Chapter 68: Torment and Misery
Aira’s POV
“He is perfectly fine, Aira,” Sasha says after examining Alex with her magic. We are now back at the palace, and I had Sasha summoned after the doctors could not find anything wrong with Alex.
To make things even more strange, his wound has completely healed. Almost as though a stake had never even scraped his skin, talk less of gone right through his heart.
I sit beside Alex on the bed; he has his head on my thighs and arms wrapped around my waist like a terrified little child seeking comfort only from his mother. Since we got back, he hasn’t let go of me, not like I am complaining.
I frown at Sasha’s words. I do not know why, but I was pretty sure that she would be able to give me a better explanation than the doctors after examining Alex with her magic.
“But I watched his heart get pierced. He literally stopped breathing! He died!” I exclaim, and Sasha sighs. She shuts her eyes and places her thumb on Alex’s forehead. She chants something beneath her breath, and there is a glow at the spot where her thumb made contact with Alex’s skin.
As quickly as it came, the glow completely disappeared, and Sasha took a step back. “I can’t sense any form of magic in his body,” she pauses and purses her lips. “Your magic is like none I have ever seen before. It is not the same as a normal witch’s. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that you are a descendant of the moon goddess herself. And your powers are over the living and the dead.”
“Does this mean I can bring anyone back to life?” I ask, a million thoughts swirling within my mind. Sasha shrugs.
“That would go against the laws of nature, but I would not know. I suppose you are just going to find out for yourself,” she says before shifting her gaze towards the window. “I should return to the coven now. We await the day that you will finally take up your position as the leader of our coven.”
She turns her back to leave, but I stop her by saying, “Actually, I won’t be taking up leadership of the witch covens.”
Sasha appeared taken aback, and so did Alex. “I assure you that being our leader isn’t going to be much work. The benefits are far greater than the disadvantages. All you have to do is represent us, resolve disputes, and attend the general witch meeting. And as leader of our coven, you will be deemed the most powerful being in the state because you harvest the power of everyone within the coven. So why? Why won’t you accept leadership?”
I bite my lip, wondering the same thing as well.
“Aira?”
I look down at Alex, who is staring up at me. He looks just as curious as Sasha. I am being granted such a great opportunity. As leader of the witch coven and a descendant of the moon goddess, I could be the most powerful being this world has ever seen.
But what then?
“No,” I say firmly, shocking the two people in the room. “I am not like the others; I do not crave power. As a matter of fact, I believe I have more than enough. I am the owner of the Kingston Empire, the Luna, one of the most powerful alphas in the world, and a descendant of the moon goddess. I have more than enough power. I have a good life already.”
Alex smiles at my words, but Sasha only looks uncertain. “So what is going to happen to our coven? Who will lead us?”
“You.”
Sasha’s eyes shoot to the top of her head, and she places a hand on her chest. “Me?”
I nod. “Yes, you. To be honest, you seem more suitable to lead the coven than I. You grew up with them and know the dos and don’ts. You know the witches more than I ever could. And you were Moriah’s right hand for many years. I am more than certain that you should be the leader.”
For the first time since I met Sasha, I see a flash of emotion in her eyes. tears well within them, and I never knew she could look so beautiful with a smile on her face. “Thank you; I will make you proud.”
“You already have,” I say, and she shoots me a grateful smile before leaving. It is just Alex and me in the room now.
My fingers run through his hair, and he shuts his eyes, relishing my touch. “Why didn’t you accept the offer? I mean, it would have been cool if my girl was the badass leader of a witch coven.”
I chuckle at his words and shake my head in disbelief. “Like I said, I already have enough responsibilities. I do not need it anymore.” I pause to brush my nose with his. “And I do not want to do anything that would take me further away from you. Honestly, with all this drama, I feel like I haven’t had a special moment with you.”
Alex gets off my thighs and turns to take my face in his hands. “Then let’s get out of here. somewhere far away from here. We both could use a vacation.”
A smile lifts my lips. “I love that idea.”
He grins at me, then seals his lips with mine. Our kiss is gentle, but at the same time passionate. It is clear as day that we both missed each other. We almost watched each other die. If it wasn’t for my powers, which I still could not explain, I would have lost Alex forever. Who knows what would have become of me if I did?
I have lost every person that I cared about; if I lost him too, then I would have lost my humanity.
Our kiss deepens, and just before things could get heated, a knock comes from the door. At first, we decide to ignore the person, but they just keep knocking nonstop. I pull away from Alex, and he sighs.
“This better be good,” he says as he throws his feet off the bed and goes to open the door.
“What do you want?” Alex snaps, and I crane my neck to get a good look at who is at the door.
“I came to speak to Aira. I want to say goodbye.”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
I recognize the owner of the voice as Richard’s, and I quickly shoot to my feet. I join Alex at the door and smile lightly at my last standing relative.
“You are leaving?” I ask, and he nods.
“Yeah, there is nothing left for me here anymore,” he says, and I purse my lips.
“I am here.”
He smiles lightly, but the sadness in his eyes is evident. “You don’t need me; you never did.”
“I need my family,” I say firmly, and admiration flashes within his eyes.
A light chuckle leaves his lips as he shakes his head lightly in disbelief. “Family has brought you nothing but torment and misery, yet you still believe that you need them. You are something different, Aira Kingston.” I do not know how to respond to his words, so I just cast my gaze downward. “I will be coming to visit occasionally, but I think I need to find my own path. I need to find my own happiness, one that doesn’t resolve within lust, power, and greed.”
I nodded in agreement, secretly wishing that the others had been more enlightened like him. “I wish you the best, uncle Richard.”
We engulf each other in a warm hug. When we pull apart, his gaze falls on Alex, and he says, “Take care of my niece.”
Alex doesn’t verbally respond, but he gives him a single nod. Richard shoots me a parting smile, then turns on his heel and leaves.
That is how I watched the last member of my family walk out of my life.
I hope his departure brings me peace.
After all, like he said, family has only brought me nothing but torment and misery.