She set a paler stone on his upper chest. It lit up, and all the crystals connected, forming a shroud of light over Týr. Luceré finally lowered to the armchair. “The death spell used was meant to kill powerful immortals such as yourself,” she told Michael. “It’s a miracle he still lingers.”
“I sensed the spell was of demon origin,” he agreed, his jaw hard, expression forbidding. “It’s why I wanted you. The angel who aided us only slowed the bleeding.”
“Will he be okay?” Kira asked her mother.
Luceré’s expression softened. “As long as I continue weakening the spell, he should be. But I need to…I need sustenance.”
“Let me get you something to eat.” Kira spun for the door.
“Hedori brought food.” Michael nodded to the living room and the laden tray on the coffee table.
“Thank you.” Kira hurried over, plated some sandwiches and poured a cup of lavender tea. She headed back and handed Luceré the beverage then set the plate on the nightstand next to the basket.
“I’ll be back.” Michael gave a slight incline of his head before he walked out. It could have been a nod, but Kira had a feeling it was more of a bow.
Frowning, she went back to her spot on the opposite side of the bed. Everyone seemed to revere her mother. Was she truly older than Michael? If so, that would make her quite powerful. It was the only thing that made sense.
Kira’s gaze dipped to Týr, and she forgot her questions. The tightness in her chest amped up again, and she reached for his hand, wrapping his cool fingers in hers. He was always so warm, and now this. Knowing how close he’d come to death, pain lodged in her like a boulder.
You have to wake up, my love. Please, you have to.
“I loved once, too. Like you. Deeply. Except I could never be with the male I wanted,” Luceré said softly, pulling Kira from her anguished thoughts.
“What do you mean?”
“You ran off the other day before I could explain things.”
Her fingers tightened on Týr’s. “Then tell me now.”
Luceré gave a slight nod. “When I was tasked to watch over this world, I remained in my original state of energy for eons. Then, just over two and a half decades ago, I finally took human shape, and my path crossed with Lila’s. I wasn’t used to a corporeal body, and she thought I was ill when I stumbled into her. She took pity on a lostforeignerwith no luggage or money, and I didn’t correct the misassumption because I couldn’t reveal who I was.” Luceré held the teacup in both hands and blew at the steaming beverage. “Anyway, the Oracle let me stay with her. Soon after, in my desire to see more of this world in my new form, I ended up in New Orleans and met your father in a rather unorthodox way…” A soft smile curved her mother’s mouth as she spoke about her near accident, exactly what Wrath had told Kira.
“I didn’t know who he was then since he’d tamped down his powers, and I had blocked mine, too. Despite the instant attraction, I refused to act on it. But, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. We fell in love…”
As if lost to her memories, Luceré sipped the tea, her gaze above the brim of the cup wandering off into the distance. Seconds ticked by before she spoke again. “He took me to Stygia, and there, he explained what he was. Even though I knew it would be risky for us to be together because of whoIam, it didn’t matter to me. I loved him irrevocably. Then I discovered I was pregnant. To keep us safe, he sent me back to Earth to have you so no one would learn of your existence…”
Luceré drank more of her tea. “Being pregnant, I missed the merging. It’s something we Ancients do every once in a while to strengthen our energy. And I didn’t want my brethren to know the truth. They are merciless when rules are broken. The punishment is a fate worse than the most horrific torture.”
“What do you mean torture?” Kira demanded. God, she hated that word.
Her mother put the cup on the nightstand and rubbed her face, looking torn, as if she didn’t want to say anything.
“You have to tell me. I’m a part of you. Even my power appears like yours with all those healing white strands. Except mine are red, and…lethal.” Kira shook her head in disbelief at the truth. “If these Ancients are dangerous, I have a right to know.”
Luceré slowly nodded. “You are correct. I can’t continue shielding you. If the prime Ancient finds out the truth, he’ll trap me forever in my invisible form in whichever realm I’m sent to as punishment.” Luceré’s pained gaze found Kira. “And they will makeyoupay for my sin of breaking their only decree; never bear a young. It’s what they did to my younger sibling. I still hear her cries, and her children continue to pay to this day.”
Luceré’s dark eyes misted, and her throat worked. “We, who were created to be light, to bring hope to realms, we really are the worst. I refused to let anything like that happen to you. I told Lila the truth about myself, about everything, and my desperation to protect you was not only from your father’s enemies but also from the Ancients themselves…” She explained about using Gran’s blood, which she’d infused with a spell in her womb. “It made you more human than I expected, something for which I was eternally grateful.”
She had a little of Gran in her? The ache inside her eased.
Luceré shifted forward and stroked a fading crystal on the bed. It glowed brighter. “Lila was ecstatic to be a grandmother to you. After you were born, I entrusted you to her care and went back to Stygia. I had to tell Wrath the truth about myself. However, before I could speak to him, I was abducted and ended up dying—at least my human body did.”
She leaned back in her seat, her focus on her clasped hands as she continued. “So, I came back here in my energy form and bumped into our prime leader, who demanded I attend the merging or he’d have me relocated. I knew then that I couldn’t hold onto you any longer. For your own safety, I had to leave you…” Luceré lifted her head, her starless eyes dark and heavy with sorrow. “I remained in my molecular form, attended the merging, did my work, and occasionally dared to see you. Then, Lila passed away, and I missed you so much.”
Kira frowned, a memory from when she was a child stirring…one of a woman with soft, dark eyes who’d always made her feel happy. She shifted on her feet, her mind whirling. “I remember,” she whispered. “It’s vague, but I recall you.”
“I’m glad.” Luceré rose and joined her. Carefully, she lifted the slashed sleeve of Kira’s jacket and examined the cut on her upper arm.
With her entire focus on Týr, she’d forgotten about her own wound. Now, the cut kicked back in vengeance, as did the ache in her ribs. She grimaced. “It’s okay, it stopped bleeding.”
