I press a kiss to the baby’s soft forehead, my voice breaking as I whisper, “You’ll meet your father soon, my little one. I know you will.”
The baby stirs in my arms, a soft coo escaping her lips. It’s a sound so pure, so otherworldly, that it sends a jolt through me, sharp and electrifying. My breath catches as warmth floods my chest, spreading like a fire I can’t contain.
Sabrina steps closer to the bed, her face streaked with tears, her hands trembling as she reaches for mine. “Thank the Goddess,” she whispers, her voice cracking. “Kael didn’t…he didn’t kill her too.” Her fingers tighten around mine, desperate and shaking. “I hope Lucian wins,” she says, her words barely audible. “He has to.”
The baby coos again, the sound stronger this time, filling the room with a strange, almost magical resonance. Energy courses through me, impossible to ignore, propelling me to my feet with the baby held tightly against my chest. My body moves on instinct, driven by a force I don’t understand but can’t deny.
“Talia, where are you going? You need to rest…” Sabrina’s voice trembles, but I barely hear her. My pulse thrums with newfound strength, my senses sharpening. The distant howls no longer sound like threats but like a call — a call to action, to something greater than myself.
The baby coos softly in my arms, her warmth steadying me as my feet move, unbidden, through the halls of the Governor’s Mansion. The distant sounds of battle fade into the background, muffled and insignificant compared to the pull driving me forward. My heart pounds with every step, a rhythm that matches the unexplainable force urging me on.
Kael’s office looms before me, the heavy door creaking as I push it open. The air inside feels different — charged, alive, as though the room itself is holding its breath. My gaze locks onto the massive tapestry hanging against the far wall, and without hesitation, I stride toward it. My fingers grasp the thick fabric and pull it aside, revealing the hidden door beneath.
The door opens easily under my hand, revealing a narrow staircase spiraling downward into darkness. The baby stirs, her tiny hand curling against my chest as I descend, the faint flicker of blue light illuminating the path ahead. With each step, the glow grows brighter, more vibrant, until the shadows retreat completely, replaced by the ethereal radiance of the Celestial Flame.
The room at the base of the stairs is small but breathtaking. The Flame burns in the center, its sapphire glow dancing across the stone walls. The air hums with power, wrapping around us like a living thing. The baby coos again, and I look down to see her bathed in the blue light, her tiny face shining with an unearthly glow. For a moment, she looks like a goddess, her radiance rivaling the Flame itself.
I step closer, my breathing shallow as the pull intensifies. My free hand moves of its own accord, reaching for the torch nestled in the heart of the Flame. The heat licks at my skin, but it doesn’t burn — it welcomes me. My fingers wrap around the torch’s handle, and I lift it, the motion smooth and natural, as though I was born to do this.
The Celestial Flame surges to life, its light exploding outward and filling the room with a brilliance that makes me gasp. The baby glows even brighter in my arms, her soft coos blending with the song of the Flame, a melody that resonates deep within me.
~ “Eira,” ~ I whisper, my voice trembling. ~ “What does this mean?” ~
~ “You know what it means,” ~ my wolf answers, her voice calm yet powerful, filling my mind like a tidal wave. ~ “Your daughter is the Celestial Heir. And you, Talia Hale…you are destined to become the Greatest Alpha of All Time.” ~
The truth crashes over me, undeniable and absolute. My grip tightens on the torch, and for the first time, I feel the full magnitude of who I am — of what I am meant to be. The Celestial Flame burns brighter still, its light wrapping around me and my daughter as though binding us to our destiny.
I close my eyes, holding my daughter close, and whisper, “We were born for this.”
If you enjoyed reading Book 1, I'd love to hear from you! Let me know your feedback or any requests for Book 2 :) You can email me at theavathorne@gmail.com
