Page 29 of Total Lunar Eclipse
“I’ll think about forgiving you. . . if you wake up Earth. And be nice to allmyElements.”
“I’ll wake him, but fuck if they’re yours, little girl. You’re ours. Always have been. The universe created you for us. Not those shit wizarding asstwerps.”
Despite myself, I laugh out loud and hoist my prone body off the ground. I watch as Caed revives Earth, but he doesn’t apologize or even look repentant. In fact, he looks like he might knock him out again at any second. I grab onto the Elements’ robes and manifest us into the cave chamber where the Minors are trapped.
CHAPTER 14
ZAHRA
I wait for the guys to catch up and join us. Within seconds, the small, sparkling room is packed with gorgeous men. I’m not going to lie- I love the feel of all my guys pressed against me. The moment is ruined when Edgar presses his face to the moonstone. He looks like Charlie Bucket staring into the candy store. It breaks my heart a little and totally kills my libido. I motion for him to go get the others. He disappears and the hot closeness I felt a moment ago now feels claustrophobic.
It’s too quiet, I can hear myself think.
With everything that’s happened, I honestly don’t want to reflect on anything.
As the seconds stretch on, I feel Caed trying to get into my head.
Good luck trying to figure out the bundle of thoughts in there, pal.
Edgar finally returns with Vesta, Ceres, Pallas, and Juno. Beside me, the Elements gasp in unison, and I watch them stare at the four Minor goddesses in absolute adoration. I feel an irrational twinge of jealousy.Imade these men. They’re mine. The Minor women don’t seem to care about this and press their hands against the moonstone, as if compelled. The Elements follow suit, and when their hands touch with the girls’ through the rocks, light arcs from their fingers.
The whole room glows with an otherworldly brightness, and the moonstones and pearls come crashing to the ground. The Minor goddesses collapse forward and the Elements catch them in their arms. Vesta smiles weakly at Water, who’s holding her. Earth has Ceres. Fire has Juno. And Air has Pallas. I look on in wonder, as I realize their coloring all matches, except for Vesta and Water, but even they seem to mesh together perfectly.
As if they were made for each other.
A lightbulb goes off in my head.
“You guys are Minor gods, too!” I exclaim. “Does this mean you need to buy me a Mother’s Day card, Mrs. Gerty?”
I joke, since I created the Elements and I’m like a pseudo-mother-in-law to good ol’ Gert.
None of them answer me, though, as they are too wrapped up in one another to care. Dammit, they are ruining my awesome humor by not acknowledging it. I pout a little, but Khal walks over and cups my face gently.
“Yes, you did make them, to help free the women and Chiron. Obviously, this wasn’t a conscious act, but after you left, Caed and I talked about the ‘tug’ you felt. Since Jupiter gave you his expansion powers, it allowed you to still feel the bond with the Minors. It was muted, but there; whereas the rest of us couldn’t feel a thing. In truth, I had thought the Minors were dead because of our lack of connection. Luckily, your powers were strong enough to find them, and because you are, well-you, your subconscious found a way to free the Minor gods from their imprisonment. You gave Merc’s ambience sentient form based on your astrological knowledge, and in doing so, made them a perfect pairing to their asteroid counterparts. You saved them all from Lina draining them of their powers. Woman, you take my breath away. I love you,ka?mimi.”
I inhale sharply, my heart stuttering over Khal’s sweet words.
This stubborn, dominant, overly-disciplined man-godlovesme?
I look over at the Minor gods; their happiness shines from their faces because of finding their other halves.
Then I look at Edgar. His face is desolate as he stares back at me.
He will never have what the other Minors have because I can’t givethatto him.
I can’t give it to Khal, either.
I thrust my hand out for him to take. The maroon man, who haunted my dreams for months on end, looks thoroughly confused when I simply shake his hand, give him a blank smile and a nod, and then turn and practically run away.
B
MARS
We all watch Zahra sprint out of the gemstone cave, into the darkness of Lina’s outside world. It’s now night on her domicile. I catch the remnants of her thoughts as she flees. I also feel Saturn’s bewilderment and hurt.
To ease his pain, I convey Zahra’s fear and immediately, his face blanks.
“She’s afraid for you, brother,”I gently tell him mentally.
