Chapter 135

• Kael’s grip on me tightened slightly, but there was no fear in his eyes; only astonishment, and maybe… pride. His jaw flexed as he glanced around at the glowing souls around us, then back at me.
• “The goddess,” he murmured under his breath, voice so low I almost didn’t catch it. “She’s chosen you for this. No one has ever… Alera, this is a gift beyond measure.”
• My chest rose and fell rapidly, emotions swirling. A gift. That’s what this was. But as I looked at the couples now embracing in the courtyard, tears running down their cheeks as they realized their fated bonds, I also saw the weight of it. This wasn’t just a gift; it was a responsibility.