Page 30 of Secrets & Curses of Fate

“I have never star-blessed a creature before. We do not know what will happen. Perhaps nothing happens; maybe she becomes a goddess herself, or maybe she will only receive elite magic. How can we be sure that this is what is needed?” I asked.?

Bayla smiled softly at me.?

“I would choose a different option if I could. Do you know how terrible it is to see your child’s future being one where the weight of the realm depends on her? Thea will not have an easy life, and I hate myself for being here and telling you of my visions because it sets into motion her difficult fate. But you know it is the right choice. You can tell just by looking at me that I am not lying. Thisis the only way. Whatever happens after she is star-blessed will be exactly what is needed.”?

I glanced at Mikel, who was watching silently. I waited for doubt or reason to pop up in my mind, but it didn’t. My mind was blank—quiet. I stood up and moved closer to Bayla. She suddenly looked at Mikel with a menacing glare for some reason unknown to me.?

“Is this your coven’s stone?” I asked.?

She nodded as she gripped the pulsing red crescent moon around her neck. I reached forward and picked it up. I hesitated for a brief moment before my star mist circled around it, and when it moved away, the color had faded to purple. Bayla looked at me oddly.?

“If she is a goddess, then she will need her own star for her powers—for her mate. This will be passed down to her and her alone.” Bayla shook her head in disbelief. “Now, I can see her soul forming within you, and I can already feel her power.”

I looked over Bayla, and she looked terrified.?

“The bargain is as follows: I will star-bless her, but I do not know if it will be painful, and in exchange, Thea’s prophecy will be to save the realm, and this stone will be passed to her.”?

Bayla nodded, “I agree.”?

“Alright, give me your arm.”?

Bayla stuck her arm out, and I gripped her wrist, preparing to sear a star bargain into the both of us. It could not be fulfilled until both of us kept our part. Four glowing orange stars appeared in a line across both of our wrists.

Bayla’s silent tears fell from her eyes as I reached forward slowly, resting both of my palms on her stomach. My magic seeped from me, pouring into her slowly as I recited a prayer to the heavens to bless Thea. We would not know if it worked until she was older, but I could feel it. I could feel her power already pulsing from her soul. Thea would change the realm, andI hoped to witness it. I pulled my hands back, and Bayla jumped up, gripping me tightly.?

Relief flooded her as she held my wrists.

“Thank you, Della. Not only for this, but for taking care of Thea later when I am no longer here,” Bayla whispered. “You will take care of each other. Tell her I wished there was another way, and I am so proud of her.”?

“I will.”?

I pulled back and looked over her face and stilled. Her tears that fell were lit with the soft glow of the stars. Mikel stood up and looked at Bayla closely.?

“Fucking hell, it’s going to work,” he said.?

Bayla smiled at me, and I knew that this moment had just changed my entire life. That frantic feeling subsided slightly, but it was there in the back of my mind, like an itch.?

“You are not allowed to speak of this to anyone but Brim,” I decreed.?

“I promise.” She smiled. “Thank you both.”?

Bayla bowed her head down, and when she lifted her gaze to me, there were so many emotions floating in her red eyes that I didn’t know how to decipher any of them. Bayla left, and I turned to Mikel.?

“You believed her.”?

“Yes.” I nodded. “Something about her made me feel like I was meant to star-bless her daughter.”?

“You may have just created a goddess,” Mikel said with wonderment.?

I smiled at him.?

“I guess we will see if Thea makes a name for herself in the future,” I nodded.?

Mikel stared at me like he was lost in thought. His eyes traced over me like he could see something different about me.?

“I am going to go have a drink after the day we just had,” he sighed.?

“I’m going to check on Penelope.”?

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