“Healer Cruz!” I burst into Healer Cruz’s pavilion, startling the elderly man and causing him to almost spill whatever he was holding on the table.
“Luna?” He exclaimed loudly, hurrying over to me with a worried expression on his face. “What has happened, Luna? Are you injured? Do you need help?”
I shook my head immediately, denying any possibility. “No, I’m feeling quite well. However, there’s something on my mind that I would like to discuss with you, Healer Cruz. It’s important to me that you’re completely honest in your response.”

Healer Cruz frowned his eyes full of concern. “What is it, Luna?”
“Tell me, do you know what happened to my mother?” I asked, the tone of my voice carrying a whisper of urgency.
Healer Cruz’s expression turned pensive as he fell silent for a moment, his eyes searching the room then looking down sadly at the floor.
“What happened to my mom?” I pressed Healer Cruz once more, this time demanding an explanation.
Healer Cruz took a deep breath before slowly meeting my gaze. “Your mom was involved in a very difficult and dangerous situation,” he began, his voice grave. “She was trying to protect you, and in doing so, she put herself in harm’s way.”
I felt a pang of guilt mixed with sadness as his words sunk in.

“I wish she had told me,” I murmured, feeling the weight of the situation settling on my shoulders.
Healer Cruz nodded sympathetically.
“It’s natural to feel that way, but your mom was trying to shield you from the burden,” he explained. “She is eager for you to use your identity as a fae to avenge her on Alpha Drake’s descendants. She believed that by keeping you unaware of the danger, she could ensure your safety and give you the chance to fulfill your destiny.”
“But that made my mother lose her elixir, right? She lost all her powers?”

“Yes, that’s correct,” Healer Cruz confirmed.
“Would it make her lose her life someday or would it have other serious consequences?” I asked with a quiver in my voice, nervously nibbling at my fingers out of fear.
“Fae can die too, Luna. Unless they are truly immortal beings,” Healer Cruz lowered his head in silent reverence.
His words hung heavily in the air, each one hitting me like a dagger to the heart. “Can I stop it? I don’t want to lose her so soon. I’ve only just met her.”
“I understand your concern, Luna,” Healer Cruz replied.
Healer Cruz looked at me with empathy in his eyes, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.
“I am afraid that I cannot give you a definite answer,” he said softly.
“Saving your mother will not be an easy task, but with the power of your fae identity, you have the potential to make a difference,” he continued.
“What’s it mean? Should I return this necklace?” I touched the necklace around my neck, feeling its cool metal against my fingertips.
“I will find another way, Luna. The necklace has become intertwined with your life, and I can’t just use it like that.” Healer Cruz paused for a moment, his eyes filled with seriousness.
I nodded, absorbing his words and finding comfort in the idea that the necklace could be a source of strength rather than just a reminder of the dangers that surrounded me.
“It will take time for us to fully understand the extent of its power and the role it plays in your destiny,” Healer Cruz explained, his voice soothing. “But for now, I suggest that you keep the necklace. It may hold the key to unlocking your true potential as a fae.”
“I will do whatever it takes to save my mom,” I declared with determination, feeling a newfound resolve coursing through me.
Healer Cruz smiled softly, acknowledging my determination. “I will be here to guide you through this, Luna. But your journey will not be easy, and there will be sacrifices along the way.”
“I understand,” I replied, steeling myself for the challenges that lay ahead. “Tell me what I need to do.”
Healer Cruz’s expression turned serious as he outlined the steps I needed to take, the training I would undergo, and the allies I would need to seek. As he spoke, I felt a sense of purpose and direction settling within me.
“I am ready, just told me what is it?” I said firmly, ready to embrace the path that lay ahead.
“I hope you’ve discussed this with Lycan Timothee first because this is really dangerous.”
“I’m not sure he’d allow any suggestion of what you’re about to say, Healer Cruz. She is already deeply hurt by Chase’s betrayal.” I walked over to the chair across from Healer Cruz and took a seat, feeling the weight of the situation weighing heavily on my shoulders.
“I can’t be presumptuous about doing things either.” Healer Cruz whispered softly, her voice filled with a mix of empathy and caution.
I let out a long breath, then cupped my own chin. “Healer Cruz, what would you do to make Fae Aurora immortal?”
“I never said that I wanted to make her immortal.” Healer Cruz responded, her eyes gleaming with wisdom and compassion. “But if I were to delve into the realm of possibilities, I would seek the stars themselves, gather their shimmering essence, and weave it into a tapestry of eternal light to cloak Fae Aurora. I would summon the ancient guardians of time and ask for their blessing, invoking the power of the ages to bestow upon him an existence beyond the grasp of mortal limitations.”
Healer Cruz’s words resonated deeply within me.
“However, that requires a significant amount of blood.” He continued.
My mind raced with the implications of such a request. The thought of asking someone to make such a sacrifice on Fae Aurora’s behalf weighed heavily on my conscience. I had to tread carefully. Immortality was a daunting prospect, and the path to achieving it seemed riddled with perilous choices.
As I sat in contemplation, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was another way to safeguard Fae Aurora, one that didn’t require such drastic measures. The idea began to form in my mind, a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.
Could there be an alternative, a path to protecting her without resorting to such extreme measures?