Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

“So, she’s just gonna go...prepare to die?” Tyree asks, looking down the hall after Cora.

“Essentially, yeah,” I frown, “Then I give birth to her.”

All he can do is shake his head in disbelief. I leave him and go to Amari's door. We greet each other with a smile when she opens it.

“Kas! A-are you oKay? You look like you've been crying,” she pulls me into her room.

“I just said goodbye to Cora,” I feel my lip tremble but remind myself what Cora said. It is temporary. I swallow back the lump in my throat, “Amari, I have a question about something you said to me.” '

“Of course, darling. What is it?” She pulls two chairs and we sit down at the kitchenette table.

“The other day, you said I was an energy vampire. Lex said it's a slur, but what is it exactly? I have never heard of it before,” Iask calmly.

“Oh, that. Well, yes, Elexis is right. Itis a slur these days. I shouldn't have said it. The more politically correct term is energy empath,” she places her hands on the table as she explains, tapping her fingers lightly, “Traditionally, an empath absorbs emotions of people around them. A lot of empaths don’t realize it’s even happening. They have to learn to control the absorption, otherwise they become overwhelmed, angry, or even depressed trying to manage emotions that are not even theirs.”

“I've heard of an empath. So what is the difference between a traditional empath and an energy empath?” “Energy empaths don’t absorb emotions, Kas. Someone like you absorbs another being’s actual essence, abilities, or mysticism. If you're not careful, you could drain them of everything.”

I wait for her to say more until I realize there is nothing more for her to say. A spark ignites in my heart as I comprehend what she’s saying. I have another weapon in my arsenal.

“So, not that I would, but I could...kill someone by draining their energy?”

“In theory, yes. I don’t know if that has ever happened, though. Energy empaths are extremely rare. Ina normal case, it's their only ability. As you know, you are not a normal case. I don’t know what could happen,” she shrugs with a sympathetic frown, “In other lifetimes, you would use this ability nefariously. That's not the case right now. I have never seen you this compassionate before.”

This information is more powerful than she realizes. She doesn’t know I have the abilities of the other Mavri Magea, too. I wonder how much energy I can absorb at one time? What effect would it have on me? How long does someone else's energy last? I put the questions aside at risk of sounding too eager.

“Do you think if I absorb someone's energy, they could recover?”

“Hmm, in typical cases, yes. I don't think an energy empath can absorb enough energy to prevent the victim from being able to regenerate. In an extreme case, it would leave the victim as a shell of themselves. I don’t see how they could come back from a major energy drain.”

“Amari, please help me remove the silver from Bronx’s liver. He already agreed to let me try. I'm worried I won't be able to do it with the energy I have. Not after how draining it was to create an eye for him,” I hold my breath, waiting for her answer.

She sits back in her seat, hands still on the table, and looks up at the ceiling. After what seems like an eternity, she looks at me again.

“If at any point I feel like it’s becoming dangerous, I'll stop immediately. I have to trust you blindly, Kas. You don’t remember your past lives, but I do. I love you, darling, but I have hundreds of reasons to not trust you,” she says resolutely.

know how much this means to me. Thank you so much,” my heart beats harder. “You're welcome, Kas. We're leaving tomorrow, so it needs to be this afternoon. I think this healing is best suited to happen in the

I'll contact the hospital staff right away,” my words spill out like water from a fire hose as I throw my arms around her ina crushing hug, “Thank you

she chuckles, patting my arm to

I give her a happy peck on the cheek and

you look happy,” Bronx grins, holding his hand out to me. “Yeah, I got good news,” I say in a sing- song tone, giving his hand a squeeze, “ Amari is going to help

to Amari’s suite tentatively, “Oh, she will, huh? Wow, that'’s...uh, that's great, Kas. Um,

my Goddess, I'm so excited. Aren't you excited?” I feel myself going a mile

tentative smile. He rubs his hand on the back

change the subject, when I see he is not as accepting of the idea

give us a minute?” he motions with his head for

Alpha,” he bows his head

down the hall, I look back

stay. Katherine says she supports it, but I think that is just what she is saying. I don't think she supports it at all. We need to be really cautious with Tessa here, Kas,” he says

can feel it. I'm sure of it. Not just healing you. I'm going to go to the hospital wing and plan with the

wants to say more, but he holds back. I give him a deep kiss and he sends me on my way while he goes to check in with Carly about

kk

Bronx’s POV

feel like a freak show,” I murmur in

insisted on being there, Lenora, Milo, Ashley, Reggie, Katherine, Tessa, two doctors, and two nurses

Kas smiles as she helps

down, Sweetheart,” Kas gently pushes on

going to hurt a lot worse coming out than it did going in. Not to mention, Kas needs to go slow to make sure

the ceiling. I can’t look at

out, we will have to stop. We need

Wonderful. Wide awake, got it. Let’s get

hurt worse than that time drunk rogue

say dryly, “It is

I didn’t think about it that way when I promised Lex,”

it’s too late now. We just need you to concentrate, alright? See how many people are here? You want them

is a moment of silence before he huffs at me. I feel his strength bolster as I let

and Amari join hands next to the bed. Kas’s aura surrounds the two of them before Kas turns to me and places both hands on my midsection over the area where my liver is. Amari leans against the wall, looking winded.

as she closes her eyes and watch her aura glows brightly. It’s so bright, I'm forced to squint. A searing heat builds in my abdomen. The pressure of Kas’s hands becomes more sensitive

teeth and involuntarily growl as the heat turns into a focused pinpoint area. Saint paces in my mind while I feel sweat dripping

don’t know how much longer I can hold out.”