“This is how Zira feels for everyone in her life, Celeste. Whatever you think she’s doing with Blaze, she isn’t. She’s just…trying to make up for a mistake in her past that almost made her lose something that brings her joy. She would never take that from someone else. You know what it feels like to have that kind of joy, Celeste. Wouldn’t you do anything to keep that in your life?”
Without knowing it, Celeste could feel herself nodding. The type of love Percy was sharing was something she had when there were more than just two dragons in the world.
“Zira,” Percy continued with a smile on his face, “is the bravest, kindest, most spirited soul I’ve ever met. She makes you want to be better, and she doesn’t love you less if you’re not. So please, we need your help to get her back.”
For a moment Celeste just stared at Percy, dazed. The emotions he fed her were overwhelming to the point she felt tears falling. She hated this but couldn’t help the joy she got from it.
“You’re such a softie, Percy,” Celeste laughed. “Always with the feelings, man.” She turned to Isaiah and sighed. Against her better judgment, she held out her hand and Isaiah took it. “I’ll help but on one condition.”
“I’m not begg-”
Before Isaiah could finish his sentence, Celeste pulled him into a fiery kiss. It wasn’t real fire, but smoke seeped from Celeste’s mouth as she held onto his face. She backed him up against the wall to trap him. She was surprisingly strong, and Isaiah knew she could totally match him for strength. Celeste released him with a laugh as he choked a bit from the smoke seeping from his mouth. Hunter stood up to help Isaiah while Chris went to fetch him some water.
“Wow, leave you for a few hours and you have your tongue down someone’s throat,” Lana said, standing near the table. “Zira is going to be pissed.”
“It’s not…” Isaiah tried to talk through the burning in his throat. It felt like he swallowed hot coals.
“Oh, I’m counting on it,” Celeste said, walking to the door. “Now she’ll know exactly how I feel.”
Isaiah guzzled the water Chris gave him, but it only seemed to make it worse as everyone started to follow Celeste. Hunter stood near him, trying to help, but Isaiah shrugged him off. Hunter looked at him with a quizzical look.
“If you ask me how that kiss was, I will kill you,” Isaiah said through his teeth.
“Small price to pay, Alpha Isaiah,” Percy said, rubbing the back of his neck and looking down. “At least, now we’re only a hop and skip away.”
Isaiah looked at Percy suspiciously. “You know you're stronger than you let on, Percy. Swaying a dragon like that when you couldn’t even sway me a few days ago. I’m impressed.”
“It comes and goes with my emotions,” Percy laughed, nervously. “Besides, this journey is important.”
“You're sure it’s just the journey for you,” Isaiah asked.
Percy looked at him in shock. “Of…of course. I mean I am responsible for bringing the book out and talking about the past. Zira was just…a chance encounter. We were both looking for the same thing for different reasons.”
“Well, the way you talked about her before makes me think you found more than you bargained for,” Isaiah said, stopping him from walking. “I just want to make sure we don’t have a problem.”
Percy started to speak before closing his mouth. Isaiah could see he was deep in thought, and for a moment, he was worried Percy would be a problem for them.
“I should’ve dealt with him the other day,” Devon said in Isaiah’s mind.
“Zira would not have forgiven us if we did,” Isaiah said to him. “She’ll deny it but I know there’s something between them.”
“You know,” Percy said, “I do confess there might be some residual feelings for Zira, but I meant what I said before. I admire her. The love she has for her family, for you, and for Arias is truly inspiring. Reminded me of what I had before everything went to shit. I can assure you, Alpha Isaiah, I am no homewrecker. I’ve learned from my past what happens to those who play with love. I wouldn't do that to Zira.”
Isaiah searched his eyes for any falsehoods. He was satisfied when he didn’t find any and simply nodded before catching up with the group.
It was a breeze walking by the guards in Celeste’s presence. Councilman Faulkner even gave them a dignified look with his nose in the air as he strolled by. Isaiah could feel his anxiousness coming back. A shiver went through his body, and he felt pressure on the side of his neck. Then a whisper of his name passed his ears.
"Isaiah." That was...
"Nina," Devon said in the back of his mind. "We're coming."
As soon as Celeste led them through the foyer, Isaiah could feel his feet moving him toward Zira.
*****
Blaze and Zira stood in front of the door leading to the portal when he turned to her.
“Why did you get yourself involved this far, Zira,” he asked, tracing a finger down the side of her face.
He rarely calls her by her name. “Blaze…”
“I know the path you’re taking. I know what she is going to try to do. This…Clary.”
“Then help me stop her. Niamh-”
“It's not my place, dii Foheirahen,” Blaze interrupted. He sighed, running his hands along her arms. “I wish I could, but even back then, we stood no chance. The moment you touched that crystal you put everything in motion.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Why did you think I tried to dissuade you the first time? Niamh knew this would happen and made me promise that I will provide the way, but it’s up to you if you take it.”
Zira laughed haughtily. Of course, Zira thought to herself. It’s never easy. “Well, that sounds like a stupid promise.”
Blaze smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “I was young and stupid, but that promise was made to protect someone I cared about at the time, and I would do it again.”
Blaze turned to open the door when Zira grabbed his arm. “Then do something for me. I don’t care where this leads me. I’ve made up my mind on the path ahead, but my brother and my son, I need to protect them.”
With a genuine smile and a slight nod, Blaze led Zira into the room. Standing next to two black obelisks were Clary, Malachi, and Ezekiel. Arias was playing with Mister Giggles while Zed and Drake stood behind him. He looked up the moment Zira and Blaze walked in and ran towards them.
“Mommie!”
Zira picked him up in a full embrace. After all they’d been through, she was glad he was in high spirits. After a while, Arias wiggled in her tight embrace until she put him down. He points to Blaze.
“Pretty dragon,” he said with a smile.
Zira gave Blaze a look. “How does he know you're a dragon?”
Blaze smiled. “He caught Rahziel grooming and decided it was the best time to ask for a ride.”
“He jumped on Rahziel’s paw and yelled at him to fly,” Zed laughed.
“And what were you doing,” Zira almost snapped at Zed, who immediately stopped smiling and looked down at his feet.
“Don’t worry, dii Foheirahen. Your son was in no danger. Rahziel enjoyed the young man’s presence,” Blaze laughed. “It was amusing. Now I think he likes us.” Blaze smiled at Arias, who smiled back. “Hmm, ‘Stepdad’ would fit me well, dontcha think?”
Zira only glared at Blaze but couldn’t help the smile on her face. It’s been a while since Arias looked this way. His smiling face almost made her forget the situation they were in.
“As much as I would love to sit here and watch the ‘Let’s be a family’ skit, we have business elsewhere. So, let’s get on with it,” Clary said, crossing her arms. “How do we open this thing?”
Blaze touched it and symbols started to glow from the bottom to the top. Not long after, the portal came alive, revealing the cave.
“You could’ve portaled us this close last time,” Zira said to Blaze.
“Yes, if you hadn't drugged me and forced me to open the portal,” Blaze simply said, walking through. “I needed time to sober up. Come, it’s a drain keeping it open.”
Clary ushered them in one by one. Before Zed walked through, he stopped, and Zira could see his eyes were glazed off. A moment later, Zed looked at her and mouthed ‘Mary is here’ before Malachi pushed him through.
“Isaiah,” Nina whispered in Zira’s mind. She felt herself walking back through the portal until Clary stopped her.
“Daddy!”
Arias ran through the portal as Zira tried to grab him, but her feet were stuck in place. Roots came up from the ground and wrapped around her ankles. She looked around and saw Ezekiel using his power. Drake grabbed Zed, who used his feet to kick Malachi through the portal. The motion pushed Zed and Drake back until Drake’s back hit a tree, letting him go.
Zed moved towards Zira as Clary yelled at Blaze to close the portal. Please work, Zira thought as she flicked her hand and successfully threw Ezekiel back a few feet before pulling her feet free of the vines and running for the portal. Drake created a gust of wind to keep everyone back from the portal as Zira tried to fight through it.
“Zira!”
She turned to see Percy pushing through the wind, reaching out for her. She knew it was useless, but she reached out anyway. They were only inches away before a spark of electricity snapped between them. The power of it blew them both away from each other, causing Zira to hit a tree and Percy to fly into Isaiah. The portal closed as Zed ran over to Zira. Before he got to her, Clary used her power to shock him.
“Stop,” Zira screamed at the same time Ezekiel pulled Clary away, making Zed fall to the ground.
“This is going too far,” Ezekiel said. Without pause, Clary slapped him across the face before gripping his chin to make him look at her.
“I will not let anyone else get in the way. You’re either with me or against me.”
She stared Ezekiel down until he willingly nodded. Clary walked over to Zira, who growled the closer she got.
"I’m warning you, Zira. Next time, I won’t stop. Let’s go. We don't have much time now."