Chapter 47

Ezra’s P.O.V

As soon as Flora was inside, I went straight to the bed and opened up a compartment at the side that hid a dagger for safety measures. All Maidens had these daggers in these secret compartments along with the weapons drawers, but their location was only told to them when times were turbulent. Just like now. I took out the dagger and hid it inside my skirt.

Flora came out a few minutes later, dressed in pants and a shirt in dark colors. Before I had a chance to warn her, she put on her white gown and tucked in the sleeves to cover what she wore underneath. Good, she had understood that this was all a cover up.

The guards followed us with their eyes as we exited the room and then I took Flora’s hand and we both set out in the direction of the Shrine. However, just as we entered the Shrine, I started pulling her in a different direction altogether, a direction I hadn’t thought I would ever need to use. Lindersay Shrine had an escape route that went under the Shrine and opened in the middle of the forest. It was a long and dark tunnel, but thankfully, we were wolves with superior night vision.

“Ezra…where are you taking me?” Flora asked unsurely as she followed. “What about the ritual?”

“There is no more time, Flora. You need to leave immediately.” I told her urgently. “Andre’s men are celebrating tonight, so the guards are all in the front courtyard, celebrating with him. This is the only opportunity you will get to escape before tomorrow comes.”

“But what about you? What about the other Maidens?” There was fear in her voice but she kept pace with me. “We could all escape together.”

“Andre is going to get suspicious if his men don’t hear chanting or prayers.” I told her. “We stay and we fight.”

Flora gasped as we came to a halt in front of our destination. “You planned this all along…” her voice was a whisper but I heard her still.

“Yes.” I turned to her. “So you must go and heal the rogues. You must bring back their humanity in order for them to win the fight.”

“No…Ezra, I can’t leave you like this!” She held my shoulders. “I can’t abandon my sisters!”

“You aren’t abandoning anyone, my child.” I told her calmly. “You are going to save us all. You are our last hope. So don’t hesitate child, do the right thing.”

I took out the blade from my sash, where it stayed hidden for good measures and then I brought in to my palm and made a cut. It wasn’t deep, just enough to draw blood. When Flora tried to heal it, I stopped her and offered her the blade. “No. You must make a bond with me. Malachi is missing and they must be blocking his power so you can’t use them. So you will use mine and the strength of the Maidens to fulfill your purpose.”

“Ezra it’s-”

“I know it’s a big responsibility, but you didn’t come so far just to lose.” I put a hand on her shoulder, giving her the support she needed. “Don’t let your love lose to the Goddesses power like the rest of us. You are our hope. You overcame the Goddesses magic and regained your memory. Now it’s your turn to heal the rogue Alpha and break the curse for all of us.”

“What are you planning to do now?” She asked, her eyes holding understanding and pain.

“What I must.” I handed her the blade once again. “Now, do what you must.”

Flora nodded and cut a line down her palm, similar to mine and then she held my hand, palm to palm, blood to blood…and a faint glow lit the darkness as our blood mixed. I felt tingles move up my arm. Flora’s soul was warm and kind as I felt our powers mix and that was how I knew I had done the right thing.

“It’s done,” I removed my now healed hand and pointed to the tunnel in front of me. “This tunnel will lead to a small, empty well in the middle of the forest. It will take you outside the walls of Lindersay and to your destiny. After that, everything is up to you.”

“Thank you.” Flora pulled me into her embrace unexpectedly. “For everything.”

“Save us all, my child.” I told her before handing her the quiver of arrows and her bow that I had brought here early this morning when Andre had given Flora her dress.

I helped Flora strap on the quiver after she discarded the clothes she had worn over the shirt and pants. Those would give her much more freedom of movement and agility.

With one last goodbye, Flora went ahead into the tunnel and I stood there, watching her for as long as I could until her form disappeared into the darkness.

“Dear Goddess…whichever angel in heaven is listening, protect my child. Protect our hope.” I sent the silent prayer, hoping that someone…whoever it was in heaven that was listening, would heed my prayer.

I made my way back to the Shrine silently, feeling my heart grow heavy with every step I took. My maidens weren’t warriors, they weren’t trained in war-craft or weaponry, and yet, they had decided to stand beside me without questions. I was truly lucky to have been a Shrine Maiden.

We go into war tomorrow, at the crack of dawn and I know there would be casualties. But all I can do is close my eyes and bear these loses.

For the thousandth time, I wished Malachi was beside me, but I knew he was alive and he had faith in me. So I must live up to his believes. We couldn’t let four centuries of struggles be in vain. We couldn’t lose this fight even if the ones we would be fighting were our own people.

“My Lady?” Daphne and Emma came rushing to my side as soon as I entered the Shrine through a trap door at the back, which was connected to the tunnel. There was dread in their voices, but their eyes held determination.

I nodded finally. “It’s time.”