softly to her. He held her tight, not caring about what the Goddess had said to him. He trusted her and he knew she didn’t make mistakes. If he was not meant to be with Lily, then why was she his fated mate?