*Zara*
It truly felt as if I was going to die. My loved ones continued to tornt , calling a failure. I felt heavier and heavier with each hateful word, feeling as if I was going to be crushed beneath the weight of it all. It was getting more difficult to breathe.
I just wanted it to end.
Sothing thin and shiny fell in front of my eyes. I lifted my head, my eyes following the golden tendril that shimred despite the darkness engulfing . The dazzling threads brightened, piercing through the smothering gloom.
I blinding light erupted, chasing the endless nightti away, the shadows retreating along with the cowardly demons.
I rose to my feet suddenly feeling as if I was floating as I looked around the sea of celestial light.
“Zara.”
I recognized the deep, warm voice instantly. A smile spread across my face as I whirled around.
Noah stood before , shining radiantly in our golden wonderland. His eyes glowed. He reached his hand out toward , beckoning my cleansed spirit back ho.
I searched my psyche and spirit, feeling nothing but a golden warmth spreading through my body.
I was truly free, not even an ounce of darkness left.
I took Noah’s outstretched hand, marveling at the overwhelming elation that occurred just from his fingers wrapping around mine. It beca extrely clear at that mont that our mate bond had been restored, shining brighter than ever before.
I was falling again, but this ti, Noah’s hands were grasping mine. We stared into each other’s eyes as the world seed to lt around us. A warm breeze swirled around my cheeks, kissing my skin as the golden mate bond tendrils continued to surround us, bathing us in otherworldly light.
I gasped as the light disappeared, and we were again surrounded by trees and the night sky. Noah and I stared at each other wide-eyed, his arms wound around .
We were back in Embervale, although I supposed that our bodies never left.
Noah and I just continued to look at one another. Noah’s eyes were glassy as he gazed down at , no doubt realizing that I was officially back to normal.
“Zara,” he breathed, his hand reaching up to caress my cheek, brushing away the little droplet that had unknowingly slid from my eye. I was just about to speak when his head whipped up to stare in horror at sothing above my head. “Get down!”
I yelped as he wrapped his arms around and brought to the ground, shielding with his body. I was staring up at the sky, my eyes rounding in shock at the dark mass floating above us. It had the vague shape of a person, the edges glowing a sinister black.
Mathias stepped near our heads, raising what looked like an urn above his head, and began to chant urgently in an alien tongue. A harsh wind whipped around us as the shadow screeched and got sucked into the vase-like container.
Silence reigned for a brief mont. Noah’s arms were rigid around . After another second, he lifted his head and gazed down at . “Are you alright?” he asked breathlessly.
I nodded wordlessly, my shoulders heaving as I breathed heavily.
Noah helped to my feet just as our entire party rushed toward .
“Zara, how do you feel?” Mathias asked urgently, stepping between Noah and and gazing into my eyes. “Is the darkness completely gone?”
I didn’t need to think about that answer. I nodded. “Yes, the darkness has been lifted from my soul,” I spoke loudly and clearly so that everyone would hear. I didn’t want them to be afraid of anymore.
I wanted them to know that the tragedy had passed.
The cheers that erupted around us were welcoming.
I bead at my celestial family, thanking them all for helping through that dark ti. After hugging several priestesses, I turned to face my mate.
Before I could say anything, Noah leaned down and captured my lips with his.
***
I had been healed, but having Malphas’ darkness extracted from took a lot out of . I found myself fatigued and barely able to stand for the next couple of days. Noah stayed by my side while I recovered from the whole ordeal. He cuddled close, murmuring his undying love for as I drifted in and out of consciousness.
I dread blissfully of him and only him, not a single nightmare.
Thankfully, I regained my strength after just a few days. As soon as word got out that I was feeling better, a grand feast was planned for that very night. Noah and I laughed at the enthusiasm of the tribespeople, but we were grateful and eager for the celebration as well.
The feast was held outdoors under the light of the moon. Strings of soft yellow lights hung around the cluster of long tables, the forest a beautiful backdrop behind us as we dined, told stories, and laughed.
I looked around at the faces of my loved ones, feeling an intense gratitude as the sound of joyful chatter floated through the space. I was again pronounced a hero and a beloved leader among them. It was relieving to see not a single ounce of fear as they looked at with admiration and pride.
As the party ca to a close, I was hugged by multiple Celestial Valley mbers.
“Thank you for bringing light to our valley,” Alethea said, hugging warmly. “Your mother would be so proud of you. You’ve shown great courage in the face of darkness.”
“Thank you,” I said, tears pricking my eyes as deep emotions struck.
Mathias hugged as well. “Know that no matter where you are, the light of the valley is yours and will guide you through any trial you face.”
“You’ve taught so much already in the short ti I’ve been here,” I said to him. “I will treasure your teachings for the rest of my days.”
After greeting a few other mbers, Noah grabbed my hand, tugging , to my surprise, in the opposite direction of our little house.
“Co with ,” he said in a tone that I couldn’t decipher due to all the excitent.
I blinked up at him. “But Briella–” I started to protest, looking for my daughter, who we had put in Niva’s care for the evening.
“She’s fine,” Noah assured , continuing to pull along behind him in the direction of the woods. “Niva is going to take her ho and tuck her in for us. I want to show you sothing.”
Intrigued by the mysterious tone his voice took, I followed him away from the quickly dispersing party and through the trees on the outskirts of the valley.
We walked in companionable silence, enjoying the serene surroundings. Celestial Valley truly was a peaceful place amid a strange, otherworldly realm. While it was the area most similar to ours with its rich blue skies and mild creatures, it still had a touch of differences, such as the polka-dotted flora, that made it eerily beautiful. Even the way the wind blew through the trees had a different sound, more whimsical sohow.
My jaw fell as we entered a little clearing. It was like sothing out of an old fantasy storybook with a little creek and a backdrop of lush plants with tiny, budding pink flowers that swayed in the gentle breeze. Cute little bugs hovered in the bushes surrounding the clearing, their bioluminescent bodies casting a magical glow on the space.
“It’s beautiful,” I said, wishing my vocabulary was a little more extensive so I could describe just how perfectly picturesque the space was.
“I found it while out for a walk on one of the nights you were recovering,” Noah explained, seeming pleased that I liked it. “It made think of you. I was worried about you, but this space imdiately filled with a calm and warmth comparable to the one I experience when I am with you.”
“Noah,” I breathed his na, touched by his words. A different kind of heat pulsed through, and I realized that I wanted him. No, I needed him...
Now.
Noah obviously saw the desperation in my expression, and his eyes imdiately darkened as longing shone in his deep blue eyes.
He grasped my chin, tilting it up so he could press his mouth firmly over mine.
I was already moaning. It had been far too long since we had been together this way. Every fiber of my being sizzled with anticipation as we slowly undressed each other, our lips never parting as we did so.
I shivered as the cool night air kissed my bare skin. Noah was quivering too as we pressed our bodies together.
A desperate sound flew from Noah’s throat as he gripped my hips hard and lowered down onto the soft grass so that I was on my back. I arched my back when his mouth found the skin of my neck. I felt my pulse race beneath his hot kisses.
“Zara,” he murmured as if he was saying the na of a beloved deity. I shuddered at the unbridled desire there.
Noah lifted my hips, bringing the lower half of my body off of the ground, and lined up his thick length to my eager passage. I was basically panting with need and moaned loudly as he eased into in one fluid motion that had curling my toes.
“Goddess, I love you so much,” he nearly growled as he began to steadily pump into .
I was seeing stars as soon as he slid inside of . With each thrust, he pulled my hips up toward him, bringing him deeper inside each ti.
I gasped and writhed around, moaning his na. At that mont, we were truly one. There was sothing breathtakingly beautiful about the way we were completely naked and sprawled out on the grass with light bugs creating our own galaxy as our bodies connected.
I gazed up at Noah as he rode , his strong arms pulling against him over and over, the muscles in his chest flexing with each thrust. His eyes were dark and hooded as they bore into mine, seeming to peer straight into my soul. He moved with a sureness that dominated and commanded completely.
“Noah,” I gasped as I felt the pressure building exponentially.
I could tell that the way I said his na drove him crazy in the best way. His eyes were suddenly wild with need. “Say my na again,” he ordered with a low rumble in his chest.
I obeyed imdiately. “Noah.” It was so much more than his na. It was everything at that mont, every need and every desire I had all wrapped up in two simple syllables.
I squealed as I ca violently around my mate, gripping his arms tightly in my hands as I bucked my hips to et his as I rode the intense orgasm out.
Noah leaned down to kiss , swallowing my cries of ecstasy as if he wanted to drink them in and consu them completely.
Noah wasn’t far behind. He drove into faster than ever, gripping the backs of my thighs this ti so he could plunge all the way inside over and over.
“Zara,” he breathed as he stilled as deeply inside of as he was able. I was filled with his warm essence. I shuddered as he did so, loving the feel of him claiming in this way.
“I love you,” Noah murmured, still inside as he pushed himself up on his forearms and gazed into my eyes. “You are everything to , Zara.”
“I love you too,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.
He kissed , his lips soft and gentle against mine before he slid out of and rolled over onto his side. He gave a fond look before wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling so that the front of my body was flush against his.
Noah’s deep voice reached my ears as he started to say sothing else, but my eyes had already slowly shut, a content smile on my lips as I drifted off.
When I woke up, the early morning sunlight was streaming in through our little window. Noah’s arms were wrapped around protectively.
“Good morning,” Noah said, his voice thick with sleep.
“Good morning,” I said, my cheeks heating up at the mory of the night before.
He kissed . It was at that mont I knew where my ho was. Ho was Noah’s strong arms cradling close. It was his deep blue eyes that held so much love for . It was against his strong chest and in his warm, large heart.
I looked him straight in the eye, my voice steady and filled with conviction. “I’m ready to go ho, Noah.” At his startled expression, I clarified. “To our ho. I’m ready to beco the Luna of Drogomor.”
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