CHAPTER 181
CHAPTER 181
The kitchen door opened and Mother walked in with Pelagius beside her, flowers blooming in her hair as always.
“Mother,” I breathed, and nodded to Pelagius as well.
“What are you girls up to? Are you ready for the transfer?”
My heart jumped.
"Oh. It's time."
"It is, and we need to be quick. I want us to have ample time to work on any possible mishaps.” Then her eyes swept over me, assessing. "You fed properly?"
"I did,” I replied, struggling to hide the blush that spread to my face at the memory of last night.
"Good." She turned to Reya. "Please dear, get her water and some healing balm. She's going to need both."
My heart rate increased.
Reya nodded and moved to the cabinets while I tried to keep my breathing steady.
When she handed them to her, Mother began walking out of the kitchen.
Oh, this was happening. Right now
"Reya," I called, remembering something. “Can you get Ixion here? I'll need to go get the Tamzyns with him later. If he's going to fight with us, we need him to be properly rested and not breathless from teleporting us there. He's also going to teleport us back here after."
"On it." She nodded emphatically and vanished. We had a specific phone that we used to call Ixion, and it's located in my office upstairs. We're probably the only ones able to access him in the entire world. Even though Hades is down in the underground, he was y taking chances.
Not after what he did to Rowan. He was keeping his husband as safe as possible.
Mother handed me the water Reya had given her earlier as I followed them out "Drink up, you'll want your body as prepared as possible."
Not making things easier here Mother.
I drank and the water tasted wrong already, like my senses knew what was coming. My hands shook slightly and I set the glass down on the living room table before we continued on.
Pelagius turned back and looked at me with narrowed eyes and a smirk
"Scared?"
"Terrified," I admitted. "What if your power messes with my sun and earth magic? What if I can't control three types at once?"
"You worry too much,” he rolled his eyes, “besides, what's the worst that can happen? You lose your hold on the power and explode, destroying or merging the three realms.”
"Pelagius," Mother snapped.
"What? I'm being honest." He gestured toward the hallway. "Where are we doing this?”
“In Rowan's office,” I replied, taking a lead in the direction of where all of this had begun.
Mother nodded and we made our way down the hall. Each step felt heavier than the last and by the time we reached Rowan's office, my stomach was twisted in knots.
Pelagius walked to the center and sat at the edge of the table.
He then raised his two arms and crossed them three times like a snake vine and then he created more symbols with his fingers.
Writings appeared on the floor and a circle came around it as well.
Then he turned to me.
"Come and kneel over here."
I crossed to him with a racing heart and knelt across from him, my knees pressing into the symbols. They pulsed warm against my skin.
"This is going to be brutal," he warned. "My power has existed since before your mother woke. Longer than most gods have drawn breath. It's not meant for bodies as young as yours, divine blood or not."
"Should we reconsider?" I asked, terrified.
“We can't Celeste,” Mother replied, “you know we would if we could. Your powers are strong but it's nothing compared to Hades's.”
"You'll feel like you're drowning while your soul burns,” Pelagius continued, adding fuel to the fire burning in my chest. “Your reserves will stretch past their limits and you'll want to break contact." He held out his hands. "Don't. If you let go before the transfer completes, the power will tear you apart from the inside."
My mouth went dry.
“Okay…”
"One more thing. It's going to hurt like hell and there's nothing I can do to make it easier."
I reached for his hands and his skin was cool like deep water.
The air shimmered suddenly and Rowan appeared beside us, eyes wide.
I realized I hadn't even told him about this part in detail.
"What's happening? I felt—" He looked at our joined hands and understanding dawned. "You're doing it now?"
"We are." I tried to smile but it came out shaky.
"Will she be okay?" He asked Pelagius, and there was an edge to his voice that worsened my fear.
"If she's strong enough." Pelagius met his gaze. "I'll be careful. But this isn't a gentle process."
"Just don't kill her." Rowan moved to stand behind me and his presence was grounding. "Please."
Pelagius nodded once.
"Close your eyes, Celeste. And remember, no matter what happens, don't let go."
Okay, no pressure at all.
I forced my eyes shut.
"Breathe with me," Pelagius instructed. "Match my rhythm."
I did and with each exhale, the air grew thick and heavy and I tasted salt on my tongue.
Then power slammed into me like a tidal wave.
I gasped and my eyes flew open but Pelagius's grip tightened, holding me in place.
Water that wasn't there filled my lungs and I couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't scream
"Don't fight it," Pelagius commanded. "Let it flow."
But it wasn't flowing, it was drowning me, and pressure built in my chest until I thought my ribs would crack. Everywhere our hands touched burned with cold fire and my magic reserves stretched and stretched and I felt them starting to tear my skin.
"I can't –" The words barely came out, it was painful to speak, to do anything.
"You can endure it, I can feel your power." His voice was steady even as sweat beaded on his forehead. "Push through it."
Behind me, Rowan's hand found my shoulder and squeezed. The bond between us pulsed and I clung to it like a lifeline.
The ocean kept pouring in. Miles and miles of water, the weight of the abyss, power older than civilization itself. My body shook violently and I bit down on my tongue to keep from screaming.
The transfer continued and every second felt like drowning but I held on. Gritted my teeth and held Pelagius's hands and refused to let go.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the flow stopped.
Pelagius released my hands and I collapsed forward. Rowan caught me before I hit the floor and his arms were the only thing keeping me upright.
"Celeste?" His voice was panicked. "Baby, look at me."
I couldn't. Everything hurt and I was still half in the ocean, still feeling waves that weren't there.
"Breathe," Mother said from somewhere above me. "Just breathe through it."
I tried but my lungs didn't want to work properly and my magic was rioting inside me, three powers crashing against each other like they were trying to tear me apart.
"Get her upstairs," Mother said. "She needs to rest and bond with you. The powers will settle but not like this."
Rowan lifted me easily and I pressed my face into his chest, trying to focus on his heartbeat instead of the ocean screaming in my head.
The elevator ride was a blur. Then we were in our bedroom and he lay me on the bed carefully, as though I might shatter.
He didn't wait for me to take the lead as usual, instead, he took my lips in his, as though forcing my lungs to take in air.
He gradually brought me closer to earth, like a lifeline in the wild ocean.
He took off my clothes hurriedly, kissing every inch of skin he uncovered.
Even though I was losing my shit, I recognised the familiarity of Rowan.
The one I used to know, to love, and give myself to.
With each passing moment, it was clear I could trust myself completely to him.
When he entered me, it was like finally breathing again.
Our eyes finally met and I kissed him back as fervently.
He didn't fuck me aggressively, didn't take anything from me.
He seemed to know exactly what my body needed and he didn't delay or drag it on.
He made love to my soul and body and soon, I was cumming harder than I ever had, grabbing his shoulders tightly.
In a few thrusts afterwards, he followed, roaring his release and sending more energy to my soul.
After, we lay tangled and breathing hard and for the first time since he came back to me, I felt whole.
Complete.
I allowed myself to sleep, because after this, the second part of this whole thing would begin and something tells me I'll need every ounce of rest I could get.