Ninety-Six

Her gaze turned icy, and a dangerous silence filled the space. She raised a hand, and one of the beings beside her started to protest, “This insolent mortal—”

But the goddess silenced him with a mere flick of her wrist. She looked down at me, her gaze both fierce and intrigued, as if my words had stung her pride yet piqued her interest. For a moment, I thought she might strike me down right there, but instead, she leaned back and tilted her head.

Then, to my utter shock, she softened her tone, almost mockingly, and said, “Come.”

I blinked, barely able to believe what I was hearing. But I moved closer, though not daring to get too close to her throne.

She extended a pale hand toward the water in front of her, and I felt my chest tighten as an image began to form within its depths. As I peered closer, my breath caught. There, in the water, was Cameron.

He was awake, sitting up, though his body looked weak. I watched him clench his fists as if searching, hoping for something.

For me.