Chapter 206

The moon goddess laughed. “You're thinking too much about heavenly matters,” she said. “If the gods and goddesses combine our powers and our talents, fate can be altered. But it's not something we do frequently or at all for that matter. Because altering fate means that nothing will ever be the same again after.”

“I don't understand.”

“I know you don't,” she said. “Think of it this way. Right now, even though you can see a dozen different choices leading in a different dozen different paths if you make each one, you can still see where those paths lead.”

“I guess,” I said hesitantly. “I just need to know which one to pick.”

She nodded. “That's the problem. If I interfere with fate and change it, then you won't be able to see what's down any of those paths anymore, and neither will anyone else. Chaos will ensue, at least for a time. You don't wish to plunge creation into chaos, do you?”

I sighed. “No. I guess not. I see what you mean, though, where it might take a while before enough decisions have been made so that people can see the path laid out in front of them again. I would hate to take that sort of choice away from anyone.”

She nodded and ran a hand over my head. “Wise,” she agreed. “I knew you were smart. One of the many talents I gifted you with.”

“Then I should release the video?” I tried one more time for clarity.

“I cannot say what you should or should not do. I've given you all the guidance that I can give you. From here, the choice must be yours.”

I pressed my lips together. “When I hugged you, I felt courage,” I said. “Can I have that again?”

She smiled. “Now that I can give you.”

She wrapped me in her arms, and I buried my face against her shoulder. If I’d had a real mother, is this what it would have been like? Would I have felt safe in her arms the way I felt safe in the arms of the goddess?

When I opened my eyes next, the moon goddess was gone, and I stood by myself. A strange pang of loneliness washed over me. But at least the courage she’d given me hadn't left.

Now I just had to act, to take that path she said I could see before me. I grabbed my burner phone and pulled up Jasmine's number, dialing.

Since it was now evening, I assumed Jasmine was probably home. I didn't want to interrupt her dinner, but I placed the call anyway. Some things just can’t wait.

“Hello?” Jasmine said, answering the phone.

“Hi, Jasmine,” I choked out, my voice tight.

“Elena? Is everything all right?” Concern wrapped its way through her tone.

“It's good enough.” The rest of the words stuck in my throat. As soon as I told her about the recording, there was no going back.

“I've seen the news,” Jasmine said, filling the silence. “That’s… Wow. That’s huge. Explosive.”

“I figured you had,” I mumbled. “I’d guess everyone in Orlune knows by now.”

“Did you have any idea you were actually a princess?” she asked rather breathlessly.

I shook my head, even though she couldn't see. “I had no idea. Why would I? I’m just a nobody, an orphan since birth. Why would I assume or even go searching for a connection to the royal family?”

I let out a deep sigh. “This all kind of came out of nowhere. I had one blood test run for an innocent reason, and now I'm really mad at somebody because I think they may have violated my trust.”

“Where are you right now?” Jasmine demanded. “You need a girlfriend. I’m coming to see you.”

“You can’t. I'm at the palace, and I don't know who might be listening.” I whispered the last part.

“Ah,” she replied, understanding evident in her voice.

I loved that about her. I didn’t need to walk her through such sticky situations.

“What can I do for you?”

“Nothing, nothing,” I said loudly, sure I was being overheard. “I just wanted to hear the sound of a friendly voice.”

“I hear you,” Jasmine said. “You're going to send me something, aren't you?”

“I love that.” I nodded in a more direct answer to her question and then remembered she couldn't see me. “Yes,” I said, keeping my answers vague. “I need you to do you.”

“You want me to take something public?”

“Absolutely.”

“Is it big?”

“Yes,” I answered again.

“Does it need to go out right away?”

I laughed as if she’d said something funny. Since we were on my burner phone, at least they’d only be able to hear my side of the conversation. “That is so true.”

“Got it. You can count on me.”

“I know,” I said. “You always make me feel better. I'll take the biggest hug. You can give it to me when I see you the next time.”

“All right, all right,” she replied. “I'm going to go because I don't want them to get too suspicious.”

“Thanks for being a friend,” I said.

I ended the phone call and sent her the file quickly before anybody came in and stopped me. I was kind of surprised that no one did, but I was positive that my phone call hadn't gone unnoticed.

After I hung up the phone, I went back to the bed and sat down, sinking into the mattress. Perhaps if I hadn't gotten so used to being in the home of an alpha all the time, I could have better appreciated the luxury of both the linens and the mattress. But I was so stressed out that, while I could acknowledge they were high quality, I couldn't fully enjoy their downy softness.

I lay back, folded my hands across my chest, and worked to steady my breathing. When I had that under control, I stared at the ceiling and let my mind wander a bit. I needed to figure out what the best solution for moving forward.

I’d reached the end. I had maybe half an hour or so before Jasmine released the information that I had given her on that recording. I was positive that it would not be well-received. But I wouldn’t second guess my decision.

My goal, from the start, had been to bring truth to Orlune and peace to its residents. Allowing myself to become yet another pawn of the king wouldn't accomplish any of that. Becoming a pushover was not the kind of heir that Orlune deserved. And I would compromise everything I stood for by living a lie.

Well, if I was going to head down this utterly depressing road, then I might as well go all the way. I picked up my phone, and even though it was much later in her time zone than mine, I dialed Cathy on my regular phone.

For whatever reason, I still kept my burner phone private. Though I couldn’t imagine I’d have much need for it once the king got wind of what I’d done. But that was already done. So, did it really matter that this phone was the one that I knew the palace was monitoring?

“Hello? Cathy asked sleepily.

“Cathy? I said. My voice caught in my throat.

“Elena?” Immediately, all sounds of tiredness fell away from her voice. “Is everything all right? Are you okay? I heard the news this morning. Is that true?

“Evidently?” I managed to get out after opening and closing my mouth soundlessly several times.

“Oh, sweet moon goddess.”

Then, there was dead silence on the other end.