CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

 

After leaving the Goddess' throne room, Aryiah and Damarius decided to continue their exploration of Dalestri.

As they walked along a cobblestone path, Aryiah was mesmerized by tall evergreens and the beautiful torches that radiated an ethereal blue-green flame. "Where are we going?"

"I want to show you the castle's portal. It's the only way off Upper World for those who live in the area but are unable to shade."

They continued down the path, talking about the citizens and the layout of Dalestri and its surrounding villages when Aryiah suddenly felt a sense of warning.

Someone's watching us, she sent to Damarius.

The feel of his hand tightening in hers indicated he was on high alert. Yes, I know. Just continue to walk and talk out loud as if we're none the wiser, he sent in response.

Suddenly, Devin and Gage dropped from the trees, landing directly in their path.

Damarius pushed her behind him, his broad back shielding her against the threat. Peering over his shoulder, Aryiah saw Devin crouched in black leather pants, a black tank top, and black combat boots. It was a look she wasn't used to, but it was the fangs she was baring that threatened Aryiah's control.

"Why are you doing this?" pleaded Aryiah.

"Because I can't tell you how sick I am of hearing how different and special you think you are. With the 'odd' things that always seemed to happen to you, and how blessed you felt when you got that great job at such a young age. You spent your life alone, acting like a martyr after your father died, refusing to live life with the money he'd left you. Stupid! You always thought you were better than me. Well guess what...now I'm as special as you, and you're going to pay for making me feel second best."

The crushing words had Aryiah trembling and grabbing onto Damarius for support. Hold it together, my love. She is no longer the person you once knew.

Damarius' words penetrated her mind as she dropped her head, resting it between his shoulder blades. She knew he was right; Devin was truly lost to her, but the idea of fighting and likely killing her best friend crashed over her like a wave of sadness. Aryiah only had seconds to wallow before Damarius' warning had her gathering her strength. Prepare yourself, they're about to attack.

As she lifted her head, a sense of peace and power radiated throughout her entire body. She stepped around Damarius, positioning herself in front of him. "I'm so sorry you ever felt that way, and even more sorry to have lost you to him," she said, gesturing to Gage. "But I will not stand here and let you try to hurt me or my mate."

Devin lunged forward, fangs bared, but suddenly Gage held out an arm to stop her. "Not yet, my dear. There's something you don't know about the wolf."

To Aryiah's surprise, Gage revealed Damarius' secret to them all.

"You can't hurt him in his phantom form, but he can latch on and devour you with his teeth," the vampire finished.

That would have been nice to know, Aryiah thought, feeling slighted about being left in the dark.

I'm sorry, my love. After you woke from your coma, everything happened so fast, I simply forgot to tell you. But get ready, because you're about to see it firsthand.

Damarius didn't bother with any posturing or monologue, he simply shifted into his wolf then faded to his ghostly form. Aryiah, Devin, and Gage stood shell-shocked for a moment, all looking at the enormous ethereal wolf. Then in a frenzy of sudden movements and one loud shout, Damarius had Devin on the ground, his teeth buried in her neck.

Aryiah stood stunned for a second until she noticed the fury on Gage's face. She tried to turn and run, but using his vampire speed he was behind her before she could move. He held her by the arms with his fangs positioned near her throat. "You kill my mate and I'll kill yours," were the words he yelled at Damarius.

Aryiah watched Damarius remove his teeth from Devin's neck. She didn't waste any time scooting away from the giant spirit wolf, one hand clawing at the ground while the other still held her bleeding throat.

"That's right, wolf. We may not be able to kill you, but we can certainly kill her. And as long as I keep killing your triggered Witches, you and your Goddess will never be strong enough to stop us."

Aryiah stared into Damarius eyes, hoping he could still sense what she was feeling even though they weren't in the same form. She needed for him to not react, because Gage's talking had given her time to regain her steely control once more, and she was preparing to give the vampire the shock of his life.

She dipped into the pool of Aradia's magic, closed her eyes, and let the power flow. The silver glow that surrounded them both had Gage screaming out in pain. Within seconds, his hands drifted through her now phantom arms. Aryiah didn't turn into a wolf, but instead, simply melted against his chest, entering his body in her ghostly form.

Gage's screams filled the forest as silver rays of magick burst from within his body. It looked as if he was being lit up from the inside by a magickal sun as gold and silver rays streamed out of his every pore. The light show lasted for only a few seconds before Aryiah solidified back into her body while Gage was nothing more than ash on the wind.

 

* * * * *

 

Damarius watched as Aryiah, now back in her solid state, opened her eyes, revealing silver glowing pools which she trained straight at Devin.

"Leave this place and never return." Aryiah's words were amplified with power. The stunned expression on Devin's face and the rapid rise and fall of her chest, revealed just how scared Devin was. Smart girl.

He stood frozen, his eyes never leaving Devin's shocked face, as she scrambled to her feet and immediately fled the scene.

"Why did you let her go? She threatened to kill you."

As her eyes returned to normal, Aryiah smiled a knowing smile. "You know I had to. She may have threatened to kill me, but with Aradia's magick coursing through my veins, no one can stand against me. She's simply not a threat. Especially without Gage fueling her rage."

Aryiah grabbed his hand and they began their stroll back towards the castle as if nothing had interrupted them at all.

She kissed his lips, her magick leaving a slight tingling residue. "How did you know you'd be able to take phantom form?" he asked.

"When Gage was explaining your ability, I realized that as a Witch, I too will run with the Wild Hunt. But since Aradia was the creator of the wolves, I didn't need to transform into my wolf first. I could simply embrace the Goddess I used to be and join the ether whenever I want."

Her answer was so simple, like a brush off the cuff, but the abilities she now possessed truly made her unstoppable. She was simply the most divine person Damarius had ever known. Figuratively and literally.

"I have one other question for you." He took a deep breath and continued before she had a chance to respond. "Will you marry me?"