Page 95 of Daughter of Garnet

Done with the back-and-forth, Viv sinks back into her seat and rubs the bridge of her nose. "Are we talking about the same thing?"

"I sure hope so."

"She told you?"

I know I need to have this conversation with her, but I am dreading it. She's already given me a lot of grief for hanging around Zoe and made a couple of quiet threats when I've tried to get Zoe to go to coffee with me. I think she knows that I'm interested.

But she doesn't know just how much.

"I figured it out. She's, uh," I gesture for her to move closer, and we both lean across the table, close enough for me to whisper, "she's my scent match. I've known for a little while, but she just found out last night."

I expect Viv to rage. To be pissed that I'm 'taking' her best friend away, like this is the Bianca situation all over again.

I came into this conversation bracing myself for her to yell at me, smack me around, anything other than the way she sinks into her seat, eyes watery and cast down at her lap.

"Fuck."

I can't stand to see her so upset, so I move around the table to sit beside her, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. "I didn't do it on purpose."

"I know. It's not that, Ray. She's in danger, and being her scent match means you are, too."

My heart stops beating for a moment. "What do you mean, she's in danger?"

Viv pushes away from me to scan my face. "Do you not know her beast yet?"

I blush and duck my head. "No. We haven't gotten that far yet."

"Ray, think about that sermon we went to for a moment."

The church service, where the Hierophant gave a lecture to just four of us about the lost Goddess, Ilota, and we shared theories around what happened to her, has been on my mind. It was so odd and impromptu. People don't talk about the Fire Goddess, and the sermon felt pointed. I couldn't figure out why.

Now I know.

"No."

She nods and wipes some tears that escape with the back of her hand. "Yeah, Ray. She is."

"That's not possible." I don't know if my denial comes from disbelief or fear, but I refuse to accept the idea that my Omega has been Blessed by Ilota. The implications of that, after what we learned in the chapel, make me sick to my stomach.

I don't know how I'll handle her being in so much danger for the crime of existing.

"It is possible. She is."

Viv wouldn't lie to me, not about this. I can feel the truth in words like a knife to the gut.

"Which one is she?"

It's not safe regardless of whether she is a dragon or a phoenix, but I imagine one of them is considered more of a threat than the other.

My sister grabs my hand and squeezes. "I think you know."

Fuck.

CHAPTER 46

Zoe

Cliff and I stayed in bed all day Saturday, save for the two times he ran to the dining hall to get us some food.