Page 45

CHAPTER 45

AURORA

“H ow long are you going to stand there watching him?”

Aurora jumped at the sound of Pain’s voice. “ Gods above. Why are you stalking me?”

“First, I am not.” Pain stepped out of the shadows. “ And second, your beloved was worried. He has been insufferable these past days. Not as bad as his father. But all the same, the underworld has been a miserable place.” Pain pushed back a branch and looked at the mortal sitting by the river. “ So that’s him? The one my father is to protect. Simple -looking man. Not my type.”

“Good.” Aurora turned her attention back to the reason she was here. For days she had stayed in the heavens, grappling with what to do. But now seeing him sitting alone, tossing wishes into the river, she knew what she must do.

“This is your fault,” Pain reminded her.

“Not all of it. Some of this is your fault.” Aurora had hoped to do this part by herself. “ You’re the one who thought Thane loved you.”

“You’re the one who wished to forget Thane ,” Pain retorted.

Aurora opened her mouth to remind Pain it was her curse that made her wish Thane away.

“It’s Thane’s fault.” Pain smiled. “ Hurry up and do what needs to be done. We have a wedding to attend.”

“You’re getting married?” Aurora teased the god.

“Humor is not your realm. Now go.” Pain shoved Aurora out onto the trail. Gods from the underworld were so impatient.

Aurora sensed William’s sadness. It made the air feel too heavy to breathe. He had loved her, or at least thought he did. And no matter how many tokens he tossed into the river, his wish for her love would never come true. Love was not something to be taken. Not by Death , not by wishes. It had to be given freely without fear. She walked over to him and sat down. It felt like a lifetime had passed between them.

“Why did you come back? Did the rich Mr . Tenebris get bored of you so soon?”

“I guess I deserve that.” Aurora pulled her knees to her chest, watching the river flow by. She no longer felt the need to take his soul. The strings were still bright. Fate had done his part. Unfortunately , that was two debts she owed Pain . “ I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

“Did you ever love me?” His voice was soft.

“It’s not that simple.” Aurora stretched her legs out in front of her. She wore the black riding habit she had commissioned before she left. Her mother despised the dark clothing Aurora insisted on wearing. But she was in mourning, after all. And it showed in the bruised sky each morning when she had to chase darkness from the heavens.

“Yes, it is.” William looked at her.

His pain and anger were raw. His brown eyes no longer soft and caring. That was the fault of a selfish god. For a year, a girl named Ella turned to those eyes whenever she was lost or sad. It didn’t matter that Ella never existed; she existed to him. She would change that. She would make him forget that girl and find the one he was always destined to be with. “ I did love you.”

“Just not enough to stay.”

“No.” Aurora shook her head.

“Was it the money?”

“No. I love him. It was always him. He and I are alike. I come from a family of liars and thieves. So it’s best I stay with that kind.” That was true. Her mother was always taking mortals’ dreams. “ The night of the Moon Festival , I remembered who I was. And I am not someone who deserves your love.”

“You do, Ella? —”

“William, please, that is not who I am. I know you don’t understand, but I was never meant to be yours. The one you should love is still here. Waiting for you.”

William scoffed, shaking his head. “ Now you sound like Sissy .”

It was time. Time to tie off this last string of her mortal life. “ I have something for you.” She took a golden apple from her pocket and shook off the mortal mask she wore. She leaned in close to William , pressing a kiss on his cheek. Her voice was laced with all the things the mortal boy wanted. “ I want you to take a bite of this apple and wish to forget that you loved a girl named Ella .”

William looked at the apple, then at her. “ Why would I do that? I love Ella .”

“Oh, pet. She is not yours to have,” Aurora cooed. “ Your true love is on her way. If you take a bite of this apple, I promise to grant all your wishes.” Not all of them, just one. But William would not remember when he woke. “ Now take the apple and wish to forget the girl named Ella .” Aurora ran her fingertip over William’s brow, leaving a trail of stardust.

William took the apple. “ I wish to forget a girl named Ella .” He took a bite, then dropped the apple, clutching his head. “ What’s happening to me?” He reached for Aurora .

“Nothing, my sweet.” Aurora laid William down in her lap. “ I wish you all the happiness this mortal world can give you. May no god or mortal break this wish until you have lived all your days and I’ve come to collect your soul. Then you will remember a girl named Ella who is now a god.” Aurora stroked William’s soft hair, letting her wish take effect.

“They’re so pretty when they sleep, aren’t they?” Pain looked down at the sleeping mortal.

“If you go back on your bargain, I shall go to your mother and wish for you to love Lust .” Aurora brushed William’s lips with stardust to make sure the first time he kissed his true love, he’d know.

“That wretched god,” Pain sneered. “ Why are you gods of the heavens so dramatic? They will both live a long life. Are you prepared for that?” Pain sat down next to Aurora .

It had only been a few days without Thane , and yet it felt like three lifetimes. Aurora frowned. That was a bit dramatic, but she was a god, and that was in her nature. “ I made my choice. And it won’t be that long, right?”

“We are talking about my father. He hates Thane as much as I do. This mortal could outlive all other mortals.”

“That would not be fair to him.” Aurora looked down at William , wondering if the loss of Ella would leave a hole in his life.

“I’m not sure what Thane has that makes you keep doing stupid things for him.” Pain plucked a falling leaf from the air. Pain reminded Aurora a bit of Clara in her mortal form. But Pain’s eyes were the color of autumn leaves.

“You don’t?” Aurora gently laid William down in the cool grass. Sissy would soon be making her way down the trail. Aurora stood, pulling Pain to her feet.

Pain brushed the dirt from her clothing. “ All gods have one of those.”

“Yes, but some know how to use it better than others.”

Pain rolled her eyes. “ Are the heavens that lonely? I mean, yes, Thane is handsome, but I do find he can be a bit selfish when it comes to?—”

“Oh, hush up.” Aurora pulled Pain into the shadows. They watched as Sissy wandered down the trail, not sure what drew her to this place at this very moment.

“William!” Sissy rushed to the boy who was meant for her. William sat up, rubbing his head, not sure what had happened. He had dreamt about a beautiful woman with eyes the color of the sea. Sissy smiled at him and said he was lucky a god had blessed him.

Pain scoffed. “ You made him dream about you?”

“What was the other option, you? I didn’t want to give the poor man a nightmare.” Aurora linked arms with Pain as they walked up the trail towards the village. She and Pain had become allies at least. Friendship was a hard thing for gods, being selfish and all.

“Again, humor is not your realm.” Pain shoved Aurora a bit.

“Why are you here?”

“I’ve never been to a mortal wedding. And Thane thought you could use a friend.” Pain’s dark leathers shifted into a pale yellow dress. Her sharp beauty faded to a mortal softness.

“So you came?” Aurora teased. They made their way up the path and into Riverton . Lillian and Darby were getting married today. She and Pain were sisters who on their travels met a Mr . and Mrs . Tenebris who weren’t able to make it but sent their best and a very costly gift. A copper bathtub. Aurora shifted into a mortal form, just not Ella . That thread had been cut. Her pale blue dress complemented her eyes. “ I’ve always wondered what a happily ever after looks like.” Darby and Lillian would get one.

“What does marriage have to do with that?” Pain rolled her eyes.

Nothing. But it was something gods didn’t get.