Wrapped in My Enemy’s Arms

Chapter Twenty

Ayla’s POV

“Hello daughter.”

It was a voice I hadn’t heard in a long time. I lunged forward, arms outstretched to anchor myself to her, but my fingers met only cold mist. Her image rippled and dissolved like smoke caught in the breeze.

“I’m not here, my love. It’s only my spirit,” she whispered, her smile bittersweet.

“Why—how?” I choked out, the words tangling with a sob. “You’re dead. I saw you.. “

“Yes, but you keep calling for me, I can’t pass on, not when you’re in danger and know nothing about yourself or your blood.” She said, moving closer without her feet.

“I didn’t tell you a lot of things Ayla, l’m so sorry.”

I tried to speak but whenever I part my lips, they tremble and only tears roll down.

For someone who prided herself on keeping emotions in check, I had become a river of flowing emotions since joining this pack.

“I don’t have much time,” She urged, her form flickering. “The truth of my past— of your father and the sayer history is a path you must walk yourself.”

“No, tell me now! I need to know everything!”

“I’m not a spirit of Eidolon,” she said. “This realm is for the goddess’s messengers. I am but a trespasser. Open your hands, Ayla.”

I spread my palms. She leaned down and brought her lips to my skin. I couldn’t feel her but electricity shot up my arm like she had put something inside me. My muscles seized, my back arching as something forced it’s way into my veins— the same violent energy I’d felt when I borrowed powers to heal kael.

“Mo-mother, d-don’t leave yet.” I gasped through the convulsions.

“I’m sorry, my darling, This is the last of me. You must find your own way now. Then she fragmented into tiny pieces and dispersed into the air.

“Noo!” I screamed, reaching for her as she disappeared.

“Please, don’t leave me alone again!”

The shaking had stopped. But my body felt glued to the ground.

The cloudy, bright and sparkling look of Eidolon was the opposite of how I felt.

My chest ached with a familiar pain. My skin still tingled from the convulsion. I don’t know what she gave me but I only needed one thing. To be with her.

“She’s gone,” a voice echoed.

I looked up to see the spirit from my previous visit watching me with pity.

“I have more questions,” I wiped my face with the back of my hand. “Make a deal with me. I’ll do anything to bring her back for five minutes.”

“No, little sister. Liora has finally crossed the threshold into the heavens. Be grateful, she left you a parting gift.”

“What about the debt I owe the realm?”

“You owe nothing anymore,” the spirit said, a single tear tracking down her translucent cheek. “Your mother paid the price. She was trapped in the passageways because your soul wouldn't stop weeping for her. She sacrificed her remaining essence to restore you and pay your debt to the realm. You must leave now for the living should not linger here.”

Before I could argue, a force of wind slammed into me—

I snapped my eyes open to darkness and the rhythmic sound of breathing.

The air smelled of cedar wood and spice— Kael. He was slumped on a nearby couch, his head tilted back in a restless position. My body felt heavy, but the agonizing throb in my side had vanished.

I slipped out of bed and retreated to the bathroom. I splashed freezing water on my face, bracing myself to see the wreckage Cian had left of me. I remembered the split lip, the claw injury, the bandages.

The door creaked. I didn't need to smell him to know he was there. I could feel the heat radiating off him.

“You’re awake,” Kael’s baritone vibrated through the small space.

“I—” A sharp, white-hot spike of pain lanced through my temples. I stumbled, my knees giving way.

Kael was there in a heartbeat, his hands steadying my waist. “Steady.”

He went rigid, his eyes locked on mine. “Ayla.. your eyes.”

“What?” I breathed, my heart hammering against my ribs. “Are they bloodshot?”

“They’re silver,” he whispered, his voice laced with disbelief.

I wrenched myself from his grip and leaned into the glass. He wasn't lying. My irises were the color of the moon.

“Ayla, your wounds are closing up, you’re healing!” He chuckled.

I turned back at the mirror and caught the last claw mark on my skin knitting together, the flesh turning smooth and clean.

Frantically, I rubbed the area, pinching my cheek to confirm it was real.

“I think your powers are beginning to manifest.” Kael says.

“My mother… this was the gift she gave me at the realm.” My voice broke.

“How do you feel?” He questioned searching my body for any more injury.

“I’m fine,” slapping his hand away.

“You saved me… again. I’m indebted to you.” I tell him.

Kael only remains standing with a smug expression there like I said something awful.

“I’ll repay you.”

“It’s not about that, Ayla..”

“I’m not ready, I don’t have an answer now. Kindly excuse me, I’d like to get some rest.”

My healing abilities still felt like a dream. My mind leapt to my mother. She came back for me and now I had real abilities, something different from my wolf ones. I knew I’d eventually have them like Kiara but it seem to have taken me by surprise. I needed to speak to Kiara

“You should talk to Lydia and thank her,” Kael’s voice startles me. “She told me you couldn’t be found and suspected you were training to shift into your wolf”

“You should—“

“Yes, thank you.” I cut him off.

“You’ve been unconscious for three days Ayla, I thought I should let you know.”

“What do you mean three days?” I frowned.

“It might not be the right time to say this but you’ve been excluded from the warriors recruit training.”