With a jump, I launched us into the air. The soul remained silent as we flew higher. Then she peered over my arm and smiled.
“This is wondrous,” she said.
“Soon, you will be in a new life.”
“I don't want to forget this.”
“You have to, but the wisdom and strength you have gained here will stay with you. Maybe, in your dreams, you will remember flying in the arms of the Goddess of Love.”
“Is that who you are?” She turned to look at me and then smiled brighter. “Yes, I see it now. Will you give me your blessing, Goddess? Love failed me in my last life.”
The butterflies of Love rose inside me, fluttering with joy. They were my guides, only rising for those who deserved their attention. Smiling down at her, I felt the magic shine through me. Her eyes widened, and her expression filled with wonder.
I leaned down and kissed her forehead. Magic flowed through my lips into her, branding her soul as mine—touched by love.
“May love fill your heart and life. May it always come to you when you need it and be kind to you. May your next life have more laughter than tears, more peace than tragedy. I bless you to love and be loved throughout your next life and those to follow.”
“Thank you, Goddess.”
I landed before the shimmering border of Naraka. Just as it was in the Egyptian territory, the final border would release a soul, sending it into a fetus without a soul.
I set her down on the sand before the golden barrier. “You are worthy of love.”
“Please, what is your name, Goddess? I shall worship you in my next life.”
I took her hand and led her closer to the barrier. “Do not worship me. Honor me by honoring love. Be kind and generous, even in the face of cruelty. Give love wherever you can. Never betray it. That is what I want.”
She nodded and then lifted my hand to kiss the back of it. I let go, and she turned to the barrier. “Will it hurt?”
“No, it will feel like walking into sunshine.”
The soul my brother had helped, and I had blessed, stepped into the barrier of Naraka and vanished. A small piece of my magic went with her.
Chapter Twelve
“He was here!” Trevor stormed past the wailing women, back toward the palace. “I knew it!”
“Trevor, wait!” I caught up with him. “I think he's helping. The trickster wants to be good, but they're crazy. Ty is a sane influence. A kind influence. He shocked them when he helped that soul.”
“The soul.” Trevor narrowed his eyes at the women. “Maybe there's another soul who saw something.” He raced over to the closest woman. “Hey! Wake up!” He shook her.
She kept crying.
Trevor moved on to the next woman. He shouted in her face, “Stop crying! Look at me! Hey!”
“Trevor!” Odin stormed after him and grabbed his shoulder. “This isn't right.”
Trevor shook him off, hurrying to the next woman. “Ty helped one of them. Maybe I can help another, and she can help us.”
I grabbed Odin's hand before he could go after Trevor. “Let him. It's not hurting them. They don't even know he's there. Ty found the one woman who responded.”
The wailing suddenly stopped. All of it.
We turned to see a woman looking up at Trevor. The other women were still staring at their empty cradles, but they were silent. All of Naraka was silent. I ran over to Trevor.
The soul clutched at her chest, her expression confused. “I've already been seen.”
“What?” Trevor stepped back.
