Goddess Rising

by Alisha Ashton

  “I don’t like this, Miko,” she said quietly as she shook her head. “It feels… black magic-y. Like a hex or something way worse.”

  That statement was enough to knock him out of his creeper-level fascination with her hands. He took a deep breath in a failed attempt to calm his nerves. “Same thing I was thinking,” he admitted solemnly.

  Aiyana glanced over at him in response to his familiar deeper-than-normal tone. She instantly recognized it as his real voice – the one he seldom used. Her heart squeezed a little in response. Secretly, she cherished the times he used this voice with her, even though it was usually reserved for times of exceptionally-high danger. All the comical squeaking and shrieking and goofing around Miko did was just the way he coped with the horrors he had endured in his life. It was the mask he hid behind. While she was very fond of that mask, it was nice to get a glimpse of the man behind it from time to time.

  To avoid looking at Miko for longer than was strictly necessary, she let her eyes wander over their surroundings. When she glanced back to gauge Ailean’s distance, the Scotsman flashed her a knowing grin – as if to say from 50 yards away: I saw that. Aiyana frowned in reply. She decided that Skye was right – the ancients really were all know-it-alls.

  With a guilty clearing of her throat, Aiyana turned back to the path ahead. “I’ll start pulling up anything I can think of that might help. There are plenty of suppliers here in the city. I’ll definitely be able to come up with something to give her at least some protection or –”

  Miko let out a low groan then. Aiyana looked over and watched him stop mid-step. His body was rigid, and he was hunched over slightly. His eyes were closed. His face was twisted in pain.

  “Miko…?” she asked softly. They still had nearly two hours until sunset, but he was clearly already feeling the effects.

  “A'richt. A've seen enough,” Ailean said suddenly from directly behind them. “Na mair traivelin fur ye, whelp.”

  Aiyana turned in surprise to find that Ailean was already moving to Miko’s side, draping his arm over his shoulders and helping him stand upright. It was going to take a very long time to get used to how quickly and silently the faoil were able to move, and for their supernatural abilities to stop freaking her out.

  “Yer wolf’s gey eager tae git hings stairted,” Ailean said with a worried frown as he noted the sweat already covering Miko’s brow. For a pup to be feeling the call of the moon so intensely with so much time to spare, it was a sure sign of its strength. Given the awe-inspiring power of Skye’s wolf, her pup was bound to be a faol to be reckoned with. “C'moan. Time tae git ye in yer cage, lad,” he urged.

  “I can walk… It’s easing up,” Miko insisted in a strained voice.

  Ailean grunted disbelievingly in reply. He could feel the way every muscle in Miko’s body was shuddering in response to the pain. He knew Miko was going to try his best to appear unaffected for Aiyana’s benefit, but it was going to get a hell of a lot worse before the end. Ailean granted the pup his pride and eased his hold on him, but he stayed close and watched Miko’s every move like a hawk as they made their way straight inside.

  They entered the area with the pup cages and Miko did his best to mask his growing terror. He had watched Skye go through this firsthand just a month prior. It sucked and the memory was still way too fresh.

  Aiyana kept her eyes expertly averted from the numerous nude men already locked up for the night. She followed Miko as he made his way to his own cage and was surprised to find Skye and Ciaran inside of the one directly beside it.

  “Miko – how are you doing?” Skye asked as she quickly stood and walked over to see him through the bars. Her own cage was almost finished. Drostan was still putting the finishing touches on the lock to prevent her from escaping.

  “Meh. We’ll see in a few,” Miko answered anxiously.

  “I forgive you in advance for cursing me out for biting you,” Skye teased.

  Miko laughed and grinned over at her. “Oh, I am totally going to need that forgiveness!”

  Standing in front of Miko before he would enter that cage to face unimaginable pain, Aiyana glanced around the room at the faoil who were present. She chewed the inside of her cheek and looked up into Miko’s eyes. She wanted to hug him and tell him he would be okay – that she believed in him and that he was strong enough to get through this… But his peers and superiors were watching. She did not want to make him appear weak or in need of her reassurances. She sighed and swallowed hard.

  Miko gave her a ghost of a smile, seeing and fully appreciating the internal struggle she was going through.

  “You’d better take a few last looks at these,” Aiyana joked as she reached out and ran her hands over the tattoos on his forearms. It was just an excuse to touch him. It was nowhere near the level of comfort she wanted to provide, but at least it was something.

  Miko laughed before running his hands over the sides of his head. “Shit, you’re right. Gonna have a clean slate when I wake up, huh?”

  “I’m having a hard time imagining you without all the ink,” Aiyana laughed before nodding and adding meaningfully, “But I think ‘clean slate’ will look good on you. Fresh start, right? New chapter.”

  “Yeah… new chapter,” Miko agreed quietly in his ‘real’ voice.

  Aiyana gave him a warm smile in reply and tucked her hair behind her ear. They studied one other in a comfortable, heavy silence for a moment. Things were changing. Rules and dynamics and their entire world were changing. But they still had each other.

  In the cell off to their side, Ciaran pinched Skye’s arm repeatedly to ensure she was catching the development between her friends. Skye poked him in the stomach to get him to settle down.

  Miko finally smiled warmly and held Aiyana’s gaze as he backed up those last few steps into his cage. No turning back now.

  Taran closed his cage door and ensured that it was locked, then met Miko’s eyes as he reached through the bars to grip his arm. He brought his other hand up to grip the back of Miko’s head affectionately.

  Miko struggled to draw a breath as he held Taran’s powerful gaze. This was it. After so many years of looking up to Taran and idolizing him, he was about to become one of his kind. He did not know which emotion was strongest in that moment: fear or pride or joy or – did I mention FEAR?

  The ancient did not say a word. He did not need to. Taran’s eyes alone conveyed it all. Pride that Miko was about to become a faol. Respect that he was holding it together so well. Reassurance for the carefully-hidden anxiety he could easily read in Miko’s tense expression. Taran glanced over at Aiyana for the briefest of seconds, then back to Miko as he nodded his head. Again, it was just as easy to catch the intended meaning: Taran would ensure Aiyana’s safety while Miko was incapacitated. She was under his protection.

  Miko’s eyes filled with tears at that. He fought to hold it together and gripped Taran’s arm back as he nodded in appreciation. He had to avert his eyes to avoid crying purely out of gratitude for all the comfort the ancient had managed to provide in the span of a few seconds. Taran nodded knowingly and patted him on the back of the head before stepping away.

  Miko cleared his throat and rubbed his eyes to clear them. When he managed to get himself together enough to speak, he turned to Drostan and teased, “Hey, how come Skye’s cage looks like Al Capone’s prison cell?” He was incredibly thankful for people to joke around with. He was a nervous talker and eager for any means of distracting himself from the countdown in his mind. Much like Skye had been when he witnessed her go through this, he was growing steadily more restless and agitated.

  “Because she’s nah as likely as the rest of ya to tear apart the furniture like a teething Saint Bernard puppy,” Ciaran answered in amusement.

  “And why are you in there with her exactly?” Miko asked with a suspicious scowl. He addressed his next question to Drostan as he pointed to the cell in question. “Whose brilliant idea was it to put these two horndogs together in a
cage with a freaking BED?”

  “Tha would be Ciaran’s idea, as if ya even need ask,” Drostan answered with a chuckle without looking up from his work on the cage lock.

  “Aww maaannnnn,” Miko whined. “I swear to God, if you two freaks start getting busy in there after I change, I am going to straight up werewolf-puke all over both of you. Like Linda Blair projectile pea soup and everything.”

  “Well then it’s a good thing ya won’t be wearing that outfit by then, yeah? Best to strip it all off now and save the ensemble,” Ciaran teased with a knowing grin before sitting up and watching hopefully.

  “And give you a free show? I don’t think so!” Miko joked back as he began to undress. “I’m keeping my boxers on, McLovin. They’ll tear easy enough. Sorry to dash your dreams.”

  “Damn the luck!” Ciaran hissed in feigned disappointment.

  Miko laughed and gave Ciaran a privately appreciative smile for providing him with an excuse to be modest. In actuality, he just did not want to stand naked in front of Aiyana for an hour. Continuing their running joke that Ciaran was trying to have his way with him provided a perfect distraction from the truth. Judging by the wink Ciaran gave in reply, the ancient was well aware of that fact.

  They all continued to joke and make small talk for the remainder of the wait. Ailean and Eògan made the rounds checking on each of the pups. Taran brought a chair for Aiyana to sit in – well out of reach of any of the cages. With his hazel eyes carefully scanning the room for threat as always, Ruarachan stood behind her, having taken her on as his second charge for as long as Taran would be protecting her.

  Before long, Skye sensed the approach of the moon. The countdown was loud and clear to her senses. She felt the wolf in her blood stirring and growing stronger, but she was blessedly free of the need to undergo a transformation.

  One by one, the pups began to groan and respond to the coming change. Some took to it with more ease than others – it all depended on their age.

  Miko, for his part, did outstandingly well for a first-timer. He clutched the bars and gritted his teeth against the pain. “Ah, fuck, Skye! I’m just saying… You really did have the option to let me die,” he joked through the agony. He paused to muffle a cry and gasped before insisting, “I swear, I wouldn’t have been mad or nothing.”

  Aiyana worked overtime to keep her expression impassive despite the hurricane of emotions she was feeling. She looked to Skye for reassurance and was thankful for the smile and nod Skye gave in reply.

  “Shhh… Just let it happen, Miko,” Skye encouraged over his intensifying groans and cries. “I promise you, the pain you’re feeling will lessen if you don’t fight. Just let go. Find a focal point. Okay? Find something to lock on to.”

  Skye watched as his anguished eyes darted around the room. He paused for a second to take in the sight of Aiyana but quickly decided against staring at her while this happened. That was just way too much to ask.

  Skye’s heart ached for him when he turned back to her instead. The look of blind terror in his gaze was difficult to witness. She recalled all too clearly her first transformation and the torture it had wrought, but she had fought with every single ounce of willpower to fend off the change. She’d had no other choice – Taran’s life had been in danger. Miko did not need to make his experience any more horrific than it was already set to be. He had no reason to hold back the rising beast. She prayed that it would make things easier for him.

  As the groans of pain from the pups gradually shifted to a chorus of anguished screams, Skye bit her lip. She watched tearfully as Miko dropped to the floor to writhe in agony.

  Aiyana covered her mouth with her hands as she wept for him. Miko… Her Miko… Her goofy, pain in the ass, secretly sweet and gold-hearted Miko was going through torture beyond her ability to comprehend and all she could do was sit and watch. She could not say or do anything to ease his pain or calm him. Her heart ached as she watched his body begin to shift and grow. His bones snapped, and skin stretched as he shrieked in agony.

  Skye eyes passed from one cage to the next, nearly unable to breathe past the regret she felt over their suffering. Regardless of the age differences, the wolf in her saw these men as children – more so than ever in that moment. Her instincts were to protect them from harm. Unfortunately, she was unsure of how to accomplish such a thing. Her mind raced with possible ways to help, but in that moment, her planning was useless.

  Once it was finished, and Miko’s transformation was complete, Skye exited her own cage to have a better look at him. She studied the magnificent creature he had become before reaching through the bars to comfort him. Taran inhaled sharply in fear for her safety, but she was not worried. The beast in front of her was her own pup. She had nothing to fear from him. Miko’s faol form leaned into her touch, nuzzling his immense muzzle into her hand as he whined.

  Taran smiled fondly up at the beast beyond the bars. “Well done, lad,” he said quietly with a nod of approval. He addressed Skye as he commented, “Your pup has inherited your strength. I greatly look forward to training him. When his time comes, he shall prove a fearsome ally on the battlefield.”

  Skye smiled at the swelling of pride she saw in her King. She wished Miko had been conscious to see it. (She was totally going to tell him all about it at the first opportunity, though.)

  The combined whimpering of the other faoil pups was nearly overwhelming, but Skye was distracted from her instinctive sympathy for them. She noticed that all of the ancients present – Taran included – were looking around the room in bewilderment.

  “What is it?” she asked, giving Miko’s muzzle a reassuring pat before turning toward Taran.

  “They’re all so… calm, my love,” her King said in surprise.

  “Never seen anything like it,” Eògan declared.

  “Usually they’d be ragin’ against the bars,” Ciaran informed her. “Strugglin’ to get free, lashin’ out at everything around them.”

  “Aye. It would seem your presence is having a calming effect on them, my Lady Queen,” Ruarachan breathed, so stunned he actually spoke to her in a sentence that was longer than three words without issue.

  She turned and walked around the room slowly, studying each beast as her heart grew steadily heavier. When it dawned on her, when the fate of their entire clan for the past 4,000 years finally occurred to her, unbidden tears slipped down her cheeks.

  “Oh no…” she whispered sorrowfully as she reached through the bars of Elijah’s cage to stroke his muzzle. She turned to look at the ancients over her shoulder as the beast gladly accepted her offer of comfort. “Oh God. You really don’t know, do you? Why it takes so many decades for faoil to control their transformations? Why it has always taken so long to connect with your wolves?”

  The ancients all exchanged curious looks.

  “Why, love?” Taran finally asked softly.

  Skye smiled through her tears, sniffling as she declared, “Because they’re babies, Taran. Literally. All of your wolves were when you first received the bite.”

  The men stood in stunned silence in response to that revelation.

  Skye realized that her own wolf was the exception to that rule, which was why she had proven so exceptional. Her wolf had passed from daughter to daughter throughout the ages, dormant yet still semi-conscious, for 4,000 years. Skye’s wolf had been ancient upon waking, but the wolf of Miko – and every single faoil since the beginning – was brand new. They were conceived during the act of the bite and born upon their first full moon.

  “They can’t communicate yet beyond sharing emotions. They don’t understand why they’re in these cages. They’re scared to death and confused.” Skye shook her head before muttering, “Why has Sorcha allowed you all to suffer like this for so long?” Her brows drew together. “Wait… in the beginning, how did you all even fight the war against the fògaraich? You were still just pups – did you only fight in human form?”

  Taran shook his head. “Latharn’s markin
g – the one on his wrist from the Great Mother – carried Her light. When he would lead us into battle, it would shine brightly. Only then were we able to control our transformations. None of us were nearly as strong as we later became after our Nasgadh, but we were at least able to change at will to fight.”

  “Because you were not ready yet. It was just a quick fix,” Skye said in barely concealed disapproval. She frowned and added resolutely, “You all needed your Mother to usher you into the world – not your Maker. You needed Her to calm you and help you understand what was happening to you. She could have helped. She should have…”

  Skye trailed off as something suddenly occurred to her. Her head tilted in consideration and she continued moving around the room, calming each of the beasts and getting a sense of each of their energies. When she returned to Miko, she unlocked his cage.

  Her men both stepped forward, each calling to her anxiously.

  “Sgitheanach…”

  “A stóirín…”

  “It’s okay. Trust me, I know what I’m doing,” she assured before entering the cage and pulling the door shut behind her. She gazed up into the eyes of the beast that Miko had become. Silently, she communicated with him, sending a sense of comfort and visions of the vast pack the newly born faol had just been welcomed to. And she could feel it. Almost physically feel it… The break in the link. The missing piece. The gap between man and wolf. It was so painfully clear to her power that she could not help the flaring of anger she felt toward her Great Mother. If Sorcha had only taken an interest in Her army, She would have seen this. The answer was right there, staring Skye in the face. All this time. Four millennia of frightened faoil pups.

  “Taran…” Skye’s eyes widened as she looked over at her mate in wonder. “I think I can help our pups. All of them.”

  The ancients did not interrupt to ask what she meant. They merely watched silently as Skye sat down on the floor in front of her massive pup. Miko laid down on the floor in front of her without hesitation. He held her gaze as she brought her comparably tiny hands to his temples.