Page 151 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

CHAPTER 53

The Power of Love

ALIA

Iwas free. From pain. From fear. But something gripped my wrist and wouldn’t let go. Light, almost in the shape of a hand, swirled around the mark on my wrist. It tugged me, but couldn’t pull me back to what I assumed was the land of living.

Fight, Alia. Please, my love. You are not alone. I will fight with you onto death, Little Red. For where you go, I go. Should you not return—The voice cut off with a howl of pain. Lycus’ pain was a brand into my chest, stealing my breath.If you do not come back, I will come there for you. Nothing will separate us, not even death.

Another bright light ran right to my heart, a string that wrapped around my chest, tethering me from drifting further into the peace I could feel awaiting me further in.

Don’t you dare, Two-Legs. Don’t. You.DARE,Ran roared into the black space around me.

A murky haze of blackness lurked in every corner. It was a blackness of alleviation from the pain.

And from the blackness, a figure emerged. He wasn’t a man so much as a figure kind of like a man. His eyes were deeper than the hollowest pit, but more comforting than my mother’s arms. His nose was nearly pert, and his cheekbones were sharp andcommanding. His hair was a warm gold, which was so at odds with the darkness around us.

“Hello, Alia.”

Were I able to be afraid in this place, his voice alone would’ve startled me. It was deep as an ocean pass and strong as a tsunami. “Who are you?” I whispered.

He bent down before me. A tender yet sad smile on his lips. “You know who I am,” he said.

“The son,” I whispered. Source’s brother. We called him Torem Filius.

His eyes cradled me, made me feel safe despite the thoroughly sheathed power I felt in the majesty of his being.

How strange it felt for him to be so gentle when I knew he could snap my soul from existence with but a single thought.

Torem’s lips twitched as if he’d heard my thoughts. “You have a choice, little star?—”

I surged upright. “I know how these stories go. If you freakin’ think I’m gonna go to Seventh and let my people languish?—”

His chuckle cut me off. “You always knew your mind, little star. You justneededsomeone to remind you to trust it.”

I gaped. “You… you sent him to me?”

“I gave you the right time and place. You both did the choosing. I would not take such a precious choice from you. But I had hoped, yes, that in the end, you would make each other stronger. It takes more than a strand to weave a bowstring, but the strongest weaves together three chords—and those cannot be broken.”

Sadness threaded through my soul. “But I’m here.”

“You are,” he said.

My eyes burned, and I ducked my head.

He gently lifted my chin. “But you are also not.” I blinked up at him, and he smiled. “There is more yet for you to accomplish,Daughter.” His eyes took me in, starting at the blood still leaking from my back.

That was when I looked down. I jerked in surprise, turning my hands over. Bone-white scars crisscrossed my hands and arms and legs; it was almost as if I were held together by them. But that wasn’t the worst. The blood slithering down my spine wasn’t from the blade that had killed me. No, it was from the manyneedsthat couldn’t be met on a field of war.

And I remembered Shen’s words.Your soul bleeds.

Torem’s eyes were cleaved with sadness when I glanced back up. “Your Blessing. And your Curse.” His words were both an apology and a boon.

“Why did you bring me here?”

The sadness faded from his eyes. “I heard the prayers of my people. A specific request from a nymph. She cried out to Source to provide for you, to protect you. I am here to provide in place of my sister as she does not have a physical form. Plus, you have one very adamant mate who has threatened multiple times to retrieve you from Seventh,” he said, looking into the distance as if seeing something I couldn’t.

I blinked. “He’s threatening to kill you, isn’t he?” I asked with a wince.

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