Chapter 203

[ 1,169 words ]

Got A Spare Bed?

Elliot

The moment I hit the Underworld, the ground shuddered with me. My portal snapped shut behind me like a slammed door, echoing off the stone walls. I didn’t even bother steadying the landing; I just let the fury take me, bleeding out through every breath. That image was seared into my mind: his face, his grin, the way he’d leaned toward her like he had any right stand in her orbit. My Macey. What gave him the right? He hadn’t been there through the years when she woke up crying from the storms. He hadn’t taught her to ride, or spent hours helping her master her fighting stances. He hadn’t been the one who caught her when she fell, literally or otherwise. I had. Me. And yet there he was, walking her home like some storybook prince, smiling like he’d known her

his whole damn life.

I drove my fist into the obsidian wall beside the portal chamber. The stone cracked under the hit, fragments scattering like sparks. The pain barely registered. He didn’t deserve that smile. He didn’t deserve her. For years, I’d convinced myself the bond between us was enough to hold back the chaos inside me. That if I just waited, if I gave fate time to work, everything would fall into place. Now fate was laughing in my face. I paced the corridor, breath ragged, shadows clinging tighter the more I lost control. The air itself bent around the edges of my temper, whispering the old language of the dead, the one

that came too easily when I was angry.

“Breathe, Elliot p>

Xavier’s voice carried down the hall before I even saw him. He stepped through the shadows, still wearing the same clothes from earlier, a cup of black coffee in hand, like this was just another ordinary night.

“Don’t tell me to breathe,” I bit out, turning away. “Not tonight p>

He didn’t flinch. “Then tell me what’s got the entire pit pulsing like a heartbeat, because I can feel your temper from the far side of the realm p>

I dragged a hand through my hair, my pulse still hammering. “Someone’s sniffing around Macey p>

Xavier sighed. “And that someone is p>

*Dean. The kid who joined the pack today. Thinks he’s funny p>

Xavier raised a brow, sipping his coffee. “Let me guess, he smiled at her p>

“He tried to kiss her,” I growled.

That got his attention. His posture straightened, though his tone stayed calm. “And did he p>

“No.” My hands clenched. “But he wanted to. And she didn’t stop him soon enough p>

His eyes softened, but he didn’t move closer yet. “Elliot, she’s almost eighteen. She’s figuring out who she is. You can’t fight every shadow that mover neat

ber

“I don’t want to fight every shadow,” I said quietly “I just want to keep her safe p>

“From bum p>

“From anyone who doesn’t see her the way I do p>

Kavier sighed again, setting his coffee doen om a ledge. “You’re not angry at hem, kid You’re angry at yoursell for waiting on a bond that might nevei

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9:07 am

Got A Spare Bed?

The words hit harder than the wall had. I turned away, staring out across the dark river below. “You know p>

He chuckled a little, “We all know. You act like we haven’t watched you two grow up together. You’ve always loved her, and she…she’s always loved you too, in her own way. She’s just not comfortable admitting it. She doesn’t want anyone to think she’s even more different than she already is p>

“She’s not different,” I grunt out, kicking at the air and shoving my hands in my pockets. “She’s special p>

He puts a hand on my shoulder as we stand side by side, “She is, very special, but you have to let the fates, and her decide what’s going to happen next. It might be best if you keep some distance until then p>

I sigh, running my hands through my hair, but I nod anyway. “Yeah…I’ll stay with Ma, Pa and Elias for a bit p>

His hand squeezes my shoulder, “whatever is supposed to be will be p>

I exhaled hard, dragging my hands through my hair. I wanted to argue, to say I could handle it, that seeing her wouldn’t break me. But I couldn’t even convince myself of that.

“Yeah,” I murmured finally. “You’re probably right.” My throat tightened around the words. “I’ll stay with Ma, Pa, and Elias for a bit. Help out at the orphanage, maybe. Keep busy p>

His grip on my shoulder tightened, firm but gentle. “Good.” He gave a slight nod, approval flickering across his face. You just have to give it time p>

Time. The one thing I had too much of and none of all at once. Xavier started to turn back toward the main hall, pausing just long enough to add, “You know, space doesn’t mear. disappearing. She’ll still need you p>

I almost laughed at that. But I nodded anyway. “Yeah. I’ll remember that p>

He gave me one last look, the kind that said he understood more than I wanted him to, then walked off into the shadows, the soft echo of his boots fading into the heartbeat of the realm. I stayed there a while longer, letting the quiet seep in. Every part of me ached to go back, to check on her, to make sure she was okay. But my mind kept circling the same truth: staying there wasn’t helping either of us.

Sure, I had a room here too, but every corner of it smelled like her laughter. Her voice still haunted the walls from the nights she’d been portaled down uninvited, wrapped in a blanket, demanding stories about how the realm worked. Even if our rooms weren’t connected, I’d still feel her presence everywhere, I needed distance, not just across realms, but in my head. With one last look at the glowing river, I opened a portal. The familiar tug of its energy wrapped around me, cold and sharp. The next breath I took was filled with the scent of pine and earth, the orphanage grounds. Warm light spilled from the windows of the main hall. Somewhere inside, kids were laughing. Elias’s voice carried faintly from the courtyard, corralling them for dinner. Home. Just dillerent kind. For now, it would have to be enough.

The moment I stepped through the orphanage doors, the familiar scent of baked bread and lavender hit me. Then I saw Ata standing by the kitchen dusmus. wiping her hands on her apron. Her eyes softened instantly, that same warm smile breaking across her face before I could say a word

“Got a spare bed?” I asked, managing a tired half-grin

Her answer was a soft laugh as she crossed the room, arms already open “For you, my boy? Always p>

She pressed a kiss to my cheek and pulled me into a hug that felt like home, solld, grounding, imconditional

2/3

9:07 am

Goddess Of The Underworld

Juliet Zvayi

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