Chapter 1021

"Um," Midnight says, her voice high and humming. "No, please. I mean. I don't want to hurt the pups but..." she bites her lip. "I think.....I think my wolf needs her now."

Jesse reaches an arm out, wrapping it around Midnight's shoulders and tugging her close. "It won't hurt the pups." He looks up at Jackson, eyes pleading.

Jackson nods, lifting his chin towards the bedroom door.

Jesse and Midnight nod their thanks to Jackson and then pass into the bedroom. Jesse leans close to Ariel as Midnight presses the door shut behind them, giving her a little nudge on the shoulder. "Ari," he whispers.

Ariel gasps and then shrieks, whipping up an arm and smacking him hard in the face. Jesse groans, clutching his jaw, turning away.

"Jesse!" Ariel hisses, sitting up amongst the pillows, pressing a hand to her fast- beating heart. "What the hell are you doing here!?"

Jesse just groans, pointing at Midnight.

Midnight comes close, her hands balled up into fists and pressed to her chest. “Please, Ariel,” she says, her eyes round and brilliant with tears. “I – I need you to clear my wolf. Please, she's so sad - she just wants to be warm."

Ariel groans in turn, smoothing a hand over Midnight's hair and nodding to her. "All right, kid,” she whispers, patting the bed. "Climb up here. We'll do it right now."

A few minutes later, safely in Jesse's soul, Ariel looks up at the man in question, who still clutches his jaw. "You know I know that doesn't hurt here, right?" she says, poking at his hand. "Our bodies are just metaphorical here."

Jesse grumbles but drops his hand, sending her a little glare before setting off towards the edge of his soul, where he knows Midnight is waiting. Ariel smiles a little, forgiving Jesse his bad temper, knowing he's just worried for his mate.

When they reach the edge of his soul, both Midnight and her wolf are waiting, her wolf sunk deep into the muck but her eyes just as bright and eager as the girl's.

"You've thought about this, Mids?" Ariel calls, hands on her hips. "Because, I mean...there's no going back, I think."

"I – I think that I'm sure," Midnight says, glancing down at her wolf, who gargles a little growl of consent. "You cleared a little of the oil before, and I was still able to use my shadows completely - scared the crap out of Daphne -"

"What!?" Ariel gasps, whipping her head to glare at Jesse.

"Please, can we discuss that another time?" Jesse asks, looking down at his cousin with a great deal of exhaustion in his eyes. “I'm not defending her but yes, her shadows seemed...on full display."

"Okay," Ariel says, shrugging and conjuring up her fire, letting it grow fast and brilliant. "Let's get this started."

When the fire is big enough Ariel presses it out towards the darkness between their souls. As before, Midnight's wolf gives an eager howl, pressing forward towards the light and the warmth, wanting it badly. And as before, the oil starts to fade from her fur, drying up and flaking off or evaporating, revealing the creamy fur beneath.

Midnight watches eagerly, happiness ringing through, warmth starting to make itself known in her soul for the first time since...well, ever, she supposes. She just...didn't know it was supposed to feel like this.

But eventually, the progress stops. The wolf continues to press forward, wanting the warmth, but the large pit of oil remains, and the oil stops drying just at the back of her little ears. The wolf gives a howl of regret, wanting more.

"What is it?" Midnight asks, suddenly afraid, looking between her wolf and Ariel, at the fire between them. "What's wrong?"

"Mids," Ariel calls, hesitating. "I - I'm not sure I can get further or make it burn any hotter. I mean, I'm not in your soul with you - I was in Gabriel's soul when I cleared him."

Ariel bites her lip, anxious and a little panicked, wanting to help Midnight and not knowing what to do.

Midnight starts to cry, little tears slipping down her cheeks.noveldrama

A beat passes in silence.

Jesse steps forward.

"Here, Ari,” Jesse says, his voice firm and steady. "Can you pass the fire to me?”

"What?" she asks. But seeing the determination in him, Ariel stops hesitating and does as he asks, first shrinking the flame down to about the side of a basketball and then

passing it into his hands, their unique bond allowing her to share.

Jesse gives her a little smile and then turns back to Midnight. “Okay, Mids,” he calls. "Get ready. I'm coming over."

Ariel sucks in a deep breath as a silvery bridge begins to appear in the darkness between Jesse's soul and Midnight's. As Jesse accepts the bond.

Midnight cries harder as the bond snaps into place, relief swelling through her.

Jesse exhales slowly as he steps onto the solid bond, beginning to cross.