She was simply amazing. He’d never felt as alive as he did with Eliana. The things she went through were different than his life, but in the end the only thing that really mattered is how much they connected with their own personal thoughts. They had so many things in common that it mixed with their differences creating a good balance. They took the rest of the night and talked.
In the early morning the pounding on the door started. Ciyrs sighed and climbed out of his bed. He didn’t want to leave her, but she was sleeping.
He opened the door to see the king at the door. “They need you son.”
“Is she all right?”
The king shook his head. “She isn’t awake. Gyyx can’t bring himself to do what your mate suggested. It’s time to burn that building to the ground. All of us are going. You and Eliana too. It’s time.”
“Who is going to watch the woman?”
“Gyyx won’t leave her.”
“I should have figured. Okay let me wake her. I know she wants that building to be gone. She dreamed of it, and is terrified of it.”
“Good, so meet us there. Pyra and Eden are there scoping it out. Theia is there and so are nearly all the warriors.”
“Okay we’ll be there soon.”
The king nodded and left. Ciyrs wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to have everyone there. Gyyx would want him there. He would probably want Eliana there too. He walked back in the room and smiled at his mate. Her eyes were on him.
“What’s going on?”
“We’re burning the building to the ground. Everyone is going except for Gyyx.”
She sat up and smiled. “I want to go.”
“I know. I told the king we would be there shortly. Are you sure you’re ready to be so close to the place you were imprisoned?”
“Yes, I want to know for sure the building is gone.”
He understood. He felt the same. “Okay well move your ass then. The others are waiting for us. I want to check in on Gyyx first too.”
She climbed out of bed and went straight to her bags.
* * * *
After checking on Gyyx and his mate and seeing no change he told him he had to try it. His touch had to be the key. He let him know everyone was going to be at the Wasteland so he had the whole compound to himself. It was the perfect time to bring his mate back to life.
Gyyx nodded and smiled. “Make sure it burns good brother.”
“Will do.”
Eliana had hugged him and kissed his cheek. She whispered something he didn’t hear, but whatever it was seemed to light up his brother’s eyes. He held back his jealously knowing she was his. It was still hard to see her make another man smile. Even if said man could really use the happiness.
He tugged her away and they locked the doors securing the two inside of the infirmary which was the safest place on the compound.
By the time they got to the Wasteland the others were all separated. He found Eden and Pyra and held Eliana close.
“So here’s how it’s going to work. We’re going to burn this mother fucker to the ground. If those bastards attack, we are going to fight. Ciyrs, you need to get the women out of here and back to the infirmary with Gyyx—”
Eliana spoke up. “No he needs to fight. I know what he can do. His new gift is what saved me. I somehow tapped into it. It burnt the Klimnu to a crisp. I think Eden and the queen are more than capable of taking care of themselves. We can get back ourselves.”
“Hell no woman. Fine if Ciyrs needs to stay to kick so Klimnu ass than Ero can take you all back.”
Ero stepped up and nodded. Though Ciyrs could see he wasn’t happy about it. “Let me be back up just in case.”
“Fine Ero and Ullie will take the women to safety if they attack. Otherwise we get to watch the horror of our history turn to ash. No one will ever be locked inside of that building ever again.”
Pyra was a great leader. He knew just what to say to pump everyone up. Ciyrs was too, but he was worried. He’d never fought with the warriors before. He always did damage control, and healing afterwards.
Eliana kissed him. “You’ve got this.”
“Did you really use my new power to kill?”
She nodded. “It was kill or be killed. Sometimes you have no choice.” The she grabbed his face. “Use it wisely.”
“I’m afraid that it will darken my soul.”
“Is my soul dark?”
“No of course not baby.”
“Then yours won’t be either. It’s a gift, not a curse. You were given another way to help protect your people—to protect me.”
When she put it like that he couldn’t begrudge his new power. It just meant he needed to practice with it. Just as he had with the healing, only this time he needed the enemies. No one was sure that they would even attack. His heart raced with adrenaline, and he wondered if this was how the warriors felt on a daily basis. It would explain their temper and aggression.
The first group of warriors eased their way from out of the woods and made their way to the building. Everyone else watched in silence as fire balls were thrown at the building.
No one moved. Hell he wasn’t even sure if he breathed. Smoke filled the air as the flames erupted catching fire from all the dust and debris. The cloud of smoke filled the air and he watched in awe as glass from the barred windows shattered into the air exploding with a loud crack. It was then he tensed. The first Klimnu appeared.
Its red eyes narrowed on the group. It was time. He kissed Eliana and said. “I love you, now go get your ass with the others. I need you to be safe.”
She was frozen as her eyes stayed glued to the monster going towards Pyra. He wasn’t sure why, but she seemed to have formed a special relationship with him. Maybe it was because they both had to deal with his and Eden’s bond.
“Baby, go. Ero and Ullie will take you to safety.”
He shook her and she looked at him licking her lips. “I—I don’t know if I can leave you.”
“It’s all good, sweetheart. I have something they don’t but I won’t be able to focus until I know you’re safe. So please for my sanity, go.”
It was then a strong hand wrapped around her arm yanking her away. She looked over her shoulder to see the fire spreading, but the Klimnu were coming in droves. All the warriors were fighting. He gave her one last look before joining the fray of the fight. He’d never felt so exhilarated before. The women were gone, and now he could focus.
A Klimnu snuck up on him. It cackled and scraped its claws down his cheek. “Why would they let you stay around? You’re nothing but the useless healer.” it said with a voice full of hatred.
He glared and didn’t even bother wiping the blood from his face. “You just made your last mistake underestimating me.”
His hand lit up and the heat surrounded him. His hand burned with a flame that begged to come free. In a movement too fast for the Klimnu, Ciyrs snapped. He wrapped his hand around its bony neck and incinerated him. The scent of burning flesh filled the air and then he disappeared into a pile of ash. “Holy Fuck,” he said and ran towards the king. There were three on him and Ciyrs heard Eliana’s conversation with Pyra. They wanted him. But he wouldn’t let them have his king.
He charged the one who jumped on Criea’s back. The instant his hand touched the Klimnu the beast erupted into flames and ran around shrieking in pain until he disappeared into a pile. Seemed Ciyrs was pretty fucking powerful. The heat from his hand traveled down his body until it felt like he was surrounded by a wall of flames. Only the flames weren’t there. He felt them bubbling beneath the surface.