Chapter 783

Jesse just stares at the girl standing before him, wondering if this is some sort of game, some ruse she's playing to trick him into feeling sorry for her. Because he's got a tender heart - he knows that, as much as he tries to hide it from everyone else. Could this girl have figured that out and is now using those big brown eyes, that sad question, to trick him? But even as he thinks it his wolf nips him, hard.

Can't you see it? His wolf hisses, livid with Jesse. This girl is neglected and all alone. The God of Darkness has ruined her wolf - and he's been using her to spy on you. She has nothing, and you cannot even be kind to her?

Jesse's wolf nips him again, hard, ashamed.

And Jesse flinches and blinks again, staring with pity down into Midnight's sweet, broken little face. Because even if it sounds absurd, when Jesse looks into Midnight's dark eyes he knows...that it's absolutely true. That she is some kind of...bizarre orphan of Darkness, raised here alone, with the sole purpose of spying on him and his family.

Or perhaps as...punishment? For him, for his family, for the Goddess? God, but Jesse doesn't know - he doesn't understand anything at all.

And as he realizes it, Jesse's heart reaches for this strange lost girl. For his fated mate, the girl the Goddess picked for him.

"Of course I like you, Midnight," Jesse says, quiet and gentle, taking a step closer but not taking her hand, still wary of the corruption in her soul. "Go ahead. Show me your house.noveldrama

Midnight's face breaks into that dazzling smile, the truly happy one, not the fake one, and she laughs as she spins and begins to dash away across the packed dirt of the wasteland before them. "Come on!" she says, cheerful. "It's just over this hill!"

Jesse sighs, hangs his head, and with absolutely nothing else to do and no idea where his life will take him next, follows. With each and every footstep, Daphne's name echoes in his heart.

I don't have long to kneel at Daphne's devastated side, doing my best to comfort her as she adjusts to the impossible news that the man she's in love with - who she was so sure was her mate - isn't. And that he's been swept away to another world by a dark magical person who actually is his fated mate, confirmed by the Goddess herself.

The Goddess left, finally, to get more information about Jesse and to leave us to our grief as we fall apart. In the few quiet minutes after her departure my dad leaves me with my friend to hold her while she cries. But it's too short a time before he comes and presses a soft hand to my shoulder. I look up at my dad, at the grief and worry on his face and nod once, understanding. There's just...too much to do.

I murmur a few words to Daphne, explaining, and help her get to her feet. Honestly, I'm not even sure if she hears anything, she's just too lost to her grief. Ben - sweet Benny - is waiting with open arms and I pass Daphne over to him. He gives me a steady nod as he wraps his arms around Daphne and pulls her in for a hug.

I take a moment to nod back to Ben, and to shift my eyes to Daphne, watching as she cries into his chest, Jesse's little shadow cat curled mournfully on her shoulder. But that's all I have time for as Jackson slips a hand around my waist and gives me a little tug, pulling me along to the small group on the other side of the tent that needs my attention now.

Because, of course, I have a thousand roles to play today. Not just friend, but worried sister, and nation's princess. And the magical source that has the power to make a change in this battle that is so clearly ramping up.

That is, of course, if I can access my magic.

I grit my teeth, looking up at Jackson

as we cross the tent. His eyes are already peering down at me, his mouth set in a determined line. But he simply nods and sends a very intense swell of love and support down our bond that does wonders formy poor wounded heart step closer to him, pressing myself to his warm side as we join Rafe, our parents, and my aunt and uncle in the corner.

Mom can't help the little tears that swell in her eyes as Jackson and I step close. Her gaze sweeps between us and a little trembling smile takes her lips - because she likes us together, I know. Likes his kindness and his steady presence and the way I am the center of his whole world. And she was worried for us after Luca marked me - but now here we are with our arms around each other.