Zira woke up from the bump of the car moving down the road. It was still dark outside but there was a little light on the horizon, signifying the sun was coming up soon. She didn’t realize she had drifted off to sleep. From soothing Arias and Zed's obvious cold shoulder, she was exhausted. She turned her body to sit up straight in the back of the truck. Her muscles and joints complained, and her left leg was still asleep. Probably because Arias was sleeping soundly on it.
Her movement caused Arias to stir as she held her breath. Putting him down was the most difficult thing she'd ever done. He kept crying for Isaiah and Zira knew it was because he was scared. It pained her to know there was nothing she could do about it except be here with him. Thankfully, Zed remembered to grab Mister Giggles, which was tucked tightly under Arias’s arm.
“How long was out,” she asked Zed, who looked as if he didn’t get a wink of sleep. He didn't answer right away. He just shifted in his seat.
“Just an hour or two,” Zed said back. He leaned against the door as if to try to get away from her. He was still mad. Zira reached over to touch his arm and she could feel him almost jerk away.
“Hey, I wasn’t going to let them kill you, Zed. You know that right,” she said.
Zed didn’t say anything for a minute as she slowly removed her hand. When they started this journey, he accused her of leaving him again. ‘This time to die’ were his actual words. He hasn’t said much to her after that. Just the occasional conversation concerning Arias and getting him to sleep.
“I know,” Zed said, breaking her from her thoughts. “It’s just… at that moment I thought I was going to die and I…just didn’t want to be alone. If that was the case.”
Zira strategically moved closer to Zed without waking Arias and placed her head on his shoulders. “You weren’t going to be alone, Zed. Truly, I wasn’t going to leave you there. I just wanted to get Arias away and I was coming back. Believe me. Besides, I knew for a fact she wasn’t going to kill you.”
Zed looked down at Zira. “How?”
“Because if she really wanted you dead, you wouldn’t be here having this conversation with me right now.”
Zed didn’t respond to that. He knew there was truth in her words. She looked outside at the passing greenery, trying to figure out where they were. She could tell by the kinds of trees and the scent in the air how close they were getting to their destination. They were about a mile or two away from the entrance when the trucks finally stopped abruptly. Zed’s side of the door opened and they could hear Clary’s voice.
“Everyone out!”
Luckily, it didn’t wake Arias as Zira and Zed slowly got out of the car. They were ushered to the front where Clary was talking with Malachi and Ezekiel. She turned to them with a smile.
“Sleep well,” she asked.
“Well, it’s no five-star so…”
Clary laughed. “Zira, you’re so funny sometimes. I like you. I do, really.” She clapped her hands. “OK, here’s the plan. We are going to go down there together. You, me, Mal, and Eke. Find the little pixie friend of yours to translate the book. Then we'll be out of there before lunch. Comprendez?”
Clary walked up close to Zira enough for her to smell the rose-like scent coming from her skin. “Do not, and I stress this, give anyone there a tip or information or secret code. If you so much as wink at them in a way I deem suspicious, I will have my boys…well you know. Kill, kill, blah blah.”
Zira could see Zed tense up just a bit before crossing his arms over his chest. It was a way for him to keep calm and not show fear. It made her hate that she put him in this predicament, but she was determined to keep them alive. Zira simply nodded her head at Clary’s request.
“Great,” she said, turning around to pick up a bag from the car. “Doesn’t it feel so much better when you cooperate? Now, I feel a forcefield about 50 meters away, so we’ll continue on foot. Derrick, park the trucks on top of that ridge and wait with Rissa and Drake. I will link you when it's time to meet up. The rest of you, let’s move. I want to get in and out.”
Two of the pack members led Zed back to the car as he mouthed ‘Be safe.’ to Zira.
“You too,” she said back to him.
“Oh,” Clary said, turning to Zira, “and leave the boy.”
“What? No, Arias…”
“...is staying with your brother. It gives you the incentive to get in and out.”
Malachi ushered Zira back to the car to hand Arias off to Zed. Arias opened his sleepy eyes the moment he left her arms and looked around to see what was going on. He noticed Zira walking away from the car.
“Mommie,” Arias called out. Zira turned around as Malachi’s grip on her arm tightened. “Mommie.”
“Wait,” Zira said, digging her feet into the ground to get Malachi to stop. “I just need to reassure him that everything is okay.”
“When Clary says it’s time to go, it’s time to go. So come on.” Malachi yanked Zira’s arm and pulled her away from a confused Arias. She could see Zed trying to calm him but his tearful eyes were glued to hers.
“Please,” she begged. “Just let me comfort him, just a little.”
She was speaking to deaf ears as Malachi dragged her further and further away. He pulled her in front of him as they continued to walk down the road and Arias’s cries could no longer be heard. Clary turned and walked backward as she addressed Zira.
“Don’t worry, love. If everything goes according to plan, we’ll be back before your scent leaves his nose.” Zira felt herself growl at her and Malachi grabbed Zira’s arms as Clary stopped walking. “I’m sorry. Is there something you want to say?”
“There’s a lot of things I want to say,” Zira said through her teeth, “but I would rather talk with my hands than my mouth.”
“In due time, Zira. In due time,” Clary smiled and turned around to continue walking.
Ezekiel fell in line with Zira while they walked. Zira could tell he wanted to say something so she waited. As Clary spoke with Malachi, Ezekiel spoke to her in a low whisper.
“Look, I’m sure this whole thing isn’t ideal but she is joking about killing someone. She’s not a bad person, just so you know.”
Zira looked at him with a stupefied expression. “Please tell me he’s joking,” Nina said, taking the words right out of Zira’s mouth.
“I’m sorry, did she force your crying child out of your arms and threatened to kill those close to you multiple times,” Ziras asked. She couldn’t hold the bitterness in her voice.
Ezekiel winced at her tone before staring ahead at Clary. They walked in silence for a minute. Zira was hoping he was coming to his senses as she watched him contemplate some things. It was another minute before he spoke again.
“I am sorry about all this, Zira, really,” he started. His voice held a sense of conviction. “She’s doing this for all of us. For a better life. To be free to be ourselves without fear. With Arias being a white wolf, I figured you would understand what it’s like being ostracized for being different. Clary just wants a world where we’re all safe. Why is that so bad?”
“What’s her plan, Ezekiel?”
He was about to say something when Clary interrupted them. “Eke, my love, I want you up here with me. You have a bleeding heart and I don't want Zira to take advantage of that.”
Ezekiel gave Zira a half-hearted smile before switching places with Malachi. It only took them a little over half an hour to make it to the entrance of the Ancient Walkers Pack. Clary reached out to feel along the forcefield Alpha Fiona created for protection.
“Looks like you’re up, love.” Clary moved aside as Zira stepped forward to place her hand on the force field. It shimmered for a bit before stopping. A minute later, the shimmering started again to reveal the gates. As they opened, Zira could see a couple of carts moving down the road.
“Ahhhh,” a voice way too excited so early in the morning. “Zira! You’re back.”
Trixie pulled the cart over to the side, only tilting for a bit before landing back on the ground. She wobbled out and Zira was taken by surprise at her swollen belly. Trixie pulled Zira into a huge hug.
“I told that silly mate of mine you were going to come back sooner rather than later,” Trixie smiled, finally noticing the others. “Oh, and you brought more friends this time,” she said, giving everyone a hug. “Ooh, aren’t you three some lookers? Where are you finding them, Zira?”
Zira laughed nervously. “Well, it’s not on purpose. Believe me.”
“Well, let’s go. It is almost time,” Trixie said, rubbing her belly. She ushered everyone to a cart with Zira and Clary with her. “Oh,” Trixie said, stopping at the cart before turning around with a serious expression. Something Zira was not used to. “Just so you know. My mother is here.”
Zira nearly stopped in her tracks. Shit, Zira thought. Why have I been cursed?