Chapter 56: Nightmare

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Ezra's POV:

Trigger warning: death, violence, and gore ahead. Read with care or read a brief summary in the a/n 💜

Crystals decorated every shelf in Alana's room. I'd seen them, of course, but I never looked at them that closely. Usually when we were in her room, I had much more important things to look at. Unfortunately, she wasn't in there with me because her duties as the resident empath kept her busy even late in the night. If I didn't know how much it meant to her, I'd worry she was overworked.

Padding around the room, I examined the crystals Alana informed me did hold power, not always in the way humans perceived it, and not all of them held the power forever. Some stones powers faded away over time, especially if in the presence of a draining energy.

It sounded like hippie shit but I couldn't argue with her results, or with the fact she could actually feel the energy coming off them. She'd opened my eyes to a whole world I wasn't even aware existed, and she continued to every day. Seeing the world through her eyes was a completely different experience. A beautiful one.

A variety of colors ranging from dull to vibrant sat on wooden tops, some raw and ridged while others were smooth and polished. I paused in front of a purple stone. It had flecks of white and black, some of it a paler purple while another part of it was almost pink. Parts of it almost resembled a galaxy. Lana was right when she called them mesmerizing.

"Lepidolite."

My head snapped back towards the door where my mate stood. "Was that English?"

A tired smile formed on her beautiful face. One look at her was all it took to have my heart racing and my lips pulling up.

She glided over to me and rested her hands on my shoulders as she leaned against me. "It is for healing and balance. Emotional healing. From things like grief, depression, resentment. Also good for change, life transitions, that sort of thing. What drew you to it?"

I shrugged. "Nothing in particular. Was just looking around."

"Nothing does not draw anyone anywhere," she said, picking up the crystal. "Maybe you were drawn to it because you need it."

"What would I need it for?"

"I do not know, my love." She rested her chin on my shoulder and gazed up at me with those hypnotizing blue eyes. "Perhaps some healing you haven't confronted."

I do not know. She knew. She was just gentle in her approach, like she was in everything. I'd never met anyone like her, and not just because my mate. If angels existed somewhere in the universe, I couldn't imagine they were half as pure as she was. "Are you trying to be my therapist now?"

She arched a brow, a smile playing on her pink lips. "If not me, then who?"

Turning, I lifted her in my arms and carried her towards the bed. "Haven't you fixed enough people for one night?"

"No one needs fixing, Ezra." I laid her down and hovered over her, brushing the black hair away from her face. "People just need a safe place to feel what they were never given an opportunity to feel before. Maybe with just a little additional help."

"Lana, you've been taking care of people all night." My lips brushed against her forehead and she circled her arms around my waist. "It's your turn to be taken care of."

Her lips tugged up and she traced my jaw with her finger. "Are you going to take care of me, my love?"

"Thoroughly."

I dropped my lips to hers, reveling in the soft, sweet taste. Kissing her, touching her, holding her, all of it brought this innate sense of completeness and love. It wasn't a fast rush, or an intense spark, it was her. Soft, gentle, slow but steady and rhythmic. A safe place to fall into, a place to get lost in. And all it took was one look in her eyes.

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