128

128
ARIADNE

I couldn't help the way my lips spread wide, breaking into a smile as Callan pushed the door open, leading Sera into the room. Yes, I had been expecting this moment for the past two days, but my best was already thudding fast, almost almost fast. 

As if it was trying to leap out of my chest. I had been waiting for this moment all morning, holding my breath every time I thought about her face when she would finally see what we had done. She stepped through the doorway, holding Callan's hands, smiling, probably wondering what the surprise was about. Her braids swung behind her with every movement she made. 

The cautious, almost tentative steps told me she was already curious. I straightened from the counter top where I was leaning, grinning so hard my cheeks ached, and then, as soon as Callan pulled off the blindfold, I shouted at the top of my lungs. 

"Happy birthday!" 

It took a moment before she was able to process what was in front of her. She froze for a split second, lips parting and eyes widening and she took I'm everything. Then she broke into the brightest smile I'd seen on her in a very long time. 

That was the smile I'd always wanted to see on her face every time, but circumstances always had her carrying a gloomy face almost every damn time. It was like sunlight breaking through the clouds after a very heavy storm. 

She gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. 

"Oh my goodness!" She squealed, and then she was running towards me. 

I barely had time to brace myself for the impact as she ran into me and wrapped her arms around me so tight I thought she might squeeze the air right out of my lungs if she squeezed any harder. 

Her screams were broken, as if she was starting to cry from the shock of what she was witnessing. I laughed through the pressure in my chest, holding her just as tightly. 

"Happy birthday, baby sis," I whispered against her cheek before planting a kiss there. "Eighteen looks good on you." 

She pulled back, eyes glassy and the wide smile still planted there. "I can't believe you did this. I... I never thought..." She ran out of words. 

"You deserve it," I said softly before pulling her in for another hug. 

When I looked past her, Callan was standing a few meters away, smiling too. When Sera pulled away from me, she turned and ran into his arms. 

He stiffened for a second, then let out a low chuckle before hugging her back. It was brief but from where I was standing, I saw just how it made her whole body loosen. 

That was how it was supposed to be. She deserved to be around people she could trust, people that would keep her safe. And not those that would have her stressing and looking over her shoulder every damn time. 

"Alright," Sera said when she pulled away from Callan, wiping her eyes as she looked around, eyes glistening. "Cake. Where is it? Don't tell me you didn't get me cake."

"Oh, of course we got cake." I said, grinning as I gestured to the table to my right. 

The room wasn't huge, but I had done everything I could to make it glow. I had Callan help me force the doctor to sign me out of that miserable hospital yesterday. I couldn't stand the thought of spending her birthday there. 

And before I left the hospital, I had already planned everything with one of the maids. And I had worked half the night with the maids to make sure that everything was perfect. Ribbons of pale silver and deep blue were hung along the walls. I'd made sure the maids twisted them together like strands. Small lanterns were floating above us too, giving off a soft golden glow that gave the room a very deep but beautiful ambiance. The table was draped with white linen, covered in little plates of sweets, bowls of berries, and several pitchers of sparkling juice. In the middle was the three-layered cake. It was frosted smooth and topped with tiny silver stars. Sera couldn’t stop staring at it. 

She finally placed her palm over her lips, emotional, and looked at me. 

"It's beautiful." 

"Not as beautiful as you," I teased. 

She rolled her eyes but blushed all the same as she stepped forward. Her hand was just reaching for the knife when the door opened again and Vylia appeared, wearing a smile. 

"Forgive me," she said, slightly breathless, probably because she was hurrying. "I'm late. Happy birthday, dear." 

She pulled Sera into a light hug. I'd invited her last night and she has happily agreed to be part of it. I needed to make my sister feel happy again. Relieve her from the stress of being around here. 

Sera gave her a nod. "Thank you!" 

Vylia gave her a small kiss on the cheek before gliding over to a chair, sitting down before she scanned the decorations in the room. Sera pulled up her sleeves before walking over to the table. She grabbed the knife, but before she cut it. 

We had to sing. Vylia stood up to do the honours with us. And as we sang the happy birthday song, I couldn't help the way my voice kept cracking. 

But I forced myself to keep going through the whole song, allowing the warmth of the festive air to fill me. She laughed as she cut into the cake, and the cheer in the room rose instantly. I gave her a half hug before passing her a plate. 

Callan was already pouring us something to drink. 

Under it all however, I couldn't deny the heavy feeling that had settled on my chest. I smiled at Sera. I laughed when she flicked up a bit of frosting and smeared it on my cheek. But when I blinked, I was taken back to the birthday before this. 

One that felt like it belonged to another life at this point because of how much that had changed in the last two years. She was sixteen then. Our parents were alive. The house was loud and full of our cousins, uncles and aunts. 

Mother had baked her favorite lemon cake and Dad couldn't stop teasing her about growing up too fast. He had canceled an important Pack meeting that morning just so he couldn't miss his daughter's birthday party. We had all been together. Whole. And I still remembered how incredible the atmosphere had been. It was so joyous. 

I could still feel the air on my skin, the loud happy birthday chant and the kids running around the party, chasing after each other and- And now... not it was just us. Just me and her. The only ones left. Magnus had taken it all away when he attacked us. The poignant memory hit me so hard that for a moment I couldn't breathe. 

No throat tightened as the lump settled there, and before I could stop it, tears were already spilling over my cheeks. Sera noticed instantly. She dropped her fork, rushing to me. Her brows pinched. 

"Ari? What's wrong?" I smiled through the tears, wiping at my eyes as I shook my head, but it was no use. 

My words came out in raw, broken stutters. "I just... I was remembering your last birthday. When you turned sixteen. Everyone was there. Mom. Dad. All of them. Still feels like yesterday?" 

Her eyes softened, glistening with her own tears that were starting to well up. She pulled me into another hug, making me let go of the tears that I was trying so hard to hold back. I shut my eyes, remembering our childhood. I'd watched her grow up. And that... that was one of the most incredible feelings ever. 

"It's just us now," I whispered with a cracked voice. "And I really don't want to say this again probably because you've heard me say it so many times but I'm so damn scared of losing you too. Anytime I think about it, I just don't feel great. I need you to know, Sera, that I love you. And I love you more than anything. And I swear to the goddess herself, I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. I know he took Mom and Dad from us, but I'll never let him harm you. Do you hear me? Anything." 

She didn't say anything at first. She just kept her arms around me, burying her face in my shoulder as I rocked her slowly, letting the tears fall. Then she spoke in a muffled, steady voice. 

"Everything’s going to be okay. I promise." I clung to her, trembling, until the storm inside me started to ease. 

When she finally pulled away, she brushed the tears from my face with her thumb, then she smiled a watery, wry smile. Just then the door was pushed open and the rest of our guests started to pour in. The guards and the maids were here, probably late because their shifts just ended. 

"Go sit down, Ari. I'll go greet the others." I nodded, still shaky, watching as she went to welcome the guards and maids who had filtered in. 

The laugh and the chatters that followed soon after had me feeling warm again. Vylia leaned towards me from her seat with a plate of cake that Callan had cut for her. 

"You look well, almost too well. Don't mean it in a bad way though. The news of your recovery has been spreading like wild fire. And I'm shocked too. The goddess is really looking out for you." 

I forced a small smile. "Was just about to say that." 

She chuckled. 

But amidst that the truth was sitting like a stone in my throat, but I wasn't about to open that wound. 

Vylia studied me for a moment, then lowered her voice. "What about the Games? Has Magnus gotten you out of the list?" 

The question made me remember what happened when Callan had gone to talk to him about it and it made my stomach twist as I thought about just how cruel some people could be. 

I shook my head. 

"No." 

Her eyes widened. "What? That's impossible.  You nearly died from the poison. In fact, that's the first thing he was supposed to do. Or maybe you haven't talked to him about it? You really have to." 

I swallowed hard, glancing toward the door where Sera was laughing with a guard. 

"I have already talked to him, through Callan but he refused, and insisted that I must fight. I don't know why he's doing this, but he won't budge. He's pretty stubborn isn't he?" 

The anger flared in her face. "That man is going to destroy you. Don't worry, I'll speak to him myself." 

I didn't even have time to respond before the door opened again, but this time, slowly. The sound made everyone freeze. And when we all looked towards the door, deafening silence took over. 

Magnus stepped in, looking around the room. 

I felt my lips curl before I could stop them. "Speak of the devil." 

Vylia straightened in her seat and asked in a tense voice. "Was he invited?" 

I shook my head. "No. I have no idea what he's doing here. He must have heard the birthday song. Or maybe someone told him." 

The air had already shifted by then. The laughter had died off and the chatter too. Even the guards who had been relaxed moments ago were now silent, standing still like statues. 

The moment Sera saw him, her smile vanished. He didn't stop walking until he stopped before Vylia and me. 

"What's this? A celebration, and you didn't think to invite me? I'm hurt." 

I glanced over at Callan who was already wearing a cautious look on his face, wordlessly telling me to hold my tongue. But I couldn't help it. I turned back to Magnus. 

"Can you see what your presence has caused already? Yet you want me to invite you? First of all, I wouldn't want you here." 

Sera stared at me with wide eyes from behind Magnus, as if begging me not to provoke him. But the words were already out. Magnus only laughed as he made his way to the table, cut himself a slice of cake as if and then walked back to me, munching on it while staring down at me with gleaming eyes. 

"The Moonlit Hunt will begin soon. You shouldn't be partying. You should be training. Won't need to tell you much, but you must be ready when the time comes." 

I didn't say anything in response. I just waited for him to turn around and leave, but almost immediately, behind Magnus, I heard a sudden, loud crash. 

I stood and looked above his shoulder just in time to see Callan shoving through the crowd frantically. 

He was mixing so hard he collided with one of the maids and sent her crashing to the floor with a startled cry. 

"Callan?" I called, my pulse already spiking as I started jogging after him. "What's wrong?"