ra'

hat's all I

y skin and filled my lungs like water. I couldn't move,

pered. "Is this what it fe

et meadow beneath the moon. My ancestors would be waiting with op

had imagined, there was only

I saw

sibly bright. It grew slowly, spreading across the darkness like in

d the sound of

once, surrounding me in a chorus of mournful c

mething ancient and sorrowfu

ything, and suddenly I wasn't

stan

t the most incredible sensation I had e

p

was gone, replaced by a simple white gown that shimmered like starlight. I pressed m

pered. "This must

like any afterlife

feet was made of something that looked like liquid moonlight, rippling gently with every step I to

et, and deep indigo. They danced and twisted together like l

angely, bouncing off invisible walls.

er ground rippled beneath my bare feet, warm and comforting. The ho

"Nysera killed me. The silve

g and pressed my

I'm dead, I'm

wling

e, gentle and powerful all at o

un a

the same silver light that filled this en

eet and disappearing into the shimmering ground. She wore a dress made o

o my knees

how proper reverence for the being standing before me. My wolf how

oon G

id softly. "You have

oked out. "She k

e goddess interrupted. "A space I cr

"What gift? You let me die! You let Nysera murder me

rds carefully,

thing in the air shifted and the

pulsed with sud

eath, to calm down, and to r

d. I don't understand why this happened, I don't understan

ie alone? Did he ever love me at all? Was everything N

those ancient, knowing eyes. She

"Not everything is as

ked, "

order of fate; threads that should have connected have been severed, and paths that should have

o forced it? Was it Nysera? Was it Caius? I ne

ower wash over me like warm rain. It was overwhe

you all the ans

not revealed. But I can offer you

art s

t finish the sentence.

s a spirit, not as a memory, but as yourself, fully alive, and

ble, no one gets a second chance

d, her silver eyes flashing. "And I have

and images appeared i

the ballroom, an

through the corridors

a waiting i

you return, nothing will unfold exactly as before, old enemies may appear earlier,

directly. "Are you will

to answer, but she

t simply be living your old life, you will be changing it. Eve

ome allies. And Caius..." she paused. "Caius will not be the same either. Whether he

ant to go back just to punish Caius or kill Nysera, I said. I want to go back because I deserve

ched m

ant to look him in the eyes a

won't hide, I'll t

Goddess

ssion I had ever seen. "That's

world began

swirled

ng light, and I felt something pu

ut the others? My family? My p

growing distant. Save yourself, and you may save the

d. What am I suppo

it appears. The man you believed betrayed you may not be the one who

turned, louder

neath my feet began

Moon Goddess whispered

into a million pie

e more! Please!"

arkness again, but this

feel something s

ounds, voices,

d feel

ony of silver but

eyes, and a heav

e up." A voice, fa

ing up. Lady Alora

snappe