Alari's pov
“Are you okay?” Damien asked, now fully human again.
“Yes” I answered, and I was.
“That was a lot to take in my love, are you sure you're alright?” He asked again and I leaned into him, hoping his scent could calm me enough to push down the blood lust but the slight smell of blood in his scent made it worse.
“I am alright, I really am. It's just…” I didn't know how to say it, maybe I did and didn't like what it implied.
“You want to rip her heart out while you watch the life drain from her eyes” he said softly, making me look up at him.
“I'm very familiar with bloodlust my love, and I'm also aware I reek of blood” he joked, reminding me of how we were spiritually connected.
He could feel the need to kill pulsating through me.
“And no, it doesn't make you a bad person, not when it's deserved” he said, making me sigh and return my head to his chest.
“How did she even get in here? This place has zero privacy! She couldn't have just walked in” I said, only now thinking everything over.
Or maybe I just didn't want to deal with the memory I was trying so hard to push down.
“That vortex thingy, it's the only way she could have gotten in here without being seen” he said, and he was right.
“We're not safe anywhere, she can reach us whenever, wherever” I whispered, to which he growled.
Silence befell us, standing in the middle of the room in each other's arms. I don't think either of us was ready to leave the room, there was still so much to process.
And do I tell him what happened between her and I? That would freak him out more than he already was.
Sure he wasn't acting it but I knew he was terrified for me and was starting to feel helpless.
“Let's not tell the others, maybe just for now?” I asked, I wasn't quite sure why I didn't want the others to know, it just felt like I'd be worrying them for nothing.
“They could help us figure out a way to keep her out for our home love, especially your parents” he said, and made a good point but I still didn't want to tell them yet.
“I know, and you're right but I just… I don't think they'll sleep okay knowing she was here and can come and go as she pleases. I don't want them to worry” I said, making him sigh.
“Okay, only for now. But we have to tell your parents, there has to be something they can do” he said, making me smile and nod.
At least Pearl and the other omegas living and working in the castle would be sparred the knowledge of our enemies roaming about our home.
“She killed Rebecca and her son” I whispered, feeling the loss of my people rush through me.
“We'll have to inform her family” he said, the heaviness in his voice weighing on my shoulders.
“Her mate probably knows already” I said, my heart breaking for the broken soul.
“He wasn't in the picture, the bond between them broke a long time ago” he said, making me frown. I didn't ask him to elaborate though, it felt disrespectful to pry into the business of a dead woman.
“Come, we need to find a way to keep her from coming and going as she pleases, Lucien will handle Rebecca's family and funeral” he said, kissing my forehead.
“Mom’s going to blow a vein” I muttered with a sigh as we walked out of the office, whatever it was that we wanted forgotten.
“That little….” My mother growled, no even finishing her sentence. We'd just finished telling them about our encounter with Narcissa and she was fuming.
“Unbelievable” dad muttered, sighing as he rubbed mom's back.
“She's getting a little too bold” mom said, her face hard and eyes now glowing.
“At least take comfort in knowing it hurt” dad said, smiling a little, even though it didn't reach his eyes.
Mom smirked, her expression somehow darker.
“What do you mean?” Damien asked, making mom turn her glare to him.
“Imagine getting sucked into a place that breaks everything down to the atom and then spits you out for you to get put together again” she said, looking like she was relishing the knowledge of what Narcissa went through.
“It's extremely painful and last I checked, it was banned because of how dangerous it was. Chances of getting put together are very slim” dad frowned as he said this.
“Only an extremely skilled and powerful witch could pull it off” mom said, her smirk now gone.
“So she's got strong monkeys in her circus?” I asked, the frown forming on my mother's face worrying me.
The silence that followed my question made me wonder just what we were up against.
“We'll worry about how powerful they are when we face them, right now we need to keep them out” Damien said, breaking the silence.
“And not just the castle, the entire pack” I said, worried about my people.
“A boundary spell on the entire pack?” Dad asked, his eyes almost bulging out.
“That's going to need power we don't have, combined” mom said, pointing at dad and herself.
“How about Alari? Can she do it?” Damien asked, looking at me before returning his gaze to my parents.
“Maybe, I'm not sure. We still don't know just how strong her magic is” dad said, looking deep in thought.
“I guess there's only one way to find out” I said with a shrug but my parents looked at each other like that wasn't the greatest idea I've had and it made me a little nervous.
“What is it?” Damien asked, needing them to fill in the blanks when they kept silent.
“Honey, we don't know your limits yet, you might burn yourself out” mom said, making me furrow my brows.
“Then I'll take a nap after” I said, not quite understanding the reluctance on her face.
“Alari, our magic roots from our life force, a burnout means… death” dad said, making me suck in air.
So if I try this and fail… I die?
But even knowing this, I still wanted to try. This is my pack, it's my duty to protect them.
“Trying is better than not doing anything at all” Sapphira’s voice was strong and so sure, she was ready to die for our people.
“Sapphira!” Damien's growl made me look up at him, fury aglow in his eyes.
“She's not wrong Damien” I said with a sigh, my eyes falling to my hands. I couldn't bare to see the pain and anger in his eyes.
“I'm guessing Sapphira wants to give it a try?” Mom asked, her face hardening.
“And if that's true, I stand with the Alpha, absolutely not Alari” dad said, his face just as hard.
I rolled my eyes, earning myself a growl from my mom, but instead of fear, I was angry.
“My pack is in danger and I have to do something! I can't just let her come and go as she pleases. She's already killed a pack member within the castle walls!” I said, almost yelling at them.
“Alari it's too ris…” Damien tried to warn me but I cut him off.
“What if she brings those creatures into the pack? How many do you think will die?” I asked, shutting him up real quick.
“It's my duty to my pack to protect them” I continued.
“At what cost?” Dad said, making me breathe a little hard but remain silent. I didn't want to die, I was sure of that, but not trying was worse.
I turned to look at my mate, who was silently boiling and felt my heart break, shame overcoming me.
“I know what's on the line and no, I'm not ready for it… I just know I have to try” I said, looking at Damien, who refused to look my way and it was breaking my heart.
I knew how selfish this was and was wrong to even want his support but I needed it.
“You're being ridiculous Alari” mom clicked her tongue, shaking her head as she looked away from me.
“Maybe I am, but the pack needs me. And you can always knock me unconscious before I kill myself” I attempted to joke but nobody found it funny.
My eyes stayed on Damien the entire time, hoping he would at least look at me but he was too angry at me and I needed him to understand.
I looked at my parents, asking with my eyes to give Damien and I a moment and they left without a single word.
Forcing my way into his lap, I grabbed his face with both my hands, making him look at me.
“Damien” I whispered, my voice suddenly thick and my emotions overwhelming me. I felt like I was asking him to let me die and be okay with it.
“You can't do this Alari” he whispered back, the hurt in his eyes breaking my soul.
“I have to at least try” I said, trying to reason with him but it seemed like it only hurt him more.
“It will kill you!” He growled, his breathe becoming laboured, and his eyes sparkling with tears.
“You won't let that happen, I wasn't entirely joking when I said ‘knock me unconscious’...” I said, watching him turn his eyes away from me.
“Please look at me, Damien please” I said, but he tightly shut his eyes, refusing my request.
“I don't want to lose my mate” he said, his eyes still closed and his hands wrapping around my waist to pull me closer.
“And you won't, I promise you won't lose me” I tried to assure him but he just shook his head, removing my hands from his face and pulled his head back.
“How can you be so sure!” He said, looking at me with so much anger.
“Again, knock me out… plus I have my mother's power to help me” I said, watching confusion dance in his eyes.
“What?” He asked, making me sigh. I guess it's time I told him.
“Before my mom died, she cast a spell to tied her life force to me, I have a bit of her inside me. Her memories too” I said, confusing him even more.
“What?!!” He exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock.
“I don't know how better to explain it… basically, I access to a bit of her power and knowledge, and by a bit, I mean a lot.. considering how powerful she was” I said, watching him blink a few time, absorbing all that I said.
“I will try to explain it better later, right now we need to do something about our witch problem” I reminded him, and he sighed.
“How will I even know when to stop you?” He asked, and I raised a brow at him.
“Oh I don't know, it's not like we're bonded down to the very essence of our existence” I said sarcastically and he chuckled, making me smile.
“I don't want you to do this” he whispered, after a few moments of silence.
“I know, but I have to” I said, returning my hands to his cheeks.
“I know, but I don't like it” he said, leaning his forehead on mine.
“Yeah, I don't like it either” I said, pulling away to kiss his cheek.
We called my parents back in and told them we were going through with it, and they obviously weren't happy about it but agreed to let me try.
“What do we need for this suicide mission?” Damien asked, making me side eye him.
“Rune stones and a barrier spell” dad said, scratching his chin.
“What are rune stones?” Damien asked and mom explained it to him.
“Rune stones are a witch's best friend, tools from ancient civilizations made to amplify a spell and keep it intact… and they don't come by easily. Goddess I wish I knew where your mother kept hers” she said, making me smirk.
“Don't worry about it, I'll find them” I smirked, making my mother frown.
I guess it's time they knew as well.