CHAPTER 128 : TWO DAYS

Leaning into Bryan, Kira took slow, uneven breaths, trying to calm herself. She knew it wasn't their fault for making such a decision, but it didn't help with how she felt inside. She was sad, exhausted and emotionally drained.

She knew they would do anything for her, yet those words, "We can't ask you to wait for us," lingered, and it pained her so much. 

It pained her that there was nothing much she could do but leave. Staying might destroy them even more than leaving. And Kira knew that.

She let out a shaky breath as Bryan rubbed her back and whispered sweet, soft words to her, her weight pressing into him as she could no longer really hold herself up. 

"It's okay," Bryan murmured, his chin resting lightly on the top of her head while he continued rubbing her back in slow, comforting circles. "We are here. We got you."

Hearing those words from him almost made her start crying again, but she held back and nodded against his chest, whispering, "I know, and I got you too."

Bryan, also emotionally drained, recognized that Kira needed support from both him and Aiden. So, he shifted slightly and looked at Aiden, who stood watching them.

His eyes met Aiden's, and Aiden didn't need more than that silent look to move closer to Kira. He understood the need to share the pain and sat down beside Kira on the couch, gently. 

Kira, knowing that she needed Aiden, turned toward him, instinctively seeking his comfort. Aiden gently pulled her into his arms, wrapping his arms around her.

Their bodies seemed to seek each other out, drawing closer, as if they could not be whole without each other.

Kira buried her face into his neck, his scent calming her down even more as he held her protectively, rubbing her back gently and placing soft kisses on her forehead.

Aiden could feel her warm breath against his skin and smiled as she clung to him.

He held her tightly, one hand smoothing over her back and the other gently cradling the back of her head as he could feel her shaking, but not too much.

He felt her pain. They all felt each other's pain, but they knew they would hold her and be with her for as long as they could.

With a soft breath, Aiden kissed her again on her forehead. 

This time when he kissed her, he waited for some minutes as if making a promise to her before he drew back, his lips leaving her forehead.

Meanwhile, Bryan, despite his pain, called for Morane, letting her know that they were done talking.

A moment of silence passed before he heard Morane's room door open and saw her step out. 

Morane's eyes softened when she saw them, and she wanted to say something to comfort them but knew there was nothing she could say that would be more comforting than them having each other, and so she simply made her way to her one-seater couch and sat down slowly.

Bryan cleared his throat as she sat down before speaking, his voice hoarse, but he still managed to keep it steady. "Before anything happens… Can we at least have a few more days together? A little more time before she leaves."

Morane took a moment before she answered, clearly weighing the consequences of what he had asked. 

"Sincerely, I do not know," she admitted. "We never know when the curse might act up, when it might try to take over. But... perhaps two days is all you three can have together."

"And what about the injection?" Bryan inquired, hoping that maybe he could get them more time together. "The liquid, how about it? We can take it, even though the curse has not shown any signs of taking over. That should help, right?"

"Two days is all you have," Morane answered, leaving no room for arguments. "If you keep extending it, it will only make things harder for the three of you. You all should leave now; you have just two days together. Spend your time with each other wisely."

With that said, Morane stood slowly, her gaze softening as she looked at them, and sighed. "I am deeply sorry for this," she said. "If I could have done more, I would. I have seen how happy you three are together and how much you three have grown in trust, forgiveness, and love. It breaks my heart to do this, but we all know this is what is best."

"It's not your fault," Kira muttered as she pulled away from Aiden's embrace and got up, with Bryan and Aiden following suit.

"I fully understand that this is what we have to do." Kira admitted, her chest tightening as she spoke, but she forced out a weak smile. "So please, don't blame yourself."

Knowing that Kira's words were true, Aiden nodded silently, agreeing with Kira, while Bryan reached out and placed a hand on Morane's shoulder. "Thank you," Bryan said quietly. "For everything. We appreciate you."

Morane smiled sadly and nodded, her eyes meeting each of theirs one last time. "In two days' time," she said, "when it is time for Luna Kira to leave, I will sever the bond on the second night. Be here on that night."

Bryan, Aiden, and Kira nodded in acknowledgment before they turned to leave. They didn't need to say anything more; what had been said was enough.

As the door clicked shut behind them, Morane stood for a moment, processing her emotions. She sighed and looked around her living room with a heavy heart, feeling the pain of the situation.

When she turned and walked back into her bedroom, she just could not believe how much of their pain she could feel and wondered how painful it must be for them.

She knew the bond they shared was stronger than anything she had ever seen, and she also knew that Bryan and Aiden would stay strong for Kira, but she could see that for the first time, they didn't hide their emotions.

She had no idea if they had forgotten to hide it or something, but it was written all over them—their bodies, their voices when they spoke, and most of all, in their eyes.

Morane wished she could do more for them, but even she knew that fate had its course, and it was not in her hands to change it. 

All she could do now was hope that, maybe, somehow, their love would find a way to heal them in the end.