We all exchanged looks before we nodded in unison.
"Yes," I replied.
"That wasn't just an act of celebration. It was a spell that would make it impossible for us to die in the next seventy-two hours."
"What?!" we all gasped.
"See, what should have happened by now is that after Silver caught onto what I’d done, I should have died shortly after." He lifted the hand that held the card, showing us the glowing clock. "Notice how the clock has stopped ticking?"
We all observed what he was pointing at, and sure enough, the ticking clock had come to a stop like it had just struck midnight.
"That clock represented how much time I had left to live, but Star's spell has prevented it from happening."
"What happens when it wears off?" Yuriel questioned in worry.
"Not sure," Uzziah admitted. "Maybe I'll still die? I can't check anymore. I can't willingly see the future now that I've reached my limit, but that doesn't discount random visions that may be triggered by events or words."
The band around my finger began to burn, and I felt Lia's presence within my mind.
"May I do something, Silver?" Her tender voice was filled with hope, the emotion trickling through me.
Certainly.
I had no objections as Lia's magic swarmed through me. For a second I closed my eyes, and when they opened, I was seeing everything like a background singer during a live performance.
"Silver?" Dimitri questioned.
The soft chuckle that left my lips was very different than my usual and made the guys freeze in place before Uzziah whispered, "Lia?"
"Uzziah. You scorn me for being selfless in every life we live and yet here you are, gambling with death." Her scolding words made him cringe while Star purred and wiggled out of his hand to float towards me.
"MEWR!"
My smile grew as I outstretched my hand to receive Star, who landed right in my palm. "Greetings, my sweet child. How intelligent and loving you are."
Lia's words were thick with compassion while hints of longing and sadness thrummed through our body. "Mommy loves all you've done so far. Do you think you can help me do one more good deed?"
"Mewr!" She beamed at the thought of being useful, her little furry body jumping up and down while her tail moved from side to side and her unicorn horn glowed in readiness.
The others looked confused, as did Uzziah as he glanced back at me.
"Lia? What are you plan-"
"Uzziah?" Lia questioned. "Do you love me?"
He stared at me while his cheeks blushed. He then looked away before muttering, "I always have. You know that."
"That I do," I agreed with him and took a deep inhale and let it out. "Then make a choice."
He returned his gaze to look at me in confusion. I was just as curious as he was as to what Lia was scheming.
"If you have to choose between time and our love, what would you choose?"
Uzziah's eyes flickered from confusion to shock as he seemed to pick up on what Lia was plotting. "Lia, you're not thinking-"
"How can I fulfill the destiny paved out for me if that destiny is intertwined with five princes?" Lia questioned. "The first time we lived in times where it wasn't even possible to unite the six of us together. The second time we perished before we could set out the true plans for our kingdoms and achieve world peace. Now here we are, finally together and plagued with a choice to continue forward on a path that will surely have its share of lies, deceit, and trickery. However, we'd be together, all six of us. You've experienced what happened when we drifted apart, and the sad endings we all received at the hands of those who fear the power we bring as a whole."
My hand moved to place Star on my left shoulder, and I took a step forward to be right in his personal space. His eyes bored into mine, revealing the fear that he was desperately trying to hide from me.
The fear of losing control of time.
"That clock has stopped, and I have a strong hunch that when we make our decision before the twenty-four-hour deadline is up, Team 999 will enter Year Five with not six, but five. Do you really believe we'd be able to go on without you?"
"I...don't..." he bit his lip and tried to avoid my gaze. "You know I don't fit in this puzzle, Lia. You know exactly why."
My eyes watered as I lifted my hand up to his chin and moved his gaze back to me.
"I know exactly what you are, Uzziah Sabella. Whether you feel like sharing that part of you when the time deems right is up to you, but to me, you are a gift to this team, and whether the others have truly seen the shining star of love within that hard exterior personality of yours is irrelevant. What matters is that you deserve to live like any other supernatural and after everything you've done to ensure Silver lives, I'm offering you this chance to live. To enter Year Five with them and to allow that love you've carried within you again and again through the multitude of timelines you've crossed to lead us to this very point to blossom and reach Silver once and for all."
He looked like he wanted to argue, but he held his tongue. I leaned in to whisper in his ear, "A little friendly rivalry only makes one realize just how much they love the person that's worth fighting for. Don't fear to be you. That has never stopped me from loving you, and I'm positive it won't stop Silver."
His eyes met mine once more, and I noticed this time the dullness in them. They were losing color, which made me realize that we could be running out of time already.
Lia?
"I know, Silver. We have enough time. He just has to make the decision for himself."
He let out a heavy sigh and nodded. I let go of his chin and took a step back, waiting for him to tell me what he wanted.
"I'd choose life. To enjoy another day around this odd group of men and Silver."
"Hey!" all four of the guys barked.
He shrugged, clearly not giving a hoot about their response. "The truth shall set you free," he hummed. "Common saying in this group, is it not?"
I smirked and offered my hand.
"I'll make this clear," I began as my body began to burn with magic. Star's body began to glow as well, building up the magical force we needed to complete the task at hand. "This is only temporary. A year would be more than enough time for you to recover from this deed. With that being said, I will safeguard your gift within my resting place. Upon the time of our completion of Year Five, I will return it to you. In return, I will grant you the gift of life you've earned for being a selfless lover."
The others began to move back, the intensity of my magic soaring around me like a gust of wind beginning to wrap around the two of us. My focus was solely on Uzziah as he swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded.
He placed the card within my hand, the connection igniting a burst of pink energy as the ring around my finger burned with intensity.
My free hand was now wrapped around the very staff of the scythe Death had gifted me, and the chains wrapped around them extended and wrapped around us.
My eyes came to a close as I concentrated on the exchange.
"I call upon the magic invested within this ring. Undo what has been written in the spiritual realms and give this man what he desires. Breathe life into his wandering soul and remove the shackles of death from his ankles and wrists. A man of righteousness deserves to eat the ripe fruit of his labor. Let this be so as I offer the exchange to keep his ability of time in the heart of my safe haven. Bless this exchange and allow a year of recovery to pass to give his spiritual and physical body refuge to recover from his good deeds."