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.

try?” my heart beats harder. I can't wait to tell Bronx, “I promise I won't hurt you, Amari. You don't 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

I throw my arms around her ina crushing hug, “Thank you so much, Amari. I will have an omega come escort

welcome,” she chuckles, patting my arm to loosen my

let go. Ican’t help myself. I give her a happy peck on the cheek and show myself out. Bronx is

Baby, don't you look happy,” Bronx grins, holding his hand out to me. “Yeah, I got good news,” I say in a sing- song tone,

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

course. Oh my Goddess, I'm so excited. Aren't

a tentative smile. He rubs his hand on the back of his neck, like he always does when he’s

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

motions with his head

course, Alpha,” he

the hall, I look back to see

just what she is saying. I don't think she supports it at all. We need

healing you. I'm going to go to the hospital wing and plan with the doctors. Be there at three p.m.

say more, but he holds back. I give him a deep kiss and he sends me on my way while he

kk

Bronx’s POV

I feel like a freak show,” I murmur in her

two doctors, and

as she helps me take my shirt off. I growl in frustration

Sweetheart,” Kas gently pushes on my

up to the side of the bed, “ Bronx, I won't mince words. Extraction hurts. The fact we're dealing with cursed silver, well, it's probably going to hurt a lot worse coming out than it did going in.

to the ceiling. I can’t look at anyone and lose my

awake, Bronx. If you pass out, we will have to stop. We need your feedback in case something goes wrong. If you

face, * Wonderful. Wide awake, got it. Let’s get this

this gonna hurt worse than that time drunk rogue Alpha tried to kill

buddy,” I say dryly, “It is cursed silver after

I didn’t think about it that way when I

now. We just need you to concentrate, alright? See how many

silence before he huffs at me. I feel his strength bolster as I let myself look at Kas and Amari,

and places both hands on

aura glows brightly. It’s so bright, I'm forced to squint. A searing heat builds in my abdomen.

into a focused pinpoint area. Saint paces in my mind while I feel sweat dripping from my face. My breath

how much longer I can hold out.”