Chapter 38
_Lisa’s POV_
I was still on my knees.
The mark on my wrist kept pulsing with pain. It felt like it was burning through my skin, through my bones. I tried to move, to stand, but the fire crawling up my arm made it nearly impossible. I clutched my wrist tightly. I clenched my teeth as I tried not to scream again.
I had never felt pain like this before.
Sierra whimpered in my mind.
Lisa… the mark… it’s not just any magic. It’s something old. Something powerful.
“What does it mean?” I whispered back. I was trembling. “Why now?”
I don’t know, Sierra replied, her voice weak and worried. But I felt it when it appeared. It’s connected to you
… to us. And it’s not just magic. It’s destiny.
My heart pounded even harder at that word.
Destiny?
The symbol glowed softly now, not as bright as before, but the pain hadn’t gone away. My breathing was shallow and sharp, and I could still hear the chaos outside. I could hear the growls, the howls and the cries of people fighting for their lives.
I tried to get up.
I had to help.
More rogues had broken into the restaurant. I could hear them. They were snarling, smashing things and yelling. My eyes darted toward the door, and I forced my shaking legs to move. I lifted one hand and tried
to summon that same energy again.
Nothing happened.
The pain in my wrist flared again. It was sharp like a knife.
“Aah!” I cried out, falling against a table. I was too weak. The power wouldn’t come. The mark burned too much. Every time I tried to focus, it felt like my wrist was on fire again, stronger, more unbearable.
Lisa, stop! Sierra shouted in my head. The mark….it’s draining you. You’re not ready to use it again. Please!
I gasped and dropped to my knees again, holding my hand close to my chest. The pain was winning.
I couldn’t fight like this..
Then I heard the front door burst open again.
1/4
“Lisa!”
Rylan’s voice cut through the noise like a sword.
“Lisa, where are you?!”
I looked up just in time to see him rush into the room. He was still in human form now, shirt torn, face bruised, but his eyes were frantic…he was searching.
His gaze landed on me.
He sprinted forward and dropped to his knees beside me. “Lisa! Are you hurt?” His hands reached for
mine. His eyes were wide with panic.
I couldn’t speak right away. My throat felt dry and tight.
He saw my wrist then.
“What happened?” he asked while gently taking my shaking hand. “What is this?”
“I… I don’t know,” I whispered. “It just appeared after I… after I used my powers.”
His eyes flickered to the glowing mark. His brows pulled together in confusion.
“A triangle… with a crescent moon? It looks like it’s been branded into your skin.”
“I know,” I whispered. “It hurt so badly… I thought my arm was going to burn off.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked softly, his voice low and full of worry.
“I didn’t know how. It just happened so fast. One second I was blasting them away with… something… and
the next I was screaming in pain.”
Rylan cupped the back of my hand with his warm palm. His touch was gentle and careful.
“I think… maybe we should go see the Seer,” he said, his voice calm but serious. “She might know what
this means.”
I shook my head. My eyes were filling with tears. “I don’t want to see her again.”
“I know. But… if anyone has answers, it’s her.” He tilted his head. “You trust me, right?”
I looked into his eyes. They were soft now, not commanding, not firm. Just warm. Just… Rylan.
“I trust you,” I whispered. “We can go.”
He nodded. “Okay. But first… let’s help you with that burn.”
He turned and called over his shoulder. “Can someone bring some ice packs? A lot of them!”
A couple of staff members who had been hiding came out slowly. One woman hurried over with a tray full
of wrapped ice packs. Rylan took them and started placing them gently on my wrist.
I winced but sighed in relief. The cold numbed the pain, even if just a little.
“Better?” he asked.
I nodded slowly. “Yeah… thank you.”
He sat beside me on the floor, his arm still around me. I could feel his warmth through his clothes, and even though everything still hurt, his presence calmed me.
“I didn’t expect this,” he muttered after a while, glancing at the shattered restaurant around us. “Rogues attacking us… tonight of all nights. This was supposed to be a simple dinner date.”
I let out a small and breathy laugh, even though I still felt shaken. “Yeah… some date, huh?”
He smirked. “Well, you did save the day with your mystery powers. I think that earns you a second date.”
I raised a brow at him. “You’re still thinking about dates after all this?”
“Absolutely,” he said, grinning. “In fact, I think our next one should be somewhere less dramatic. Maybe a quiet little lakehouse. No rogues allowed.”
I smiled despite the pain. “Sounds perfect.”
He leaned a little closer and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “And maybe next time, we can actually finish our meal before the chaos starts.”
I blushed. “You really don’t give up, do you?”
“Not when it comes to you,” he said softly.
My heart skipped.
Sierra purred in my mind.
He’s sweet. You know he likes you, right?
I know, I whispered inside. But this mark… what does it mean, Sierra? What if it changes everything?
Maybe it will, she said, her tone thoughtful. But maybe it will lead us to the truth too. You’ve always felt different. This might be the reason why.
I looked down at the glowing mark again. It had faded slightly under the ice but it was still there. It was etched into my skin like a message I couldn’t yet read.
Would the Seer really know?
What if she didn’t?
What if this was just the beginning?
Rylan leaned close again. “We’ll figure it out, Lisa. I promise. Don’t worry.”
