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“I bet he is, but I also feel like, with Juniper, he enjoys takings things slow.”
“Axel does like living in the moment,” Kenzo agreed. “He’s very relaxed in comparison to Asher and Abyss.”
“Agreed.”
“How is Phyx doing with the whole news about him and Phyrra?” Kenzo inquired.
“Honestly, he’s taking it a lot better than I expected,” I admitted. “I know he wasn’t able to talk to my father in the Shadow Realm, but he seemed at peace with things when I returned and explained everything that happened. I gues him having a lot of time with Nyx and her wolf while we were gone made him feel more at peace. Like the knowledge filled a void that was previously filled with anxiety and uncertainty.”
“He feels like he knows where he belongs now,” Kenzo concluded as he bobbed his head in understanding. “Plus, maybe all of this will help him regain his memories of the past.”
“I agree. Nyx said he should gain them back slowly just like me,” I admitted.
“Did you get to talk to Diana?”
“I did.” The mention of her made me grin. “We had a miniature heart to heart and she apologized for her absence in my life. I think having Guardian around made her begin to remember a lot of stuff and I guess with me almost dying after we faced the Level Six dusk, she felt guilty for distancing herself. I never was angry with her. I think I was just worried she was avoiding me for potentially being the reason we were attacked to begin with, you know?”
“I understand,” Kenzo spoke and reached for my hand. “So you plan to have more interactions?”
“We do,” I stated and squeezed his hand. “I think she just needs more time. I know she was fighting to not show it, but I feel there’s a lot of guilt harbored inside her. Honestly, I really didn’t think she or my brothers would be present. They were aiding with the Dusk outbreaks happening across the Syndicates still and yet somehow managed to attend. I’m sure Asher pulled some strings knowing how important it was for them to witness this ceremony that was rooted in our Shadowborn culture and rituals, but actually bringing so many people including you really left me feeling loved and adored.”
“Because you are loved, Selene,” Kenzo reminded me as if I’d truly forgotten. “We love you and you’re more than just a Celestial or Shadowborn. You’re loved for so many reasons, from your personality to your perseverance in life.”
He turned his attention to me as I looked over at him.
“Marriage is a big deal in the shifter realms because it’s something that isn’t necessary. Most shifters don’t do it because they assume that being mated is more than enough. However, too many Fae and, as we’ve come to learn, Shadowborns, think of it as a very big deal because it’s publicly validating that the choice Mother Moon gave us is not only valid, but a blessing that deserves to be celebrated by those who love and care about our happiness,” he revealed. “While in Faerie, I got to take the time to learn more about Shadowborns from articles Theo was able to retrieve. There’s so much rooted in our culture that if we truly had the time to learn and spread such knowledge, I feel like no Shadowborn would ever feel useless or incomplete again,” he revealed.
“It’s that grand?” I was learning little bits from my father, but he wanted me to spend as much time with Asher as possible prior to us going along with the marriage ceremony in the Shadow Realm.
“So much information, Selene,” he emphasized. “So much that I can only imagine what’s hidden in the Grand Library. I feel like our enemies are doing so much to ensure we don’t get access to it, but I feel as though the Grand Library is just the beginning of unraveling our true potential. In revealing how blessed Shadowborns are. Even as hybrids, I believe we get certain opportunities and privileges that we have no clue about. And you are a Howling Shadowborn. It feels like the sky is the limit for you and Asher.”
“What bothers me is that we have no access to this information and everything is moving so fast,” I whispered. “I want us to make a stance. To give the supernaturals a glimpse of our power.”
“You know what I was thinking?” Kenzo offered and turned to face my side. “If our enemies knew Shadowborns were immortal or could rise from the Shadow Realm after death, we’d no longer be hunted.”
“You think so?”
“Well, if you think about it carefully, if Shadowborns are killed before their time, they end up in the Shadow Realm, which is simply another place of life,” Kenzo acknowledged. “With you as a Celestial, you can revive them. They may not know your current capabilities or that you’ll need time to do so, but overall, the premise is there that you can revive those slain Shadowborns and they’ll have another chance at life until they reached the set date in which Mother Moon had chosen for their deaths. The enemies will realize that even if they kill the individual again after being revived, you can just help them rise again, and again, so it would get to a point where killing us would be pointless.”
“Won’t they just try to kill me?” I offered.
“They would, but don’t you think that’s the real hidden reason why Asta and Zero want you on the council? Obviously, fate has a role in this, with the passing of the two council members, but if you’re publicly known in the supernatural community as a High Council member, you’re essentially untouchable,” he stressed. “They can try to kill you, but you’re also immortal. Everyone knows council members are immortal unless they choose to perish, and you won’t do that so early in the game, so they literally can’t get rid of you.”
“What about Amaya?” I brought up. “Her mind control.”
“We actually brought that up when we had a chance to talk to Asta and Zero when we returned back here to see Nyx. I don’t think any of the other council members know this, but Mercury designed some sort of device that will block mind control efforts,” he announced. “With the approaching announcement that things are going to change with the High Council, I think Zero and Asta want to weed out any enemies quickly before the summer. I feel like it has something to do with the funeral that has to be done in six months as well, but I can’t figure that out.”
“Hmm. If the enemy did know about the Shadowborns’ inability to die permanently it could stop them from hunting us, but what if they did it to just tire me out?” I inquired. “Nyx believes I can get good at it over time, but Asher’s being very strict with anyone pressuring me into trying to raise everyone at once. I may be immortal now, but if I tip myself over the edge, my soul could get lost in the Shadow Realm which will leave my body to basically die.”
“You have a point,” Kenzo admitted. “You did mention Diana had lost her memory trying to do a ceremony, right?”
“Mhmm. Nyx doesn’t think that will happen to me, but we need more time to look into it.”
“What if you focus on reviving one person?” Kenzo suggested. “If you focus on one, you’ll know exactly what you can and can’t handle without pushing yourself over the limit.”
“That seems like a good plan,” I praised. “At least we’re going to East Syndicate and Nyx said she’s willing to come over and help me with my meditation sessions. She thinks she can get me to Celestial revival level in three months or less. If I focus really hard, maybe I can do it in two.”
“With breaks and not pushing yourself,” Kenzo stressed.
