The Sun God Diaries

Third-Person POV

“FUCK!” Ryker screamed as he and Alyssa were camped out in the small hotel room, the rogue phoenix looking despondent as she slouched on the bed and looked at the now-bare feet. “Who does that fucker think he is to reject me?! I’m a good catch and no one dares to reject me!”

“Well, it looks like Malachi did,” Alyssa replied dourly. “And it looks like we ARE over our heads.”

“What?” Ryker said, his gaze now aimed at the blonde. “Don’t you want to get those boys back, Cunningham?! I thought you want to make a point that no one dares to take what’s not theirs.”

Alyssa stood up, her gaze full of remorse yet determined. “I did,” she replied firmly. “But that’s before I knew what I was really getting myself into, Howell! The moment that DuBauer shifted into his Sun God Wolf and was ready to attack you with his claws and fangs was when I saw that he wasn’t going to be taken lightly. And I almost tried to take his mates away!”

“Was that what you wanted?!” Dawson spat back.

“No! Not like this,” Alyssa shot back as she began to pace around. “Good Goddess, I almost got myself killed because I was acting like a fucking cunt! That kid saw right through you and I and Dawson already knew that our scheme was going to bite us all in the ass!”

Ryker couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You’re losing your goddamned mind,” he reasoned calmly, leading her to sit on the bed next to her. “We’re both not thinking rationally. We’re scared because the kid was pissed off and was ready to kill us both. I get that. But don’t you see, Cunningham? We’re getting closer and closer to getting what we both wanted- our rightful mates. All we got to do is keep up the act and turn up the heat. We can recruit a few more rogues and get them on our side before we make a break for somewhere in no-man’s-land- somewhere in Denmark, maybe. After we find a few rogues to help us kidnap Malachi and get a handful of dark witches to break the bond, we’ll be home free. You’ll have the thirteen guys. I’ll have my Sun God Wolf as my mate. It’s a win-win!”

Alyssa shook her head no, breaking away from Ryker’s grasp as she began to collect her already-packed bag and purse before putting her shoes back on. “This is over,” she said sadly. “Dawson was right, Ryker.”

Ryker grew angry again. “You can’t be serious,” he raged. “You’re not-”

BANG!

Alyssa shot Ryker in his already-wounded arm. “Leave. Me. Alone,” she said, her tone clipped. “And leave DuBauer alone if you value your life.” She placed her gun back in her bag before walking past Ryker and leaving the hotel room, slamming the door firmly.

“Fucking hell!” Ryker hissed, clutching his arm while making a beeline for his potion to heal himself. “I don’t need her or my brother anyway. All I need is my Malachi and I’ll be happy. The whole world will see that I deserve Malachi than those pipsqueaks.”

And that was a promise that he was planning to keep.

************

As soon as Alyssa was safe in her new hotel room- a more comfortable hotel that was still minutes away from the palace, she looked around. “I know you’re here, djinn,” she called out, feeling a rush of gooseflesh that crashed over her with the air of magic that was in the room. “Show yourself.”

A small chuckle, then Thebes immediately appeared in a cloud of thick smoke. “I see that you’ve seen the light, girlie,” he said. “Smart move, breaking ties with Ryker like his brother did.”

Alyssa sighed. “Well, it beats being eaten alive while being a bitch,” she replied, taking off her heels before letting the djinn unzip her dress. “And after all that I’ve done in the past, you can say that I’m eating a lot of crow right now and it doesn’t taste good at all.”

“Why should it have to?” Thebes replied, promptly turning around as Alyssa was changing into some sweats and a T-shirt. “But you are showing remorse, girl. There may be hope for you yet as Dawson is formally seeking an alliance with Our Majesties.”

“Well, I wish to make things right myself,” Alyssa agreed. “I just wish I knew how.”

The djinn sniffed. “Well, a little faith and a lot of humble pie can do wonders,” he agreed. “But give it a few days since the family is still celebrating and Malachi will need to face down more haters from his old school.”

“Oh, no,” Alyssa said sadly. “The Betas.”

“Right,” Thebes agreed. “Most of them are from the Dark Spade werecat-shifter pack. And they want no dealings with Malachi at all. Wait it out, girl, then you can make nice. The way I see it, you and Dawson have greater chances to gain favor than Ryker will since he is too far gone.”

Alyssa nodded. “Then I will gladly bide my time,” she said. “Thank you, djinn.”

“My pleasure,” Thebes said formally. “Seek forgiveness, phoenix. Seek humility and wisdom from the Moon Goddess, and things will soon fall in place. Trust in Her plan. Trust yourself.”

With that, Thebes snapped his fingers and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Alyssa sighed, falling to her knees in prayer. “Moon Goddess, forgive me,” she said. “Forgive me for being so foolish. I was so wrong on so many levels. I need Your wisdom to help me remain humble and to see the truth. Help me, Mother of the Moon and Creator of all.”

And as if she could actually feel it, Alyssa felt a kiss of forgiveness and gentleness on her forehead. And then, a voice. “You are not far from forgiveness, my child,” Alyssa heard the Moon Goddess whisper. “Trust in my plan, child. Trust yourself and seek humility.”

Alyssa silently wept. “Thank You,” she said quietly as she continued to pray.