Page 45 of Defy Me

Sorry. I'm kind of new to this mythical creature thing. Fallyn is still alive then.

"Once Jett helped rescue her from hell. I have to admit, he does have the heart of a dragon. He reminds me so much of his father. All rebellious and broody. If it wasn't for his mother, I think I'd really like him. I am trying. I found you for him, didn't I?"

My Jett?All she did was ask the goddess questions. This entire conversation was so confusing. She had the feeling she was supposed to be getting something out of it. She had no idea what.

"There's only one." Duh, her tone said. "Anywhoo, now the poor thing is scared to death of the one dragon who would give anything to be with her. If she knew he was willing to die, to sacrifice his entire being to save her soul, she wouldn't want him to do that. Yet she's been doing it for him her whole life."

Sacrifice. To save a soul. A cold shiver shook her hide and her limbs went a bit numb, like they'd fallen asleep. She wasn't entirely sure they were still talking about Fallyn.She wouldn't want that for him.

"No." A flurry whipped through the field, sending the goddesses dress and hair into a frenzy. Her expression soured and she set down her teacup hard enough it cracked. "Let me ask you this, Yvaine. What good does it do to find your true mate and then give it all up for some noble cause?"

Gulp.Because he'd be alive.

"Pshhh. Not really. A piece of him would be missing. They can't live that way. They can exist, but it's a half life. It's a sad state of affairs for a dragon. Most of them don't survive." She threw her hands up in the air completely disgusted with the idea. "There's no way Fallyn would want that. I mean, would you?"

Yvaine reared up and kicked at the air.I have to get back to him. I don't want that for Jett. I don't want that for me.

The wind died down and the goddess poured a new cup of tea, her mug restored from the pieces she'd smashed it into. "I'm afraid you're here to stay."

No. She had to get back to Jett, back to life. Hers was just beginning. She'd gotten it all wrong. She thought if she just found out who or what she was that it would all mean something. This was all wrong. Terribly wrong. She galloped away from the goddess, through trees and over the hills. She ran and ran until she was exhausted and couldn't go anymore. She slowed to a walk. Had to keep going. The table, the tea, and the goddess reappeared in front of her and she collapsed onto the grass. Between long hard breaths she threw her questions at the woman, angry she even had to ask them.What is this place? Why are you keeping me prisoner when I should be back there?

The goddess took a sip of her tea. "Oh, you're dead."

Yvaine got back up and pawed at the ground.Dead?

She didn't feel dead. She was breathing hard, her heart beat wildly in her chest, her soul ached to be back with the one she loved. This wasn't death and she refused to be dead.

"Mostly." The goddess nodded and shrugged.

Is that even a thing?

"There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead."

Yvaine had heard that somewhere before.Then I can go back.

"I can't do anything with all dead. That's not my realm. Been there, done, that. Started a war. They don't have t-shirts for that kind of thing though."

But mostly dead,Yvaine crossed her mental fingers she was right about this,is slightly alive.

That's how she'd been living her life. Only slightly alive. Waiting for her real life to show up. What a waste. How had she not seen that before?

The woman slow-smiled and gave Yvaine the smallest of acknowledgement nods that meant she'd given the right answer. Good. Now that they'd gotten that straight, the goddess could send her back, save her so she could start living her real life.

"I can't save you, Yvaine. So don't ask."

Oh. She totally was about to.

Save herself. If she wanted to live, she had to save herself.

Yvaine opened her eyes and closed them again. Wow. She had the worst headache. She breathed in through her nose and out through her mouth a few times trying to stave of the shooting pain in her head, her hands, her arms, her legs, her stomach. Pretty much every part of her hurt. "Ouch."

"Yvaine?"

She reopened her eyes and saw Jett, in his handsome man form, covered in silver goo. Just the man she was looking for. "You have to live."

He stopped breathing for a second and then grabbed her up in his arms. "Me? You're the one who died on me, damn it."

She breathed in his smoky scent."Sorry about that. I know better now. Besides, I was only mostly dead." And she wasn't going to live that way anymore.

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