“Yes, it’s all or nothing now. In less than a month, the outcome of the worlds will be decided.” Her voice rings with power, with sad triumph.
“But—” I cut myself off, trying to gather my thoughts. “But what can we do? How can we fix it?”
She looks at me and smiles, and I feel like she understands how torn up I am and pities me. “You’re already doing your best, Alpha. The fate of us all will unfold exactly as it’s meant to be as everyone makes their choices.”
“But—we could just kill them all. The betas, lets just kill them and—”
“Kill them all? The betas?” She shakes her head. “Have you misunderstood me all this time, Alpha? We need the betas. Winning isn’t about theannihilation of a designation; it’s about finding and restoring balance. Did you think the only players were alphas and omegas? Do you think the only prayers for help and change come from you? Do you think that beta mothers and fathers stop caring about their children because they are alphas? Do you think brothers and sisters don’t walk the rest of their lives with the shadow of their lost siblings beside them? Do you think they all agree with this massacre? Did you think the beta gods wanted this? No, they live in fear, and they fight back as much as you do. The beta’s prayers are as strong as your own, Alpha.” She cocks her head to the side. “Why are there no betas in the Resistance?”
I stare at her, my mind racing.
“Come, Mordecai, I taught you better than that. Your aunt was a beta, and she helped save many people.”
The memory erupts in my head, and I almost stagger. “I’d forgotten her.”
“She died with your parents that night, didn’t she? How many beta children did you save, Mordecai? Would you have left them to die because they were betas? Should we kill them all now? Wipe them all out of the world. Can you murder babies?”
I recoil and growl at her. “I get your point.”
She falls silent, turning back to stare at the stars and that ocean of black.
“Many gods and goddesses sacrificed a lot to give us this one chance to save it all. A lot of them were betas. Don’t dishonour their sacrifice.”
I pace away from her, throwing my hands up in the air. “I don’t know what else you want from me?”
She smiles, soft and easy. “You are so impatient. Walk with me.”
There isn’t a great deal of choice, so I fall into step beside her.
“I have asked so much of some of you, more perhaps of you and your alpha. But at least you have each other. There are people who don’t getsuch grace. Not everyone can have a love story.” She’s talking, but she seems to be talking to herself. The prophet, this omega who has haunted my dreams, stops suddenly, looking sad.
“There are scent matches out there who will forever be divided, hearts empty and yearning for a love they have waited their whole lives for. It will never come. Sometimes being the one who can see it all is the more painful path, but then I watch in real time what happens, and I know I have the easier road. At least I still have that hope. I don’t need blind faith.”
She turns and grips my shoulders.
“Mordecai. Your parents had the strongest prayers for you. They loved you, not knowing what you are, who you are, but they prayed so loud it made the empty Hall of Petitions echo with their love.”
I stare into her shadowed eyes.
“Who am I?” It’s not the question I meant to ask, but it slips out.
“You can’t remember, but when you wake up, you’re going to remember everything, and you’re going to be emotional and hurting. It’s going to take some getting used to. I’m sorry about that, but you can’t tell her yet.” She rubs her hand over her mouth. “No, Kaida can’t know yet. It’s not time.”
“Tell her what?” I ask as she turns and walks away.
The dream dissolves, and I’m standing watching me that is not me lean forward, kissing Kaida’s cheek.
“What’s he doing?” I ask because I’m afraid. I’m so afraid of what’s about to happen.
“He’s giving up his godhood to become a warrior that will keep the omega goddess safe,” the prophet says easily. “See how determined he is.” She laughs softly. “Sorry, see how determined you were.”
My heart pounds in my chest as the omega lifts her hand to the spot where he kissed her. He doesn’t see. He doesn’t turn around; he disappears into the void, and I hear him screaming.
The world spins violently, and when it stops, I’m standing in a street staring at Keres. She’s smiling and laughing, dressed in a long dress, with her hair to her waist. As I watch, she looks up and sees me. She stills, the world stops turning, and without knowing why, I turn towards her. Except it’s not me, it’s just a person who looks exactly like me, and when he smiles, he smiles like he can only see her.
“I am Mor—”
The vision changes; I’m wearing armour. My helmet drops from my hands, clanging on the cobblestones. She whips around, her white hair flying out like a banner. When she sees me, she smiles.
