The moment Isaiah hung up the phone, Zira looked at the clock. Zed wanted to go back to the rooms, but Zira refused. Five minutes passed and she started pacing back and forth. Looking down the hall, Isaiah went down every few seconds. Something just didn't feel right, and it was bugging her.
Zed was busy on his phone, probably texting Mary while she was having a small panic attack. She didn’t like this. She didn’t want to be separated. After learning what Lana could do, she just wanted to get the hell out of there. Surprisingly, Councilman Faulkner stood there with them, and Zira was feeling a bit suspicious of him. She noticed him watching her pacing.
“Is there something you want to say or blame me for?”
Councilman Faulkner scoffed at her. “Just surprised to see how much you care about the young Alpha, yet you are still unmarked.”
Zira stopped pacing and slowly turned towards Councilman Faulkner. She could feel Nina’s anger coursing through her.
“That is none of your concern,” Zira growled as Zed moved closer to her.
“Of course, it’s not. I just hope it’s your intent to ratify that problem instead of stringing him along.”
Zira took a step closer to him. “I’m not stringing him along,” she growled. “I love Isaiah and he knows it.”
“Love,” Councilman Faulkner spat out like it was venom. “Love means nothing when a person can’t honor the sacred bond of the Mother.”
Zira threw her hands in the air. “What is your problem with me? I’ve done nothing to you.”
“Maybe not now, but I’ve seen what the women in your family could do.”
“What the hell are you talking-”
“Niamh,” Councilman Faulkner interrupted her. For a moment Zira could see a pained expression on his face but he quickly hid it. “Most people would see her as a great leader, and she was. Perhaps to the point where it was the cause of her downfall. She had so much love for everyone and not enough for those that mattered. For that alone, she almost destroyed the wrong species of werewolves, and I won’t let that happen again.”
He started to walk away and stopped short before turning his head to Zira. “It’s easy to tell someone you love them, but it is your actions they will always remember. Try to be safe, Zira. Wouldn’t want you to disappear before you have a chance to act on your so-called…love.”
Zira took that as a warning. Now she was more nervous than ever and more determined to get the hell out of there, but first…
“Zed, I need you to check on Arias for me.”
“No, Alpha said to stay with you. So, we,” he said, “can go check on Arias.”
“Zed-”
“I’m serious, Zi," he said while crossing his arms over his chest. "You’re not staying out of my sight. So, either we going together or not at all? Up to you.”
“You do know I’m your Luna, right? You have to obey me too.”
Zed laughed. “Sure, you can command me, but until you’re actually Luna, you can’t compel me to do anything. So…”
“Fine,” Zira said, getting frustrated with her so-called bodyguard. “I just need to make a stop, first.”
She stalked past him and he followed. She was totally going to remember this later. She tried to remember the way from the last time she left there. When she finally made it, she knocked on the door. She knocked again and still had no answer. She debated on what to do. She needed that book and she knew Clary stole it. She gave her enough time to do so. She took out her pick lock set and started working on the lock.
“Zi,” Zed whispered while keeping an eye out. “Is this really necessary? We should be breaking out of here, not in.”
“Shh.” It took her a few minutes to open the door. They both hurried in, closing the door behind them. Zira didn’t waste time and started searching around the room.
“So, I’m guessing this is where the crazy people come to hang,” Zed asked, walking by the wall of torn-up pictures. “What are we here for?”
Zira didn’t have time to explain. She was almost done searching when she figured out the book wasn’t there. Maybe she kept it with her, Zira thought.
“It’s not here. Let’s go.”
They left and headed back to Bella’s room. They saw Alistar sitting in a chair next to the door. As they got closer, they noticed his head was hanging low. The worst came to Zira’s mind, but she could tell by his heartbeat he wasn’t dead. Zed lifted Alistar's head, and he smiled, reaching out his hands to grab Zed. Zed quickly stepped back, out of reach.
“I am the strongest warrior, ladies,” Alistar said in his dream state. “I would make the perfect mate.”
“He doesn't seem to have any injuries,” Zed said. “Just sounded asleep.”
Zira ran into Bella’s room, looking for Arias. Bella was asleep in the bed and Arias was nowhere to be found. Zira searched the bathroom, the closets, and anywhere a four-year-old could hide. She reminded herself to breathe as the panic started to set in. Zira walked over to examine Bella, hoping to find a clue.
“Oh, Jack. Stop it,” Bella giggled as Zira moved her around. “You know that tickles.”
No injuries as well. At least that was a good sign. She saw a cup on the nightstand, half filled with dark liquid. At first, she thought it was just tea, but the smell was familiar. It was the same drink that helped her sleep on her journey. Zira took a sniff and noticed what it was immediately.
“Moon Juice. Made from some very rare flowers.”
“It must be the same thing in this cup,” Zed said behind her, holding a cup in his hand. “Alistar had some too.”
“We have to find Arias. He couldn’t have gotten far.”
Zira noticed it had been a while since Isaiah checked in and called him. No answer. This was a bad sign. Zira ran to her room and searched everywhere. She even used Nina to scent him out, but his scent was everywhere.
“Zira!” Zed appeared in the doorway. “I think I found something.”
Zira followed him back to Bella’s bathroom. Zed pointed to the wall and saw a small opening. She wondered how she could’ve missed it. She crouched beside it and Arias’s scent was the strongest there. She looked down at the small dark corridor and knew exactly where he was going.
“Zed, I need you to follow Arias’s scent through here.”
“No, I’m staying with-”
“Zed, you have to go. Make sure he isn’t stuck or hiding. I’ll go to the other side and open the door. Hurry.”
Zed nodded and went through the door as Zira ran towards the library. She didn’t waste time picking the lock. After two swift kicks, the doors flew open and Zira rushed in. The library was quiet with no one in sight. At the other end of the table sat the book. Zira walked in slowly, checking her surroundings and any signs of Arias. He was here. His scent was strong. She made her way to the wall she used with Clary and opened it. No signs of Zed yet, so she left the door open and searched around the library for Arias. She didn’t realize how huge this place was until now. It was going to take ages to find him, and his scent was everywhere. How is that possible?
Still, with no sign of him, she went back to the book. It glowed in the darkness, and she could feel her hands itching to touch it. She knew she had to take it, but something about what Faulkner said stuck with her. Wouldn’t want you to disappear… Still, something pulled her to it. Her hand hovered over it.
“Just open it already,” a voice said.
Zira saw the glow of the necklace before Clary walked from behind the bookcase. Zira’s breath caught in the back of her throat when she saw Arias holding her hand.
“Me and Arias have been waiting for you to do just that. Isn’t that right, Arias?
Arias, who was busy trying to eat a lollipop and holding Mister Giggles, at the same time, simply nodded. Of course, he wasn’t aware of the situation.
“Clary,” Zira said, trying to control her anger for Arias’s sake, “what are you doing with my son?”
“Oh,” Clary smiled, crouching down to smile at him. “I think he was having trouble sleeping. Though, the other two didn’t have any problem dozing off.”
“So, all of this-”
“Let’s cut this chit-chat short. Losing the window of opportunity here. Let’s just say whatever you were going to say is true,” Clary smiled. “Now all I want you to do is open the book and you can be with your son.”
“How do you even know it’s going to open for me,” Zira asked, glancing at Arias.
“Because it will only open for Niamh, who I know you are. So, open it. We don’t have much time.”
Arias tried to walk to Zira, but Clary held onto his hand, pulling him back. Arias looked up at Clary before staring at Zira and dropping his lollipop and Mister Giggles on the floor.
“Mommie.” Just that single word and the look on his face were enough to make her move toward him.
“Don’t test me,” Clary said, pulling Arias close. Zira stopped in her tracks and kept her eyes on Arias.
“It’s okay, Bugga. Mommie’s just going to open the book and then the lady will let you go. Ok?”
Zira smiled and watched as Arias seemed to contemplate what she was saying before nodding his head. She walked over to the book and, with a deep breath, touched it.
Zira prepared herself for the worst, but nothing happened. Her hand was placed flat against the cover and a weird warm sensation filled her. Still, the book wouldn’t open. Clary moved closer to her, looking over the book with a confused look. From behind Clary, Zira could see Zed crouched behind the bookcase with his finger over his lips. She needed to keep Clary distracted.
“Nothing is happening. Maybe I’m not the right person,” Zira said.
“You haven’t even tried to open it,” Clary said, moving closer so she was a little an arm’s length away. “Do it! Lift the cover.”
Zira picked up the book and tried to open it. She struggled for a minute before Zed lunged from his hiding place at Clary. It distracted Clary just enough for Zira to scratch the hand holding onto Arias, so Clary let his hand go. Zira pulled Arias into her arms and backed away from Clary, who started to laugh.
“That was unexpected,” Clary said, “Luckily, I always come prepared.” Clary pointed to the ceiling and Zira couldn’t help but look at Zed in shock.