(Amaia)

"You need to return," he softly says. Essence of the moon he carries in his hair. Sweeping from his shoulders are wings of solidified light. Their glow is a quiet tempest of sapphire and silver, like the first serene stars in a twilight sky.

Every Fae has wings unique to themselves and their personality. Aziel had deep blue and silver wings and he used to love showing them off.

Now I am seeing him in all his glory. How he would have been, if life hadn’t been cut short for him. He holds me in his arms, urging me to wake up. But if I do, I won’t be able to see him again.

"I don’t want to. You disappear..." I complain and he pleasantly smiles.

"You know where to find me, Amaia. I am always with you." He points towards my heart.

"But your mates are worried about you. Return to them. All five of them," he insists.

Five?

I give him a reluctant nod. I need to see them and ensure all of them are safe.

"We will meet again." Aziel slowly fades into the wind, melting in it leaving behind only silvery floating dust.

My eyes slowly open and I feel so disoriented. The first thing I see are these magnetic ruby-infused eyes, staring down at me.

"Amaia!" He says ever so gently. His fingers I sense in my hair. "Glad you are awake."

I give a small nod. It seems like I am lying on a mattress and we are not on that ground anymore.

My first instinct is to ensure all of them are safe and well and I wonder how Rigel is here.

Two other sets of hands I sense on my skin elsewhere. My eyes waver to find a bewildered Mintaka holding my hand. I smile at him and his eyes hold an immeasurable amount of affection.

"Hey!" He softly says.

"Hi!" I whisper, wrapping my fingers around his.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like a ship wreck but I will live," I tell him in soft words so he wouldn’t panic.

"Goddess, you are awake. I knew you would be alright. My mate is such a badass," comes the shrill and excited voice of Alnitak. Always the dramatic entrance. My eyes find him and he is ready to pounce on me, sitting near my feet. Smile wider than a saucer and relief-flooded eyes, I find.

"Don’t even think about jumping on her," Mintaka warns him, understanding his intentions.

Alnitak pouts. "But she is awake. I want to hug her."

"Give her space guys. Let her drink some water first." My head turns at the heavy voice and I find Saiph pouring a glass of water.

He is here too...

He brings the glass over and extends it towards me. "Drink, I will get you some food." His eyes hold unsaid words, a flicker of admiration, and hidden adoration too.

Rigel’s hands slip under me and he hoists me up. Letting me use his shoulder as support. I finally realise that we are inside Alnilam’s secret space behind his office. But he is not here.

Did he bring me here?

Did he open up this space just for me?

The very thought makes my heart jump in my chest like a ping pong ball.

I accept the glass with gratitude.

"Thank you! Is anyone hurt?" I ask.

Saiph doesn’t appear hurt nor do any of the others. Alnitak and Mintaka seem to have healed.

"No, thanks to you everyone remained safe," Alnitak proudly tells me.

I take small sips of water, letting my parched throat be sated from this cool water.

Saiph straightens. "Now that Amaia is awake. Does anyone need food?"

"Me." Alnitak raises his hand, always the food enthusiast.

"I am not hungry," Mintaka says, still holding onto my hand.

"Same," Rigel’s velvety voice comes.

"Come with me. I will need someone to carry food." Saiph turns to Alnitak and points with his hand, index finger stretched forward. He is still wearing glovelettes. Does he ever take them off?

"I want to stay with Amaia. She just gained consciousness," Alnitak complains, holding onto my foot as if afraid to lose me.

"I am not going anywhere." I reassuringly smile at him. He drops his head in defeat and gets up.

"You are getting me candies as compensation." Alnitak gets up, mumbling to Saiph.

"You are not a child anymore. Or do you want me to tell your mate how I used to catch you stealing candies?" Saiph playfully says. His voice seems relaxed, not like the usual grumpy and serious.

"Shut up!" Alnitak pushes him towards the partition so both of them can leave.

"He is such a baby," Rigel whispers in my hair. His hands hold onto my waist, rubbing it gently.

"I agree with you there and that’s coming from his other half," Mintaka says from beside me. My gaze shifts towards him, and there is a new passion in his eyes for me.

"I desperately want to hold you." His voice chimes in my head but he hasn’t even moved his lips.

Surprised, I almost jump off the mattress. Did he just speak to me telepathically?

The bond...the mindlink.

It has to be the bond between us, forging. Does he recognise me as his mate, and can we now speak through the mindlink?

But that never happened with Alnitak. So how with Mintaka?

Maybe we didn’t try.

"You are my mate, Amaia. I sense the mate bond with you now." A broken smile he holds. The mate bond must have settled for him when he so selflessly defended me against that Chittering.

Rigel’s lips softly caress my temple. He is so open about showing his affections while my mind remains on Mintaka, sitting right beside me.

"I had been waiting for this moment for so long. You are mine and I am yours, Min." I think in my head and his smile spreads.

His cheeks puff, and his eyes wrinkle at the sides with that stunning smile.

"Yes, and I am never losing you."

And then Alnitak’s voice chimes in through the mindlink.

"Aww! I love you guys, too."