A Gift from the Goddess novel Chapter 135

“What are you doing back here?” Kieran asked. “Did you get lost?”

I took a small breath and tried to think on my words, but there wasn’t really any way around this. It was pretty obvious what I was doing.

“Your uh… Your uncle asked for a drink,” I said, holding it up a little to show him. “I was looking for the kitchen.”

“And he asked you to get it for him?”

“…Yes.”

Silence.

I tapped my nails against the glass in my hand as I awkwardly stood there, unsure if I was about to get another lecture about something I was never told about. A reoccurring situation that was becoming more frustrating.

“Raven… that’s not your job. Especially not as my… guest. We have attendants to help with that which he should already know.”

“Ok… but *I* didn’t know that and you weren’t there,” I snapped back. “I was trying to be polite. In a human city, it’s not that uncommon for someone to ask this. Especially for people who are important.”

Countless times in my life had I fetched influential men drinks in order to gain favour. Some people just expected it. How was I meant to know it would be met with this much pushback here? It was just a freaking drink.

“I’m sorry. I’ll try and stay by your side more,” he said. “And don’t worry about the drink or about Sterling. I’ll speak to him about pulling that sort of thing again.”

He went to walk past me to the hallway door, but it was then that my frustration finally came to a boil.

…I’d had enough.

“That’s not the issue here, Kieran,” I said, stopping him. “You can’t be with me twenty-four seven. That’s just… unrealistic. The problem is that I don’t understand.”

He turned back to look at me and his eyes quickly softened.

“…You’re right. That’s my bad. I should explain the culture here to you more,” he said. “The last thing I want is for you to feel uncomfortable. We can do lessons or—.”

“No.”

I placed the glass down on a side-table and took a step towards him.

“No, what I don’t understand is… me. Where I fit into all of this. Where I fit into your life and this town. You say that I’m here as a guest and yet that seems to have unspoken social rules I’ve never heard of.”

“It’s… complicated,” was all he said.

“Complicated in the same way this thing between us is?” I asked, thinking back to what he’d once told me. “Because you never explained that to me either. Just left it as ‘a complicated question’. But these sparks… these abrupt feelings… the connection… It’s all so intense. I need to know if this is just a part of my sickness or… if this is real.”

At that, he instantly moved back over to my side, his hands grabbing mine. I could feel the warmth and sparks spread through the contact, trying to calm me, but my uncertainty inside prevailed.

“It’s real,” he said quietly. “Of course it’s real.”

“Then why won’t you tell me what this is? Or tell anyone else for that matter? Are you hiding it from people because you think this is temporary? Or casual? I’m confused about what you want from me.”

“You’ve got it wrong,” he said quickly, seemingly shocked by what I was saying. “I’m not hiding anything. I don’t need to tell people anything… because everyone already knows, Raven. Everyone knows because you’re my….”

“…‘Guest’?” I offered when his words trailed off, raising a brow at him.

But he then took a deep breath, rubbing a hand against his eyes. Almost as if he was having an argument with himself inside. One he seemed to leave feeling defeated.

“Because you’re my… mate,” he said reluctantly.

I stared at him blankly, not understanding what that meant. Clearly, this was something he’d been hesitant to tell me and yet his answer provided no new insight into my concerns.

“…‘Mate’? I don’t… I don’t know what that is,” I said, a crease forming between my brows.

“It’s—.”

But before Kieran could elaborate further, an attendant then walked through the hallway with a tray full of glasses in hand. He spared us a quick curious glance as he passed by but didn’t pause, promptly continuing through to the dining area.

“Come on,” Kieran said, tugging on my hand to follow. “We should talk in private.”

I allowed him to lead me for a minute until we came upon a room. It looked to be a small, contained suite; complete with both a bedroom and lounge area.

He took several feet inside but I quickly crossed my arms, growing impatient. “Tell me,” I said.

And he looked at me with conflicted eyes, as though he really didn’t want to have the conversation. But it was now past the point of hiding this. I needed to know. I needed answers.

Only, I could have never anticipated the way the conversation started.

“Do you believe in Gods?” he asked randomly.

The question took me by surprise but I answered it honestly. “No more than the average guy on the street, I guess. It’s not like someone can prove their existence.”

It was difficult to believe in a divine power after experiencing the things I had, after seeing the things I’d seen.

“What if I was to tell you that there lived a Goddess who created and oversaw our kind? A Great Mother who we refer to as the Moon Goddess, Selene?”

“…Am I being indoctrinated into a cult right now?”