55. Mira

fifty-five

Mira

Our ragtag group of marauders, now numbering over fifteen individuals we've picked up along the way, huddles in the shadows of an alleyway. A scout concealed behind a wooden crate at the mouth of the alley gives a hurried signal before quickly retreating to our location.

They're coming. Ready yourselves.

The darkness of the alley wraps around us like a cloak, shielding us from prying eyes as we wait for our next prey.

Beside me, Lisa's arm trembles like a leaf caught in a strong breeze. She shifts her weight from foot to foot, her movements quick and restless, as if she is performing an anxious dance. The tension radiating from her body is palpable, adding to the already charged atmosphere around us.

Despite our desperate attempts, we've only managed to exchange a few words since reuniting. She was traveling with some kind of group that protected her from the ruthless Keepers. They were searching for me, having recognized my face on the wanted posters plastered throughout the land. I still don't know what she's been through, but I am overjoyed that she is here with me now.

Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that my closest friend would find me in this fantastical world. Now she stands by my side, facing down death again and again as we wage our futile war. More bands of Valenfall warriors roam through the streets, but we're barely making a dent in his following.

"Wait for my signal." I say, although I probably don't need to.

We've been at this for what feels like days, though it could have been mere minutes. The adrenaline coursing through my veins makes my heart pound in my chest, and sweat beads along my brow. Moving with fluid grace from hiding place to shadows and back again, we strike and retreat like ghosts. My eyes dart nervously from side to side, constantly checking my Chroma levels in between attacks.

My magic is a mere ember compared to its usual blazing inferno. Depletion courses through every fiber of my being, a deep exhaustion settling over me. It reminds me of that day in Yurghen's tower when I used all my power and barely escaped with my life.

As the sole channeler among our group, I haven't held back in my efforts to protect them. I pour all of my energy into attacking and then healing, trying desperately to understand which injuries are critical. The weight of responsibility hangs heavy over me as I continue to push forward, using what's left of my abilities to shield us from harm, casting luck whenever I can. So far, I'd say it's working. We've only lost two people compared to the hundreds we've taken down.

The air is thick with tension and the smell of dust, as the next wave of intruders approaches.

A loud explosion echoes through the city, causing the ground to tremble beneath our feet. It's most likely the work of channelers. I just hope they are fighting for our side. Faintly, I hear cautious steps getting closer. They speed up and then slow down, as if trying to be sneaky around the corner. An ambush is imminent.

Suddenly, a horde of figures appear at the end of the alley. Many of them are mounted on horses, all clad in heavy armor that clanks and echoes off the stone walls. I muster up the last of my Chroma and charge forward, knowing this will be our final stand.

Just as I am about to unleash my fiery wrath upon their approaching army, a figure with shaggy, auburn hair comes charging towards me, screaming my name. Lisa gasps, and her shoulders tense up as I recognize the man running towards me.

Bobble.

"Stop!" I shout, calling off the charge. Those with me exchange nervous glances as they slow beside me. I huff out a sigh of relief as my hands fall to my sides, causing the Chroma to dissipate and sizzle off my fingertips. My mind was too focused on the battle to check in with my mates, but now I reach out for our bond. I am relieved to feel all three of them here with me.

I sprint towards Bobble, my little militia following close behind and erupting into cheers as they catch sight of Cor'than and his troops. As soon as I reach him, my arms wrap around his neck and I shower him with kisses on his dirt-covered cheeks.

He scoops me up and spins me around before setting me down gently on the ground. I notice Callum and Sunder walking towards us with relieved expressions on their faces. I embrace each of them in turn, feeling their comforting warmth surround me. The overwhelming sense of relief almost brings tears to my eyes.

But then my focus shifts to another face, pushing aside my emotions. I separate from Callum's embrace and stand still, taking in the scene around me. Cor'than and his guards have taken control of the situation, gathering information from a soldier who has been by my side for a while and dispatching scouts to find the remaining enemy forces.

Tairyn, who has been standing back with his arms crossed, now unfolds them and cautiously approaches me. The world seems to move in slow motion as the other Shards step away to discuss tactics with Cor'than, creating a space just for the two of us amidst the chaos.

I still as he finally approaches me, eyes burning with that intensity I've come to know so well. The muscles of his jaw twitch as he eyes a cut on my cheek that I don't even remember getting.

His fingers, rough and calloused, trace the delicate curve of my jaw with a gentle touch. In this moment, nothing else seems to exist but the heat of his fingers pressing into me. The sounds of chaos and destruction fade into mere background noise as we stand frozen. For a brief moment, it's as if the war around us doesn't matter. As if we have found a temporary sanctuary in each other's presence.

"I'm glad you're okay." His voice is like gravel, hoarse with a tint of disbelief. I blink, taken aback by his sincerity. Tairyn and I have had our rounds of bantering, of teasing, of challenging each other, but this is different. This is raw and real, stripped bare of all pretense.

"I shouldn't have left you," I respond, stepping closer to him, trailing my fingertips along the rough stubble on his jaw. His breath hitches, and our eyes meet. The green of his gaze is startlingly clear, like the first leaves of spring. His presence feels like a balm, soothing the fear and anxiety nipping at my mind since we left him standing at the base of the Western Slopes.

His throat bobs with a hard swallow, his gaze flicking to my lips for a brief moment before returning to my eyes.

"You did exactly what you should have," he whispers back. His fingers tighten around my waist, pulling me closer until our bodies brush against each other. The air crackles between us, Chroma stirring beneath my skin at his touch despite being nearly depleted, like his very touch is breathing the life back into me. "We live in trying times, Mira," he says quietly, the timbre of his voice sending shivers down my spine. "You can't trust everyone."

"I trust you," I say softly, staring at him. The words hang heavy in the air between us, filled with an unprecedented truth.

His eyes flash with surprise, his fingers tightening momentarily on my waist before loosening again. He doesn't respond immediately, just holds my gaze in silence. His green eyes darken to an emerald hue, making my heart flutter in my chest that has nothing to do with the sounds of battle floating down the alley around us.

Somewhere in the distance, Cor'than's troops are engaging with another band of Yurghen's forces, and based on the cheering around us, have defended successfully for the moment.

As I turn to glance at the soldiers, Tairyn's firm grip on my chin redirects my attention with a gasp. His fingers curl around my jaw, guiding my mouth to meet his in a fierce and possessive kiss. The heat of his touch ignites a fire within me.

Lips firm but gentle, my eyes flutter closed. My hands instinctively move to tangle in his neat hair. He pulls me closer until there is no space between us at all, his free hand cupping the back of my head, holding me to him like a treasure.

His kiss is like a storm, raw and unfettered. It's a collision of desperation and relief, a battle waged between fear and desire. I grip his shoulders tightly, feeling the way his muscles tense under my fingers.

After a moment that seems to span both a lifetime and a fraction of a second, he pulls away, resting his forehead against me. "If I die today, I need you to know, Mira. I love you."

My heart skips a beat and then races to catch up, the confessions hanging in the air with a weight that threatens to crush me. "I…" My voice trails off, my throat tight with emotion. I swallow hard, the words sticking in my throat.

"No, don't," he interrupts, pressing a finger against my lips. "Just listen. I need to say this." His green eyes bore into mine, insistent but soft. "I don't deserve you and not just because you're The Vessel." He pauses, taking a deep breath and his gaze drifts down, studying his own hand as it lightly traces a line down my cheek. "You're brave, kind-hearted, and infuriatingly intelligent," he adds, the corners of his mouth twitching into a half-smile before continuing. "You see things in me that I never saw in myself. The only time I've felt complete since the Shattering is when I'm with you."

"I love you too," I blurt out before he can say more. He freezes, eyes blinking in surprise. The intensity in his gaze softens into something more tender, more vulnerable.

"Say it again," he murmurs, voice barely above a whisper. His fingers ghost over my cheek, his touch as gentle as a breeze.

"I love you." The surety of my voice grows with every word. "I love you, Tairyn."

For a moment, I fear he might crumble under my confession, the tension in his body bleeding away as though he's been punctured. But suddenly, his face breaks into the most beautiful smile I've ever seen. He pulls me back into his arms again just as something between us begins to blossom.

The glowing lights and swirling mist of Chroma surround us as gasps and wails of surprise echo distantly. A warmth of familiar glow spreads as our mate bond snaps into place. Tairyn pulls back, gasping as the power floods through us before looking back at me with awe.

The grin on my face is wild, free from all worries because my final mate bond is in place. I'm finally exactly where I belong.

The familiar threads of bonds in my head swirl, and I'm elated to find a new one. More rough and jagged than the others, but no less tender. I give the bond a tentative tug, and Tairyn's booming laughter fills my heart to the brim.

"This is what we fight for," he says, dropping his hand and stepping away from me. "When this is all over, we will have our time, nin anto anna. For now, we survive."

Suddenly, the sounds of battle come rushing back, slicing through the moment like a crude blade. Tairyn releases his grip on me as turn to face the other Shards, appraising looks on their faces despite the turmoil around us.

A burst of energy courses through my body and I can't help but pull the stunned Lisa into a tight embrace. My heart races with excitement as I introduce her to my four bonded mates, eager for them to meet my best friend. They all smile and warmly welcome her, their genuine happiness radiating from their faces. The air around us feels charged with electricity, thick with love and camaraderie. In this moment, surrounded by those who mean the most to me, I am invincible. If these are our last moments together, I'm going to make the best of them.

"Let's go hunt a wizard," I say, pulling her alongside me as we make our way to the next skirmish as my mates surround us in a protective circle.

"Not a wizard," Sunder says with half a grin, and I can't help but return it.