LUCIAN’S P.O.V.
The darkness wasn’t just around —it was within , swallowing everything I’d ever known. For the first ti in my life, I felt truly powerless. No amount of strength, wealth, or dominance could undo what had just happened. I was blind.
"Ares?" I called out, my voice shaky even though I tried to steady it.
"I’m here," Ares replied, his voice a balm against the chaos in my mind. "We’ll get through this, Lucian. I’m here. You’re not alone."
I felt his reassurance seeping through , but it did little to quiet the storm of thoughts.The trade was done. My sight for Mai’s. A bargain struck with the Moon Goddess herself.
Teresa’s scent was the first thing I clung to in the void—warm, sweet, tinged with a sadness that pierced through like a blade. "Teresa," I croaked, reaching out blindly until I found her hand. I was trembling but I couldn’t help it.
"I’m here," she whispered, her voice thick with unshed tears.
"I—" The words caught in my throat, fear choking . "I can’t see." My confession hung in the air between us, heavy and raw.
Teresa’s free hand brushed against my cheek, her touch both soothing and heartbreaking. "Lucian, I—" Her voice cracked, and she pulled back slightly, probably trying to compose herself.
"What about Mai?" I interrupted, desperate to focus on sothing other than my own despair. "Is our baby...?" I swallowed hard, barely able to get the words out. "Can she see now?"
There was a brief pause, and I could hear her sniffle. "Yes, she can. She’s responding to movent, to light... She’s seeing clearly." Her voice broke on the last word, and I felt her hand tighten around mine.
Relief washed over like a tidal wave, leaving breathless. My knees buckled, and I sank to the ground, still gripping Teresa’s hand. "She can see," I repeated, clinging to the words like a lifeline.
"But her eyes," Teresa continued hesitantly. "They’re still silver."
I stiffened, my chest tightening. "Why?" That wasn’t what I expected. I could feel Ares’ unease ripple through our bond, a low growl resonating in my mind.
Teresa turned her attention toward the goddess, her cracking voice was also laced with desperation, fear, and a mother’s fierce protectiveness. "Why aren’t her eyes back to green? What does this an?"
The goddess’ voice was soft but carried a weight that demanded attention. "The silver in her eyes is a mark—a sign of the demon witch Laevira. Her presence remains within your daughter, just as the red hair on the boy Juliette holds signifies the presence of the demon wolf Raivo."
Gasps filled the air. I didn’t need my sight to feel the collective shock radiating from everyone present. I felt Teresa’s shock and confusion through our mate bond, a sharp, jagged pulse of emotions that made my chest ache. Her breathing grew rapid, her words trembling. "A demon... inside my baby?"
I clenched my jaw. She wasn’t supposed to know. I had believed that once the exchange was made, the spirit would be gone.
Teresa’s pain was mine. I pulled her hand to my chest, holding it tightly before reluctantly letting it drop back to her side. The guilt was eating alive. "Goddess," I said, my voice low and steady despite the turmoil inside . "Are you not going to take the demon out of her?"
The goddess’s expression softened, though her words carried the weight of inevitability. "Mai was always ant to bear the demon’s presence, though it will remain dormant until she cos of age. What I did here today was not just to restore her sight but to conceal her from those who would seek the demon witch spirit. For now, she is safe."
Another round of collective gasp rippled through the clearing. Beside , Teresa’s breathing grew shallow, and I could feel her trembling. "My poor baby," she whispered, her voice cracking as tears fell freely. "My poor, innocent baby."
Her anguish was a knife to my heart. I reached for her blindly, pulling her close. She clung to , her body shaking with every anguished sob. I held her tighter, letting her grief pour through our bond and mingling it with my own. "Teresa," I murmured, my voice thick with emotion. "I’m here. We’ll figure this out. Together."
It was Adrian who broke the tension, his smooth, unhurried voice cutting through the despair. "And when she cos of age? When the demon awakens? What happens then?"
The goddess’ voice turned to Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, since you’re the one who bonded Mai’s wolf. When she turns 22 years of age, you will also be the one to unbind it. Until then, you must teach Mai all she needs to know about witches. She will need it. That knowledge will be her greatest weapon."
Elizabeth solemnly answered, her voice steady. "I understand."
The goddess then turned to Adrian, her tone hardening but not unkind. "As for you, Adrian Daegon... You will raise the boy carrying Raivo’s spirit. His na shall be Eldur—’fire.’ He will not be easy to raise, there would be many tis you would wish you could run away and hide but you must be steady, and you must love him as fiercely as you love Mai and Ollie. That is your punishnt and your purpose."
Adrian, usually so quick with a charming retort, was silent. I couldn’t see his face, but I could feel his shock. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet but resolute. "I will do it."
The goddess turned to Juliette, her tone softer. "Juliette," she called, "you know your role."
Juliette simply replied, her response cryptic."Yes, goddess." I filed it away, deciding I’d question her later.
Finally, the goddess spoke again, her voice echoing with finality. "It is done."
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over . My body felt weightless, and the next mont, the familiar scent of my pack surrounded .
"Ares," I whispered. "Where are we?"
"It slls like we’re ho," he replied, awe in his voice.
"Ho?" I echoed aloud, turning toward Teresa. "Where are we?"
Her voice was filled with shock and disbelief. "We’re... in the living room. Lucian, we’re back in your mansion."
Relief flooded , but so did a new wave of questions. How could I protect Teresa and our children now, when I couldn’t even see them? How could I face her, knowing my failure had led us here? Was there even a chance for us to be together now?
My battles were just beginning, but at least, thanks to the goddess, I didn’t have to worry about how to get back ho.
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