Goddess Rising

by Alisha Ashton

  “I won’t,” Aiyana assured, beyond flattered that she had even been invited along.

  Skye nodded and forced a smile, doing her best to mask her anxiety over having them within the forest of Faol Seunta. She was less than enthused about exposing them to Sorcha, but she had to come here before they could return home anyway, and this was the only way to introduce them to Faolan. Just for good measure, she discretely layered her magic over them a few more times.

  A flurry of activity in the path ahead drew their attention. They watched as Faolan and many other faoil rushed toward them.

  Miko did his best to appear calm despite his thundering heart. He tried not to panic over how quickly the ancient being was approaching. Just before his panic could peak, he realized that Faolan was not even looking at him.

  Instead, Faolan went straight to Skye and lifted her up into his arms in a tight embrace. He laughed and rocked her in place, a wide grin on his face as she squeezed him back just as tightly.

  “Ya did it!” Faolan exclaimed proudly. “Sorcha just restored my memories of your time with us so long ago. Oh, I do nah know how I’d’ve lasted all this time had I been able to remember. But ya did it! Ya survived! Well done, my beautiful, victorious child!”

  Skye laughed and pulled away enough to look down at his smiling face. “I did, Wolf Father. The wicked druids are defeated,” she confirmed and pressed her forehead to his affectionately. She sighed and reveled in the contact for a moment before turning her head. “There is someone you must meet.” She waited for him to set her down before holding her hand out toward Miko.

  Faolan tilted his head to the side, scenting the air as he studied the young faol. “Ah, your pup, Sgitheanach,” he breathed knowingly and smiled anew as he went to him. “I had so hoped we would get the chance to meet!”

  He studied Miko’s eyes as he brought his hand up to cradle the young faol’s cheek. Miko swallowed hard but held the ancient wolf’s golden gaze.

  “Tell me your name, lad,” Faolan prompted gently, already knowing, but wanting to hear him speak.

  “Miko, sir,” he answered quietly.

  Faolan nodded in approval. “Oh, the wolf in ya is strong, young Miko. Very strong. An honorable man with a noble heart… Ya make a fine whelp. My first-ever direct grand-pup, did ya know tha? The one and only. Well… ‘only’ until Sgitheanach decides she is ready for another, tha is,” he joked as he winked over at her.

  Skye laughed and shook her head. “No, no, no, no. It’s just Miko. And trust me, he is more than enough.” She turned and motioned for Aiyana to step forward. “I know this is generally frowned upon, but I figured you could make an exception this time.” She rested her hands on her friend’s shoulders as she presented her to her Wolf Father. “This… is Aiyana. She is mortal, yet she has stood beside me in numerous battles. She risked her life for me against the wicked druids. She is part of the reason I am here today.”

  Faolan brought his fist to his chest and inclined his head to the mortal woman. The faoil all instantly dropped to a knee and bowed their heads in response. Anyone deserving of such a display of respect from the Maker of all Makers warranted such a strong reaction from the Clan.

  “Lady Aiyana, ya have my deepest gratitude,” Faolan assured. He smiled as he raised his head and met her gaze. “Any friend to Skye is a friend to me.” He took another moment to study the mortal before his golden eyes went to Skye. He did not need to ask whether the woman could be trusted – he knew Skye would never have brought her otherwise.

  “And to me,” Sorcha added, causing everyone to turn.

  The Moon Goddess stood in the path ahead awash in moonlight and looking as magnificent as ever. She approached slowly, coming to stand beside her mate. She smiled at the mortal woman, then smiled wider still and laughed lightly at the comically stunned expression on Miko’s face.

  “We thank ya for all tha ya have done for our child, Lady Aiyana. Ya are most welcome here,” Sorcha assured.

  Aiyana was far too overwhelmed to speak. She smiled tearfully and inclined her head to Faolan and Sorcha.

  “And Miko, it is so good to meet ya at last,” Sorcha declared warmly. She took a moment to appreciate the way his cheeks turned pink before looking out at the rest of the new arrivals. “Come, all of ya. We shall feast and celebrate the day’s victory!”

  Grinning, Faolan draped his arm around Miko’s shoulders. “Come, more-than-enough Miko. We shall eat and drink and ya can tell me about yourself. I shall expect a grand retelling of the battle.”

  Skye smiled as they all set out together. She knew she would have to greatly downplay Brandubh’s involvement. Luckily for her, all of her conversations with him had been private. She intended to keep her explanation of things clean cut: She had no alternative. She was about to die. She knew Brandubh was drawn by her use of power and that he would be nearby. She called to him purely out of necessity. She used his hatred of the wicked druids and his foolish hopes of earning favor in her eyes to her advantage. But that was all. She had only done what she needed to survive the day.

  She was keeping the rest to herself…

  For now.

  Epilogue

  Racing against the rising sun, Brandubh and his personal guard flew toward the mountain’s peak. Spells masked the entrance from outside view, but he could have found it with his eyes closed. He pulled his wings in tightly against his back as he dove through the narrow passage. Following the carved tunnels, he made his way steadily deeper beneath the surface until he finally reached his ancient, cavernous sanctuary.

  He landed with enough force to crack the bedrock, but he could not be bothered to care. The instant his feet touched the ground, he set out in a determined stride down the path.

  “NO. Leave me,” he spat over his shoulder when his guards attempted to follow.

  They bowed their heads, knowing better than to voice any protest – especially given his current mental state.

  Brandubh struggled to keep his vision clear as he charged down the path, between the countless towering, stone trees. He did not need to come here for this, of course. He could have done it anywhere in the world. But this place always made it a bit easier. A bit more vivid.

  “Can… it be… true?” he called, at first barely able to find his voice. He paused, turning slowly as his eyes surveyed the trees carefully. “CAN IT BE TRUE?” he demanded after a moment, red-faced and shouting at the top of his lungs, looking around wildly as he began losing his grip on his sanity.

  He felt her before he saw her.

  She peered out at him from behind a tree. Her ghostly pale skin and raven black hair were still every bit as pure and perfect as his few surviving memories of her.

  His lips trembled as he jutted out his chin defiantly. He fought with all his might to suppress the sob building in his throat, aching for release.

  She approached slowly, silently. No warmth. No scent. No breath. No life. Just a whisper of herself. An echo of something long-since dead and gone. Her large, striking, green eyes were sorrowful as ever, watching him longingly and pityingly.

  He dropped to his knees and watched her draw closer – far closer than he had permitted her in the past few thousand years.

  “Have I gone completely, irretrievably mad?” he whispered brokenly. “Or is it possible?”

  She stopped before him, reaching out and framing his face with her hands. Her touch was void. There was no sensation on his skin to coincide with the vision of her caressing his cheeks. She tilted her head to the side, wordlessly asking him to elaborate.

  Brandubh fought back tears as he managed, “Our child… Our son… He survived. I… I know it’s true. I’ve seen him. He lives, Morrígan.”

  Her eyes darkened as a lethal smile spread across her lips.

 

 

 
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