Chapter Ten #2
“How is any of this possible?” Naomi asked Viktor. “I’m standing right here, and our souls are bonded. How can that be my soul?”
“I think it’s only part of your soul. Like a shadow of it, just like the mating mark you left on me during your last cycle,” Viktor explained. “This could be the very reason you are stuck in the death loop. Almost like fate is repeating until you can be whole again.”
“That makes sense. This realm exists out of time and space,” Killian reminded.
“So, how do we put it back in me?” Naomi said, eying the jar. “I don’t feel any attachment to it. Shouldn’t I feel something if that is a part of me?”
“Maybe you will feel something if we open the jar,” Arson suggested.
“Don’t!” Zeno and Emrys shouted at the same time.
“The jar is a special container for preservation. Once you open it, the soul will start to deteriorate if left for too long,” her father explained.
Naomi took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She didn’t want to think about what would happen if a part of her soul was destroyed. This was a whole new nightmare she couldn’t begin to comprehend how to fix.
“I know this sounds bad, but you must admit, everything worked out in the end.” Zeno smiled brightly. “I mean, here you are, happily mated, and now we have a chance to finally meet.”
Viktor glanced at her. “Can I?”
She nodded. “Go ahead.”
“What do you mean?” Zeno asked, then he could only gasp as Viktor slammed his fist into his face.
“Ow! You hit me! I’m your father-in-law!”
“Don’t call yourself that,” Viktor snapped. “You don’t deserve that title after what you’ve done.”
“You are both still angry.” Zeno pouted. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. Honestly. Can’t we just move past this? Why do you have to be so judgy?”
“I died because of you!” she shouted. “Hundreds of fucking times!”
Zeno went pale. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Hundreds of times,” she repeated. “I’m stuck in a death loop that never fucking ends. I just keep dying and coming back, over and over again.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Zeno said. “Really. But you are here now.”
“That’s it. I’m going to fucking kill him,” she muttered, stalking forward.
Viktor grabbed her by the waist, lifting her up and carrying her several feet away from the others so they could have some privacy. Killian and Arson stood their ground, blocking Zeno when he tried to follow after them.
“Your father is an asshole,” Viktor said through their bond. “There is no doubt about that. But you might regret it if you kill him right now.”
“I really don’t think I will.”
He smiled. “Let’s focus on what’s important right now, love. I can put your soul fragment somewhere safe until we decide what to do with it.”
She nodded vigorously. “Yes, please do that.”
When the jar disappeared, Naomi felt a little of her panic ease. She felt far more comfortable with Viktor safeguarding it than leaving it in the hands of the ridiculous male claiming to be her father.
“Since your father is the God of Mishaps, that could explain some of the things that have happened to you.”
She’d certainly had plenty of mishaps during her countless cycles.
“If his original spell was trying to awaken your god powers, perhaps that is still what it has been trying to do. It could be a clue why you have been stuck in the death loop. Every cycle, you kept getting stronger until you became a goddess.”
She considered that. “You think I keep dying to level up?”
“I think it could be one of the reasons. The other is to try and find your soul fragment.”
“And you,” she added softly. “I had to find you.”
Pulling her closer, he wrapped his arms around her. “And to find me. Now, we need to figure out a way to merge your soul back together. But since we are here, perhaps we should still try asking the Tree of Life for a piece of fruit.”
She pulled back to look up at him. “You don’t want to marinate my soul fragment like a pickle, do you? Because that would just be weird.”
That made him laugh. “No, I want you to eat the fruit so it will help you stay alive until we can find a way to make you whole.”
She nodded. “That works for me.”
“Hold onto me, mate,” he said out loud. “Let me take you for a ride.”
Naomi wrapped her arms around his waist and gasped in delight when he released his majestic black wings. He spread his wings wide, letting them fan the air until they were lifted right off their feet. It only took a few seconds to fly over to the island, but it was enough to lighten her mood.
As soon as their feet touched down on the ground, she reached out and stroked her hand over his wing. She felt it flutter beneath her palm, and smiled up at him.
“That was awesome.”
“I will take you flying any time you wish.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Taking his hand in hers, she walked with him toward the Tree of Life. It was far bigger up close, and as they disappeared under the canopy, she felt a pleasant warmth surrounding her.
“How do I do this?”
“I think you should just be honest. Explain why we need it, and ask it for a piece of fruit.”
Staring up at the tree, she took a deep breath before saying, “Hello, Tree. My name is Naomi Locke, and this is my mate, Viktor Ze. I’m here to ask you to grant me a piece of fruit to help prevent me from dying again.”
She felt a little silly, but began telling the tree her entire story. She’d only been speaking for a minute or two when the tree began to glow brighter, and a large luminous piece of fruit lowered itself in front of her.
Wide-eyed, she glanced over at her mate. “Does that mean it approves? Is it really giving it to me?”
He stroked a hand over her hair. “Perhaps it is simply bribing you to stop talking.” He laughed lightly when she elbowed him in the side. “Hold your hands out, love.”
Naomi did as he suggested, and the large piece of fruit fell into her waiting hands. Stunned, she stared down at it in awe. She felt honored by the gift bestowed upon her.
“Thank you,” she whispered to the tree.
“Go ahead. Try it.”
Lifting it, she held the piece of fruit between them. “We should both eat it.”
He smiled. “To life.”
“To life.”
Together, they took a bite, and for the first time, Naomi finally felt real hope for the future.