Chapter 186: The Bite of the Goddess
The sterile scent of antiseptic hit Eva's senses before her eyes fully opened. Blinking against the soft sunlight filtering through gauzy curtains, she took in the pristine white room. A faint beep from the heart monitor next to her bed confirmed she was in a hospital. For a moment, disorientation clung to her like fog, and then it all rushed back — the cave, the blood, Aristea, the satellite phone, the dingo…
She pushed herself up slowly, her muscles stiff and sore. Her ankle ached, but it had been wrapped tightly and elevated. The hospital gown felt too large, too impersonal. She turned her head instinctively to find Aristea — but the other bed beside her was empty. Panic spiked through her like a knife.
Before she could do anything, the door opened sharply.
"You absolute disappointment," Reginald's voice cut through the calm like a whip. His tone was cold, clipped, every word measured with disappointment.
"Papa…" Eva rasped, her throat raw.
"You were given instructions. You were trained to act quickly. It took you hours to contact the right line. Hours. You jeopardized yourself. You jeopardized everything."
Eva clenched her fists under the thin sheets. He wasn't asking if she was okay, if she was hurt. He wasn't asking if she'd been afraid.
"I —"
"You were told to follow protocol. You were told to use your instincts. And instead, you wasted time," Reginald said coldly.
Eva met his gaze steadily. "I did what I had to. I kept her safe and got help. That's all that matters."
Reginald's face twitched, but before he could respond, the door opened again.
Aristea stepped in, her presence calm but commanding.
Reginald's face tightened, caught off guard by her calm certainty. He opened his mouth to argue, but before he could, the door opened again.
"Enough," Aristea said, her voice as calm and cold as still water — but her presence crackled with restrained power.
She stepped inside without hesitation, dressed impeccably in soft grey slacks and a white blouse that made her silver hair glow. Her eyes locked with Reginald's like two wolves circling each other.
Reginald turned slightly. "You shouldn't be in here."
"She saved my life," Aristea said, voice unwavering. "Eva was injured because she protected me. Without her, I wouldn't be standing here. So if anyone should be disappointed, it's me — in you."
That silenced him.
Reginald's jaw tightened, but after a long pause, he simply nodded. "Fine. I'll return later." And just like that, he left the room without another word.
Eva stared, mouth slightly agape. Aristea turned toward her and the coldness melted instantly.
"I'm sorry," Eva murmured. "He shouldn't have —"
"I'm not interested in what he thinks," Aristea interrupted softly. "I only care that you're safe."
She crossed the room, pulling up the chair beside the bed. She took Eva's hand into hers, running her thumb over the back gently. "I came as soon as I finished my own medical review. They patched up my arm —one of the cuts got infected. I'm fine now."
"And you're really okay?"
Aristea smiled gently. "Better now."
The silence that followed was warm, comfortable. Eva relaxed against the pillows, her fingers still entwined with Aristea's.
Aristea leaned closer, her breath soft against Eva's ear. "Thank you… for covering what I did. For not making me look like a monster."
Eva tightened her arms around her, pulling her into a firm embrace. "You're not a monster. Never. Don't even think about it."
Then Aristea's expression turned serious.
"I'm leaving," she said. "Tomorrow morning. I have to go back to G•••••. I've already delayed too long, and my family is beginning to circle like sharks again. They'll want to know what happened, and I need to remind them what loyalty looks like."
Eva's heart sank. "You're leaving… now?"
"Only for a little while," Aristea said quickly. "But I have to go. The order, the traditions — my absence will be seen as weakness if I let it stretch longer. I'll stabilize things. Make sure everyone remembers their place. Then I'll return."
Eva nodded, trying to stay composed. "You promise?"
"I swear it on the moon." Aristea smiled faintly, then reached into her pocket. "This is for you."
She produced a delicate silver bracelet — a tiny crescent moon charm glinting at its center. It was warm to the touch when Eva took it in her hand, unnaturally warm. She could feel something faint pulsing through it like a heartbeat.
"It's beautiful," Eva whispered, touched. "Thank you."
"It's more than a gift," Aristea said. "It's a symbol. Of protection. Of promise. Of bond."
Eva's cheeks heated. "Bond?"
"Between the moon and her huntress," Aristea replied, eyes unreadable. "Between me and you."
Aristea leaned forward and, with surprising tenderness, kissed her lips — soft and brief, like a secret only the two of them shared. Eva's breath caught in her throat.
Then Aristea's expression darkened just a shade, her lips quirking into something mysterious. "I need you to trust me, alright? Don't question what I'm about to do."
"What —"
Before Eva could finish, Aristea gently pushed up the hem of her hospital gown, just enough to expose her left hip. Eva froze — not in fear, but confusion and curiosity. Aristea's eyes searched her face for permission, and Eva gave a small nod.
Then, with a swift movement, Aristea leaned down — and bit her.
Eva's gasp filled the room. It didn't break the skin, but it stung. She winced, grabbing the edge of the blanket. Aristea only held the pressure for a moment before pulling away, lips brushing over the bite with a kiss.
Aristea whispered something in Greek, her voice low and reverent. Eva caught a few words — ancient, sacred phrases she recognized but barely understood. Her cheeks flushed, heat rising as the unfamiliar sounds settled deep inside her.
Aristea's gaze sharpened, serious and intense, studying Eva's reaction. Then her eyes softened when she noticed Eva's ear was red, her breath coming in shallow, uneven gasps.
Without warning, Aristea bit her again — this time a little harder.
Eva gasped, a startled moan slipping out from the sting, but the sharp pain quickly dulled to a warm, tingling pulse.
When Eva looked down, a faint mark shaped like a crescent moon intertwined with a quiver and arrow appeared on her hip, shimmering softly before fading and disappearing altogether.
Aristea's eyes met hers, filled with something fierce and tender. She leaned in and pressed a deepening kiss to Eva's lips.
Eva melted into the kiss, following willingly, the strange, ancient connection threading between them.
"What — what was that?" Eva asked breathlessly, her hand going to the tender spot.
Aristea looked into her eyes then and smiled faintly. "It's nothing. Just…a mark. My promise to come back."
Eva wanted to ask more — but Aristea pressed another kiss to her lips, then stood.
"I'll leave you to rest. The guards outside will take care of you until I'm gone. When I return, you'll know."
With one last lingering look, Aristea left the room, her scent still lingering in the air, the echo of her presence pressed deep into Eva's bones.
Eva lay back slowly, her heart thudding. She ran her fingers over the crescent moon bracelet, then touched the bite on her hip. It didn't hurt anymore — but something inside her hummed, something ancient and strange and alive.
She didn't understand it.
But she trusted Aristea.
And that was enough.