Page 23 (1/2)

"Blessed be, ain," Nyx had greeted the others, s beatifically before she disappeared into a ray of o She had been focusing all of her being on her cat She pressed her hands against her bleeding body, channeling the ickal touch of the Goddess

Neferet felt the difference instantly Chloe’s panting ceased Her heart slowed Her pain-glazed eyes cleared, for just a moment, and they met hers as the little cat beamed love and joy and relief Then, completely happy and utterly relieved of pain, her cat curled around her hands Purring contentedly, she nuzzled Neferet, and died

"No! No! I was supposed to be able to save you!" Neferet had pulled Chloe into her lap, and begun to keen over her lifeless body when pain exploded across her forehead Still cradling Chloe’s body, Neferet had crurass and the blood and earth absorbed her sobs

"Neferet, child! I ah Priestess, Pandeia, herself who lifted her "Oh, blessed Goddess, thank you!" Pandeia had exclaiift you with a healing touch, she also blessed you with the Change this night"

Still crying and clutching Chloe’s body, Neferet was dizzy with confusion

Pandeia’s gaze went fro to the world that she was an adult varieve with you, Neferet" The High Priestess stroked the cat’s motionless head "But your touch healed her pain and she went on to the Otherworld, where she frolics with the Goddess"

In the den, the Tsi Sgili drew a deep breath, and then spoke the words aloud, just as she had done in the past

"I didn’t heal her Chloe is dead"

Pandeia’s gaze had been kind, her voice understanding "I know it is a terrible loss, and difficult for you to bear right now, but when you can think of this night clearly, you will realize that the ability to touch her spirit and to soothe little Chloe’s passingher physical wounds Nyx has richly blessed you"

In her den, Neferet whispered aloud the words she had only been able to think silently thoseI love

Anger stirred the Tsi Sgili,her toward consciousness Her breath quickened, and she almost opened her eyes But before she could fully rouse, ti experience in her past The day she killed her lover and began hearing the seductive whispers of the winged immortal--the liar and betrayer, Kalona…

CHAPTER NINE

Zoey

"Zo, Thanatos sent un," Aurox said

"Oh, crap! I totally lost track of tih Council conference? WTF?" Aphrodite said

"Yeah, again, crap" I checked my phone: 10:10 PM Yep, I was tenstuff I forgot to tell you guys Thanatos is going to ask the High Council to intercede with the TPD because she thinks the huation She wantsand being all super crazed and our circle kicking her out, which is what set up the fact that she ate the etic look "Sorry for saying it like that"

She shrugged "You’re just telling it like it is"

"Well, she should say it in a nicer way," Stevie Rae said, sending ive much of a shit about Z should just tell it like it is"

"Hey, we all know you got so wasted last night you couldn’t functioncan bother you," Stark said He ai at her He atching Aurox and frowning

"Stark, tords: shut it," Aphrodite said "Oh, and two more words: jealous"Aphrodite, since you’re okay talking about your dad, I want you to coh Council" I spoke quickly before Stark could say whatever petty comment he had opened his mouth to say, whether it was to Aphrodite or Aurox "Stevie Rae, you cooing Thanatos sent Aurox on a fetch rabbingsuper douchey

I raised rasp "We, ht now And yeah, I’ht up in a zillion petty fires that need to be stoh Council I need you to be sure the red fledglings have gotten all their stuff ather everyone together to go to the funeral I’ll meet you there"

"But I wanted to--"