Chapter 12 Chapter Twelve - Gabriella
His words should make me want to run out the door, but another part of me feels like it’s waited forever to hear him say that which makes no fucking sense because we don’t even know each other.
“You don’t even know me,” I cautiously point out.
“I didn’t touch you that night because you were a hot piece of ass, although your ass is phenomenal,” he adds. I bob my head in agreement. When you’re right, you’re right. He sighs, “Anything I say will sound just as insane as telling you I’m a God.”
With apprehensive steps, I walk over and sit on the coffee table in front of him, “I am thoroughly confused and a little freaked out, but there’s part of me that wants to hear you out. You did just teleport me into my apartment and conjure me a glass of wine, and I don’t think I can manifest enough denial to make me pretend that didn’t happen. So I’m willing to hear you out and not make any sarcastic quips.”
He looks straight at me, “I get the feeling that will be incredibly difficult for you.”
“Probably about as hard as it seems to be for you to have to tolerate someone clapping back at you. So let’s call us even.”
He smirks in amusement then runs his fingers through his hair as he sucks air into his lungs causing his pecs to bulge under his sweatshirt. I do my best not to ogle him, but it’s proving rather difficult.
“Magic is real, Gods are real, and I am one of them, and you… are my animai. Which is what we call soulmates,” he says, exhaling out the weight of his words.
I can feel my eye twitching as I try to comprehend what the fuck he just said, but I can tell there’s more, so I just nod for him to continue. “Go on.”
He looks surprised, but continues, “Zarseti is known as the Goddess of Peace and Love. She possesses the ability to see every soul in the universe and pair those that are best for each other. She chose you for me. I was shocked and a little appalled at first, I will admit.”
“Why? Am I not good enough for you?” I say, instinctively feeling offended even though I have no idea what’s going on.
His eyes widen in shock, “No! If anything I don’t feel deserving of you. It was the fact that you’re human that I found appalling. I am far older than I appear and stronger than you can imagine. I don’t want to hurt you,” he says with sincerity in his voice and pain in his eyes.
A God doesn’t feel worthy of me? Oh, come on now! Of all the things he’s said so far that one is the least believable.
“So you’re telling me this Goddess, just goes around pairing people together? So I’m just meant to accept that you’re my soulmate and I don’t even get a say in the matter? That’s fucking rude,” I huff in annoyance. The number of women in the world who would kill to find their soulmate and I’m bitching about it. This so checks with me.
He takes in another deep breath and at this rate, he could probably excel at free diving with all these breaths.
“You are free to reject me if you do not want me. Zarseti honours free will. Her magic implemented a failsafe of sorts, so that should one or both people not want the pairing for whatever reason, they can reject each other. Though I hear it is excruciatingly painful and some have even died in the process.”
“Excuse me?” I splutter in horror. “You call that free will? Sure, you can reject your soulmate, but you’ll die in doing so,” I say incredulously.
“It’s not as common as you think and very few go through with rejection. If you wish to reject me, I will accept and leave you be,” he concedes reluctantly.
“Jartre I don’t even understand soulmates enough to want to reject you. This is a lot to take in and I’m fucking confused. You’re a God, magic is real, I’m your soulmate and rejecting you might kill me. That’s way too much for 4 in the morning and following a near-death experience,” I say as the magnitude of this hits me.
He nods, “You make valid points.”
I get up and slowly pace the room. This is way too much to digest and I’m just one person. I feel like there is so much I don’t understand, and I can’t make an informed decision on whether or not this is all insane or just heavy. I also don’t know what to do. All I’ve got is my gut and my gut seems genuinely disgusted at the thought of rejection even though I don’t understand it, which might mean he’s onto something. I have a lot of questions that need answers, but before I can even begin to figure out what to ask, I need rest.
“Look, it’s been a long night, I’ve been on my feet for hours and I’m incredibly tired. I need to go to sleep, get some rest and then figure out how to handle this. I’m not… rejecting you, whatever that means, and as insane as this all is, I think you might be telling me the truth, but before I take on more information, I’m going to need some space to decompress. Can you give me that?” I gently ask, looking over at him.
Something akin to hope shines in his remarkable eyes, and he gives me a stiff nod as he rises to his feet. “You’re right, this is a lot, even for me. I will give you the space you need and when you are ready to talk, you can call for me and I will answer your questions.”
“I don’t have your number.”
He gives me a ‘seriously?’ stare. “You think Gods use cell phones?”
Okay, when he says it like that it sounds idiotic.
“Hey, up until tonight I didn’t even believe in Gods, now I’m having a spiritual crisis, cut me some slack.”
He smiles softly, “Fair.” He walks over, takes my hand in his, and lifts it to his lips as he places a tender kiss on the back of my hand that burns pleasurably against my skin sending heat through my entire body. “Take all the time you need, and just call my name when you’re ready. I will hear you and come.”
“For what it’s worth, thank you for respecting my wishes. If you are a God or just a really powerful guy, I can imagine that’s difficult for you,” I say compassionately.
He smiles, clearly touched by my words, “You have no idea. But you’re worth it. Goodnight, Gabriella,” he says softly, and then completely disappears.
I stare in disbelief and then whip my head around looking for him. I slowly sink onto the floor as I process what the fuck just happened. If everything he said is true, and this wasn’t just a figment of my imagination then…
“Holy fuck.”