Chapter 142 part 2
**Ancient One**
Avery takes a deep breath, her heart heavy with the weight of the decision. She looks at each of her mates, seeing the strength, the love, and the willingness to sacrifice in their eyes. And then, she knows. “I will take the Essence of Unity,” she declares, her voice ringing with determination. “I am the queen, and it is my duty to lead. But more than that, I am the heart of this group. If anyone can bear the weight of our collective souls, it is me.”
Cassius steps forward, his expression a mix of pride and worry. “Avery, are you sure? This power could consume you.”
She takes his hand, her touch grounding him. “I am sure. We’ve faced trials before, and we’ve always come out stronger. This is no different. I bend. I don’t break. I never asked for power or any of this. I have you all now to support me. Together, we can do anything.”
James places a hand on her shoulder, his touch both protective and tender. “If you are certain, then we stand with you. But know this, if anything happens to you, I will raze hell itself and burn the world to ashes to protect you.”
Conner nods, his reserved nature giving way to his deep loyalty. “We are with you, Avery. Whatever happens, we face it together.”
Clint steps forward, his darkened form now seeming to glow with a softer light as he looks at her. “You are the heart of our group, Avery. If anyone can wield this power, it’s you. But promise me, if it becomes too much, you’ll let us help you bear it.”
Avery smiles, her love for them shining in her eyes. “I promise. Now, let’s do this.” I raise my hands, and the shimmering orb of light floats toward Avery. As it touches her, a surge of energy courses through her body, enveloping her in a radiant glow. She feels the essences of her mates merging with her own, their strengths, their powers, their very souls becoming one with hers. The transformation is both exhilarating and overwhelming. She feels Cassius’s strategic mind, Clint’s cunning, Conner’s intelligence, and James’s fierce protectiveness flowing through her. Their dragon powers surge within her, and she can feel the potential of her abilities magnified a hundredfold. I feel everything she does, and it is almost enough to know that she is destined to be mine.
But with this power comes a weight—the weight of their collective souls, their hopes, their fears, and their love. She can feel every emotion, every thought, every desire as if they were her own. It’s a burden, but it’s also a gift, for she knows that with this unity, they are unstoppable. If Avery can harness my gift, then it confirms everything I know to be true, but it will be a truth that I am unsure that this group could accept. Can the Trio accept that the girl they once teased and bullied is a goddess in disguise? Can the all-powerful king accept that his queen is meant to rule instead of him?
As the glow fades, Avery stands tall, her presence commanding yet radiant. She looks at her mates, her love for them shining in her eyes. “We are ready,” she declares, her voice filled with determination. “Let’s go face Cora and end this once and for all.” She looks like an angel, my angel…my salvation.
But as they turn to leave to go to the frontlines, my voice echoes, “Not so fast, my dear Avery. There is still the matter of our agreement.”
I step out of the shadows, my half-human form imposing and my eyes gleaming with a mixture of admiration and calculation. “Your unity has impressed even me. And your willingness to sacrifice for one another is commendable. But there is a price to be paid for such power.”
Avery’s gaze hardens, her regal presence undiminished. “What do you want, Ancient One?”
I smile because her defiance is something that I will seek more of, a gesture that is both charming and dangerous. “I want what I’ve always wanted—a way to adapt a human vessel for my desires. And you, Avery, with your unique connection to your mates, are the key. Share your life force with me, and I will teach you to control the darkness within you. But know this, once you give me what I want, there is no turning back.”
Avery’s heart races as she considers my offer. The power to control the darkness within her is tempting, but the cost is high. Sharing her life force with me could have unforeseen consequences, not just for her, but for her mates as well. It is a decision she must make willingly.
James steps forward, his protective instincts flaring. “We will not let you use her, Ancient One. Find another way.”
My smile doesn’t falter. “There is no other way, King James. Avery is the only one with the potential to wield the darkness without being consumed by it. But the choice is hers to make. Will you share your life force with me, Avery? Will you trust me with your very essence?”
Avery looks at her mates, seeing the worry and the love in their eyes. She knows that whatever decision she makes will affect them all. But she also knows that the power to control the darkness could be the key to defeating Cora and securing their future.
“I will do it,” she declares, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her. “But on one condition. You must swear that you will not harm my mates, and that you will use the life force I give you only to adapt a human vessel. If you break this oath, I will find a way to stop you, no matter the cost.”
My eyes gleam with a mixture of respect and amusement. “You drive a hard bargain, Queen Avery. Very well, I swear by the ancient powers that bind me, I will not harm your mates, and I will use the life force you give me only for the purpose we’ve agreed upon. Do we have a deal?”
Avery extends her hand, and then I take it, our grip sealing the agreement. As our hands touch, a surge of energy flows between us, and Avery feels a part of her life force being drawn into me. It’s a strange sensation, both empowering and unsettling, as if a piece of her very essence is being given away, which it is, but I will keep it safe. I will return it if my assumptions are correct.
**Avery**
I feel as if I had made a deal with the Devil, but with this sacrifice, I feel a shift within me—a newfound control over the darkness that has always lurked at the edges of my soul. The Ancient One’s promise to teach me how to wield it is a tantalizing prospect, one that could change everything. As the transaction is complete, the Ancient One steps back, his form shimmering with a newfound vitality. “You’ve made a wise choice, Avery. Now, go and face Cora. But remember, our deal is not yet finished. When the time comes, I will call upon you to fulfill your end of the bargain.”
I nod, my resolve unshaken. “We will be ready. But for now, we have a battle to win.” With the Essence of Unity coursing through me and the Ancient One’s promise lingering in the air, I turned to my mates, my love for them shining in my eyes. “Let’s go. Cora awaits, and this time, we will be the ones to decide our fate.” But as we step into the unknown, a question lingers, casting a shadow over our triumph. What will happen when the Ancient One calls upon me to fulfill my end of the bargain? And what consequences will my sacrifice have for me and my mates?
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