Page 33 of Redemption (Deliverance Duet #2)
Chapter Thirty-Two
Iris
I ’m not quite sure when something changes, but I can feel the difference in the air around us. Everything looks the same, but it’s not. There wasn’t a shimmer of a veil, a sign, or anything dramatic to show we are somewhere else. Wherever we are now, though, is somewhere completely different than where we were just a moment ago. My mates feel far away, transported to another land, except I know they are still back in the Unseelie territory. It’s Blaise and I who are somewhere new.
The trees are the same, as is the dirt below my boots, but I know it’s not. We stepped into a mirror of the clearing, mimicking what we left behind. I look to one side, and it suddenly occurs to me that everything around us is still. There’s not been a single touch of breeze to brush against our skin or blow through the trees. Without the background noise of the forest and the life within it, everything is eerily quiet. There is no birdsong or the low babbling of a stream.
We cautiously walk on, each of our steps eating up the ground and seeming to take us much farther than should be possible. My instincts tell me to keep going, yet my nerves are on edge, searching for any possible threats. We don’t have any other choice if we want answers. This is where we are supposed to be.
The light changes. I didn’t notice at first, as it was such a gentle shift, but it’s obvious now, becoming brighter and shining on the plants around us. They are different now too. None of the tall, lush plants are like anything I would see in the Unseelie Court. The trees have become heavy with bright, healthy leaves, yet still nothing moves, and the only sounds to be heard are of our footsteps and my heavy breathing.
I see something across our path ahead. It appears to be a large, thick row of bushes, while flowers bloom within the deep green leaves. Is the path blocked? What do we do if we can’t get through? I glance at Blaise, but he doesn’t seem concerned. Seeing that his fae eyesight is far better than mine, I’m going to assume he’s noticed a way past.
We get close, and I was right. There’s an archway made of climbing roses, and I know that whatever answers we need are on the other side. All of my worries suddenly dissipate like mist in the sunlight, and my steps become surer, the archway a beacon.
Stepping through the arch, I look up expectantly. We have been transported once more, but this time to a lush oasis. Warm rays from the sun shine down on us, unobscured by trees. A pool of crystal clear water glistens under the sunlight, and there isn’t a cloud in the sky. This should be impossible, as it was a dim, cloudy morning just on the other side of the boundary, but then it shouldn’t be possible for an oasis to be in the middle of Unseelie land. This only confirms my suspicions that we are no longer in the human realm.
The glowing form of a female kneels at the side of the pool. It’s the woman from my dream, but I am able to see her full appearance now. She’s stunning, her tanned skin almost luminous in the sunlight. Waves of golden brown hair tumble down her back, and her curvy body is luscious. Everything about her exudes love and growth, and the sense of familiarity is so strong, it pulls me forward, like wanting to greet an old friend.
“So you found me.”
Her voice is musical and full of power, a sweet and welcoming melody. Although she’s still looking at the pool, it’s clear she’s talking to us as she dips her fingers into the water.
I’m not sure how to respond, as her words are more of a statement than an actual question. I’d initially thought she was fae, but I’m starting to think she’s something more. How does one speak to someone so strong?
“You are the one from my dream,” I blurt out, the words escaping my mouth before I can stop to think if this is the right thing to say.
Thankfully she just smiles, lifting her head to look first at Blaise, and then at me. Her smile widens, and she stands, clasping her hands in front of her. “Yes. You did well, love.”
The sense of familiarity is insane, and her use of an endearment only confuses me more. Besides, the way she’s looking at me like a proud parent is only clouding my thoughts more. Shaking my head, I take a step forward without meaning to. “Do I know you?”
“No.” Her smile becomes sad, her eyes crinkle at the sides, and the glow surrounding her dims. “But I know you.” She walks around the pool and makes her way towards us, almost gliding with grace. “I am Natura, but I am known by many names—the green woman, Mother Nature, Gaia, Terra Mater.”
Mother Nature. My brain stalls, taking a moment to fully comprehend what she’s saying.
Blaise, on the other hand, seems to take the news better.
“You are the goddess of nature,” he murmurs and drops into a low bow, his eyes so wide it would be comical if I wasn’t trying to work through the fog of confusion.
She chuckles and turns her attention back to me. “You did a good job in choosing your fae bound.”
Turning to look at Blaise, I see he’s still bowing, frozen in place. Perhaps he’s not taking this as well as I thought. Blowing out a breath, I face the stranger. I am so confused and conflicted.
“My what?” I bark out, shaking my head as I run my eyes over the glowing female. “You’re a goddess?”
She stops a few meters from us, giving us some space, something I’m grateful for as I process that I’m standing before a goddess. Nyx is a god, so this shouldn’t be so difficult for me, but he’s always been part of my life. He was my dark friend in the forest, so when I found out he was a god, it was easier for me to process.
“You are mated to the god of death. Did it ever occur to you that there would be more of us?” she asks with a raised brow and smile, clearly having the same thought as me.
Honestly though, no, I never really put much thought into there being more gods. I’m trying to remember if Nyx ever mentioned another god, but I can only think of all the good moments we spent together, which doesn’t help me now. The humans tell stories of Mother Nature, the mysterious motherly figure who watches over us all and provides when we need it most. These were only ever stories, though, and a name used to praise a good harvest.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think she was real.
Are there other gods out there who we weren’t aware of? Why does the goddess of nature want to speak with me? Clearing the lump in my throat, I focus on what I need to know.
“Why am I here?”
Should I be bowing and showing reverence like Blaise, or addressing her in a certain way? Thankfully she doesn’t seem offended by my blunt question and nods her head.
“You need to know the truth of who you are.” She holds out her arm. “Take my hand, and I shall show you.”
I look at the proffered hand. My answers lie there, I just have to take the few short steps and accept it, but this feels weighted. The action is simple, but when I cross that space, I will learn things that will change my life forever, and I’m not sure if I’m ready for that. That’s what putting my hand in hers means, that I accept the future awaiting me.
Blaise and I have come all this way, convincing my mates to journey with us and then stay behind in Unseelie land, so I knew things were about to change. We are supposed to be here.
Faith. I told my mates to have faith in me. It’s now my time to trust blindly.
Releasing a long, drawn-out breath, I step forward and take her hand.
The first thing I notice is how warm her palm is, but I become aware of a tingling sensation spreading through my body. It’s light, and soon, I find my eyelids shutting, focusing on what I feel.
A vision of my family’s cottage appears in my mind, as though someone is viewing it from outside. The image shifts, and my mother comes into view inside the house, smiling down at a squirming bundle in her arms. I realise it’s me with detached acknowledgement. I’m looking at myself. The vision shifts, and I’m now alone in my cot. Something warms in my chest as a glow appears beside my cot. Natura materialises and smiles widely as she stares down at me.
“Finally, you are here,” she whispers, her affection obvious. She spends some time just watching me, her smile beautiful to observe. Her expression changes, joy fading from her face as she lowers her arm into the cot, brushing her hand over my head. “I am sorry to do this, sweet child.” There is sorrow in her voice and remorse in her expression. A bright light shines from her hand and covers me from head to toe, filling the whole room with a golden glow so strong it’s blinding.
When the glow fades, the vision is gone. Blinking my eyes open, I look at her with hurt and confusion. I feel so betrayed by what I saw. The emotions I feel are those of being hurt by a loved one in a way you never imagined, but I don’t know this goddess.
“What did you do to me?” I ask accusingly. The urge to pull away from her touch is strong, but I know we’re not finished yet, not to mention I know she’s not going to hurt me. My gut is telling me that whatever she did was for my own good.
“I bound your powers,” she explains, her smile sad but understanding. “You needed to grow up with no knowledge of who you are. Your gifts were only supposed to show themselves when you were ready, but you were so strong, they were leaking. Nyx was drawn to you while you were still a child, your magic calling to him, although I doubt he knew it at the time.” She sighs, the light around her dimming again. “Then, you died.” There’s a heavy pause, and I get the feeling she’s trying to gather herself before continuing. “Thankfully you were reborn, and your magic came with it. What didn’t come, though, was the knowledge of who you are. None of it went to plan, and your power is stronger than I could have imagined.”
What does that mean, and why is it sticking out so vividly in my mind? She’s not talking about the curse, but something else, something more.
“What are you saying?” I ask, my voice desperate.
“Look at your mates, Iris. You have a Seelie and an Unseelie, both of high status, and then you have the god of death.” She lists them as though this is an answer in itself and I should know what she’s trying to tell me, but I’m only more confused than ever, and when I don’t answer, she sighs and places her free hand on my shoulder. “Everything in life needs balance. You have light and dark, good and evil. Your fae mates balance each other out, but who is there to balance your Nyx?”
Something is growing in the back of my mind, something large and impossible to ignore. I scrabble away from it, not wanting to acknowledge what I am slowly coming to realise.
“What balances the god of death?” Blaise asks behind me, bewildered by the question.
The answer pops into my mind, and I squeeze my eyes shut at the absolute certainty that rings through me. I don’t know how any of this came to be, but there’s no denying it any further.
“A goddess in human form,” I whisper, not wanting to open my eyes and face the reality of what I already know. Somehow, I have the powers of a goddess. What I can do should be impossible for a human—no, for anyone, yet somehow, I am able to. It still seems outrageous to even think it, but I cannot deny that glowing pit of power deep within me any longer. In a world that demands balance, it only makes sense that the god of death and the fragile goddess in human form would be bound together.
No one speaks, allowing me time to adjust to this bombshell, and for that, I’m grateful. I can’t avoid this forever, though, so I open my eyes and lift my head. Blaise is staring at me with shock and something that looks close to awe, which I can’t face right now, so I keep my gaze on the goddess.
Natura nods, her smile like that of a proud mother, and despite everything, my heart warms a little. “The goddess of life,” she announces, and I feel my eyes widen, my mouth dropping open.
It’s one thing to say I have the powers of a goddess, but calling me the goddess of life is a pretty grand title that I don’t think I can fill. I barely know how to use my powers, and I seem to be incapable of keeping all three mates with me at the same time. Life and death. It makes sense, but not when you add me into the equation.
I’ve always felt different from those around me. I know now that parts of my soul were missing, waiting for me in the form of my mates, but there was another part of me that wasn’t like other humans. I was always more comfortable in my garden or the forest, surrounded by life. My strange little quirks were actually my magic breaking free of the binding the goddess put on me.
What does this mean for the future? I’m human, meaning at some point, I will die from disease or old age. I suppose there is something poetic about having a mortal goddess of life, as I will be following the natural order of all mortal creatures by passing on.
The goddess chuckles, her musical laugh like the tinkling of raindrops on the surface of a pond. Whatever expression I’m wearing seems to amuse her, and she crosses the small space between us. Taking pity on me, she grabs my hand, but instead of giving me a vision, she merely squeezes it in comfort.
“Why do you think butterflies are drawn to you when you use your magic? They symbolise rebirth and transformation,” she explains, her eyes glistening. “Isn’t that what you yourself have gone through?”
The butterflies. It makes sense now. Even among humans, butterflies are seen as a good omen, the souls of our loved ones sent to guide us, so I don’t know why this surprises me. It just makes me wonder if all the stories are true.
“That’s how you saved me.” Blaise gazes at me with reverence and awe etched into his features.
He looks at me as though his whole view of me has changed. Sure, he was grateful to me before for saving not only his life, but his prince’s, yet this is something different. Out of all the changes that have happened recently, this is the one that upsets me the most.
I don’t want him to look at me like I walk on water or am anything particularly special. I want my snarky friend back, not someone who fawns all over me.
“That’s how you saved Alaric. You have the power of life,” he continues, shaking his head in amazed disbelief.
“I am human,” I insist a little more forcefully than I planned, and he reacts with raised brows. I wait for his reply, a smart comeback, but the expression on his face is replaced with awe once more.
“Yes.” He steps towards me, his hand raised as if to reach out, yet he thinks better of it. “But you have the power of a goddess.”
No, this stops now before he decides this is how he needs to treat me from now on. I understand this is just as much of a shock to him, but everything in my life has changed, and I need my friend in all of this.
“If you start bowing and grovelling at my feet, I’m going to lose it.” I jab him in the chest with a pointed finger so forcefully, he actually takes a step back. “I’m no different now than I was a few moments ago.” Not giving him time to respond, I look back to the goddess, ready for more answers. “What did you mean earlier when you called Blaise my fae bound?”
The two of them share a look, coming to the conclusion that I’m about to lose my composure. The absurdity of the notion makes me want to laugh aloud. “I’ve clearly fallen and hit my head, as there’s no way this is really happening.” I bark out a humourless laugh and shake my head. “Either that, or this is some crazy joke.”
“I can assure you this is all real, Iris,” the goddess replies with a gentle smile. “The bond you and Blaise have is because you saved his life, and he is now fae bound to you,” she begins, taking a deep breath before continuing. “Life magic is difficult to control, and sometimes when saving a life, some of your lifeforce transfers over and they become bound to you. It is rare and seen mostly among the divine. These individuals tied to the gods are known as fae bound and are fae who dedicate their lives to the god or goddess who saved them. Many choose never to take a fae bound, as it is an unbreakable bond, only severed when one of them dies.” She looks between us and steps in before we can ask the most obvious question. “It is not a romantic attachment like that of a mate bond, but trust between the two is paramount.”
My feelings for Blaise have never been of the romantic type, but ever since I saved him, we have developed a deep friendship that I cherish. I need him as much as I need my mates, just as a different type of support, so hearing this helps settle some of my anxiety. Honestly, I am glad she cleared up the mention of mate bonds and how this is different, as I could never imagine getting close to him in that way.
I am overwhelmed, but I have to push away the impending sense of panic and focus on the next steps. “What do I do now?”
Mother Nature watches me intently, her smile becoming brighter as she widens her arms as though to encompass everything around us. “You have to save them.”
“Who?” I ask. The Unseelie? Is she talking about the curse I still need to break?
She laughs as though it’s obvious. “Everyone.”
Of course. I should have known.
Exasperated, I push my hair back from my face, wishing for a breeze to cool my hot body. Only, there’s no wind here, no movement to the air at all, making the atmosphere oppressive. I need to get my answers and get out of here immediately.
“How do I do that? You make it sound so easy.” I realise I’m snapping at a goddess, but this female has been a part of my life since I was a baby and blocked my powers. Who knows what my life would have been like if she hadn’t been involved?
“You have to figure the rest out by yourself.” She pauses, clutching her hands in front of her as though trying to decide how much she can get away with saying. “However, you cannot do what you need to do with parts of your soul missing.”
There’s a clear warning there, and she’s speaking in riddles, but I know exactly what she’s referring to.
“Nyx,” I whisper, my chest tightening like it does every time I think of my absent mate.
“Yes. Life and death go hand in hand. You need him.” Her smile is gone, and in its place is a solemn expression. I really hope that’s not an omen of what’s to come.
Taking a deep breath, I compose my thoughts. “So I need to find Nyx and then we’ll break the curse?”
“I cannot guide you any further without being accused of meddling by the Fates. I already changed the course of history once.”
She might not be able to tell me, but I know that’s exactly what we need to do. The four of us are stronger together, and whatever we’ll face next is going to test our bonds to the limit. Turning to my companion, I find Blaise already looking at me expectantly, ready to follow wherever I lead. For the first time since all of this began, I know exactly what we have to do now.
We have to find the god of death.