Page 52 of Oracle
The Daimona had the least amount of his blood in them, so they would be the first to feel the effects of his death, I assumed.
All I could do was hope that was the case and that the demons would stay in Hell, because I didn’t know when Selene would call me to her home. I wouldn’t be around to burn the darkness out of the Daimona and I wanted to feel some form of relief when I left here, that my people would be safe now.
I wouldn’t be around long enough to know if all of my guesses were true, so I at least needed to leave knowing they were safe with the other packs, giving them the best opportunity to tackle anything that may come after this.
We’d run the entire way from the mountains back to the camp with me at the lead, not letting off the gas. Selfishly I had to in order to have privacy with them and Morgan if I had any semblance of explaining myself before it was too late. The clock was ticking in my mind and a part of me expected to be ripped away each second that passed. I was living on borrowed time at this rate.
Breathe. If these are truly your last moments with them, you’ll want to stop and really take it all in, Kira.
I couldn’t bring myself to answer her, because it was dawning on me that not only did I have to say goodbye to my mates and Morgan right now, but also Lux. It was too easy to forget that I would lose her as well, because she was just a piece of me. I didn’t think of us as two separate people.
Would my mind just be quiet and empty for the rest of my time at Selene’s side? No more snarky, tough-love comments that I’d grown to adore.
No more conversations with my best friend.
“Fuck, Kira, we’re back at camp, slow down!” Seth called, showing he had already shifted back the second we crossed into our territory. However, there was a crowd of shifters gathered, and I knew I needed to address them quickly.
Leaping towards them, I shifted midair, coming down and landing in a crouch as the change completed. Standing, I forced a smile to my face, knowing my somber mood would not align with the news I was about to share with them. They deserved peace of mind knowing that my words were bringing about an era of happiness now. Not to have mixed signals with my situation tainting it.
You did it, Kira. Today will go down in shifter history. Tell them and watch the relief wash over them. The gratitude. The love. You provided that.
“Today we rejoice,” I yelled, ensuring all could hear me. “Satan is dead and there will be no war coming to our footsteps. We will return to our homes, to our families.” My throat tightened at that, tears springing to my eyes. I prayed that anyone seeing it would think they were happy tears as they began to stream down my cheeks.
My voice wobbled as I added, “We are free.”
I wasn’t, though. I was still shackled to expectations and a role that I never asked for. I accepted it because it was the only way to reach this moment and to live on, knowing I never gave up on my people.
Cheers erupted and everyone began to hug, a few breaking down into joyous tears with smiles tugging at their mouths.
“You all looked like bats out of hell running from the base of the mountain to us,” a female I didn’t recognize joked as she stepped forward from the crowd, bowing her head to me respectfully. “We were prepared to fight, thinking you were being chased, but I am thankful that you achieved your prophecy and that we are safe once and for all. Thank you, Prophetess.”
"Call me Kira,” I offered, reaching out to shake her hand. As we did, Seth threw an arm around my shoulder and kissed my temple.
“Artio was holding down the fort for all of us while we were gone,” he informed me as our hands separated. Leaning into his strength, I listened as they spoke of the plans they had made prior to the guys coming to look for me.
She scoffed, “We were never going to abandon our position here. We would have fought until the bitter end. Wolves are too proud to run and hide in the shadows, waiting to be picked off one by one.”
Nausea swept through me and my breathing became ragged as I listened to their easy conversation. Every second counted and as the sun began its quick descent, I panicked, knowing there wasn’t enough time to say everything I needed to. There never would be, though. How much time was enough to bare your heart and soul to those you loved, in a manner that felt like they’d never doubt how much I cared for them well after I’m gone?
It was impossible.
We know, Kira. We know how much you love us.
My chest began to heave as sobs racked my body. I needed to get away from the crowd of shifters and I needed to find Morgan. Tears blurred my vision as Seth turned to me. “Kira, what’s wrong?”
“I have to tell you all something,” I blurted, fat tears rolling down my face until I was tasting the salt of them at the edge of my lips. “We don’t have much time. I need you all and Morgan in a private area right now.”
I felt like I was hyperventilating, my chest tightening along with my throat as I thought of the words I’d say to them.
He murmured soothing words to me, but I couldn’t say what those words were. I was lost in my thoughts as I tried to come to grips with this moment, being here as he led me through the camp. I heard the concerned tones of my other mates and Morgan’s scream of excitement moments before she launched herself at me.
Slamming my eyes closed, I wrapped my arms around her, squeezing her so tightly as I ran my hand through the back of her hair. I felt the warmth of a blanket draped around my shoulders and I realized I was naked, crushing her to me.
“Kira?” she asked, her voice thick with concern as she pulled away and I wrapped the blanket firmly around myself. Quickly brushing the tears from my eyes, I saw we were in one large tent with a long table and chairs around it.
Taking a few steps in, I turned and finally allowed myself to look at all those I needed to say my goodbyes to.
Luca.
