Page 66

Leo

T he office is tense, and even Alejandro is dead serious. Any sarcasm is gone as he stands there with his arms crossed, watching me coldly. That is his concentrating expression.

Azura is sitting on the armrest of the chair I am in, and Kiara tells me to remove my shirt. I pull it off and Azura takes it from me, holding it to her chest. I can hear her heart beating violently, although she is trying not to let it get to her.

Kiara takes a deep breath, a frown of concentration crossing her face as she kneels in front of me. Her eyes blaze purple, and for a split second, I am reminded of the flicker I saw in Azura’s eyes the other night. Usually, when your wolf comes to the front, if you watch carefully, or in my case, record it and slow down the speed just to observe it, you will see the wolf’s eye colour bleed into yours. What just happened with Kiara’s is like a flame spreading from the bottom of the iris.

I am brought out of my thoughts when Kiara places her hands on my shoulders. Her frown deepens as she runs her hands down my chest, my flanks, and parts of my stomach as she tries to assess the extent of the damage. I hear her heart skip a beat. I keep my face a mask of indifference as I know what is coming…

She will try and fail, but you know what is going to be fucking hardest? When I’m going to have to act like it’s fine and watch the emotion in their eyes…

A coolness begins spreading from her hands, and I feel it wash through me. An edge of the pain seems to lift a little, but I know she isn’t succeeding. She doesn’t stop, her purple aura wrapping around us both to the extent that Azura is being pushed away, but she refuses to let go of me, her arm firmly around my shoulders. Kiara bites her lip, her forehead now covered with a layer of sweat as she pours everything she has into me.

“What’s happening?” Alejandro asks, his voice dark and cold as he looks between us.

Kiara isn’t able to reply as she looks into my eyes. A trickle of blood runs from her nose, and her eyes glitter with tears as I feel another strong surge of intense power rush through me, but we both know it is futile. The blood isn’t stopping, and even Azura is beginning to worry. Kiara’s entire body is tense, her brows furrowed as she gives it her all. She is going to fucking pass out at this rate.

“Stop!” I command sharply, taking hold of her arms and moving her back. She collapses to the floor, and Alejandro is by her side in a flash, scooping her up into his arms. Azura’s heart is pounding, and when Kiara looks at me, I know what her next words are going to be.

“I’m sorry, I’m unable to heal you,” she whispers, her gaze going to Alejandro, who looks shocked. There it is - the concern, worry, and sadness as he looks at me, but I know as long as I don’t look at Azura, I’ll be okay…

Her arms tighten around my neck, and trickles of her thoughts and emotions seep into my mind. Her worry and pain. Her fear of losing me, of our children losing me. Her terror of nothing being able to heal me. I can feel her body shaking a little, and despite the fact that it is going to fucking break me, I pull her into my lap, wrapping my arms around her.

The moment our eyes meet, I realise she is fighting herself not to cry, and it fucking hurts. This is the pain I wanted to keep her from… I can’t give her the life she wants…

“I was expecting that answer anyway,” I tell Kiara and Alejandro, who are obviously conversing through the link from the looks on their faces. Azura shifts, straddling me, and locks her arms around my neck tightly. I close my eyes, inhaling her scent deeply as I caresses her back.

“It ain’t fucking over until we have drained every fucking avenue. How long do you have?” Alejandro growls. I lean back slightly, my hands on Azura’s ass, making sure my face is still set in the same “I don’t give a fuck” expression.

“A month or two max, if that,” I reply coldly.

“And you didn’t think to seek out help earlier?” Alejandro frowns. “Does Marcel know?” My irritation rises. I know he is fucking worried, but I don’t need to explain shit to him.

“I never fucking realised it was that serious until it was far too fucking late, and it wasn’t like I was going to ask the very same people who I didn’t want to fucking face,” I growl, unable to keep my anger at bay.

“We’re family, Leo, and -”

“And what? I fucking told you I didn’t think it was fucking serious!” I growl, my aura raging around me.

“You shouldn’t have taken the fucking chance. You have a son, and what about your father?” Alejandro shoots back, his aura filling the air. I place Azura down and stand up, glaring at the man who stands opposite me. Our Alpha auras rage around us so intensely you can feel it. Blazing red eyes meet magnetic blue.

“I’m not a fucking god that I can see the future. Now end this shit. It’s fucking done. Don’t make me regret even allowing Kiara to try,” I snarl, my eyes flashing.

“This isn’t over, Al – relax. I know you’re upset,” Kiara whispers, cupping his face and forcing him to look at her.

“Fucking hell,” I mutter, taking out a packet of cigarettes and taking one between my lips.

“Still, he tried to deal with that shit alone.” Alejandro growls, “He may not care for us but I fucking care.”

“I know, baby.”

Dickhead .

“You don’t fucking know me, so don’t think you know shit,” I growl back.

“Stop it. Both of you,” Azura snaps, standing up. When she places her hand on my shoulder as she looks between us, it is clear she is angry as much as she is upset.

“There’s no point in ifs and buts. It’s happened, and I’m not able to heal him. We need to find a solution,” Kiara says quietly.

“Yeah, and he’s trying, okay? Despite everything he’s been through, he’s trying to be a better person, Alejandro! Try to see that. I get that you are upset, but this is hard for him, too,” Azura adds, her eyes flashing with pain and frustration. Alejandro’s eyes meet hers. A frown on his face.

“Then he better fucking try harder to live,” he growls, his eyes flashing once more before he turns and storms out of the room. Kiara looks at Azura and me apologetically.

“He’s just hurt. I told him only a little earlier… I hoped I could fix it - he feels he failed you entirely,” she whispers, reaching over as she places a hand on both our cheeks before she looks down. “We will find a way. There’s Delsanra, Raihana, and maybe Dante might have the answer… we are going to figure this out… excuse me.”

“Thanks for trying,” I say when she turns to leave. I don’t even look at her, simply smoking my cigarette. She sighs softly, and I see her nod sadly before she leaves.

“We will find a way,” Azura murmurs, and I look down at her, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.

“Yeah,” I murmur while kissing her forehead softly. She leans into me, and just then there is a light knock on the half-open door.

“Mind if I come in?” Dante asks, entering anyway. Azura turns to him, her heart racing, and I know she is about to ask him for help.

“Give us a minute, beautiful?” I ask quietly. It is obvious Dante wants to talk about something, and I really don’t want her to hear any more bad news today.

“Why can’t I be here?” She asks. I kiss her lips slowly, and she sighs in frustration. “One minute,” she says, frowning.

“Make it five,” I reply, smirking slightly. She nods slowly and reluctantly lets go of me. Our eyes meet, and I realise she only agreed because she is about to break…

“Okay,” she says, gripping my face as she pulls me down and kisses me hard. I kiss her back, letting the sparks roll through me.

I will try… for her, for our kids, and maybe for the other bastards who throw a hissy fit when shit doesn’t go their way.

She pulls away before turning and leaving the room.

“What do you fucking want?” I ask Dante, smoking my cigarette. He smiles slightly, taking a seat in his dad’s chair and crossing his ankles on the desk.

“I have a question… years ago, I swore an oath on Azura that I would grant you a favour whenever you need it. Why didn’t you ever call? I owed you; it would have just been a favour owed, nothing more.” I raise an eyebrow.

“Don’t you usually fucking know everything? You should know the answer to your question,” I reply. I’m fucking surprised I never looked deeper into why he had chosen Azura to swear on. The fucker is smart, I’ll give him that. He smiles faintly.

“I think people forget I don’t know everything. I’m a Demi-God, not a god, and even then, even gods are not all-knowing or all-powerful. Even they have weaknesses,” he replies.

“Hm.”

“So, tell me why you didn’t call on that favour?” Great, he’s still stuck on that.

“Why would I call on a favour that involved saving someone’s life?” I mutter, turning my back on him. A moment’s silence follows as I walk over to the window and open it, leaning against the frame as I smoke.

“Rayhan’s mother, who you hated at the time.”

“Still hate,” I growl.

“Sure. But answer the question.”

“I have nothing against her, and besides… no one deserves to lose their parents… unless, of course, the parents are fucking twats.” He chuckles, and I hear him get up.

“You’re really a good person, Leo. If only you knew…” He leans against the other side of the window and looks up at the moon. I wonder what he means, but even if I ask, he won’t tell me.

“I should have fucking known something was up when you took an oath on her back then. It was fucking weird since you two argued and fought a lot,” I remark.

“Well, I had to play it smart since I didn’t know what you might ask for, and I knew you’d never be able to take a wrong oath on her.”

“You were a smart little shit.”

He smirks, “But if we’re talking smarter, it’s you. I just know things; you figure them out.”

Azura enters the office again, and I glance at the time. She sure didn’t waste time; she left exactly five minutes ago. When she comes in front of me, I can see her eyes are red. She has been crying…

I pull her close, wrapping my arms around her and kissing her neck softly. She leans into me, her heart pounding under my touch.

“Well, first of all, Delsanra, Raihana, and even I can’t heal you, but…”

Azura is about to react when I tighten my arms around her.

Relax, Sexy Mama, I murmur through the link, seeing Dante’s face turned towards the moon.

“But what?” I ask. He looks at us before turning back to the night sky.

“It’s just a little clue, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out…” Clue? He sighs softly before he continues, “When the full moon is at its peak, only in those moments can the Heart of Fire heal all. Find it, and you will live.” His words echo in my mind as I try to make sense of it.

“Heart of Fire?” Azura asks, now turning in my arms to look at him with hope ignited in her eyes.

“Leave the thinking to Leo,” Dante teases her, making her try to kick him, but he is far enough away that she fails.

“The only Heart of Fire I’ve come across is…”

Suddenly I think I may have the answer. I don’t know how or what will make it happen, but… I think I’m right. I look up at him sharply, my hand going to my neck, when Azura’s gaze snaps to it, realisation dawning on her.

“Wait, his mark?” She asks, confused.

“Like I said, My Temperamental Miracle, leave the thinking to Leo.”

“Ass… so, somehow, your mark will help?” She pulls away, turning and looking at me sharply.

“No…” I say slowly, watching Dante, and when the corner of his lips curl upwards… I know I am right. I look into the bright blue eyes of the woman I have come to love without realising. “The Heart of Fire itself…”

“What is that?” She frowns, but my attention is back on Dante, and when his smile grows, I know I have hit the nail on the fucking head.

“You. You’re the Heart of Fire,” I murmur, my head spinning as I stare at her. I may have found one answer… but there are a thousand more questions that take its place.

She looks confused and doubtful, turning to Dante for confirmation. He simply tilts his head and says one word that confirms it all.

“Bingo.”