Ezekiel helped Mother Essie into her seat. She told them that a trip like the one they had could take it out of a person. It seemed true as Arias settled in Zira’s lap, his head leaned against her shoulders and his eyes were half closed. Zira thought about what Niamh showed and said to her as Mother Essie explained Arias’s lack of power.
Lana laughed. “That is the most bizarre thing I’ve ever heard. How could something like your fear block his powers?”
“My reaction to him that day made him afraid of his powers. He saw my fear. A fear that I’m sure many white wolves are familiar with. I made him scared of being himself.”
Zira felt Isaiah wipe away the tears falling down her face. She leaned against his hand. Grateful to have him by her side through all of this.
“I never heard of anything like that,” Lana said matter-of-factly, “and believe me when I say white wolves here have had their own kind of trauma.”
“Everyone is different, Lana,” Isaiah said. “Arias most of all. He is the only white wolf that’s a healer and he has more than one power.”
“Not to mention the fact he was so young going through what he did with Alaia and…with me. That could affect even the most stable person, white wolf or otherwise.”
“Interesting,” Lana said with a smile. “Well then. I guess he’s cured in a way, which means now you can go home. All of you.”
“Not so fast,” Councilman Faulkner interjected. “What about the book? Obviously, Arias has a connection to it. I think we should explore ways for him to help open it.”
“No.” Everyone looked at Zira, some shocked by her response. She looked at each one of them in turn. “He’s been through enough already.”
“Then maybe you, Zira,” Councilman Faulkner offered.
“I…why would it open for me?”
“Why would the crystal react to you when you’re not even a white wolf? If it makes you feel better, we can have Alpha Isaiah give it a go as well,” Councilman Faulkner suggested. “As I said before, I want to exhaust all options.”
Zira contemplated this for a minute. Maybe if I do this, they would leave us alone, she thought to herself. “Fine,” Zira said. “There’s nothing wrong with trying. After that, we leave.”
Zira wasn’t sure if it would open for her, but she knew Niamh wanted her to get the book and that was what she was going to do. She glanced at Clary, who smiled as if she knew what Zira was asking and gave her a sharp nod.
“Great,” Councilman Faulkner said. “Then we can schedule something tomorrow. Right, Lana?” Lana glared at Councilman Faulkner before huffing at him and leaving the room. “I’ll take that as a yes,” Councilman Faulkner said, following her out the door.
“Can you put him down to sleep,” Zira asked, handing Arias over to Isaiah. “I have to talk to Lana about something really quick.”
“Do you need me to come-”
“No,” Zira said quickly, noticing Isaiah’s worried look. “I’ll play nice. Promise.”
Zira hurried and caught up with Lana as she was opening the door to the library. She saw Clary at the other end of the hall, just out of view. She needed to get Lana away from the library long enough for Clary to take the book.
“Lana, there you are!”
Zira could see Lana’s body tense up before leaning her head against the door. She took a calculated breath before turning to face Zira.
“Yes, here I am,” she said unenthused.
“Look, I know you think less of me and…
“Ah,” Lana interrupted, “that is where you’re wrong, Zira. To think less of you implies that I think of you at all and let me be the first to say I don’t.”
Zira bit back her response and thought carefully about what to say next. “Ouch, ok. I see we’re not in the hospitable mood anymore.”
“Look, Zira. I don’t have all day, so what can I help you with?”
“Just wondering if you wanted to blow off some steam.” Lana stared at Zira suspiciously before Zira added, “Dealer’s choice of course,” to which Lana only smiled.
A few moments later, Zira was fitted with a fencing uniform in the training center. She had never fenced before, but she would do anything to keep Lana distracted. Lana waited patiently with her saber in her hand as Zira walked to the end of the mat.
“I won’t make this too complicated with the rules, so let’s make it simple. You win a point when you hit me with your saber. Anywhere above the waist is good. If we both hit at the same time, no point. Understand?”
“Sounds easy enough,” Zira nodded and mimicked the stance Lana was doing.
They started fencing, moving back and forward. Zira was mainly blocking and parrying Lana’s attacks, which only seemed to get more ferocious by the second. Zira used this opportunity to ask her questions.
“So, Clary tells me that Councilman Faulkner worked with you to establish this place. I would think you both would be more friendly towards each other.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lana said plainly. “We are the best of friends.”
“Right, because keeping the secret of having a book is what best friends do.”
Lana laughed. “I don’t have to tell him everything that happens in my pack with my people. If there’s a problem to fix, I fix it. Not the Alpha King. Not Councilman Faulkner. Me. That's why we are secret. It’s the only way to keep trouble out and my people safe.”
“If this place is such a big secret, how can other white wolves find you?”
“We work with the Alpha King’s people. The ones I trust. They search through packs for anyone who's a white wolf and give them the option of coming here. Besides, it's not that big of a secret, more of a need-to-know basis and...” One feint step to the side left Zira opened for Lana to impale her chest with the tip of the blade. “...point.”
They squared up again. “So, when they find a white wolf and bring them here, you just accept them?”
“Of course not. No one gets in without my inspection.” Lana gets another point with a swipe against the top of Zira’s mask.
“So, my friend, Percy,” Zira said, watching for any indication that Lana knew the name. Nothing. “He came with me on my journey, and I’m surprised I didn’t see him here.”
“Well, we don’t force anyone to come or stay here. Maybe this friend didn’t want to stay.”
“Stay, huh. Does that imply that he came?” Lana hesitated and that gave Zira an opening to get a hit off Lana’s shoulders. “Wow. Look at that. My first point.”
Zira looked around and saw a few members watching them. Some gave her a nod of approval while others whispered about her actually scoring against Lana. Lana took her helmet off and from her face, Zira could tell this was the first time someone got a point on her.
“Lucky shot, still,” Lana smiled, “not bad for a beginner. How about we take this up a notch? Seeing that luck is on your side.”
Lana stared at Zira with a smile. Something hidden behind that smile made Zira uncomfortable, but she did well not to show it. She had a mission and if playing this silly game kept Lana’s attention, then so be it.
“What do you have in mind?”
“This next point will determine the winner. No masks. No tips.” Lana removed the ball tip from her saber and gestured for Zira to do the same.
“Is that safe?”
“Safety is for someone who’s afraid to get hurt,” Lana said. “Are you afraid of getting hurt?”
Zira scoffed. “No, I’m not. I’ll just take this as an opportunity to learn and maybe cut into that ego of yours.”
“Great. The winner draws first blood,” Lana said. “Let’s do this, shall we?”
Lana attacked rather quickly, causing Zira to block and fall to the side. Zira didn’t have time to process the fall as Lana’s saber was thrust toward her face. Zira rolled away and parried the blow to keep Lana from getting any closer. Once Zira got back to her feet, Lana advanced, moving her saber from left to right with Zira trying to keep up with her movements. They came to an impasse when they crossed sabers.
“You know,” Lana said, barely struggling, “I’m wondering if Alpha Isaiah knows about this obsession you have for your friend.”
Zira pushed her back, creating some distance between them. “Isaiah knows he has no competition. A mate’s bond is sacred, but I know you have no way of knowing that since…”
Zira didn’t need to finish her sentence, nor did she have the time to do anything with the way Lana charged her. Her swipes were even faster than before, and Zira mainly focused on blocking and dodging. Still, it was no match to Lana’s assault. She got Zira to the floor and as she went in for a hit, Zira blocked it and swiped Lana’s leg. This time Lana fell to the ground with Zira standing over her with the tip of her saber under Lana’s chin.
“Guess the beginner’s luck hasn’t worn off yet,” Zira smiled, but it didn’t last long.
Lana swiped Zira's legs, bringing her down. Their sabras clashed before rolling away from each other to opposite ends of the room. The moment Lana regained her footing she lunged toward Zira.
“You talk about a mate’s bond as if you’re qualified,” Lana said with her slashes coming down with more force than before. “I see you still haven’t let Alpha Isaiah mark you yet. So what bond are you referring to?”
Their sabers crossed at an impasse once again. This time around, Zira grabbed Lana’s wrist, pulling them close together so their faces were only a few inches apart.
“For someone who is just a friend of Isaiah, you seem pretty interested in our relationship. I wonder why?”
Lana scoffed. “Maybe because I think he could do better.”
That was enough to piss Zira off and she pushed Lana away. They squared off again before attacking. Zira noticed Lana’s eyes were glowing a bright blue and silver. She was using her powers. On what? Zira couldn’t tell but she didn’t let that distract her. A look of confusion passed Lana’s face, giving Zira an opening and she took it. Zira charged in only for Lana to parry and swipe at Zira’s face. Zira dodged it but only for the tip of the saber to slice along her cheek.
“Looks like I won,” Lana said with a huge smile but Zira wasn’t paying attention to her at all.
The wound on Zira’s cheek started to bleed just a little and didn’t seem to faze her at all. Zira’s eyes were focused on something behind her. Lana even heard some of her pack mates gasping and pointing behind her.
“You…you…took…it away.” That shaky but familiar voice made Lana freeze in place. She knew exactly who was behind her. But how? Lana slowly turned around and saw the woman leaning against the doorway.
“Lily…” Lana dropped her saber and moved towards Lily, who was looking around in a paranoid manner. “Lily, everything is okay. You’re fine, OK?”
Lily shook and grabbed her head in frustration as Lana continued to talk to her. Lily looked straight ahead as if she could finally see Lana clearly for the first time.
“Give…it…back,” Lily said. “Give me back my power!”