Offered to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter-55. How long

[Ezra]

"Is she the one? The cat you wanted as your healing partner?"

Xanthea peered at me for a few seconds and then lowered her head.

"N-no. I-I mean, I am excited about my new books." She said, forcing a smile onto her face.

I contemplated her for a while and then let out a sigh.

'... Don't try to attribute characteristics of the living to lifeless objects because if they were to come to life, you wouldn't be able to handle it,' her words replayed in my mind. Fine.

Lifeless object, huh? Let's see if I can or cannot handle a lifeless object coming to life.

Years ago, someone asked me this question, and it changed my entire life. Maybe it was time I passed it on to someone else. "Xanthea..."

She lifted her eyes to mine with slight hesitation and fear.

It was infuriating how she revived the parts of me I had buried long ago. How my heart read her pain like I had been doing it for years.

Sharing this question with her would mean sharing all those aching parts of me, both emotionally and psychologically.

I ran my fingers through my hair, taking in a deep breath.

Everything around us went silent. The market blurred away as I was a lot more aware of our heartbeats and breaths. At that moment, it felt like it was just us standing face to face. Holding her gaze, I asked.

"How long... do you plan to continue living like this?"

She drew in her brows as she widened her eyes slightly.

She remained silent and so did I.

Being alone with one's thoughts is always scary, but that was the only way to fix what's broken inside.

One glimpse in her eyes and it was like I could read her soul through and through. Maybe because once I too had a soul just as shattered, just as broken. And the longer I stared into her eyes, the deeper I drowned into the abyss of my past. So I knew how important it was for her to hear this.

"Isn't it tiring being the same all the time just because you are afraid of how others will react to those changes? How long do you plan to be weak, angel?" I asked, feeling a heavy weight press down on my chest.

Normal people develop coping mechanisms, and then people like us develop surviving mechanisms. But it does us more harm than good, closing us from possibilities of life. And then we look for a solution in others, in time. She took in a deep breath, tensing her body as she shut her eyes.

I stepped closer to her and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop myself from caressing her cheek.

"Your life has changed now. And with us as your husbands, it will never be the same again. I know life with us might not be better than your previous one, but hey! It can't get any worse. For better or for worse, we'll be around and no one's worse than us."

Biting her quivering lips, she held back her tears and laughter. She turned around, swiftly wiping off her tears.

I stepped closer to her, wrapping my arm across her heaving chest as I hugged her from behind.

time to settle

of her emotions and I knew she wasn't

a quick gulp,

"It's ok," I said.

we inflict upon ourselves is nothing short

you want as

nodded. "Yes," she

are ready to be her healing partner?"

fingers into fists by her side and

to decipher why you aren't ready for her," I said, lightening the heaviness that had engulfed the two

and she strolled beside me, both of us looking around at the other shops,

better than me. Why do you think Raven asked

a while before

me the

happened?" I asked,

he was right. More rational," she said. "But sometimes it's not about taking the fastest and safest path. Difficult paths are often the ones that lead to unexpected,

enough to tread on

her lips in a

path's

I complete the healer course with

Look, you already have nothing to lose. If not for yourself, then for Zosha, you'll have to become stronger. But remember, before protecting anyone else, you must be capable enough to protect yourself. Before changing others, you must be willing

the book? Don't forget to visit 00005s.org for the full experience. You won't

looked at me,

not everything, and I don't even have that kind of knowledge... yet. So, how do I...

lot of them. But limitations are not weaknesses; they are your guide. They are like the levels that you

questioned whether my words were making sense. Or was I in my journal-mode where I wrote crap and sounded even

his mind. His words often come out stingy and rude, more like a murder threat. But let's not forget he is a healer at heart. And I can tell, when he asked you to stay away from that cat, forget about his reasons. He was trying to protect you. He knows the damage her powers can

could hear her heart race faster as she fidgeted

you'll have to prove to him you can fend for yourself if things go wrong like the other day. You'll have to show him you can handle Zosha and her powers as a mortal without risking your life. All I can do is create an opportunity - open the door for you. But you'll have to walk in on your

and I saw something tender. Soft yet

even after college starts," I said, pointing towards the biggest bookstore in the Infernal realm, Grimbooks.

lit up and this time, when she smiled, it looked a little

ask you

"Go on."

to... enroll in Helxton, so why are you... helping me

her words. I looked at her with

toying around with you. Helping you is totally

flush crept up her cheeks, staining them cherry red. She quickly averted her

I do

steps, she

I chuckled, following her.

***

course books while Xanthea wandered among the life-sized anatomical models from all weird angles,