"I know what you are worried about," Talia said to Damon. "But I need to see if there is a message from me in this necklace. I might be out of it for hours. Will you watch over me?"
Damon pressed his lips into a line and responded with a stiff nod.
Talia knew this was hard on him, and it was hard on her as well.
She was driven by her curiosity and need to find out the truth, and it was not that Damon didn't want to know the truth, but he was reluctant to do anything that might harm Talia.
Talia cupped his cheeks and gave him a long, slow kiss. She didn't have words to express her gratitude because she knew that even with all his anxiety and insecurities, he was supportive.
"You are the best mate one could have," Talia said.
"And so are you, kitten." She was determined and cute, and he was unable to deny her anything. "Just promise you will come back to me."
"There is no place I would rather be than right here…" She gave him a firm hug. "You are my home, Damon. I will always come back to you."
After a long kissing session, Talia laid on the bed and held onto her necklace that rested on her chest. Last time Talia fell limply, and like this, she had nowhere to fall.
Talia apprehensively looked at Damon who was sitting on the edge of the bed next to her.
"I won't leave your side until you wake up. I promise." Damon said.
"Thank you, Damon." For everything.
Talia took a few deep breaths to calm her anxiety, and she focused on channeling her energies. There was no point in overthinking this. Either nothing will happen, or she might hear a message her mother recorded. There was no third outcome.
Talia spent many nights thinking about what the message could be.
Assuming that what she saw the last time was the truth, it hinted that her parents were in danger and that her mother knew it will be a while until they reunited… and maybe her mother knew they will never see each other again. What would be the last message a mother would leave to her baby? Would it be full of regrets or wishes for a happy future?
A knot formed in Talia's chest.
'Are you with me, Lis?'
Liseli snorted. 'Why are you asking like I have a choice?'
'A little support would be nice.'
'You don't need my support, girl. You've got this.'
It's not that Liseli didn't want to help, but she couldn't. The last time Talia received the message, Liseli was not part of it. The only thing Liseli could do was to wait for Talia to return.
Damon held his breath when Talia's eyes changed into silver. Her hand holding the necklace was wrapped in pulses of light, Talia's hair turned silvery, and her whole body was glowing.
During experiments with the ancient relics at the Midnight Guardians pack, Damon noticed that Talia was getting more proficient with her energies. What needed a warmup before now all happened in a second. She was impressive.
Talia's hand relaxed on her chest, and the silvery glow subsided, but Talia's hair didn't change back to coppery. She looked like an enchanted princess, trapped in her sleep.
Damon's brows came together, knowing that Talia successfully activated the necklace, and he hoped that no harm would come to her.
He hated that the only thing he could do was sit and wait and hope for the best.
Damon reached to the side and got his laptop. Who said that he couldn't do anything? He will take this time to go through reports related to the recent attack on the Blue River pack, movements of rogues, and everything they knew about the Guardians, and he will find something useful.
He sat on the bed next to Talia and pressed his lips against her forehead.
"Come back to me quickly, kitten…"
And then he turned his attention to the laptop.
Talia found herself surrounded by whiteness.
'Liseli?' Talia called. There was no response.
"Uhm…"
A female voice was heard, and Talia couldn't determine from which direction it came.
"My dear child, if you are listening to this, it means that my worst fear came true… you grew up without me."
Talia's heart jumped in joy. Those words confirmed that her mother loved her.
Talia was happy, but she was also sad that she missed a childhood where her mother would hold her, comfort her when she was scared, scold her for mischief, teach her things, lull her to sleep… and do all the things that mothers do.
"There is not much time, so…" The female released a long exhale. "I hope that this decision to separate granted you a safe childhood. Considering who your father is, I am confident you are a remarkable young woman, capable of standing up for yourself and everyone you love. I just wish I was there to see it happening."
A long pause ensued, and Talia was not sure if the message was over, but then the female spoke again.
"I have a request, Natalia. Don't look into who we are. By now, you realized you are a special child for more than just having an Alpha for a father. Whatever powers you discovered, keep them hidden. If people find out… it will only bring you trouble. Don't trust anyone. I am sorry for deciding this for you. My only intention is to protect you from all this mess with the hope you will lead a happy life. I want you to know that I love you very much, and so does your father. I hope you will find your soulmate who will cherish you just how your father cherishes me. And… I hope you will forgive me."
Talia held her breath, wishing to hear more or to replay the message so she could hear it again.
Talia focused mightily on her consciousness to gather energies, and then she heard a small laugh.
"You are my daughter, alright. If you didn't emit another burst of power, you wouldn't unlock the second part."
Talia couldn't believe this. Did she accidentally unlock more? It took her forever to unlock the first part! What was her mother thinking!?
"You are Natalia, daughter of Valerian and Astraea, and we keep our heads high as we follow our own justice. No matter what happens, don't let them control you. You are in charge of your life and what you will do with it, even when you will die. Death is not the end, my child. The end is when you give up hope."
The white light intensified to the point of causing Talia's eyes to ache, and she closed them tightly while a flood of information assaulted her mind.
Talia was choking on emotions, and she didn't realize at what point she came back, that it was dawn outside, or when she managed to soak Damon's t-shirt with her tears. She was glad that Damon was holding her and running his hand through her hair. Those small tugs on her scalp provided the comfort she desperately needed.
Damon knew that Talia was back, and it was over. Her hair regained its original color, and he waited patiently for her to cry it out.
After an unknown measure of time, Talia looked up at Damon, and she gave him an ugly smile.
"My mother loved me," she said in a shaky voice.
"Of course, she did. You were her blessing, and now you are mine."
Damon didn't ask what was message Talia's mother left behind because the only thing that mattered was that his kitten was back. And he loved that she was comfortable with him to cry and vent her grievances.
Talia cried for a long time, and she fell asleep in Damon's arms. It was the most comfortable place in the world.
