Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 347

Talia’s POV

I sat with legs crossed on the floor of the sealed chamber, eyes closed and hands resting open on my knees. I reached for Nolan. I've been doing that for over an hour now, with no luck.

"Picture him," Camilla said from somewhere to my left, her voice low and even. "Visualize him standing next to you. Think about the heat of his skin. Think about how his scent surrounds you. Hold on to that, and let the fire carry it to him."

"It's not reaching him," I said. "I can feel it leaving me, but nothing comes back."

'It may just need time,' my wolf said gently from within me. ‘We need to be patient. We will reach him.’

"She is right," Camilla said. "Do not rush this. Your control over the fire is good now, better than good. But this isn’t about control. You cannot control the mate bond any more than you can force the fire. Moonfire has its own will. It will obey, but only if you ask gently, with focus and patience. You must trust that the one on the other end is reaching back. Try again. This time, do not beg him to respond.’

I nodded, keeping my eyes closed, and tried again.

I stopped trying to force the memories and let them flow naturally. The memory of escaping Jason rose up first. Then the field on the Moonbrook border, and how Nolan froze at the sight of me, alive. The lake, the chill of the grass, his forehead resting against mine. I gathered all these memories and let the fire carry their warmth out to him, not as a desperate call, but as everything I had to offer.

And then, finally, he answered.

‘Talia? Is that you?’ Nolan’s voice came through, and the bond between us filled with his presence. It felt like he was right there with me, as if I could reach out and touch him.

'It's me!' I said, unable to stop the smile in my words. 'I did it. I learned to master the fire. Camilla showed me how to use it to deepen our bond. No matter the distance, we can find each other now. We’ll never be cut off again.'

'Are you safe?' Of course, that was his first question.

I laughed and said, ‘I’m fine. I promise.’

'Truly? You’re not hurt?'

'Come see for yourself.'

There was a pause. 'What do you mean?'

‘Camilla says that my training is complete. She said I’m ready to go.’

‘Don’t tease me, Talia.’

They were making apple pies at the big table when Dalila and another witch started debating about the crust. “It needs at least ten more minutes,” Dalila insisted, crossing her arms. “If you leave it that long, it’ll burn!” the other protested, waving a floury hand.

In the heat of their argument, a pie slid off the table and tumbled toward the hearth. “Careful!” Hattie cried, but I was already in motion. I put my hand into the fire, plucked the pie out, and turned it over in my hands, the heat rolling off my skin as if it meant nothing.

"A little toasted, but overall it is fine," I said with a laugh as I had caught the pie before it burned. I slid it back onto the table.

Dalila looked at the pie, then at my unburned hands, and a slow grin spread over her face.

"You know, Moonfire isn’t just for ending witches. It’s practical too. You’ll never burn your fingers in the kitchen again," Dalila said, giving me a wink.

“I never would have thought of using it like that. It really is a gift. I wish I’d awakened it sooner,” I said. I remembered all the times I’d burned myself on pots and pans at Shadowclaw, especially on those days when I was stuck cooking for the whole pack because I didn’t trust the omegas to do it right. Moonfire would have saved me a lot of pain.

Dalila set her rolling pin down and leaned in, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Oh, but there’s an even better use for it. That fire isn’t just for kitchens or battles.”

She dropped her voice to a wicked whisper. “With the right person, used the right way, it’ll give you the best sex of your life.”

My face instantly caught fire, and this time, it had nothing to do with my ability.