Chapter 168 – Imagination
–LIA’S POV–
When I woke up, I was in bed.
My head throbbed like I’d run straight into a brick wall.
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My throat felt like a desert, but Zane was right beside me, the comfort of his presence dominating everything else.
I opened my eyes slowly, to find him running his hand through my hair, staring at me with his eyebrows pulled together in
concern.
“Hi,” I croaked.
He sighed in relief. “Don’t ever do that again.”
I tried to smile, but my face didn’t cooperate. “What… happened?”
“Nothing,” he dismissed at once. “Nothing to worry about.”
I tried to remember it, but a sharp stab of pain broke out in my head.
I groaned. “I feel like I got electrocuted.”
“You sort of did. A little divine zap.”
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I stared at the ceiling, then looked around, a gasp leaving my lips. “I broke my window.”
“It’s fine, I’ll get it fixed, love.”
“It’s not about that,” I muttered. “What even–”
Suddenly, it all came back.
I glanced at Zane, my eyes wide. “Zane. I… I hurt you.” My voice broke.
He leaned down, pressing his lips to my forehead. “No, you didn’t. Nothing happened, okay?”
I blinked up at him. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, the sting of tears pricking my vision. “I didn’t mean to.”
“I know, my love. It’s not your fault, alright?” He brushed hair away from my face. “It’s mine. I should’ve been more careful. We’ll take it slower next time.”
“Next time?” I sat up, frowning. “No. I—I could hurt you again. Or someone else. I can’t risk it, Zane. Maybe I’m dangerous.”
He c
e clicked his tongue, cupping my face with his hands and shaking his head. “If you think I’m giving up after one blackout, you don’t know me very well. I’m stubborn and really persistent, remember?”
Chapter 168–Imagination
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“Zane, I don’t care about the blackout. What if I hurt you? Show me. Show me your back.”
“It’s okay, my love. It’s all healed.”
“Then show me,” I insisted.
Zane sighed. “Lia. Let it go, okay?”
I stared at him, my face falling. “You’re not healing?”
Zane glanced up at the ceiling, then back at me. “I will. It’s just a little slow because I got attacked by a goddess.”
My lips trembled. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“Goddess, Lia, come here.” He pulled me into his lap like I weighed nothing, pressing a kiss to my forehead. He then pressed another to my nose, then my temples, my cheeks, and lastly my lips. It worked really well to distract me. “I love you. You didn’t do anything, alright? It’s all gonna be fine. We’re gonna figure it out.”
I gave a tired laugh. “I think Mother is trying to tell us I’m not ready.”
Zane bit his lip. “I’m still not used to you calling her ‘mother‘.”
I snorted. “It’s kinda cool. Don’t blame me.”
Chapter 168–Imagination
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Zane cracked a smile. “I love how well you’re taking this whole thing.”
I shrugged. “Do I have a choice?”
“No. You don’t. And you don’t have one about training.”
“I kind of do.” I muttered.
“No,” he said firmly. “Your mother is saying you need to train. Just smarter.”
“You have no way to know that.”
“Yes, I do. I’ve known her longer than you have, okay? I can read her divine signals better.
I gaped at him. “Rude.”
“It’s okay, I’m allowed to be.”
“Says who?” I scowled.
“Me. You just clawed my back. The least you can do is listen to
me.”
I narrowed my eyes. “So right after trying to make me feel better, you’re using it?”
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Chapter 168 – Imagination.
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Zane smirked. “Whatever works, love. I’m cunning like that.”
“You’re evil.” I said with an eye roll.
He looked at me for a long time, then whispered, “You’re powerful, Lia. But power without control is dangerous.”
“Dangerous for who? You?” I said sarcastically.
“No. For you,” he said. “And for anyone who tries to hurt you.”
I watched him for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Okay.”
His expression softened. “Okay?”
“We train. But only if you promise not to let me hurt you again. No matter what. You hurt me if you have to, but you fight back.”
“I did,” he replied. “Don’t worry.”
“You didn’t fight back. Fighting back isn’t just trying to restrain me. It’s smacking me so I regain sense.”
Zane grinned. “You’re trying to get me murdered by your mom, right? Both of them?”
“Please, Zane,” I cried. “Promise me. You will fight back. Not just hold me down. If I try to hurt you in any way, you won’t let it happen.”
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Chapter 168 – Imagination
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“Okay, fine. I promise. I’ll fight back. It won’t happen though, I promise.”
“Okay,” I said with a nod. I reached for his hand. “I love you, Zane Adams. You’re my whole world. I cannot live with myself if I ever hurt you in any way.”
He laced his fingers through mine. “I know. I love you too. And I love me too. I know how to protect myself, Lia. Don’t worry.”
“Okay.” I nodded, wrapping my arms around his neck burying my face in his shoulder. “I’m sorry again.”
“It’s okay, love. It was kinda hot.”
I narrowed my eyes, pulling away to glare at him.”
He laughed. “What? I’m just honest.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“An idiot who’s hopelessly in love with you.”
I rolled my eyes, but a smile crawled onto my lips anyway.
“Dumb.”
“Cule.”
“Stupid.”
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“Beautiful.”
“Stop,” I laughed.
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“No,” he replied, pulling me closer. He kissed my cheek again, before resting his forehead against mine. “You know, there’s nothing I can’t do when you’re with me. You make everything so much better.”
“I don’t even do anything,” I muttered.
“You don’t have to. Just your presence is enough to calm everything inside me. You’ve weathered all my storms, Lia.”
I held onto him tighter. “You say such romantic things to me sometimes,” I grumbled.
“And that’s bad?”
“Yes, because I’m not good with words.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be a genius?”
“I’m not creative genius.” I frowned. “Just book smart. Geeky.”
“My geek.” He shrugged, tapping his index finger on my nose.
“I should thank mommy dearest for giving me you.”
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Zane chuckled. “She did also give you Blake, so I think it kind of
balances out.”
I laughed, gaping at him. “You’re really pitting me against the Moon Goddess? Right under her… nose? Do you think she has one as the moon?”
Zane glanced out the window. “Hm, I can’t see it right now. But it’s often depicted that way in cartoons. Especially when she’s on a diet.”
“On a diet?”
“Yeah, when she’s thin and all crescent–y.”
I smiled, shaking my head at him. “You’re so weird.”
“What?” He laughed. “I’m right. Think about it.”
“I don’t want to,” I whispered.
“You’re right, you’re not creative. No imagination.”
‘Shut up, I do have an imagination.”
“Mhm?” His tone turned teasing, arms wrapping tighter around my waist. “Am I part of it?”
“You rule it,” I replied honestly.
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“In what? Am I wearing a crown? Am I shirtless? Am I half wolf?”
“No, you’re wearing grey sweats. And well, yeah, sometimes you’re shirtless.”
He grinned proudly. “Knew it.”
“Duh,” I said. “I’m your girlfriend and I have a crush on you. I can think about you all I want, however I want.”
“You can,” he nodded, “as long as you tell me about it in great detail.”
I chuckled. “Buzz off. I’m not telling you shit.”
He narrowed his eyes, and they flashed black for a second, sending a shiver through me. “Then I might as well show you mine.”
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