Chapter 241 Audrey When I woke, I found myself in bed back at the apartment. Edwin was stroking my hair, a worried look etched into his face as he stared down at me.
âOh, good. Youâre awake,â he said, his voice soft when my eyes fluttered open. âYou had me worried there for a bit.â
I groaned softly and tried to push myself up to a seated position, but it was no use. My arms trembled beneath my weight and I flopped back against the pillows. âI feel... drained,â I croaked.
Edwin shook his head and lifted a glass of water to my lips. I drank deeply, grateful for the soothing sensation as it poured down my dry throat.
âThatâs because you are drained,â he replied, a somewhat scolding tone to his voice. âYou used up just about every last drop of your Silver Star powers.â
He didnât need to tell me twice for me to realize that he was right. That silvery pool of energy inside of me felt nearly entirely empty now, save for whatever was necessary to keep me breathing.
Even my wolf was weak and tired. When I reached for her presence, she didnât respond; she was just resting, but too calls. exhausted to answer my âOh,â I said. âI guess I went a little far, didnât I?â
My mate huffed softly at that as he set aside the glass and helped prop me up on some pillows. I was wearing one of his oversized t-shirts now, indicating that he must have changed me out of my dirty clothes himself while I was unconscious.
âYou can say that again,â he remarked wryly. âAudrey, you didnât need to heal all of those kids. Not in one night, at least. Youâre honestly lucky you passed out before you drained your entire life force.â
Iit the inside of my cheek as I thought back on those moments before I had gone unconscious. I recalled healing Ivy, seing her pallid face warm up beneath my touch. Her little smile had awakened something deep inside of me, and I hadnât been able to stop myself from healing all the others.
âI couldnât just heal one and leave the rest,â I whispered.
Edwin sighed. âYou know, there are millions of children dying of cancer in the world. Some are dying even as we speak. Do you intend to heal all of them, too?â
âLook, I know itâs impractical,â I insisted. âAnd of course I know that itâs physically impossible for me to heal everyone. But when I see an opportunity in front of me, Iâm going to take it. You canât really fault me for that, can you?â
My mate was silent, although his face softened. Finally, with another shake of his head and an incredulous chuckle, he said, âYouâre incorrigible. But no, I guess I canât fault you.â
Neither of us spoke for some time after that, although we didnât need to. I could feel his approval down the bond, even if it was laced with a healthy dose of scolding. We both knew that I went too far, and yet what I had done had also been necessary.
âYou know,â I finally said, my voice softer now, ânow that Iâm the Silver Star, itâs sort of my duty to help people like that, isnât it?â
Edwinâs dark eyebrows shot up. âYou donât have to, you know. Itâs not your âduty. Youâre still a person on your own, not a tool for world peace.â
I swallowed and looked away. âI know. But I think...â I thought back on those moments in the forest, when we had given one +5 09:14 Fri, Oct 25 Chapter 241 another our marking bite and I had finally, truly, become one with my wolf.
The sense of purpose that had washed over me during those moments. The feeling of peace. Wholeness.
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+5 âI think Iâm ready to accept my identity as the Silver Star,â I said quietly. âAll this time, I felt like I needed to cling to âAudreyâ, because I feared that once I became the Silver Star she would slip away for good.â
I shook my head, dispelling the tears that were beginning to p****k at the corners of my eyes. âBut Audrey was never going to go anywhere. My soul has always been the Silver Star-throughout every incarnation, every lifetime. And yet, the Silver Star cannot exist without the woman that it is bound to.â
As I spoke those words, I knew that they were true. âAudreyâ was never at risk of being stripped away when the Silver Star emerged.
It was the Silver Star who was at risk of being stripped away if I didnât accept her.
âI... I accept the Silver Star now,â I finished. âI think Iâm ready to let that part of myself emerge. Iâm not afraid of it anymore.â
Edwin was quiet, his eyes wide as he looked at me. His hand tightened around mine, his mouth working uselessly. Finally, he leaned forward and gently brushed the barest kiss against my lips, every movement slow and almost reverent.
When he pulled back, there was a soft smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. âIâm proud of you, my love,â he whispered, brushing a strand of hair out of my eyes. His fingers lingered on my silver streak, pinching the strands and studying them in the moonlight.
Smiling myself, I continued, âI want to become the best Silver Star there ever was. I want to help people, whenever and however I can. Even if it seems dangerous or s***d, I want to do it, because itâs my calling.â I sat up a little on my elbows and c***ed my head at my mate. âWill you support me through that?â
Edwinâs gray eyes trailed over me, his jaw setting as he considered my question. I could feel his mind whirring through our bond, his soul torn between that innate nature of his to protect everyone he cared about at all costs and knowing that he couldnât keep me safely tucked into his pocket forever.
Finally, he grinned and wrapped his arms around me. He dragged me up into his lap and raked his fingers across the back of y neck.
His breath was warm against my lips as he murmured, âI made my vows under that tree. I meant them.â
And then, suddenly, breathlessly, our lips were locked together. His kiss was firm and fiery, the taste of his lips like embers on my tongue. I felt his soul stroke the bond, and I reached out with my own, lashing and twining our hearts together until they were one.
I didnât realize that my hair had begun to glow until we pulled back for air, and Edwinâs own glowing golden eyes widened with surprise and joy.
âYou must be happy,â he murmured, lifting a few silver strands so I could see. âBecause youâre positively glowing.â
I flicked my eyes over his shoulder toward the full-length mirror, and gasped. My hair was glowing silver. Not just the strand, but my entire head was like a silver beacon.
It was as if the very moon herself was pouring her light into me, starting at the roots and rippling downwards to the tips. Each movement of my head seemed to send a fresh ripple of light through my hair, the strands shimmering against one another.
The pool of silver inside of me seemed to replenish as I laughed head thrown back, and fell back against the mattress. And that pool grew to overflowing as Edwin tangled himself with me beneath the sheets.