Chapter Ninety Six

Delanie POV

Here I was scared she would go after Annika and she was here in front of me.

“Enjoying my magic, I see,” she said.

“I can give it back to you, no problem.”

“You know what I want, Delanie.”

“You can’t have my daughter.”

The evil goddess advanced. “I know you won’t and neither will your mate. So I have no choice but to kill you both.”

“W-who is this?” Shaina stuttered.

“Uh… now isn’t the best time for introductions.”

“You can call me Nakara. I love deals.”

“Even deals that weren’t actually made!” I blasted.

“A deal’s a deal.”

“Do something!” Shaina screeched.

She was right. I had magic too even if it belonged to Nakara it was mine now to use.

“Don’t come any closer,” I ordered.

She threw her head back and laughed. “You’re no match for me.”

“I know but I can do some damage.”

I raised my hands and power burst out of my palms and smashed into Nakara’s chest, sending her flying out of the office, down the hall and into the waiting room.

“Let’s go!” I said.

“What?”

“Do you want to stay here and wait for her to come back?” I barked.

Shaina shook her head.

Shaina and I raced out of the hospital. My palms tingled from the incredible surge of power I unleashed.

“Where are you going?” Shaina asked.

“To get my daughter. She’s with Ainsley in the Park.”

As we arrived at the Park, panting and anxious I heard Annika crying in the distance. Nakara’s presence must have upset her.

“Oh, there you are. She just started crying out of nowhere.”

I took her from Ainsley and cradled her but nothing would calm her.

“Give her to me!” An unearthly scream cut through the air.

Shaina ducked and ran off to hide behind an oak tree. Ainsley stuck close but refused to run as Nakara glared at us. Blood ran down her nose, staining her clothes. She reminded me of a ghost at the end of a hallway about to charge.

“Oh boy,” I whispered.

“Rocks,” Ainsley exclaimed.

“Rocks won’t work Ainsley, she’s a psycho goddess.”

“Now I’m out of ideas.”

I summoned my powers. I blasted that bitch once I’ll do it again. I hope this time it’ll be so bad it kills her. I held Annika with one arm. She stopped crying and was distracted by the locks of my hair. Nakara charged and I raised my hand. I used every last drop of power I had left to attack her. She paused and saw the power coming. She was too slow to dodge the ball of magic. It hit her in the chest. The few people in the park stopped to watch her fly as high as the trees as her body lit up in flames.

“Oh my goodness,” I whispered.

Her screams rose as high as she did but after a couple of seconds, her screams died. My heart pounded so hard that my chest ached.

“Is she dead?” Ainsley asked. “She better be dead.”

“You can’t just kill a goddess, but I hope it slows her down.”

“Can we leave now? That was horrifying!” Shaina whined.

I nodded eagerly. “Yeah, let’s go.”

I called Ajax to find out where he was. We still couldn’t go home because of Nakara’s monster in the nursery. He was at his bar. I wasn’t sure about taking Annika to the bar so Ajax closed up the bar. I didn’t tell him what happened over the phone but he sensed my unease. He told me he was with Ross which was great because Ainsley was just as shaken up as I was.

It was awkward with Shaina because things could have gotten really bad before Nakara showed up. We hadn’t said much to each other though. I didn’t know what to think about her revelations or what to do with them. Dimitri had a right to know what happened to Rebecca. He needed closure but he would want justice too. I didn’t care about Shaina I thought about her unborn child instead.

We arrived at the bar. Annika hadn’t let my hair alone. Thank goodness she wasn’t screaming anymore.

“Babe,” Ajax met me at the door.

Ainsley practically jumped into Ross’ arms. “Oh, it was horrible! I thought she would take the baby,” she sobbed.

“Alright, relax, it’s over now.” Ross smoothed her hair.

“Delanie, what the hell happened?” he said low and deadly.

I explained everything that happened minus the fight with Shaina because she was in the room. Ajax and I had a lot to talk about concerning her. He cupped my cheeks and kissed me.

“Let’s go to my office,” he said. “We’ll be right back.”

Once Ajax closed the door he took me into his arms but his daughter protested. I think she wanted attention too.

“Are you okay? Tell me the truth Delanie.”

“I’m shaken up but I’m fine. I want to go home, Ajax, I want this all to end.”

“I know I think I’ve found a way.”

My eyes watered. “What?”

He nodded. “We have to make a deal with the moon goddess.”

“What? That’s what got us into this mess in the first place. “No. We’re not doing that.”

“We don’t have options, Delanie. The last time a god was killed was two centuries ago and it wasn’t easy.”

“What if she demands Annika too? Or worse! I don’t want to lose either of you.”

“Oh baby,” Ajax took my face in his palms. Annika protested again.

Ajax chuckled. “Alright, sweetheart. You know you’re my princess.” He took her into his meaty arms. She settled nicely and looked at her Father with loving eyes.

If it came down to it, I would give myself up for them because I couldn’t live without either of them but it was something Ajax would never let me do.

“I spoke to Cheryl. We have a solid plan I just need you to trust me.”

“I do trust you! I’m just scared.”

“Look at me, I’ll do anything to protect you too.”

“That’s what I’m scared of.”

He smiled softly. “No one’s dying. I promise.”

I exhaled deeply. “Then let’s do this.”