“Yildiz get out of here!” Osiah shouts. “Oh no, I think she should stay,” Jartre says playfully with a malicious undertone. I suddenly watch as a large ball of white energy is thrown at Osiah sending his blood-red aura flying back. I feel the pain hit me to another excruciating degree and can no longer keep myself standing. My body completely gives out and I collapse on the ground, curling up in the foetal position as I will the pain to stop, while simultaneously fearing for Osiah’s safety. As I look over to see signs of Osiah’s aura, I witness a large dome surrounding him made of white energy. I don’t know how after a blow like that, but Osiah is up on his feet. I can see the outline of his fists pounding at the dome that now surrounds him. Another barrier. Fucking barriers. Much like curses, only the person who made the barrier can take it down, except in the case of makkares where their magic is easily trumped by the Gods. But not even a God can destroy the barrier of another God.

I’m still trying to process everything that has just happened. I keep hoping I’ll wake up and this will all have just been another terrible nightmare. But much like the day I found Nuray’s body, I’m painfully awake. This is all really happening. I’ve just been some toy for the Gods to play with. One God manufacturing my love life, one torturing me and another lying and deceiving me. And thinking about it, I can’t believe a selfish, psychotic, egotistical jerk like Jartre made the pure and good beings that are raitruums, like how does that make any sense? “Thank you, he needed to hear that,” says Oshmin softly. “Don’t you dare thank me, you’re not any better. Jartre was right. You lied and deceived my daughter. You had every opportunity to tell the truth and you dodged it at every turn. To show her so much disrespect when she has shown you nothing but love and patience. I should kick your ass myself,” she rants indignantly. “I’d pay to see that,” chimes in Morrtemis. “It’s not like

My feet carry me into the Kartheca, each step feeling like the step from a phantom limb. The only part of my body that feels like it's mine is the unbearable pain in my chest. It’s like a giant weight is pressing down on me and I can’t breathe. Every step is a struggle, and I feel as though I can’t get enough air. Humans can die of a broken heart. Supernatural beings can definitely die of a broken heart. So, I wonder if the same will happen to me. My animai, the one I’m meant for, lied and deceived me for weeks. Made me believe something that wasn’t true. Allowed me to be in harm's way because of a feud that has nothing to do with me, and no matter the suffering it caused me or the fact it almost killed me, the most he was willing to give me was a half-truth. Sure, he told me he was involved in a sexual relationship with a woman who was already involved, and that other person cursed him. He never lied about that. He just omitted a whole hell of a lot. Left out the part that he is a Go

“Yildiz?” I hear a familiar voice call in surprise. I turn to see the swirling gold and onyx aura with a dusting of hazel and green that belongs to Empress Mei. Next to her, I see a vaguely familiar aura of dark, chocolate brown with a dusting of dark greyish blue. This aura is quite radiant, not as radiant as Mei’s but still very strong. Based on the scent and brightness of the aura it’s enough to tell me the person beside Mei is an Alpha. I nod politely, “Empress Mei.” “You’re back so soon, did you not resolve what you came to speak to Alpha about?” she asks curiously. I smile sadly, “It is most certainly not resolved.” “Oh! I’m so sorry,” she suddenly squeaks, “Where are my manners? Yildiz, this is Alpha Jasper, Alpha Jasper, this is Yildiz of the Delegation.” Ah, that’s where I recognise his aura. He was one of the guests at Luna Marcus’ Luna ceremony. I hadn’t had a chance to properly meet the current Alpha of Aurum Obscuro, so I guess I can tick that off the list. See? Findin

As I make my way back to the packhouse following specific scents and sounds, two voices catch my attention more than the others.“Why are you doing all this, Jane? Isn’t housework beneath you? Isn’t that what you used to mock the packhouse staff for?” the male voice spits in disgust.“I was wrong, I know that I was wrong and I’m trying to make up for that. That’s why I started working here. I’m trying to be a better person,” she says sadly. There’s so much pain in the young woman’s voice.“If this is so I’ll accept you...”“You rejected me, and I accepted it because I wanted to respect your wishes. I would love nothing more than for you to give me a chance, but I won’t force you. Whether you give me a chance or not I’m still going to keep working here, it doesn’t stop me from wanting to be a better person. I’ve hurt a lot of people and I have to make up for the pain I’ve caused,” she says more confidently. Truth rings out through every word she says. I’m not sure what she has done in