Chapter 64

"You shouldn't be able to do that! Voce de Oracle should only be used once, for a certain time-..." Freya laughs as if realisation dawns on her, "you think, once you're finished with me-... the Gods will let you live with such abilities at your disposal?! Now I understand why you must die, no matter how you planned this battle, the Carson Sisters must not exist - *if Fate wills it so!*"

"Say what you will, Freya - I won't fight with you," I spit. Maybe she's right. But I've already made my peace with death - haven't I?

No! I'm supposed to return to Theia. I'm supposed to confess to Jaxson. I want to live, but not if it means joining forces with Freya.

Before I can say a word, Kyro's hand sits on my shoulder, "Kyro, what are you...?" Freya begins, but we disappear, only to reappear in a cave?

"What the hell Kyro?!" He sighs and falls on his butt.

"Night is upon us, and you need to re-evaluate your strategy to fight against Freya's. Now that she knows I betrayed her, she'll shift from her original plan," he announces before a bush of berries sprouts from the cave.

"Eat. You must be exhausted," Kyro practically demands, forcing me to stare at him questionably.

"I'm not eating that! Just because you're a Nymph doesn't mean you're not part Fae. I do not want to be in anyone's debt!" Kyro blinks, bored. His long slender finger point to me.

"Turn that off," I stare down at the golden light still encasing me, and nod releasing the power. "And you'll be fine - the high priestesses have bonded us. Accepting this won't do anything to you. Now eat!" I don't know why I trusted him. I know he isn't lying.

"Which reminds me-..." as I fall onto my ass opposite him, picking out berries, "what exactly is this?" I ask, pointing to my wrist.

"We Nymphs have an ancient stone tablet, that when the times comes, we'll form an ancient bond known as Kufta-..." then he does the most unexpected thing and mind-links me, *'it allows me to speak directly in your thoughts. Protect you. Fight with you, and guide you.'*

"Is it like another mate bond?" I wonder, tilting my head curiously.

"No - I am bonded to your spirit, but it's more of a... bodyguard type of relationship," he drawls. I tilt my head the slightest. "In time, we'll learn to depend on each other and trust one another."

Four figures appear just as Kyro finishes. Within seconds, Jaxson has his hands around Kyro's throat and pressed against the cave, "wait-... Jaxson, don't!"

I can't explain where the sudden fear of losing Kyro came from as I stand between the two men. Fenrir's eyes bleed through Jaxson's, "I wish her no harm, Fenrir. She is my Kufta."

All heads snap to me, except for Kyro's. "Holy shit! That's so cool," Charming grins. I tilt my head.

"You know what it is?" I wonder, how?

"Of course we do! The only Nymph I know who has found their Kufta is Cyrus. You know, the fire Nymph?" He grins, "you do realise this is like having a guardian angel, right?"

"Mmm-hmm, I don't see the big deal," I shrug, and Charming roll his eyes.

"Of course you don't," he scoffs, reaching out to pick out some berries.

"I wouldn't eat those," Kyro drawls, and Charming quickly snatches his arm back.

"Right-..." He drawls.

"Where is your little friend?" Grayson suddenly asks, taking my attention. He looks serious.

"My little friend...? Oh! Theia. She's safe, don't worry," I smile, his gaze narrows.

"I'm not worried!" He growls. I suppress an eye-roll.

"I have true sight, so you can't lie to me," I muse. He clenches his jaw but doesn't say anything.

"As entertaining as this conversation is, we are in the middle of a war," Kyro interrupts, bringing us all back to reality. "The three kings will emerge in three hours, and it's only at its peak can Freya consume the power of the flame. Once she does, nothing can stop her," Kyro emphasises.

"Has she found Caiden?" Sophia asks. Kyro nods.

"She has, and if I know better, then she's already there. The flame is too hot for any creature to stand within ten miles of it. I'm a nymph - so I can get a little closer. But if anyone has a chance of stopping her, it's you five," Kyro explains, and Charming scoffs.

"How am I supposed to get close?" Charming asks, shocked.

"Technically, your ancient blood will protect you from the flame. Unlike other vampires, you have pureblood abilities - compulsion, healing, and immunity to silver - with that combined with your mate's immunity to flame, you should be fine," Kyro explains. Charming nods.

"Okay, now for the ones on the battlefield?" Sophia turns to me, raising a brow.

"They're fine, a few casualties, but they're holding their own. We can't fight with them and stop Freya. Kyro, you should join one of the groups. Emree is with Illiana. It would be nice for other Nymphs to join - their strengths can be useful. Do you think...?"

"Hmm, Aurora owes me a favour - she'll fight. And if Cyrus wants to protect his Kufta, he'll help too," Kyro nods and leaves.

"Alright-..." I clasp, "that just leaves my business!"

"And what's that..." before Charming can finish, I snatch Jaxson's arm, and we disappear into nothing. If Kyro is right, Freya is gone.

We stand beside the lake of Amu and Troy, my eyes peering up at the sky. Kyro's right. I can see the Earth moon. It's the size of my thumb, but in three hours, it'll be much closer.

Our crimson moon stands close to it. Beside it, a blue glow outlines three black holes sinking into one. The suns have almost become one, and once it all lines up, Freya will act.

"Why am I here?" Jaxson growls, obviously displeased.

"To remind you," I sigh, keeping my gaze locked on the sky.

"Remind me of what? I thought I told you...?"

"Remind you that I'm not Ava," I murmur, turning to meet his pale gaze. His face remains stoic.

"I never said you were," he states, emotionless.

"But you were thinking it. You don't want me to end up like Ava. You don't want me to die unhappy - that's why you said those things to me. To push me away, to make me hate you, isn't it?" I interrogate, keeping my gaze as fierce as my intentions.

"This is stupid," He grumbles. Just as I feel him about to disappear, I snatch his arm and pull him back into me.

"Talk to me," I plead.

"I fucking did," he seethes, his pale eyes burning into mine, but it doesn't push me away - it just makes me angry.

"Yeah, because last time you tried to sabotage our relationship!" I hiss. He takes a step close to me.

"Tried to?"

"Yeah, it didn't work - better luck next time, I guess," I sneer. Jaxson's gaze narrows, his jaw twitches, and without even meaning to - I punch him across the face.

His face snaps to the left, a warning growl escapes his lips, "you're going-..." Fenrir bleeds through his eyes, but his words cut off when his eyes meet my vulnerable ones.

"H-How can you just let me go so easily? How can you say and do all the right things and have the nerve to leave!" I spit, my words growing angrier.

Nia's painful whimpers echo in my mind, forgetting that she can also feel his rejection, and makes me livid, "I'm doing it for your own good!" He growls, as frustrated as me.

I chuckle coldly, "For me? Stop deciding what's good for me! I can do that myself. You don't get to tell me what I deserve. You don't get to tell me what I want - what I feel! That's for me to decide - not you!" I yell. His eyes widen slightly. "I want you. Jaxson - fucking - Storm. The son of Hades. My mate! Do you want me to scream it to the damn world!? Do you want me to beat it into you until my hands are broken and bloody?!"

He presses against me in a second, his hands harshly tugging my hair back. "I can't give you what you want... why can't you see that?!" His voice is low, almost a whisper, but the strength of his tone and actions making it seem like he's screaming at my soul.

"Because you've already given me what I want, so why don't you believe me?" I ask. He's so close to me, his pale eyes searing into mine as our noses barely touch.

"Because, if I've learnt anything in my long life, it's that I'm never enough," he murmurs, his thumb brushing away my fallen tears.

"And I'm telling you that you are!" A growl rips past his lips. Low and terrifying.

"Enough!" He snaps.

I push him back harshly. "No... Damn it! Can't you see I love you!" I scream.

A shocked silence passes over us. Jaxson doesn't move - he doesn't breathe. He's still. "I-I won't let you go. I-I won't let you leave me," I promise, fighting the blush creeping up on my cheeks as my heart beats a million miles a minute.

"I don't deserve you," he sighs.

"I don't fucking-..." his lips crash against my own before I can finish. His movements slow and patient.

At this moment, I forget the past. I stop worrying about the future. Only the here and now matters.

We hold on to each other so tightly, I felt his heartbeat against my own, singing in morse code.

This time feels different. Unrushed. Perfect.

From Jaxson's whispers to his touch - I feel everything. He holds on to me, his arms caging around me as if protecting me from the darkness dancing in the magic around us.

With every breath; with every touch – I feel closer; I feel complete.

As we're lost in each other, as I cry to the bleeding skies above us, as I hold on for life, I wonder why it'd taken so damn long to be as close to him as I am now.

A being so gentle, so careful, and tender that he sounds fake. A man who accepts all my faults. A man who understands me. A man who listens. Comforts - *holds* - me.

As the cold air wraps around our naked bodies, I sink my teeth into his neck and confess all my secrets, announced every thought that has crossed my mind. I surrender everything that I've denied.

I kiss him like it'll be my last. I hold him as if he'll somehow disappear. I'll remember it all, from his mumbling words against my ear to the feeling of his greedy fingers tiptoeing across my skin tauntingly.

And if it's just for one night, I'll sink deeper into these depths – unafraid.

I'll let myself drown for fear that the opportunity never rises again.