Chapter 97 Time to Heal
“It was a good thing we sent Chelsie to let you guys know that we would be battling demons. I don’t know what we would have done if you all didn’t come. She was able to get a few kelpies to help, too.” Xander smiled as he wrapped his arm around Lila.
“I’m just glad we left when we did. I couldn’t imagine if I had los ...” Lila’s voice trailed off quietly as she noticed the slight movement in front of her. The person was finally stirring.
“Thank goodness, she’s finally coming to,” Lee said to Xander as a wave of relief washed over him.
Light began to shine in her eyes. It was flickering so brightly.
How annoying. Sounds started to come through as she became aware of her surroundings again.
With a gentle inhale, she smelled the sweet scent of her mate.
She could hear his voice as he talked with Xander.
How did she get Lee back? Did this mean they were now connected?
What had happened? She began to recall the battle and its events.
Brody. Her eyes snapped open, and she sat up.
Immediately, she felt hands on her shoulders.
“Easy, Reiya,” Lee’s calm voice called to her.
“Brody ...” She turned her head frantically. Please please please please be here.
“Reiya, Lumi has been working tirelessly to heal you and remove the wolfsbane. With wolfsbane, your wolf can’t heal you.
Thank goodness your healing fairy power kicked in.
It was able to help you recover from the wolfsbane so Lumi could physically heal you as well.
If it wasn’t for that ...” He paused, sighing.
“You need to rest.” Lee’s voice was gentle and calming. But Reiya was not calm.
“Lumi can rest in my subconscious. I need to be up.” She looked over and saw Xander and Lila sitting on her other side. Over near the river, Chelsie sat all alone, staring into the water. Reiya’s heart broke. She knew. Life was never going to be the same.
“Why are we still here?” Reiya whispered. “And where is everyone else?”
“Lumi said we mustn’t move you.” Lee was watching her, his brows furrowed with deep concern.
“We’ve been here for two days. The others went back to keep an eye on things. We managed to fight off the demons. Levi here came in and basically unleashed his godlike fury on them.” Xander frowned slightly as he held onto Lila’s hand. Reiya was going to need time ... time to heal from this.
Reiya looked over at Lee. “I don’t understand. How did you get here?”
“It turns out that the living gem was the Ocean’s Tear.
In order to work, your soul had to call out to it, something that would only happen in a moment of desperation.
This is why a dangerous task is used to release the tear.
We had it all along.” Lee smiled softly.
“The moment it was released, it broke the seal, and I immediately came to you. Our life forces are now connected.”
Reiya wanted to be happy to see Lee. And she was. But she couldn’t focus on what should have been a happy moment. She was breaking inside. “I need to talk with Chelsie.” She began to pull herself to her feet, and Lee immediately lifted her up.
“Are you sure you should be standing?” Lee’s eyes trailed over her, full of worry.
She gave him a reassuring smile and nodded, her eyes set on her friend. She motioned for Levi to stay there. She needed to see Chelsie alone.
She walked over to where Chelsie was sitting, staring blankly ahead, and sat down to look at the water with her.
“It’s my fault. He got injured protecting me. Blame me, Reiya,” Chelsie croaked out when she saw her friend approach.
Reiya wrapped her arms around Chelsie and the two girls sobbed softly. “It isn’t your fault. Brody loved you. He only did what was natural.”
“I can’t believe he’s gone.” The tears streamed down Chelsie’s face.
“I don’t know how to move forward,” Reiya whispered softly. “I just want to wait here for him. I have never not had Brody in my life. I can’t do this, Chels.” The tears trickled in a constant pool down her face. She kept wiping them, but they kept falling.
“We have each other, Reiya. I’m still your guardian.
I’ll always be by your side now. Brody said to take comfort in the memories, and that’s what we’ll do.
We’ll laugh, cry, and always remember him.
” Chelsie sniffled and pulled back slightly from Reiya.
“You know he would be disappointed in us if we couldn’t at least do that. ”
Reiya nodded. How was she going to tell her family?
How could she tell Brody’s twin brother?
This empty void inside her was getting bigger as she thought of her family.
Could she ever move on from this? She honestly wasn’t sure.
She wanted to curl up in a dark cave away from the world and hide there.
She took a deep breath, turned her head toward the trees, and saw Lee and Xander looking back at them. Beyond them, she saw a dark blob lying on the ground. Abaas.
“We need to return his heart to Olga. A deal is a deal,” Reiya said quietly.
“I’ll do it,” Chelsie said, putting her hand on her shoulder. “I’ll take her the heart. I can travel there instantly through the water. Besides, you need to reconnect with Lee. He’s been by your side nonstop, worrying about you.”
Reiya frowned. “I feel so empty, Chelsie. I don’t know where my heart is right now.”
Chelsie smiled and patted Reiya. “Reiya, it’s okay to be sad and mourn Brody, but don’t forget about your mate.
Your mate is precious, and you need to appreciate that, especially since our time with them isn’t guaranteed.
Love him, Reiya. Use him for comfort. Our time together with our mates is … ” Chelsie sniffled as she broke off.
Reiya leaned into Chelsie, hugging her. She had lost her mate. They were the perfect match, and now she was stuck being her guardian alone. “I’m so sorry, Chelsie. I feel like I just exchanged Lee and Brody. I got Lee back but lost Brody. It’s not fair.”
“This wasn’t an exchange, Reiya. Even if Brody knew the outcome, he still would have gone through with this and you know it.
” She gave Reiya a sad smile. “I’m going to go dig out that demon’s heart and deliver it.
Then we can go back home.” Chelsie walked with Reiya, past the others to where Abaas’ body was lying.
“You really did a number on him, didn’t you?
I guess werewolves are more savage than I thought.
” Chelsie elbowed Reiya and tried to force a smile.
She knew she would never recover from losing Brody, but she had to put on a strong face for Reiya.
She would live with the memory of Brody’s love for the rest of her life.
And at night, when she was alone, she would allow herself to break. “Reiya?”
Reiya turned from the dead body and looked at Chelsie.
Chelsie sighed while staring at her friend. “I never got a chance to talk to Brody.” Her tears began flowing again. “But I’m pregnant.”
Reiya began crying again, and she wrapped her arms around Chelsie. “That’s wonderful, Chelsie. I know Brody would have been proud.”
Chelsie nodded. “I guess he made sure he left us with something to remember him by. I planned to tell him after we got back. If he’d known, he never would have let me come.” She gave Reiya a crooked smile as she wiped her tears.
“Neither of us would have let you come,” Reiya corrected her.
Chelsie nodded. She then dug a glass jar out of her bag.
“Hold up,” Xander said as he approached them. “I’ll do this part for you guys.” He plucked the jar from Chelsie’s hand. Within a few moments, he handed Chelsie the jar that now contained Abaas’ heart.
“I’ll be back soon,” Chelsie said, walking back to the river. She jumped in and disappeared.
“Want me to torch the body?” Xander asked, looking back at the dead demon wolf.
“Yes, burn it,” Reiya said tersely and walked away toward the trees.
She placed her hand on a tall maple tree and leaned her head into her other hand.
Brody was gone, Chelsie was having his baby, she had to tell her family, but she also got Lee back.
She felt incredibly guilty. She was so focused on getting Lee back that the repercussions punched her in the face.
“Reiya?”
She heard Lee’s unsure voice behind her. He was standing a few feet back but was hesitant to touch her. He knew she was hurting, and he was hoping she didn’t push him away. If she needed time, he would give it to her, even though he was dying to hold her.
Reiya turned around and looked into his baby blue eyes.
The truth was she missed him so much that it hurt.
And even now, she just wanted to be in his arms. She wanted to seek his comfort.
She took a slow step toward him and then practically leaped into his embrace.
His powerful arms rested around her, and he bent his head down into the crook of her neck.
“Baby, I’m here. I’m here, and I am never going anywhere. Forever and always.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to move forward, or how long it’ll take, but I’m going to try. Chelsie is pregnant. I’m going to be the best aunt I can be.”
Lee’s hands stroked her back. “There is nothing I can say or do that can make this better. I’m sorry. I wish I could have been here sooner.”
“It’s not your fault, Lee. I’m glad it worked. I know it doesn’t seem like it because of everything, but I am so thankful to have you back. I need you. I need you so bad it hurts.”
Lee let out a breath of relief as he breathed in her scent. He was afraid she would resent him. “I need you, Reiya. We never have to be apart now. Not even death will keep us apart, now that our lives are intertwined.”
Reiya smiled into his chest. “What did happen in the rest of the fight? My body tapped out toward the end.”
“I was so scared when I saw you lying there covered in blood that I snapped. I just started obliterating all the demons. Xander went and took out the other witch doctors, and then Mason, Weston, and Dex killed the hellhounds. I went to your side immediately, but Lumi warned me not to move you. So I just stayed beside you. It was hard seeing you like that. Chelsie jumped into the water to look for Brody, and Ruby returned from searching for him, saying there was no sign of him anywhere. I’ve been hoping for and dreading the moment you woke up.
” Lee kissed her hair. “Baby, I know you’re hurting.
That’s okay. Take as much time as you need.
I’m here for you, and I’ll be here to help you through this. ”
“The emptiness feels weird. I was so used to always having him beside me that I honestly don’t know how to move past this.
It hurts so bad, Lee.” The tears started trickling down her cheeks.
There was an emptiness inside her where Brody’s energy resided.
She would never get used to not having it there.
“After we get back, I’ll bring your family to the West Dragon Kingdom.
That way you all can have a day for closure and to comfort one another.
” Lee lifted her chin to look into her watery sapphire eyes.
“Brody will always live inside you. He’s in your memories, and he’s part of the reason you’re you. ”
“I’m glad I have you back, Lee.” Reiya smiled as their eyes met.
She watched as he slowly began to close the gap between their lips.
He stopped for a moment to make sure it was alright with her before proceeding.
He then took her lips gently into his, pouring his love and affection into his slow kiss.
For now, he just wanted to be a comfort to her, and he would do whatever he needed to in order for her to heal.
“I love you, Reiya. Thank you for freeing me. I’ll spend the rest of our lives together making it up to you.
” Lee pecked her lips once more, then pulled her body flush against his, holding her tight.
She had risked so much for him. She even lost her brother fighting to get him back.
She deserved everything. Anything he could ever do for her, he would.
Nothing could help with the pain from losing Brody, but he would do everything within his power to make her life as fulfilling as possible.
“I love you too, Lee.”