Page 34 of Daughter of Garnet

Was this Cameron's intention? Like Dominic, does he suspect I am an Omega, and he sent me this so I could see the change in myself?

Fate of the Flame is sitting on my desk, a bookmark shoved in between the pages of the story that has been haunting me.

Could the answers be in there?

I don’t bother getting dressed, snagging the book and lying on the bed with it. I open it to the marked page, then turn a few pages back, hoping there is something in the lead-up to that story that can answer a few questions.

As much as I want to deny it, it’s impossible to ignore that Ilota Blessed me. The voice in my head that commanded me to stand and proclaimed me an Omega was not an illusion.

But who was it? Was it whatever beast she Blessed me with? Is it possible that the Goddess of Fire spoke to me directly?

And why me? If I am a Daughter of Garnet, so is my mother. And my grandmother.

What makes me special?

I run my tongue over my teeth again, wondering when they’ll sharpen so I can examine them better and get an idea of what my beast is.

What beasts would a Fire Goddess have control over, anyway?

The book is useless. There are no records of any shifted forms associated with the Goddess. The only thing I can find is vague references to tithes and tributes given to Ilota. We no longer tithe to the Gods, but there are festivals in their honor. Except for Ilota.

I've heard that the Blessed will sometimes speak to their Gods, but I don’t believe that’s meant literally. Is it?

Is that what I should do? Should I speak to her and hope she responds?

How does one speak to a Goddess? Do I need to bow my head and close my eyes? Should I drop to my knees?

“Ilota?” My voice is barely above a whisper. “Am I reading into things too much? Did you give me your Blessing? Why me? I’m nothing special. And why now? You’ve withheld your Blessing for so long that people doubt you ever gave it.” I run my fingers through my hair and exhale sharply. This is crazy. I'm talking to myself half naked on my bed. “I’m not trying to be rude or doubt you or anything. I just have to know why.”

“That, Omega, is a very long story.”

The words may have well been screamed for how much they shake me to my core.

That was the voice from the ceremony.

The one that whispered when I lay face to face with a sabertooth tiger.

“Ilota? Is that you?”

“Yes, it's me."

“Did you really Bless me? Am I an Omega?”

“Yes.”

The one-word answer has me exhaling until my lungs are empty. “Why?

“Because you’re ready.”

“Ready for what?” My voice is loud, and I recognize that anyone walking by is going to hear me talking to myself, but I don’t care.

A fucking Goddess is in my head. I have more pressing things to deal with than what someone random thinks of me.

“To right the wrongs of this realm."

CHAPTER 18

Zoe