Winston POV
I have been pacing around the portal for months. The branches of the surrounding trees twist and curve to create a perfect circle. I can feel the magic pulsating within the circle but cannot find a way in. I don't end up in the Immortal Realm every time I walk through the circle. There has to be something I am missing.
Today, I sit in front of the portal, and I watch as the scenery changes inside it. It is teasing me because when I approach the circle, it becomes stable once again. I dig my hands into the dirt beside me and toss handfuls at the portal. A growl rumbles in my chest, and it echoes through the trees.
I am ready to give up for the day when I hear Edward's voice. My mind must be playing tricks on me. He decided to stay behind. He doesn't care for Macy even though he marked her.
"Winston!" He calls out again, and I whirl around to look for him.
Edward squeezes through the trees, and I lunge for him. Catching him off hard, we tumble onto the ground. Rolling him onto his back, I punch him in the jaw.
"What the fuck, Winston?" He growls.
"Fuck you, Edward. You selfish piece of shit," I snarl back.
I rear my hand back to punch him again, but he flings me off him- my back slams against a tree, and the trunk cracks. Edward approaches me carefully with his hands raised.
"I didn't come here to fight," he tells me.
"I am not going back," I shout. "Not without Macy."
"Who said anything about going back?" Edward replies. "I'm here to go with you."
"Why now?" I snarl. I don't trust him.
Edward runs his fingers through his hair. "I should have come with you to begin with. I was wrong. I should have put Macy first."
"It's about time," I grumble. "She should have been our priority from the start."
He doesn't respond. Instead, he looks at the portal. "Why are you still here?"
"It doesn't work," I sigh. "I can't get to the other side."
"Did you try walking through it?" He asks.
I roll my eyes dramatically. "That is the first fucking thing I tried."
Edward stalks around the portal like I have been doing every day. He puts his hand through the circle and frowns when nothing happens.
"It isn't supposed to be this hard," I whisper. "What are we missing?"
"Fucking Selene," Edward growls.
Suddenly, a bright light consumes the forest. I raise my hands to shield them from the light. Musical laughter fills the forest, but I do not fear what we have just summoned.
Slowly, the light fades away, and a beautiful blonde woman stands in front of the portal. She is dressed in plain clothes, but it is obvious that the Moon Goddess is before us.
I don't kneel in her presence, and neither does Edward. This doesn't seem to bother her, though.
"I was wondering when you would call for me," she smirks. "Funny. It took your brother only moments to figure out I was keeping you from entering the Immortal Realm. I guess we know which twin got the brains."
"Fuck you," I snarl.
Her bottom lip pushes out into a fake pout. "Is that any way to speak to your creator?"
I open my mouth to defy her, but I am silenced by magic. I attempt to growl, to snarl, to make any noise at all but nothing comes. My fists ball up at my sides, and I move to attack her.
With a flick of her hand, I am thrown back against the tree. "I am afraid I will have to make your affliction permanent for trying to attack me."
Edward steps between us and lowers himself to a knee. "Do not punish my brother. He is merely frustrated without his mate."
"What is done is done," she replies. "Perhaps if he proves himself a loyal subject, I might return his ability to speak. If I find myself being a merciful Goddess."
She has no intention of reversing it. We both know that. Without being able to speak, I glare in her direction.
Edward does not rise or attempt to defend me. "Please, Goddess," he pleads. "We want to be with our mate. Let us go through the portal, and we will never cause problems again."
The bitch cocks her head to the side and taps her finger onto her chin. "What will you give me in return?"
Forgetting the loss of my voice, I attempt to yell, "Nothing." When no sound comes out, I dart to my feet and shove Edward. He shifts on the ground but does not acknowledge me.
"What do you want?" Edward asks.
Selene sighs. "I paired you with the Fae Princess so your child could rule over both Realms. You must understand how important that is."
It is a lie. Edward has to know that. "Mother claimed any child between us would be killed. I believe you were controlling her."
"Psh," Selene hisses. "That was merely motivation to bring her to our side. To try and keep her in the Human Realm. You understand that, don't you."
More lies. Edward slowly gets to his feet, and I tap him on the shoulder. He glances at me, and I try to speak through the mind link, but Selene has completely silenced me. I shake my head, trying to convey to him that she is nothing but lies. He looks away from me without changing his expression. He is going to do something stupid.
"What do you want?" Edward asks again.
"Isn't it obvious?" She smiles. "I want my ruler."
"How can we give you that?" Edward asks stupidly.
I huff loud enough that they both turn to look at me. Selene smiles. "I think your brother knows exactly what I want, and here I thought you were the smart one."
"Just spell it out for me," Edward groans.
"Your firstborn," Selene whispers.
Edward steps back and bumps into me. Stepping around him, I bare my teeth. There is no way in Hell I am giving my child to Selene. Edward has to agree with me. I would rather Macy be lost to me forever than turn over my flesh and blood to this monster.
"We will do it," Edward says from behind me.
I spin to look at him. He is looking at the ground. He is ashamed of what he has done, but it is done. He has given away our firstborn without even considering Macy or me. Selene steps to the side and disappears, leaving the center of the portal glittering.
Edward tries to pull me into the portal, but I plant my feet firmly on the ground. "We can talk about this later," he begs. "Let's go get our mate."
Reluctantly, I follow him through the portal and step into the Immortal Realm.