“Evolving?”
“Or advancing, I don’t know.It’s changing, though.It seems as though we’re able to see pictures, dreams, that are projected by the other one.”
Oh, shit.“Nine hells, you mean like the other day when I basicallyfeltyou show me the middle finger?”
“Yeah, I thought of it and sent it through.”
This was a lot to process in the middle of the night, especially when Emmeric sounded like he was still half-asleep.
“We can discuss it tomorrow.”
Emmeric nodded and pressed a kiss on the top of her head.He was asleep again within seconds, and Iyana wondered if he even realized he’d just done the most tender thing anyone had ever done for her.
Afewnightslater,as the full moon rose in the eerily dark sky, the five friends hiked through Nyr Forest towards this mystical lake of theirs.Kaz called it the ‘divine site,’ but after she explained it, it basically sounded like a magical pond.
Even at night, the air was thick and humid, and sweat rolled down Iyana’s back.Although she’d been training with the others, she still wasn’t to where they were physically.It seemed she’d never catch up, especially after a lifetime of avoiding anything to do with exercise.She found it was nice to have a physical outlet when her emotions became too much, and the nightmares lessened when she was exhausted.
Her lungs screamed for air as she followed behind, listening to them chat and laugh with each other.If she were to even attempt a laugh, Iyana thought her body would probably give out on her.Either that or she would vomit.
When they finally reached their destination, Iyana wanted to collapse to the ground, but the sight before her stopped her in her tracks.
The large pond was a perfect circle, outlined by the tall trees of the jungle.The moon was only beginning to peek over the canopy, casting its reflection onto the smooth water.There was only the sound of water trickling softly through rocks—no birds cawing, no leaves rustling, no bugs chirping.But, unlike the Dead Lands, this silence brought a sense of serenity instead of dread.Even nature worshiped this place and was loath to disturb it.
“Now what?”she whispered, and even that sounded too loud—too sacrilegious—in this space.
“We wait,” Kaz replied, also whispering.
Several hours of silence later, when the moon hung directly above the pool of water—and Iyana was on the verge of falling asleep—the pond began to glow.It became brighter and brighter until the light overtook that of the moon.The center of the pond bubbled, and a woman emerged from the water.She had long, silver hair that shimmered in the moon’s glow, piercing silver eyes, and pale skin.
Once her entire petite figure was above the surface, she walked towards them on the water, leaving no ripples in her wake.Iyana could sense her power, even from a distance.She remembered a similar experience when she’d spoken with Altea in the Everlands.
This was Yrza—Goddess of the Moon and daughter to Athos, God of Darkness, and Anja, Goddess of Night.
Everyone other than Kaz took an instinctual step backwards, and fire tingled in Iyana’s fingertips, her magic ready if they needed to fight their way out.
Yrza reached the edge of the pond and continued walking until she stood directly in front of Kaz.Her friend seemed rooted in place, completely in awe of the deity in front of her.Then Yrza did something Iyana didn’t know goddesses were capable of.
She smiled.
“Oh, Gana,” Yrza said, her voice wispy and ethereal.“You’re even more beautiful in person.”She raised a hand and stroked Kaz’s cheek.The shifter didn’t appear to be breathing.
“My lady…” Kaz whispered.
Yrza frowned, a furrow forming between her silver eyebrows.“You don’t remember me.”
“What?”Blinking at the goddess, Kaz recovered from her reverie.“What do you mean?”
“Zoara Kazumi Zaya Tsenira, Crown Princess of Nyr…you are Gana, Goddess of Nature, reborn, and the great love of my immortal life.”
Iyana’s magic fizzled out.They all stood, mouths agape, staring at their friend.
Talon was the first to recover.“I’m sorry,what?”His gaze darted between the two women.“How?”
“You died,” Yrza said sadly.Her hand drifted from Kaz’s cheek down to her chest, where it rested atop her heart.“Around a hundred years ago, and I have been waiting for you ever since.”
“Gods can die?”Zane asked.“What happened?”
“A tale for another time, perhaps.You called me here for a purpose, and once the moon leaves the water, I must go.”
