Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Zaira's POV

"Reah, Zaira!" Illyria called from the common room, waving enthusiastically at us.

"Will you be later?" Reah asked us after waving Illyria back. I had told her that after the meeting I wanted to see Gaia and Luna immediately so that I could finally use my present powers. She had suggested to me to come with me, but Aramis immediately quashed that suggestion when he explained that he'll be with me and only he. Reah wasn't offended, she'd just smiled and wagged her eyebrows conspiratorially. "All right, boss." , she had said.

"Sure," I replied, waving at Illyria as well. With that, Reah joined Illyria while Aramis and I went to the library to get the Omorphies.

"Wait here, I'll be right back." With that, Aramis stalked down the main corridor and disappeared between the bookshelves. He didn't want me to find myself back in the nightmarish room so quickly, but something pushed me into the large library.

I looked around the library and hesitantly walked down the main aisle. Sweat trickled down my back as images from last night flooded my mind. I could remember Serdas killing Reah, but after that... All I knew was that I suddenly woke up on the ground and Reah was bleeding on the ground. But how did I get down to earth? Why was I unconscious? Some part, a piece of the picture was missing.

Aramis stepped into view and all my musings evaporated.

"You okay?" He pulled me to him.

"Yes, of course," I replied. Surely I had just banged my head too hard, and that was no reason to burden Aramis with any more worries than he already had. The responsibility of an entire army rested on his shoulders. "Just bad memories."

Then his eyes sparkled darkly. "Come on, let's go."

"Why can't we use a portal? You know how it's done." I asked him panting as we climbed the stairs. Those darn stairs eventually killed me from the effort.

"Serdas traveled with one and I don't know what else he manipulates or controls. I'm not putting you in unnecessary danger."

"I don't really care about the risk right now if I have another 5 minutes-" I shrieked as Aramis suddenly grabbed my waist and slung me over his shoulders. "What are you doing?!"

"Well, I'll carry you up, what else?" he said and put a hand on my bottom.

"Aramis!" he yelled indignantly while my cheeks turned bright red. "Cut it."

"How come? You feel wonderful," he said mischievously as he continued up the stairs and pinched me, making me squeak again.

Yes, why? , I asked myself, looking at the beautiful view from my vantage point. I bit my lip, then slipped my hands into his pockets and pinched him as well.

"Heaven!" he startled and I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist as he abruptly pulled me forward.

I pouted. "Hey, but I also want to be able to touch."

"Out of the question," he announced, still visibly traumatized.

"That's unfair though." I tried to glare at him indignantly, but the laughter was already rising up my throat, threatening to burst out of my mouth.

"Oh believe me baby, you'll get your money's worth." The desire behind those words killed my laughter instantly and my whole body tingled with excitement.

"Oh yes? When?" I asked hoarsely in his ear and shifted restlessly in his arms.

"Good gracious, Zaira," Aramis ground out, his arms tensing. "If you don't want me to take you here and now, you'd better stop."

For a moment I was tempted to forget why I couldn't do that right now, but I caught myself quickly. "Later," I said, slightly embarrassed.

He grinned. "Can't wait."

Arrived on the fifth floor, he let me down.

"What was it that caused your powers to work on Reah?" Aramis asked me as we used the enchanted passages to get to Gaia and Luna.

“Before, I had never fully understood what it really means to open up to flowers. I have always asked them to lend me their power, but I have given them nothing in return. I think it has a lot in common with the Gis way of life." I said thoughtfully.

"How do you mean that?"

"Arya told us how they are all conditioned to live in harmony with nature to keep their balance. I think it's the same with the flowers."

Aramis considered my words, then nodded. "It's a give and take, a cycle."

"Yes exactly," I confirmed. "I give them my love and they give me their healing powers."

The door to Gaia's and Luna's room appeared in front of us, but I held Aramis by the arm. "Do you think the omorphs still have enough healing power?" I hadn't considered the implications of Reah's healing. Aramis had specifically sought out and collected four omorphs for Gaia and Luna.

"I don't know," a steep crease appeared between his brows and I shifted my feet nervously Her healing increases as soon as a flower is added and is said to be extra high at four, so I don't think Reah's healing consumed too much of her energy."

I nodded silently, hoping Aramis would be right. "I read in one of the books that healer werewolves have healing powers independent of omorphies. Depending on the strength of the werewolf, their own healing abilities varied, but most were able to heal faster and relieve any pain." I blurted out, wringing my hands. "I don't know if that's true, of course, but this That would explain the demon incidents, wouldn't it? At least I didn't have any Omorphies on me there."

"That only makes sense. I was already thinking something like that anyway." He then looked at me so intensely that my whole body was on fire. "Your powers are powerful, Zaira. You are stronger than any werewolf I know, you won't don't dissuade you from anything, you've been through hell and yet until you didn't break it.", resulted in a tender kiss. "You should never doubt your strength again, neither do I."

That confession was balm for my scarred soul. "Let's go then," I said, striding head high through the portal that Aramis tamed so we could reach Gaia and Luna.

The two gold-decorated four-poster beds towered in front of me and I sat down on the edge of the bed with Luna. Knowing that Aramis was right behind me and believing in me, I placed my hands on her torso and closed my eyes.

I heard Aramis place the omorphia glass on the small table between the two beds, then I took a deep breath, blocking out all background noise and concentrating completely on going within and seeing the different energy flows of the flowers. A few moments passed, but I didn't let myself be alarmed, instead I continued to concentrate. And then, the colored energy lines of the flowers appeared in front of me, I clearly saw their power pulsing. The shields around my heart were lowered, I revealed myself to them to the core and then, very gently, sent my own love to all four flowers.

They accepted her.

This time I was prepared for the mighty surge of her power and let the radiant light flow through me directly into Luna's body. I sent my own love behind, but first made sure I held a small piece of my energy and locked it in the back of my heart.

After a while I felt Luna's body begin to shine more and more and slowly but surely draw on her own energy to gain consciousness. It felt like a feather kiss as her own energy flow brushed mine.

Thanks.

A single word. It was in my head, just for a split second, but I had heard it in every cell of mine.

You finally freed me, I owe you a lot for that.

Then the flow of my power and that of the flowers to her body was stopped and I opened my eyes. Luna's body was still glowing, but not with a bright golden light, but with a radiant blue. So that was her energy color.

"Did it work?"

I tore myself from the sight of her glowing body, where even the star-shaped freckles on her cheek glowed, and threw myself at Aramis. I threw my arms around his neck violently. "Yes! I did it, I actually did it!"

"I knew you could do it!" He grinned widely and spun me around. "I'm so proud of you."

I rubbed my nose against his. "Thank you for being there for me."

"You don't need to thank me." His lips brushed my mouth gently. "I'll always be there for you."

I smiled. "Your mother was on my mind."

His brows shot up. "She was what?"

"Well, not exactly in my head. She spoke to me telepathically."

"Yes, that sounds a lot like my mother. One of their habits.", he rolled his eyes, but nothing there, he couldn't kid me.

"You are close," I stated, and my sympathy grew for the goddess of our race, as well as my mate's mother—my mother-in-law, in that regard—. If Aramis was close to her, she must be wonderful.

"Yes. He said and sighed. "I haven't visited her in a long time."

I was aware of how difficult his past was and that despite all this darkness in his life, he maintained his love for his mother says a lot about the bond they had.

After a while I put my head on his shoulder. Exhaustion slowly spread and caught up with me.

"Eat!" Aramis ordered me darkly, sitting me on the bed and holding out a protein bar.

I crossed my arms. "When will you realize that such orders don't apply to me?"

"I could actually see the weight you've lost over the past few hours, so don't tell me you're not tired and hungry," he growled.

The growl in my stomach spoke volumes. "Hours? I asked in amazement. It felt like only a few minutes had passed.

"I won't tell you until you've eaten all the bars," he answered instead. Not seeing why I should keep fighting him when we both wanted the same thing, I took the protein bombs. Aramis stood in front of me and looking down at me, following my every move as if he needed to make sure I was alright.I ate every last crumb and then washed it down with water high in vitamins and minerals.

"It's been four hours," Aramis reported much more calmly.

"Holy moon goddess," I marveled, dazed. It must be late afternoon, so I got up and sat on the other bed next to Gaia.

"You need to rest longer."

I shook my head. "No, I'm fit enough to heal her."

"This is too much, you're not strong enough yet." Aramis folded his arms.

“We have no choice, we are running out of time. If she doesn't wake up now, she won't be able to save us tomorrow." Tomorrow, when war breaks out . My stomach churned at the thought.

Grinding his teeth, Aramis nodded. "All right, but if you get too weak, stop immediately!" He was adamant on that point. "And don't forget what you promised." His fists opened and closed and I saw how hard it was it occurred to him not to prevent me from my project.

"I won't break my promise," I assured him, then lowering my songs, I slipped into the depths of the energy fields and connected to the omorphs. Everything went smoothly, the omorphs granted me their power, and Gaia's body took in thanks my energy flow.

But then suddenly everything changed.

The omorphs' light flared alarmingly, and the flow of their healing powers faltered.

Oh no, no, no , I thought frantically as I tried to pour more of my energy into them without giving up the last part of my life essence. But it was no use, her light dimmed and the flow of healing subsided. All of the power now lingered on me as the energies of the Omorphies faded completely and a powerful pull yanked my energy into the flow pouring directly into Gaia's body.

"Aramis, I can't take it anymore." I wanted to cry out for help, but I couldn't utter a sound. Suddenly exhausted, I collapsed onto Gaia. Strong arms yanked me against a wall of warm and hard muscles.

"Got you." His voice soothed me in my head and I saw the mate band light up. " Hold on to the band, I'll pull you out ."

I was tempted to follow his words, but then decided against it. There was only one way to find out if the book was right or wrong. "No, I can do it."

I heard his wolf roar in the distance and the band trembled. "Do it then."

It's unstoppable. I surrendered to the Zog, pouring all my love into Gaia as a cold shiver crept up my spine. There, the black mist lifted from Gaia's body and entered me as I transmuted it through my golden power.... into love. I saw that not much of the black cold was left in Gaia's body, most of it had nullified the healing power of the Omorphies. But I took care of the rest all by myself, until Gaia had not a single whiff of the black mist.

Thank heavens, finally! the unfamiliar voice echoed across the room. You little savior, how can I thank you?

Ummm.. I cleared my throat in embarrassment. Not at all, I'm just glad you're okay.

Gaia? , this question came from Aramis.

Aramis, how nice to see you. Serdas had us-

I know, aunt, we know everything , but he won't get away with it, I'll see to that.

Wait for us! I'm not fully conscious yet, it will be at least 48 hours before I'm awake.

We don't have time Gaia.

I thought the goddess might get angry because Aramis defied her command, but she didn't.

We'll join you as soon as we can. she said and drifted away.

I then withdrew my powers, leaving only Gaia's own green life energy and severed the connection. A look of worried green eyes hit me.

"Hey, I did it," I mumbled under my breath, my head resting on his chest, exhausted.

"You're amazing." He stroked my strands of hair. "So the book was right."

"Yeah right," I said, feeling great because it meant I could help the angels heal the injured during the war. I was firmly convinced that I would heal as many as I could. Serdas should try to defeat us first.

"I almost got you out." low and raspy.

I pulled him down to me and rested my forehead on his. "But you didn't. Instead, you believed me.” He had put aside his thousand-year-old dominant instincts that commanded him to protect me at all costs and rely on my promise. “Thank you,” I whispered, for it was the greatest gift he could give me could do.

He trusted me.