<h4>Chapter 131: The Problem with Waking the Dead</h4>


    <strong>Natalie~</strong>


    Just as my lips were about to touch Griffin’s forehead, my fingers lightly pressed against the ss, breath shallow and heart thudding like a war drum in my chest—


    "Natalie—wait."


    Fox’s voice struck like cold water, yanking me from the brink. I froze, eyes flying open. "What?!" I snapped, spinning on him with a sharpness I hadn’t meant to unleash—but I was already unravelling inside.


    Fox scratched the back of his neck, looking... sheepish? That couldn’t be good.


    "There’s... um, a slightplication."


    I narrowed my eyes at him. "Fox. Whatplication?"


    Jacob groaned under his breath. "You should’ve told her earlier, genius."


    "I was going to!" Fox said defensively, throwing his hands in the air. "But then she got all glowy and determined and I didn’t wanna kill the mood!"


    I blinked at him, stunned. "What mood?! I was about to kiss my<i> ex-mate-who-rejected-me-but-is-now-a-possible-demonic-vessel goodbye-to-death kind of mood!"</i>


    Jacob bit back augh, turning it into a cough.


    Fox took a breath and looked at me seriously now. "Okay. Listen. If you kiss him—if you bring him back—Griffin can’t leave your side."


    I blinked again. "What?"


    Fox nodded, running a hand through his fiery hair. "As long as he’s near you, the divine aura you give off—your Celestial energy—it repels Shadow. It’s like... spiritual bug spray."


    "Bug spray?" I repeated tly. "You’reparing me to—"


    "Just let him finish," Jacob sighed.


    Fox continued, "Shadow can’t possess Griffin’s body if he’s in proximity to you. But the moment Griffin gets too far... the barrier weakens. Shadow gets stronger. He’ll try again."


    I stared at them, the ss cool beneath my fingertips. "So, what—you’re saying Griffin has to stay with me? All the time?"


    "Pretty much," Jacob said with a wince.


    "For how long?"


    Fox hesitated. "Until I finish the seal. A full celestial one. Something that can lock Shadow out of his vesselpletely."


    "And how long is that going to take?"


    "A few moon cycles?" Fox offered with a weak smile. "Maybe less if ze stops rearranging the temple décor every two hours."


    "You said a few moon cycles," I repeated, slowly.


    Fox nodded. "Which is why we need you to keep him close, Natalie. Your presence keeps him safe. The world safe."


    My head spun. The idea of Griffin—Griffin—following me around like some half-dead puppy was not on my bingo card for today. I’d been homeless. Marked against my will. Banished. Rejected. And now... now I was being asked to y celestial babysitter to the guy who broke me?


    "But what about Zane?" I asked, my voice quieter now, more fragile. "He won’t be okay with this."


    Jacob tilted his head at me, voice gentler. "Zane trusts you."


    I swallowed. "This isn’t about trust. This is about... everything else."


    Jasmine growled in the back of my mind, her voice dripping with attitude. <strong><i>"Please, Jacob. Like we’d be chill if Zane was suddenly glued to some random girl—especially his ex? Yeah, no. Any guy with a pulse would lose his damn mind."</i></strong>


    My lips twitched. Trust Jasmine to have my back with ws out.


    I pictured Zane’s eyes, the way they softened when he looked at me, the warmth of his arms around me at night. How could I exin this? How could I ask him to ept Griffin—his rival, my ex—as a permanent essory to my hip?


    I turned back toward the ss coffin. Griffiny still. Peaceful. Untouched. And so, soplicated.


    "Let me get this straight," I said, pressing my palms against the surface. "If I kiss him, he lives. If he lives, he can’t leave me. If he leaves, darkness wins. But if he stays, I might lose the man I love?"


    Jacob winced. "Yeah... when you say it like that, it sounds bad."


    "It is bad!"


    Fox stepped forward. "Natalie, I swear—once the seal isplete, he won’t need to be near you anymore. You’ll be free. You’ll both be free."


    "And if the seal fails?"


    Jacob’s jaw tensed. "We won’t let it."


    I stared at Griffin, heart thudding again—but slower now. I could feel the weight of the choice pressing into my chest like stone.


    He was my past. My pain. But he was also a soul who didn’t deserve to be a puppet for something as evil as Shadow. And if my presence could protect him... protect the world...


    I didn’t forgive him. Notpletely.


    But I could save him.


    "Jasmine?" I whispered inwardly.


    <strong><i>"You already know what to do,"</i></strong> she said softly.<strong><i> "And I’ll be here. If he tries anything shady, I’m ripping his head off with a smile."</i></strong>


    I huffed a smallugh. Then I exhaled long and slow, the decision settling over me like a winter cloak.


    "Okay," I murmured. "Let’s do this."


    Fox gave me a quiet nod. Jacob’s expression looked calm but I knew better.


    I ced my hand against the ss once more. "You better not say anything stupid when you wake up," I whispered. "Or I will drop-kick you back into the underworld myself."


    I reached up and pressed the palm sensor. The ss hissed, steam curling at the edges as it lifted slowly, smoothly, revealing Griffin’s still form to the open air.


    The scent hit me first—faintly earthy, faintly familiar. My stomach twisted.


    I leaned in, my hair brushing his cheek, and hovered just above his forehead.


    His skin was cool. Not cold. Just enough to make me ache.


    I closed my eyes.


    And kissed him.


    Soft. Gentle. Brief.


    A second passed. Then another.


    Then—


    His chest lurched.


    His hand twitched.


    And then—he gasped.


    My eyes flew open as Griffin’s eyes snapped wide, the deep gray of them flickering with confusion and—pain.


    "Wh—" he croaked.


    I pulled back quickly, heart in my throat.


    Fox let out a breath. "It worked."


    Jacob smirked. "Told you."


    Griffin blinked at me, dazed. "Natalie...?"


    I stared at him.


    "You’re wee," I said tly. "And by the way, you’re stuck with me for a while."


    "Wh—what?" he rasped.


    I stood tall, hands on hips. "Long story short: your body’s a dark god ma, and I’m the only thing keeping you from bing his meat puppet. So congrats. You’re now my celestial sidekick."


    Griffin blinked again. "I... I don’t understand."


    Jacob stepped forward with a grin. "Don’t worry. You’ll have plenty of time to catch up. So much time."


    Fox patted my shoulder with a proud smile. "You did good, Little Moon."


    I looked at them both, then back at Griffin, who was still lying there, confused and weak—but alive.


    And even though everything inside me was still unsure, one thing rang louder than the chaos:


    Zane.


    Zane was going to kill me.