Selene
Every mouth in the room is gaping wide open in shock. From the looks on their faces, you would have thought I’d announced I was planning a ritual human sacrifice, rather than proposing a trip across the continent. When they finally regain their senses everyone begins speaking at once, half shouting objections and already trying to talk me out of it. In truth I can’t really decipher one person’s words from another’s, but I certainly hear Aiden when he thunders: “Are you out of your mind?”
“No, I’m very much in my mind, thank you.” I retort, trying to stay calm amidst all the upset. The last thing I need is to have an anxiety attack from so many people yelling. That would hardly convince them I’m up for the journey.
“Selene, you can’t go to Tartarus.” Drake insists in a much more reasonable tone than either of Bastien’s Betas. “Blaise is hunting Volanas. One look at you and you’ll be done for.”
“We can disguise her eyes.” Helene announces, though I have no idea how we’d accomplish such a thing. When I went to Asphodel I attempted to use color contacts but it was no use. The magic of my eyes shone through the artificial lenses as if they weren’t even there.
“No.” Donovan chimes in, “It’s out of the question. Bastien would have our heads on a platter.”
“Bastien doesn’t even know his own name right now.” I remind them. “If I was in his place, he’d move mountains to help me. I can’t just stand by and let this happen.”
“That’s different.” Drake sighs.
“Why?” I demand. “Why is it any different for me? Because I’m a woman? In case you’ve forgotten, I have powers none of you possess.”
“No.” Donovan sighs, gesturing to the soft swell of my stomach. “Because you’re a breeding mother.”
“So what, I’m weak?” I challenge. “I’m incapable of helping my mate?”
“Selene you can barely go a week without being hospitalized!” Aiden exclaims.
“That isn’t fair.” I fight back, feeling increasingly tired of everyone treating me as though I’m made of glass. Honestly, the way people behaved you’d think being pregnant was a terminal illness, not a miracle of life. “I’m getting stronger every day.”
“You forget that you may very well be carrying Bastien’s heir.” Donovan interjects, “It’s not just about your strength, but the risk to the baby.”
“Don’t you dare insinuate that this child’s safety isn’t my highest priority.” I snarl, every ounce of maternal instinct I possess rearing up protectively. “None of you could ever care as much as I do about this baby. If I’m willing to go, it’s because I feel it’s worth the risk, and that I can succeed.”
“Why are we even discussing this?” Aiden questions, “There’s no need.” He continues, trying a different tactic, “The letter says he’s coming home.”
“And by the time he does, it will be too late.” I cry, “You read it as well as I did leave Elysium immediately or else. If I’m still here when he gets back, there’s no telling what he’ll do. Every day Arabella continues to mislead him, the more danger the pack is in. We can’t wait for them to come back home.”
“Selene,” Odette begins in a soothing tone, “you’re upset-”
“Yes, I am.” I agree, interrupting her before she can finish her undoubtedly condescending remark. “But that doesn’t mean I’m wrong.” Spinning around to look at them all in turn, I declare, “I have to go. I have to do this for him.”
“What about Lila?” Drake inquires, “What about Frederic?”
Taking a deep breath, I look hopefully at Drake and Sophie, “I would ask you to take Lila to Asphodel for a while. Just until we’re back.”
Drake tugs Sophie to his side and murmurs something in her ear, so low I can’t even hear what he’s saying. After a moment Sophie nods, and Drake looks up at me. “Of course, if this is happening we’d be happy to take her.”
“Thank you.” I sigh, thinking about the second part of his question. “And Frederic, well it’s probably better if I’m out of his reach. People are already looking into his background, it won’t be much longer before the truth is exposed. He’ll keep trying to use me as a prop to defend himself if I’m still around. But he can’t do that if he doesn’t know where I am.”
“That raises another question, Selene.” Donovan asserts grimly. “What would you tell the pack? How can we possibly explain your absence?”
“Tell them I’m on bedrest.” I supply simply, “Or that I went to a treatment facility outside of the territory because I didn’t trust Elysian institutions after what happened with Frederic.”
“That’s not a bad idea.” Odette acknowledges. “No one would fault her and it would help build resistance to Frederic.”
“Okay.” Aiden grouses, glances back and forth between us. “Let’s say we agree.” He suggests, “Let’s say you go to Tartarus and find Bastien and Arabella. What happens then? What are you going to do? How are you going to break her spell or whatever she’s done to him?”
“The only reason Arabella has been able to do this is because we’re not together.” I argue. “If we were his wolf would recognize me. He’d be able to feel that I truly am his mate and realize she was full of shit.”
To my surprise, it’s not the Betas or Drake who contradict me, but Helene. “I’m afraid it’s not that simple.” She announces. “The letter acknowledges that you may be his mate, but she’s clearly convinced him that you tricked him into loving you. Being near you will make it harder for her certainly, but he doesn’t remember you exist. All he knows is what she’s told him.”
“All the more reason I have to go.” I insist. “I have to help him remember me, before she convinces him to do something truly drastic.”
“Fine, but if this is happening you can’t go alone.” Donovan proclaims, “if you’re determined to do this, we’re going with you.”
“No.” Odette shoots him down immediately. “We can’t all go. We already made that mistake once. If Selene and Drake are both leaving, you and Aiden have to stay to run the pack. I’ll go with her.”
The Betas glance at one another nervously, “Odette, please don’t take this the wrong way,” Aiden broaches, “but you’re not exactly a spring chicken anymore.”
“I’m sorry, is there a right way for me to take that?” My mother in law growls. “I’ll have you know I’ve seen more action in my time that you could ever dream of, pup.”
“Please don’t argue about this.” I interrupt. “I don’t need a chaperone, and if anyone was going to come along, well, I’d ask Helene.”
Helene smiles softly, patting my hand. “There now, a good idea at last.” She teases. “I’ll go with Selene. She can keep training on the way, and I’m not important to the pack. No one will miss me.”
“Are you sure?” I press, though I’m already breathing a sigh of relief.
“Of course.” Helene says, as if it was obvious, “you aren’t ready to face Blaise alone.”
I wince as the words leave her mouth, but it’s too late. The others are already jumping on the statement. “Face Blaise?” Drake repeats, “who said anything about facing Blaise?”
Helene stares at him intently, not offended by his objection, but not giving him an inch of leeway. “You cannot change what is fated. All of you are so determined to interfere with the Goddess’s plans because you do not like them, but they are what they are.” Giving me an approving nod, she continues, “Among you only Selene is accepting what is rather than what she thinks should be.”
“Are you saying it’s her fate to fight Blaise?” Odette asks weakly.
“Her destiny.” Helene corrects gently, “Just as it is mine to help her on her quest.”
My mentor’s words fill me with pride, but also with trepidation and fear. She’s alluded to me facing Blaise in the past, but she’s never been so explicit about what my future has in store.
“Is she destined to win?” Sophie pipes up for the first time, “I mean, will she come back?”
“Not even I know that.” Helene admits simply.
“Either way, I have to go.” I reiterate. “Not because of fate, or destiny or anything else. I have to go for Bastien. Please stop trying to talk me out of it and just support me.”
There’s a long beat of silence, all the members of my makeshift family thinking hard and exchanging meaningful looks. “All right.” Donovan breaks first. “If you’re certain this is the way it has to be, we’ll support you.”
The others mutter in agreement, and a wave of relief washed over me. “Thank you.”
Right on cue, Lila’s bedroom door opens, and Lila comes toddling out rubbing her eyes. She’s still half asleep from her nap, which is a guarantee she’s looking for cuddles. I Intercept her halfway across the room, gathering her into my arms and feeling a rush of warmth as she snuggles happily into my embrace. Then she asks a question I’ve been absolutely dreading, one I don’t have the first clue how to answer. “Mommy what’s going on?”
