Chapter 69
SIXTY-NINE
T he true concern lay beneath their feet. The traditional spa mosaic floor—a design Zina had always assumed was merely decorative—now glowed faintly, responding to her presence. Subtle vibrations traveled upward through her soles like a heartbeat slightly out of rhythm.
“The Pyre,” she murmured, exchanging concerned glances with Xai. “It’s destabilized.”
Without discussion, they gathered around the central mosaic pattern—a circular design featuring intertwined motifs of lion, dragon, and panther. Zina pressed her palm against the center tile, recalling the activation phrase her mother had taught her years ago.
“Protection flows from balance, balance flows from three.”
The floor responded immediately, tiles sliding apart to reveal stone steps descending into golden light. Unlike their first accidental discovery of the chamber, this entrance appeared readily, acknowledging Zina’s rightful access.
“I’ll wait here,” Bryn offered, understanding this was not her domain. “Keep watch with Jamie.”
Zina nodded gratefully before taking a deep breath and beginning the descent. Xai followed close behind, his hand at the small of her back providing wordless support. Luciana came last, her steps measured and respectful on the ancient stone.
The chamber opened before them—circular, ancient, with inscriptions in languages predating modern civilization. At its center burned the Founding Pyre, a triangular flame usually steady and bright.
Now it flickered erratically, its colors separating and rejoining in unstable patterns. Occasional sparks shot upward as the flame struggled to maintain its form. The backlash from Severin’s ritual had destabilized the Pyre’s delicate equilibrium.
“It’s trying to realign itself,” Xai murmured, his voice reverential in the sacred space.
Zina approached the flame slowly, feeling its distress like a physical ache in her chest. This wasn’t just a magical artifact—it was the heart of Enchanted Falls, the protection that had allowed supernatural beings to coexist peacefully for generations.
Without instruction or discussion, the three representatives moved instinctively to positions around the flame. Zina stood at the lion point, feeling warmth pulse up through her feet. Xai took his place at the dragon vertex, while Luciana positioned herself at the panther apex. Their movements mirrored their positions during Severin’s corrupted ritual, but now with deliberate intent to heal rather than destroy.
The chamber hummed with ancient power. As Zina closed her eyes, she could almost hear whispers of the past—generations of guardians who had maintained this flame before her. Her mother’s voice seemed clearest among them, encouraging and guiding.
“I think we need to focus on what we’re protecting,” Zina suggested, her intuition guiding her where formal training lacked. “Not the abstract concept, but what Enchanted Falls means to each of us personally.”
Xai nodded, his golden eyes reflecting the unstable flames. “Connection to something greater than ourselves.”
“Community despite differences,” Luciana added softly.
Zina closed her eyes, focusing on her love for this quirky supernatural town. She thought of morning coffee at Sunrise Diner, of Kalyna’s book recommendations at the library, of Artemis’s enchanted pastries that literally made people float with happiness. She thought of her mother’s dream for the spa—a place of healing and renewal for all species.
But most of all, she thought of the connections she’d forged since opening the spa. Bryn’s steadfast support, Jamie’s quiet dedication, the loyalty of clients who’d become friends. And Xai—whose presence in her life had shifted everything, awakening parts of herself she hadn’t known existed.
The Pyre responded to their collective focus, its flames steadying as it sensed their genuine devotion to Enchanted Falls. The three distinct colors burned bright and true—golden amber for lion, crimson for dragon, and violet silver for panther—before harmoniously blending at the center.
As the flames stabilized, words appeared briefly in the fire—ancient script that shifted and changed before resolving into modern language.
Guardians recognized. Covenant renewed.
A surge of energy spiraled upward from the Pyre, engulfing the three of them in gentle, warm light. Zina gasped as knowledge flooded her mind—centuries of history, traditions, and responsibilities tied to the Founding Pyre. Visions of past guardians flickered behind her eyelids, their experiences becoming part of her own.
She saw Xai and Luciana similarly affected, their expressions shifting from surprise to understanding. When the light faded, the chamber had transformed subtly. Cracks in the floor had healed, and the inscriptions on the walls glowed with renewed purpose. The Pyre burned strong and steady, its three-colored flame a perfect balance of the founding energies.
“Well,” Zina breathed, blinking as the magical download settled in her mind, “that wasn’t in Mom’s journal.”
Xai crossed to her side, taking her hand in his. His touch grounded her as the new information threatened to overwhelm her. “The Pyre has recognized us as its new guardians,” he explained softly. “This creates a permanent connection—to it and to each other.”
Luciana nodded, touching her temple as if sorting through newly acquired information. “The original guardians established this system to ensure no single bloodline could dominate Enchanted Falls. The triangular balance prevents corruption.”
“Severin wasn’t planning to share the power,” Zina concluded.
“A fool’s errand,” Xai said, his thumb tracing gentle circles on her wrist. “The Pyre was designed specifically to resist such manipulation.”
Zina studied the flame, watching the colors dance and intertwine. The sight filled her with a strange mix of emotions—determination, responsibility, and an unexpected sense of belonging. The spa had always been her mother’s dream—now she understood it had been so much more. The business sat atop the keystone of Enchanted Falls’s magical protection, and her family had been its guardians for generations.
“So,” she said, attempting to lighten the mood despite her bone-deep exhaustion, “alongside the hot stone therapy and aromatherapy massages, I’m now offering magical flame maintenance. We should add it to the brochure.”
Xai’s deep chuckle resonated in the chamber as he pulled her closer. “I believe that service is limited to a very exclusive clientele.”
His arm slipped around her waist, strong and steady. She leaned into him, no longer bothering to hide her fatigue. He could bear her weight for a while.
“Sharing guardian responsibilities will require coordination,” Luciana observed, a small smile softening her formal tone. “Regular meetings, perhaps.”
“I suggest the spa’s rooftop garden,” Zina replied. “Better ambiance than the council chambers.”
“And better coffee,” Xai added, pressing a kiss to her temple.