The Counter-Ritual.
***Arin's POV***
"I am the Moon Goddess," she declared. "And you are mine, not theirs."
Like a furious cat, the Shadow King hissed. "You can't get involved! This is not your domain."
Calmly, the Moon Goddess declared, "This child is under my protection. And I'm calling in that protection right now."
She put her hand on my neck and touched the collar. It began to break.
"Impossible!" In my mind, Queen Althara's voice screamed.
The Moon Goddess, however, merely grinned. "I can do anything, kid. However, you will lose something valuable if you break this collar."
"What?" I inquired.
"Your mate bond," said the Moon Goddess. "I have to cut off your relationship with the triplets in order to release you from their magic. Even though you will survive, you will never experience their love again."
It broke my heart. "There must be an alternative."
"There is," said the Moon Goddess. "But none of you are prepared to make the sacrifice that it demands."
