LIKE EDEN. Princes of Anon (3)

The Goddess's will for her people had been fulfilled. To bring them all back home. To ease their worries and to take away their pain. To bring them back to the land that they will know peace. A world she had blessed. Selene gazed down at her children. The beings she loves and made perfect with all their imperfections. She smiled at their joy. She shared in their peace. The lost had been found and are now home. Back in her arms. However, one child's soul cried out in agony, so loud that it rung in her ears. Even with the smile on his lips. Even as he forced himself to smile, his heart cried out so loud and with so much pain that she could not ignore it. One of her favorite children, kept his heart locked up. Locked and secured I n fear of having to live without his one and to survive without her. The goddess smiled down at the king of Eren; King Eldridge. “Lois” Selene softly whispered her oracle's name, pulling the laughing girl into a trance. Just as Umma served her well, so did Lois. Lois was not startled when she found herself in the presence of her maker. The serenity embraced her, similar to being in her mom’s arms, only better. “mother.” she murmurs the title she was allowed to call her Goddess with a bow. Selene looked like everyone and no one. Her beauty could not be rivaled. She hovered a few inches above the flowers that surrounded them. Her grace, and tranquility, a sight to behold. Selene gazed at her daughter with a warm smile. They had all been through a lot. Each of her children had overcome so much together making them who they were; the perfect rulers for her people. And she recognized that it was time to give them all some peace and something more to celebrate. She gracefully circled Lois, caressing the girl’s hair, her mating mark on her neck; bold and proud for all to see. She palm’s her cheeks, leans her forehead against hers, and takes host in her body for a few minutes. At the table, where all the royals of Anon had been gathered for their monthly dinner, they sensed the oddity in the atmosphere when Lois suddenly stoped laughing and her eyes closed. They sensed the calm around the girl who was the seer. They sensed their creator in her. Mars and Lucien quit teasing Athena. Marissa, Jace, and Eli ceased playing. Sensing the difference around them, they rush to their parents. Everyone at the table bowed their heads, their laughter replaced with smiles. Selene chuckled, “now, now, there is no need for that. It's more interesting when everyone is talking.” her soft voice spoke from Lois’ lips as the goddess indulged herself in a few fruits. Her words made them smile. Still, they wondered how she could tell them that ’there is no need for that' when they were in her presence. Her being there in itself called forth their respect and adoration. Their hearts fluttered as if shrouded in a mother’s embrace. Selene looked down beside her when she felt the hesitant tug on her dress. With a soft and welcoming smile, she picked up Marissa who curiously looked at her with a frown. “here, have this.” her voice was soft and nearly hypnotizing as she fed the young girl one of the many fruits on the table. Marrisa’s cheeks heated up, accepting the fruit with a smile, whilst letting the Goddess's warmth wrap around her. Sitting opposite her was King Eldridge. The Werewolf Alpha wondered what the sudden visit is about. Needless to say, not once did he lift his head to look at her as the others were doing. He couldn’t bring himself to do it. He couldn’t find an ounce of willingness in himself to gaze upon her divinity. His heart overflowed with an intense feeling of betrayal. His throat clogged with guilt at the memories of the many nights he had cursed her in his head, never able to say the words out loud. Even with the onslaught of negative emotions, he still revered her in every way that a creature did their maker. Selene heard every word that the King’s heart spoke. She saw every drop of heartache, however, she simply smiled and let the kids who now surround her tug her in all directions, satisfying their curiosity with a soft chuckle. The table slowly resumed its liveliness although not as loud as it was before she came in. Selene’s gaze moved from the former King and Queen of Zhanton to the current rulers, to the king and Queen of Redon, and Sol. She looked at Athena and her mates with pride and Penelope with a soft smile. Ultimately, her gaze traveled to King Eldridge, who never, lifted his eyes to hers. She knew what he was going through. She felt his constant heartache, doubt and self-loathing and how unworthy he felt. And it towed at her heart. “It's not nice to keep such thoughts to yourself. Especially if they concern me.” Selene’s smooth voice and words hushed everyone at the table. She set Marrissa down, gifting her an Iris hairpin she conjured. The girl blushed and rushed to her brother’s side. Eldridge’s chest bubbled with so many emotions that he did not know which one to focus on. The caress of the goddess's gaze on him made it so obvious whom she was talking to. And suddenly, he didn’t have the desire to eat, not that he had it in the beginning. “We still don’t know the reason for your appearance.” He clenched his eyes and grit his teeth as the words are strained from his lips. He couldn’t help it. He owed her his life. He owed her everything. She made him after all. And she merited exaltation. However, it was so hard for him to do that now. His heart clenched in pain. His head ached with the onslaught of the memories of the many nights he stayed awake, praying to her, begging her. He could take the loneliness no more. His heart screamed her betrayal as the memories of the countless nights he wept in prayers to her. But she turned a blind eye to him. So how did she expect him to be happy in her like everyone else? How did she expect him to feel? “I don’t think those words were meant to come out like that,” Selene responded with a smile that only broadened when the King’s eyes snapped to hers, filled with so much hostility and hurt and dejectedness. But she only smiled at him as if all she knew to do was smile. “What do you want?” This time, the words left his lips as they are supposed to, filled with every ounce of emotion that was running rampant in him. The table remained quiet despite everyone’s shock at his tone. Still, she smiled. Surely, she would definitely love to see this man fall on his knees for his mate. “That’s more like it.” She grinned, making the king clench his fist and bite on his lips so hard that the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. He shouldn’t have spoken to her like that and he knew it. Although he was surprised that she let him, King Eldridge was ready for any punishment she deemed fit for him. He would prefer it to the whirlwind of emotions he found himself in. “Whatever you are feeling is not necessary,” selene stood from her seat, her movements; smooth and elegant. The chair moved back on its own, paving the way for her. Her bare feet hovered just an inch above the ground. “After all, I am here because of you.” She whispered, smiling when her words caused him to go rigid in his seat, unmoving, seeming as if he just died in his seat. She went around the table with a gracefulness that left them in awe like watching a leaf dancing in the breeze. “I’ve heard your prayers.” She whispered, sending a shiver down his spine, “I’ve seen every drop that accompanied it. And I know, that no one deserves her more than you do.” The King said nothing. Didn’t even attempt to move least the implications behind her words withered away like his fading hope, and it all be taken away from him. He couldn’t survive that. The Goddess watched him with a soft smile, eyes gauging his reactions. She couldn’t afford to miss even the twitching of his eyes or the drumming of his heart. Her children's love lives were her utmost source of joy and their journeys, her source of entertainment. Seeing the strong males fall to their knees one by one for their mates brought her ultimate satisfaction and relief that they cherished her gifts to them. Still, she wondered with a smile, just how hard this King would fall. His spine straightened when he felt her presence behind him as if it wasn’t rigid enough. His heart twisted painfully in his chest when she whispered the words that almost made him crumble. “Never once did I forget you, Eldridge. Neither have I deserted you.” Her voice, a soothing balm on his aching heart. And for the first time in a long time, the King could breathe well again. “How can a mother turn a blind eye to her son’s tears.” She whispered so low that he was the only one who heard her. His hands trembled without his permission. And his eyes begun to burn as he keeps his head down and his eyes on his food that continued to grow cold and less appealing to his taste buds. Lois’ slender fingers wrap around his wrist. A calm like no other washes over him, taming the storm in him. His wrist stung for a few seconds before she let go. Looking at the inside of his wrist, Eldridge saw a half-moon surrounded by 4 stars engraved in his skin. He stared at her gift not knowing what to make of it. His senses flooded with hope but was fearful of that hope being meaningless. “I was not keeping her from you neither was I taunting you with theirs. I just needed her to be a bit better for when you see her. Either way, This mark will take you to her.” She added with a sad smile. The King heard nothing apart from the purpose of the mark engraved on his skin. He had to watch his brothers find their mates and watch each of his nephews find theirs. Every day felt like he was in constant pain. Drowning in his loneliness. A/N hey guys, the 3rd chapter has been posted on the f*******: page whilst I wait to sign this book before continuing. I'm in school and currently writing my end of semester exams. But, I'll be posting A PROMISE OF OLD when I have some free time. P.s, WELCOME TO EDEN!!!!