“It was black and still smoking. Everything and everyone was gone. There wasn’t a scrap of cloth that had survived. Nothing. That was when I found my sister. I didn’t know she’d escaped the caves while we were sleeping or come after them. They’d run her down with their wagons.”
The raw pain in his voice isn’t feigned. I squeeze his fingers, unable to look away.
“This woman from my dreams came to me again and again. I was so angry with her. I railed and ignored her. She just stood silently, letting me. I screamed at her for days, in every dream. And then one day, I just sat there and cried, and she sat there with me, and she told me that she needed me to save the world. She said she was sorry for my loss but that I would find someone I loved more than anyone in this world, someone who needed me as much as any of these people.”
I sit back but don’t let go of his hand.
“This woman said the first thing I needed to do was go to this particular town. In this town, I found a place for all of us. Bear was the leader of the local alphas, and he took us in without any hesitation. I was finally ready to listen to her.”
“How long did it take?”
“Three years,” he says. “She told me the most outrageous and far-fetched story, and I wanted not to believe her, but she showed me proof over and over. Until, in the end, I agreed, and I ended up here.”
I stare at him. “What did she tell you?”
“She told me that, years ago, some of the gods gathered in secret to discuss the uneasy whispers and premonitions they’d been having. They talked at length and came up with a plan, but this plan was going to rely on the strength of hearts, the wisdom of minds, and the ability to have faith. She said these gods are with us and that we all have to fight together to save each other.”
He turns so we’re facing each other and leans forward until he can take both my hands.
“The gods chose to fall to Earth, hiding in the bodies of humans. They would lose access to their godlike powers, and they would no longer be immortal, but while they were here, their actions, their specific tasks would turn the tide and save alphas and omegas.”
“Turn the tide?” I whisper, my ears ringing.
Mordecai nods. “Yes, turn the tide. Taryn is one of those fallen goddesses.”
I think about her delicate beauty, and I’m not surprised. A twang in my chest leaves me with bitter jealousy before I can push it aside. “Okay. She is a vital part of this entire scheme? How?”
He leans back and growls. “Exactly. I’m not allowed to know how someone is important, only that they are.”
“Who are the others?”
“Bear is important; I needed to stay and protect him. Legion I went and found and brought back when he was injured after an attack.He was half-dead. I was told to look for a flame-haired alpha and that I could trust him with everything.”
Both of us look towards Jarek. Can we trust him? My heart says yes.
“You really think this is true?”
“Yes, the voice has kept us safe and saved us too many times for me to believe otherwise.”
“But who is she?”
“I have no idea.”
“Does she still speak to you?”
Mordecai hesitates. “No, she disappeared four years ago. But I remember everything she said.”
I free one of my hands and rub my temple. “It is hard to believe.”
“I know. But Taryn is important to this mission. I don’t know why, but I don’t want them to fail. I want everyone to see that blue sky and those stars. Oh, Kaida, I would love to see the sunset with you.”
I have no words. His story is crazy, but he believes it, and something in me tells me to trust him.
“So, what do you have to do here? Do you have any more missions?”
He shakes his head. “Just stay with the flame-haired alpha.”
“And keep Taryn alive?”
