(Mintaka)

I bathe Amaia, washing every inch of her skin using soap and water. Once I have removed every trace of our fluids from her body, I wrap her and myself in towels and carry her outside, so Ali can shower.

She is almost half asleep while I sit her on the edge of her bed. Taking the towel I gently dry her hair.

"I want... to sleep," she says in a drowsy murmur, her eyes half closed.

"Just let me put you in your nightware." I smile at her cuteness.

She has her cheek pressed into my belly with her eyes shut completely. Even her previously overexcited wings seem to have tired themselves out and have folded around her shoulders like flower buds.

Gently, I pat them and they melt under my touch.

"I will see you again," I affectionately tell them. She lifts her head and watches me with sleepy, tired eyes.

Picking up her necklace, I reluctantly place it around her neck, hiding away her true self, even from us.

I watch her transform. The black eclipses the gold in her hair, hiding away her real colour from this cruel world.

Bending down I caress her forehead. "Don’t take off your necklace." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

She sleepily nods at me.

Picking up her night shirt, I help her into it and then into her trousers.

It had been my tradition to always take care of Kayla after we made love. That was my way of showing her that I cared. It isn’t going to be any different with Amaia. Alnitak is new to all this, so I will be his guide too.

I have already changed the sheets on her bed, so I lay her down and cover her with a blanket. She grabs my hand and sleepily requests.

"Sing me a song, Min." Her eyes hardly open.

My hand lands on her head and I sit beside her on the bed. Slowly, I rub my thumb on her forehead. Every crease there has melted away.

"Of course. Anything for you, Amz."

Slowly, I begin to sing to her. My fingers slowly weave into her hair.

"Lookin’ in your eyes, I see a paradise.

This world that I found is too good to be

true.

Standing here beside you, want so much to give you."

She falls asleep, and my song slowly fades away, but my gaze refuses to leave her. She appears so innocent and this innate desire to always protect her has my heart in its solid grip.

The door to the wash area opens and Ali walks out, dripping.

"Man, we need more towels in this place."

I throw my towel at him and he flawlessly catches it, wrapping it around his waist.

"Yeah!" I turn my attention back to Amaia.

"Has she fallen asleep?" Ali asks, stepping closer to us. He leans down and kisses her soft hair.

"Yes, we tired her out. Hopefully, she will keep sleeping."

"We have to get the potion from TJ for her." In our excitement, both of us released inside her. TJ has the special mixture available which doesn’t let females get unwanted pregnancies in the Academy. Since everyone is an adult here and there is no restriction on sex, ladies get potions to avoid getting pregnant.

"Okay, we will get it for her and leave it on her nightstand and then head out." Ali picks up his discarded clothes, which I have neatly placed on the back of the chair, and begins to put them on.

With one final kiss, I adjust the blanket on her and get up from her bed. Joining my brother. I put on my clothes and hang the towels to dry. Before leaving, I lit up her night candle.

"How cute are her wings, man?" Ali excitedly says when we enter our room.

With a smile, I nod at my brother. He drags out a t-shirt and trousers from the cupboard to put on and tosses a pair my way. I catch it.

"We have to be careful. No one can know about this and with all the Enforcers, we can’t risk her accidentally using her magic and getting into trouble." I removed my old clothes and put the t-shirt on my torso.

"We should get the crystals from Alnilam and line our room and hers so her magic, even if accidentally used, remains contained," Ali suggests. He discards his old clothes and picks up the candy jar Amaia has brought for him.

"Yeah!"

He removes the lid and empties the jar on the vanity.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"We have to bring along one of our prized possessions for the Oath. I am taking this because she brought it for me."

That makes me wonder.

What should I take along? Something that holds meaning for me.

Then I remember my necklace. It has been around my neck since I can remember and Mama forbids me from taking it off. I will use that for the ritual, it’s quite familiar to the one Amaia wears, just the stone is different.

Once both of us are ready, we head out and pass quietly from outside Amaia’s room.

Reaching the infirmary we enter and find TJ mixing some herbs. I take the lead since I have gotten it multiple times before.

The old man lifts his head and watches us with shrewd eyes.

"Don’t tell me you guys got injured again."

Ali lets out a laugh.

"No, I needed some Haliso Potion." His eyes narrow further, and he puts down the beaker he has been using to pour out a dusky, shaded liquid into a long container.

Getting up, he heads towards the shelf and grabs a small vial with blue liquid.

"This is one dose. It needs to be taken completely," he instructs and I nod at him.

"Thanks!" Taking the vial from him, we leave the infirmary.

"I will go and place it on her nightstand with a note. We can always mindlink her later too." Alnitak takes it from me and heads back towards our dorm.

My feet carry me outside and I wait for him there.

The night has fallen. We need to make our way through the Tozan Forest to reach the tree.

I find Saiph, waiting for us with his scythe attached to his back.

"How is Amaia?" He questions. The big man seems to have mellowed down for our little mate since she saved his life.

"Tired and sleeping, but she will pull through."

Saiph stifly nods and we wait for Alnitak to return.