CHAPTER 66

66. Knowing the Answer

LEO.

The office was tense and even Alejandro was dead serious, any sarcasm was gone as he stood there with arms crossed, watching me coldly. That was his concentrating expression.

Azura was sitting on the armrest of the chair I was in, and Kiara told me to remove my shirt i pulled it off and Azura took it from me, holding it to her chest. I could hear her heart beating violently, although she was trying not to let it get to her.

Kiara took a deep breath, a frown of concentration crossing her face as she knelt in front of me. Her eyes blazed purple, and for a split second, I was reminded of the flicker I had seen in Azura‘s eyes the other night. 1

Usually, when your wolf comes to the front, if you watch carefully, or in my case, record it and slow down the speed just to observe it, you will see the wolf‘s eye colour bleed into yours. What just happened with Kiara‘s was like a flame spreading from the bottom of the iris.

I was brought out of my thoughts when Kiara placed her hands on my shoulders. Her frown deepened as she ran her hands down my chest, my flanks, and parts of my stomach as she tried to assess the extent of the damage.

I heard her heart skip a beat, I kept my face a mask of indifference as I knew what was coming.. She would try and fail, but you know what is going to be fucking hardest? When I‘m going to have to act like it‘s fine and watch the emotion in their eyes... A coolness began spreading from her hands, and I felt it wash through me, an edge of the pain seemed to lift a little, but I knew she wasn‘t succeeding...

She didn‘t stop, her purple aura wrapping around us both to the extent that Azura was being pushed away, but she refused to let go of me, her arm firmly around my sh ters.

Kiara bit her lip, her forehead now covered with a layer of sweat as she poured everything she had into me.

“What‘s happening?” Alejandro asked, his voice dark and cold as he looked between us.

Kiara wasn‘t able to reply as she looked into my eyes. A trickle of blood ran from her nose, and her eyes were glittering with tears as I felt another strong surge of intense power rush through me.

But we both knew it was futile.

The blood wasn‘t stopping and even Azura was beginning to worry, Kiara‘s entire body was tense, her brows furrowed as she gave it her all.

She was going to fucking pass out at this rate.

“Stop!” I commanded sharply, taking hold of her arms and moving her back.

She collapsed to the floor and Alejandro was by her side in a flash, scooping her up into his arms.

Azura‘s heart was pounding, and when Kiara looked at me, I knew what her next words were

going to be. “I’m sorry, I‘m unable to heal you.” She whispered, her gaze going to Alejandro, who looked shocked.

There it was – the concern, worry, and sadness as he looked at me, but I knew as long as I didn‘t look at Azura l‘ll be ok...

Her arms tightened around my neck, and trickles of her thoughts and emotions seeped into my mind

Her worry and pain.

Her fear of losing me, of our children losing me. Her terror of nothing being able to heal me. I could feel her body shaking a little, and despite the fact that it was going to fucking break me, I pulled her into my lap, wrapping my arms around her.

The moment our eyes met, I realised she was fighting herself not to cry and it fucking hurt. This was the pain I wanted to keep her from... I couldn‘t give her the life she wanted... “I was expecting that answer anyway,” I said to Kiara and Alejandro, who were obviously conversing through the link from the looks on their faces.

Azura shifted, straddling me, and locked her arms around my neck tightly. I closed my eyes, inhaling her scent deeply as I caressed her back. “It ain‘t fucking over until we have drained every fucking avenue, how long do you have?” Alejandro growled. I leaned back slightly, my hands on Azura‘s ass, making sure my face was still set in the same ” I don‘t give a fuck” expression. “A month or two max, if that.” I replied coldly.

“And you didn‘t think to seek out help earlier?” Alejandro frowned. “Does Marcel know?” My own irritation rose, I knew he was fucking worried, but I didn‘t need to explain shit to him. “I never fucking realised it was that serious until it was far too fucking late, and it wasn‘t like I was going to ask the very same people who I didn‘t want to fucking face.” I growled, unable to keep my anger at bay.

“We‘re family Leo and.”

“And what? I fucking told you I didn‘t think it was fucking serious!” I growled, my aura raging around me.

“You shouldn‘t have taken the fucking chance, you had a son, and what about your father?” Alejandro shot back, his aura filling the air. I placed Azura down and stood up, glaring at the man who stood

opposite me. Our alpha auras raged around us, so intense you could feel it. Blazing red eyes met magnetic blue.

“I‘m not a fucking god that I can see the future. Now end this shit, it‘s fucking done, don‘t make me regret even allowing Kiara to try.” I snarled, my eyes flashing. “This isn‘t over, Al – relax, i know you‘re upset.” Kiara whispered, cupping his face and forcing him to look at her.

“Fucking hell.” I muttered, taking out a packet of cigarettes and taking one between my lips. “Still, he tried to deal with that shit alone.” Alejandro growled, “He may not care for us but I fucking care.” “I know, baby.”

Dickhead.

“You don‘t fucking know me so don‘t think you know shit.” I growled back. “Stop it. Both of you.” Azura snapped, standing up and when she placed her hand on my shoulder as she looked between us it was clear she was angry as much as she was upset. “There‘s no point in ifs and buts, it‘s happened, and I wasn‘t able to heal him. We need to find a solution.” Kiara said quietly.

“Yeah, and he‘s trying ok, despite everything he‘s been through, he‘s trying to be a better person, Alejandro! Try to see that. I get that you are upset too, but this is hard for him too.” Azura added, her eyes flashing with pain and frustration.

Alejandro‘s eyes met hers. A frown on his face.

“Then he better fucking try harder to live.” He growled, his eyes flashing once more, before he turned and stormed out of the room.

Kiara looked at me and Azura apologetically. “He‘s just hurt, I told him only a little earlier... I hoped I could fix it – he feels he failed you entirely.” She whispered, reaching over as she placed a hand on both our ch before she looked down. “We will find a way, there‘s Delsanra, Raihana, and maybe Dante

might have the answer... We are going to figure this out... Excuse me.” “Thanks for trying.” I said when she turned to leave.

I didn‘t even look at her, simply smoking my cigarette. She sighed softly, and I saw her nod sadly before she left.

“We will find a way.” Azura murmured, and I looked down at her, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.

“Yeah.” I murmured while kissing her forehead softly. She leaned into me, and just then there was a light knock on the half–open door.

“Mind if I come in?” Dante asked, entering anyway.

Azura turned to him, her heart racing, and I knew she was about to ask him for help.

“Give us a minute Beautiful? I asked quietly. It was obvious Dante wanted to talk about something, and I really didn‘t want her to hear any more bad news today.

“Why can‘t I be here?” She asked.

I kissed her lips slowly, and she sighed in frustration.

“One minute.” She said frowning.

“Make it five.” I replied, smirking slightly.

She nodded slowly and reluctantly let go of me, our eyes met, and I realised she only agreed because she was about to break...

“Ok.” She said, gripping my face as she pulled me down, kissing me hard.

I kissed her back, letting the sparks roll through me.

I will try... for her, for our kids and maybe for the other bastards who throw a hissy fit when shit doesn‘t go their way. 5

She pulled away before turning and leaving the room. Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“What do you fucking want?” I asked Dante, smoking my cigarette.

He smiled slightly, taking a seat in his dad‘s chair and crossing his ankles on the desk.

“I have a question... Years ago, I swore an oath on Azura that I will grant you a favour whenever you needed it. Why didn‘t you ever call? I owed you; it would have just been a favour owed, nothing more.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Don‘t you usually fucking know everything? You should know the answer to your question.” I replied, I‘m fucking surprised I never looked deeper into why he had chosen Azura to swear

on.

The fucker was smart, I‘d give him that. He smiled faintly. “I think people forget I don‘t know everything, I‘m a demi–god, not a god, and even then, even gods are not all–knowing or all–powerful... Even they! ? weaknesses.” He replied

“Hm.”

“So, tell me why you didn‘t call on that favour?”

Great, he‘s still stuck on that.

“Why would I call on a favour that involved saving someone‘s life?” I muttered, turning my back on him.

A moment‘s silence followed as I walked over to the window and opened it, leaning against the frame as I smoked.

“Rayhan‘s mother, who you hated at the time.”

“Still hate.” I growled.

“Sure. But answer the question.” “I have nothing against her, and besides... no one deserves to lose their parents... unless, of course, the parents are fucking twats.” 4 He chuckled, and I heard him get up

“You‘re really a good person, Leo. If only you knew...” He leaned against the other side of the window and looked up at the moon.

I wondered what he meant, but even if I asked, he wouldn‘t tell me.

“I should have fucking known something was up when you took an oath on her, back then, it was fucking weird since you two argued and fought a lot.” I remarked. “Well, I had to play it smart since I didn‘t know what you might ask for and I knew you‘d never be able to take a wrong oath on her.” “You were a smart little shit.”

He smirked.

“But if we‘re talking smarter, it‘s you. I just know things; you figure them out.” He replied as Azura entered the office again, I glanced at the time.

She sure didn‘t waste time; she had left exactly five minutes ago, and when she came in front of me I could see her eyes were red.

She had been crying...

I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her and kissing her neck softly. She leaned into me, her heart pounding under my touch. “Well, first of all, Delsanra, Raihana, or even I can‘t heal you, but...”

Azura was about to react when I tightened my arms around her.

‘Relax Sexy Mama.‘ I murmured through the link seeing Dante‘s face turned towards the moon.

“But what?” I asked.

He looked at us before turning back to the night sky. “It‘s just a little clue but I‘m sure you‘ll figure it out...” Clue? He sighed softly before he continued. “When the full moon is at its peak, only in those moments can the Heart of Fire heal all. Find it and you will live.” 16

His words echoed in my mind as I tried to make sense of it.

“Heart of fire?” Azura asked, now turning in my arms to look at him, with hope ignited in her eyes.

“Leave the thinking to Leo.” Dante teased her, making her try to kick him, but he was far enough away that she failed. 3 “The only Heart of Fire I‘ve come across is...” 3||

Suddenly I think I may have the answer. I don‘t know how, or what will make it happen, but... I think I‘m right.

I looked up at him sharply, my hand going to my neck, when Azura‘s gaze snapped to it, realisation dawning on her. “Wait his mark?” She asked, confused. “Like I said, my Temperamental Miracle, leave the thinking to Leo.”

“Ass... So somehow your mark will help?” She pulled away, turning, and looking at me sharply.

INO said, slowly watching Dante, and when the corner of his lips curled upwards... I knew I was right.

I looked into the bright blue eyes of the woman I had come to love without realising. “The Heart of Fire itself...”

“What is that?” She frowned, but my attention was back on Dante and when his smile grew, I knew I had hit the nail on the fucking head. 2

“You. You‘re the Heart of Fire.” I murmured, my head spinning as I stared at her. 1

I may have found one answer... but there were a thousand more that took its place.

She looked confused and doubtful, turning to Dante for confirmation. He simply tilted his head and said one word that confirmed it all. 2

“Bingo.”