This was the hardest. I didn’t want to forgive myself for hurting my mate. But continuing to hold onto my mistakes was hurting her more. I had to leave it in the past.
“Luka.” I spoke the name aloud, summoning the god to my presence. A whisper of wind blew out the candles, leaving me in darkness.
A figure had appeared before me. His movements were so quiet and still, I could’ve sworn he was a shadow. A tall man in a dark cloak stood several feet away, inside the salt circle. The hood of the cloak fell so low, it shielded his eyes. All I could see were his nose and mouth. Horns like that of an elk’s stuck out of his head through holes in the hood. The rest of his form was covered by the cloak, save for a coin bag that was tied around his belt. The shadows and darkness seemed to cling to him, as if he were their master.
I moved to my knees and bowed before the thief god. As I straightened, Luka said, You summoned me, my son.
My form trembled. After so many failed attempts, I couldn’t believe it had worked this time. “Why didn’t you come when I called you before?”
You were not ready to hear what I had to say. Luka stood so still, it was unnatural. And I am not a god of many words.
“What message do you want me to receive?” Whatever he had to say, I would take in full regard. I had been pushing Luka away, but I was ready now.
Luka turned up his hands. On his palms rested two wooden cups. The wooden cups floated out of his grasp. They shuffled, so quickly I couldn’t keep track of their movements. I had no idea what was underneath. Eventually, the cups came to a stop, and hovered in front of me.
A game. I wasn’t surprised. Luka’s cunning was the reason I’d chosen him as my token god.
Choose. Luka crossed his arms, waiting for me to make my decision.
Both cups were equal in size and presentation. I couldn’t distinguish one from the other. I wanted to pick the one on the left. It felt natural. It called to me like an old friend. Someone I once knew.
And that’s the reason I chose the cup on the right. I couldn’t be who I once was. I had to become someone different. Starting over was my only chance at life, even if I didn’t know who that new person would be.
I would figure it out. Not just for Emma’s sake, but my own.
Luka smirked as I turned over the cup. I rummaged inside, and opened my palm to see a small stone. Carved into the stone was a ruin— a Malovian symbol of rebirth. Whole again.
Luka waved his hand, and the other cup floated to him. He reached inside to reveal to me the opposite ruin— the Malovian symbol for cycle.
Do not repeat the patterns of the past, my son, Luka boomed. Begin anew each day, and you will become the alpha you were always meant to be.
Luka’s gaze tilted to the side. At his feet materialized the leshane. The dark creature was on his knees before Luka. The demon stared at me with hateful eyes, his form wispy and weak. In Luka’s presence, he could not speak.
I wasn’t afraid of him. Not anymore. Luka was here, and I was no longer willing to allow this demon space in my life.
It was insane that was all it took to cast him out— one decision. But coming to that decision had been no easy feat. I wanted to hold on to my demons, fix them instead of letting them go.
I knew better now.
I rose to my feet. “In the name of Luka, I order that you leave my body at once,” I commanded the demon. “You are no longer welcome here.”
The demon screeched. He threw his head back and wailed in pain, and at his scream, I was thrown back into my body. Luka vanished— the trance ended, and I realized I was on my back in the middle of the salt circle, Emma at my side and Hattie at the head.
The leshane had detached from me, and was hovering in the air. It spat and hissed, but within the confines of the salt circle, it couldn’t escape. Emma gaped up in horror, and I moved to shield her from the leshane’s power.
Hattie wasted no time. While her Familiar growled, she unleashed her