How could I let this happen? Where did my plan go awry? What will the goddesses do to me?
Logan feltthe life leave Haven’s body, her last breath whispering the words he’d longed to hear.
He fought back the crushing wave of tears seeking to drown him.
“Haven,” he bellowed into the ceiling.
Dropping his face, he brushed his mouth along her unmoving eyelids, her pale forehead, and her purple lips.
“No, no, no,” he babbled. “She can’t be dead—Perez! There must be something you can do—please help her!” A sob wrenched from his chest. “Bring her back to me.”
Suddenly, anger rushed through him. “Goddamn you, Perez! You brought her here. You did this, you must fix it.”
“I am sorry...I cannot....” The disembodied voice floated through his mind, its words like a battering ram to his chest.
“Haven.” Logan pulled her limp body closer to his chest, nuzzling her lovely face. “If you can hear me, know that I love you.” He sobbed again. “I love you.”
The air in the room thickened, growing heavy and oppressive. Unable to lift his head from her cheek, Logan peered up into the room, shocked as Perez’s golden vessel flew into view.
It had been there all along.
The watch began to spin. And spin. Faster and faster until all he saw was a brilliant golden orb floating above his head. It was breathtaking. The light it emitted grew brighter until he had to look away, unable to shade his face from the intensity of the illumination.
Hugging Haven’s body closer, he gasped when a gut-wrenching pulse vibrated through the room. It made his teeth chatter, and the air in his lungs rattle. He gasped, choking, desperate for air, while the oppressive power pinned him down.
As unconsciousness neared, the weight in the room suddenly dissipated, leaving behind a weightless aura of indescribable peace.
Daring to lift his head to see what the light and deathly power left in their wake, he gazed up at the still-glowing orb, its warm brilliance thrumming and emitting an utter stillness.
He whispered in an awed tone, “What is this?”
The orb brightened, but the thrumming vibrations eased.
A deep, clear, accented voice broke through the eerie calm.
“The task is complete.” Perez sounded almost stunned, as though he couldn’t believe in his own success.
Task?Logan puzzled. When realization hit him, fury quickly followed suit.
“The task is done?” he ground out. “You finally got your blessing from your goddess, but Haven lies dead?” With every word he spoke, wrath boiled up, souring his tone. “What good is it to inflame passion in two opposing spirits when one of those you were meant to champion has been murdered?”
In an instant, a figure of pure light emerged from the orb and came to stand before him.
“Choose,” said the strangely compelling, yet unfamiliar voice.
Stunned by the figure of pure light and the power cascading from it, he asked, “Choose what?”
The light brightened further, and a soft hum filled the room. Before he could shield his eyes from the pulsating glow, three small, thrumming orbs shot from the figure and stopped inches from his face.
He blinked, and a forceful, ethereal voice spoke.
“Logan.”
Startled, and nearly blind from the brilliance, he demanded, “Whoareyou?”
The light grew brighter.
“I am Ahmi, Preeminent Sister Goddess, Mother of Light, Flame of Passion, and Bringer of Life. The task is complete. Your souls have been bound together for all time.”
