Page 72 of Their Promise

She laughed softly. “I’ve learned that if someone calls for a shield like that, it’s to protect others and it’s best to listen.”

Mom pulled me into a tight hug. “You scared me.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered as I hugged her back. “I was scared, too.”

“Who were you talking to?” Kayden asked.

Shit, they’d heard that?

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “They told me to make the power mine and that they were a friend. I’ve never heard the voice before, though.”

Should I tell them about the necklace warming? Was it related somehow? I felt like it was something I shouldn’t bring up.

“Did they say anything else?” Caleb asked.

“That I was becoming the person I am supposed to be. To be a goddess,” I admitted.

“A goddess?” Mom asked with a frown and turned to Nana Jolie. “Have you heard anything like that before?”

“We were taught about goddesses and gods, but it was mythology, not real,” Nana Jolie said. “Or, so we thought.”

“It could still be mythology,” Caleb said. “She doesn’t look like she’s changed.” At my frown, he smiled and said, “No offense, cub.”

“It’s likely bullshit,” I said and shrugged. “However, their advice did help, so I’m grateful even if I don’t know who they are.”

“Maybe the darkness wasn’t related to the spell at all,” Mom suggested. “Maybe it was a coincidence, like the personality altering spell woke up the darkness that was already in her. I don’t even think darkness is an appropriate term for it, honestly.”

“We’ll do some research,” Grandpa Nico said to me and patted my shoulder.

Turning to Kayden and Trey, I asked, “How are you feeling? Better?”

I stepped closer to them, but when they tensed, I stopped.

“It’s … complicated,” Kayden answered. “If you’re okay, we’re going to head out to find Mason.”

“Oh, sure,” I said and wrapped my arms around myself. Had it changed how they felt about me?

“We’re glad you’re okay,” Trey said and gave me a tense smile.

I nodded. “I’ll text you about our dates, okay?”

They nodded and walked away.

Nana Jolie put her arm around my shoulder and squeezed. “Give them a day of breathing room. It’s not always easy dealing with such a sudden change.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

“Let’s get you home,” Mom said and pulled me out of Nana Jolie’s hold. She teleported us to the house and I immediately went up to my room to shower.

Although I felt better, stronger and more powerful, than ever, I felt like something was missing. Was this missing piece what the guys were talking about? On top of that was my concern over Mason and how the guys were reacting. Would Mason forgive me? Would this change our dynamic like I’d been worried it would?

I supposed only time would tell.

Once out of the shower, I messaged Great Nana Kara about the elf girl who shifted into a snake to set up a time to go see her and try to help. Drying my hair with the towel, I flopped onto my bed and sighed at the framed concert t-shirt with a print of the picture with the band. Why did that feel like it was a year ago when it had just happened yesterday?

Sitting up, I went to my desk, grabbed the calendar book, and flopped back onto my bed to message Liam for a second date. I’d wait to message the trio for theirs until I’d given them at least a day to decompress.

Liam replied almost immediately accepting my first offered date of one week from now. He promised to think of something fun and would message me details the day before.

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