Page 13 of Tear of Destiny

“Noah found me,” I continue, to help him understand. I instantly feel his body flinch when I say the name, but he doesn’t let go of me. “He took me to the Odyss, to a sacred lake where the goddesses used to live. Some of their power is still in the water. Anyway, it took the whole nine days to cure me.”

Ayden nods and rubs my back affectionately. “You know I can’tstand that guy, but I’m so glad he found you and was able to help.”

I know how hard it must be for him express gratitude toward Noah.

“The danger hasn’t completely passed. I’ll have to keep returning to the lake in the Odyss for a while.”

Ayden nods again and keeps holding me in his embrace. I savor the feeling of his arms around me, breathe in his scent deeply and feel so happy to be near him again. His breath dances across my skin, and his body heat warms me.

“Okay,” he replies quietly. “It’s good that he’s still helping you and that there’s a way to keep you safe.”

“I know it’s hard for you, Ayden,” I say, looking up at him. “But at least now you understand that it wasn’t what you thought, and there’s nothing I want more than to be with you. We can get through this. I know we can.”

A faint smile passes across his gorgeous face. The radiant green of his eyes draws me into its spell, but I can also see a flicker of something else in them. Something sad.

Ayden runs his hand tenderly through my hair, hugs me again, and says, “Tess, there were misunderstandings on both sides, but my reasons still stand.”

I swallow hard; the tears well up in my eyes, and I feel as if my heart will shatter into a thousand pieces. His words echo in my head, and I can’t believe what he’s telling me.

“Ayden, please,” I whisper as the tears stream down my cheeks.

He gently wipes them away and says, “I want you to be happy, and if you can’t trust me, then there’s no point. It’s not good for either of us. And you believed Max more than me. You didn’t even give me a chance to explain.”

“It wasn’t like that. I was just completely overwhelmed. If I hadn’t started to transform… I would have…”

He puts his finger on my lips and shakes his head. “It’s not justthat. I’m grateful to Noah for being there and helping you. But that also means you have to keep seeing him. I already told you I’d never ask you not to, but that doesn’t mean I like it. They’re our enemies, and now you have to keep entering their world and spending time there. Even if you don’t join them, it will bring you closer to them. And I can’t stand by and let that happen without saying anything. I promise I won’t tell anyone about this, but I don’t want to know any more either.”

I sniff quietly, wipe the tears from my cheeks, and wish this was all some horrible nightmare that I could finally wake up from.

“I care deeply about you, but there’s too much that stands between us. We’d just keep hurting each other. Neither of us deserves that. And you care about Noah. Otherwise, that kiss would never have happened,” he whispers as his fingertips stroke my face slowly and deliberately.

“Don’t do this, Ayden,” I beg him again, looking up into his face. But I can see in his eyes that he’s made up his mind. There’s no going back.

“Take care of yourself,” he whispers, kissing me on the forehead. Then he lets go of me, turns around, and goes into his room without a backward glance.

I just stand here, my legs quaking, feeling as if I’m falling into a bottomless pit. That’s it, I think. I’ve lost him. Forever this time.

Chapter 7

Idrift though the next few days as though in a trance. I can’t focus on my classes. In training, I deliver a pathetic performance and avoid everyone as much as possible. Kate’s the only one who succeeds in distracting me now and then. But today, she’s visiting her parents, so I’m hanging out in my room alone, trying to watch a TV show to take my mind off things. I sigh heavily and check the time, then I leap to my feet.

“Shit, I’m late.”

I’ve arranged to meet Noah at five because it’s time for me to return to the Odyss and immerse myself in the lake in the goddesses’ garden. I’m kind of dreading it, but I know it’s necessary. The flames coming out of my fingers the other day were a strong reminder of that.

I quickly slip into a bikini and then back into my clothes before hurrying out of my room and leaving the school.

Noah’s already waiting for me at the hospital. He looks relieved when he sees me. “So you came after all,” he observes.

“I’m only ten minutes late,” I reply, but then I realize why he was worried. The last time we saw each other was when Ayden showed up in that alley. We haven’t spoken much since, so hedoesn’t know about everything that’s happened since then. But I don’t want to talk about it.

“Ready?” he asks.

I nod and look at Yoru. “I guess it’s best if I leave him here.”

Noah’s expression is answer enough, so I crouch down beside my little fox.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to stay here, okay? I’ll come back for you soon. Wait for me and stay out of sight.”

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