feisty soul

The tarot reader's piercing gaze lingered on me, her expression a blend of confusion and intrigue. "I thought you said she wasn't Athena," she murmured, her voice low yet sharp, as though speaking to herself. Her eyes flicked between Lucius and me, probing for answers. "The energy that surged between us... it's extraordinary. Like touching the essence of something divine."

Lucius's jaw tightened, his stance becoming defensive. "She's not Athena," he replied firmly, though his tone carried an edge of uncertainty. "She may carry remnants of her essence, but—"

"That's just it!" the woman interjected, her voice rising with excitement. "A goddess—or anyone with divine power—cannot have their future or past read. The threads of fate refuse to unravel for them. The same thing is happening with her." She gestured toward me, her expression sharp with revelation. "This isn't about her body. It's the soul."

Lucius hesitated, then spoke cautiously, doubt evident in his tone. "Perhaps it's because she's inside Athena's body."

"No," the tarot reader countered, shaking her head with conviction. "This is beyond physicality. Whatever lies within her is veiled from me. It's as if her soul defies mortal comprehension."

Lucius stepped forward abruptly, his expression darkening. "Enough." His voice was sharp, final. "You have no answers for us, and this conversation is over. Let's leave." He turned to me, his jaw set, the dismissal clear.

I wanted to argue, to stay and learn more, but the thought of descending those cursed 900 steps again made my legs tremble in protest. My eyes darted to Lucius, wordlessly pleading for mercy. He caught the look, and his stern expression softened, a flicker of amusement lighting his eyes.

Without a word, he extended his hand. I placed mine in his, and in one swift motion, he scooped me into a bridal carry. This time, I didn't resist. Instead, I let my exhaustion win, resting my head against his chest as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

His steady heartbeat was a strange comfort amidst my swirling thoughts. I stole a glance back at the tarot reader as we exited the temple. Her intense gaze followed us, her lips pressed into a thin line. There was something she wanted to say, but Lucius's presence seemed to hold her back.

After what felt like an eternity, Lucius finally reached the bottom of the steps and set me down with an exaggerated sigh. His glare was half-hearted, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Oh my gods, you weigh a ton. I don't remember my wife being this heavy."

I shot him a glare of my own, crossing my arms. "Excuse me? My soul doesn't weigh a thing. Since when do souls have weight, anyway? If your wife feels heavier, maybe she gained a little 'soul weight' while in her trance."

He raised a skeptical brow, his tone laced with mock exasperation. "Maybe it's time she went back to that trance. It would save me a lot of back pain."

Rolling my eyes, I grabbed his hand and tugged him forward. "Where are we going next? What's the next 'first experience' you have planned?"

Lucius groaned, shaking his head. "No way. I think tonight has had more than enough disasters. First, an aimless spirit crashing into us. Then, the temple—which was supposed to be enlightening—turned into another catastrophe. I'm not risking anything else."

He started to walk away, but I grabbed the hem of his robe, refusing to let him leave. "Please," I pleaded, stepping in front of him. "Just one more experience. One more. And it's not like you'll remember this when you return to your world."

His gaze lingered on mine, softening slightly, though his lips remained pressed in a thin line. I placed a hand over my chest and gasped theatrically. "But my soul will remember! It will carry these memories forever. The ancient powers, the history I've felt—it's like it's running through my veins now. How can I turn back when I've come this far?"

Lucius pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're not convincing me, feisty soul."

I burst into laughter, his nickname catching me off guard. "Oh, come on, Lucius. Your royal Majesty," I teased, adding a sarcastic bow.

He sighed, his resolve finally cracking. "Fine. But I'm out of ideas. Every place I've planned has ended in chaos. Honestly, I don't trust anywhere at this point."

I tapped my chin, pretending to consider. "What about Lake Gayank?"

The name seemed to strike a nerve. Lucius froze, his teasing demeanor vanishing in an instant. He turned to face me slowly, his posture rigid, his expression wary.

Lucius's expression shifted immediately, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Who told you about that? How do you know about Lake Gayank?" His voice was sharp, controlled, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.

I hesitated, my mind racing. Telling him about the maid would only complicate things, and his piercing gaze made it clear that he wasn't in the mood for half-truths. Scrambling for an excuse, I blurted out, "I… I overheard some maids talking while they were cleaning near my hallway. I wasn't trying to pry, but I, uh, eavesdropped a little. They said it was magical. Can you please take me there?"

His eyes darkened, and an icy chill seemed to fill the air between us. "No," he said flatly, his tone colder than I'd ever heard.

Before I could argue, his entire demeanor shifted. Gone was the teasing, almost relaxed Lucius from before. In his place stood someone rigid, commanding, and entirely intimidating. His jaw clenched, his frame seeming larger, boxier, as though he'd tapped into an unyielding, masculine force. Without warning, he grabbed my wrist firmly—not enough to hurt, but enough to make a point.

"We're going home. Now," he said, his tone brooking no argument.

He started walking toward the carriage, practically dragging me behind him. My heart pounded with frustration. This was unfair, controlling even. No. Not this time. I wrenched my hand free, snapping, "No! I'm not going anywhere unless you take me to the lake."

Lucius froze, his back to me, the tension in his posture palpable. He turned slowly, his expression unreadable. "You're not going?" he echoed, his voice dangerously low. "Either you come with me now, or—"

"Or what?" I interrupted, standing my ground. "I'll go myself. If you won't take me, I'll find it on my own."

His eyes widened briefly, a flash of disbelief crossing his face before he stepped back. "Fine," he said curtly, his voice like steel. "Go. Let's see how far you get."

Anger and defiance surged within me. Without thinking, I turned and started walking, my steps brisk and determined. I had no idea where I was going, but I wasn't about to back down now. My pace quickened until I was running, the cool night air stinging my cheeks as my heart thundered. Behind me, I heard his footsteps—heavy, purposeful, gaining on me.

It wasn't long before he caught up, his hand grabbing my arm and yanking me to a stop. "What do you think you're doing?" he growled, his voice low and furious. "Do you have any idea where you are? Do you realize how dangerous this place is? You're walking around in Athena's body. If anyone recognizes you—"

"Gods," I interrupted, cutting him off mid-rant. "I've heard that a million times, Lucius. Just take me to the damn lake!"

He stared at me, his chest rising and falling with barely restrained fury. For a moment, neither of us spoke, the silence crackling with tension. His grip on my arm tightened slightly, his expression a mix of frustration and something else—something I couldn't quite place. Finally, he exhaled sharply, muttering something under his breath.

"Fine," he snapped, his voice clipped. "You want to go to Lake Gayank? Let's go."

"By the gods, you vex me."