Chapter Eleven
M y affection towards the Gods is like an ever changing tide.
Not long ago, I cursed their names for taking my mate from me. Then I thanked them for returning her. Cursed them again for taking my hand. Thanked them again when Forsythia and my mate-brother rescued me.
And now?
Well now I’m kinda fucking pissed at them again.
I hold Forsythia while she sobs, releasing some of the stress she’s kept coiled so tightly. The enormity of her purpose is daunting. I only wish I knew how to help her. How to make her share the burden more.
She still doesn’t understand that it doesn’t matter whose task it is to go after the monster, she is not alone now. We will tackle this and anything else that comes our way… together.
Once Lucian finishes with her hand, I take a deep breath. It’s time for some tough love and, between the two of us, I am the more equipped mate to deal that out. She needs to understand the situation more clearly.
“You are not alone .”
She sniffles and nods her head a little. “I know.”
“No you don’t.” I say sternly.
She pulls back and looks up at me, but I push on. “Ori was never really there for you. He kept secrets and hid things from you. He kept you at arms’ length. So all those years when it was the two of you, you were still alone. And before that? Your mother did the same thing. You’ve been alone most of your life, Forsythia.”
At the mention of her mother she gasps a little and tries to pull away from me. I only hold tighter. Determined to make her understand.
“But you aren’t alone anymore. You accepted our mate bonds. That means you have us now. Completely. Eternally. Do you understand?”
She tries to push away but when my arms only wrap around her tighter she gives up on a huff.
“Yes, I know. I know I can count on you both to be here with me.” I nod, but it’s not enough.
Now it’s time to do what I do best.
Asshole mode: ACTIVATE
“Oh, so then you think we are too weak? Not as strong as the mighty Noctifer Witch?” This time she jerks back as if I’ve physically slapped her and I let her have a little space.
“What the fuck? How dare you! I would never view either of you as anything even close to weak! You are two of the strongest people I know.”
The air shifts a little. Her power swirling in her irritation.
“Then why don’t you treat us like your partners? Sharing the burden. Why do you still keep us at arms’ length?”
Her rage pulses from her.
“Because I can’t lose you!” She screams at me.
I force my arms to stay wrapped around her, even as her magick tries to push me away. Her rage morphing in front of my eyes into pure fear. Raw and boundless. It rushes over me and threatens to pull me under.
“Never!” I yell.
One word.
That’s all it takes to have her rage calming in an instant. She deflates as her eyes search mine. The fear still billowing in their depths. She turns her body to stare into her fae mate’s eyes.
“Never…” He whispers to her. His voice is no less full of promise than mine.
She turns back to me and I try to wipe some of her tears away, but they are flowing with a renewed purpose.
“I’m sorry.” Her voice was so small, I almost did not hear her.
“No.” My tone is firm. She blinks at me in surprise, but I quickly finish before she can get angry again.
“Don’t ever apologize to us. Not for sharing your fears, or protecting us.” I place my hand over her heart. She shudders again as more tears stream down her face. “Don’t ever apologize for venting or getting angry. Everyone is free to feel what they feel. Without remorse. Without judgment. That’s what we give you, Forsythia.”
Lucian wraps his arm around Forsythia’s middle and she leans back into him.
“Don’t apologize for protecting your heart,” he says to her. “Just don’t keep protecting your heart from us, Animus Meus. ”
“Forsythia, we aren’t going anywhere. I know this is all still new and we are all still trying to find our way with this bond and everything, but we are here for you . We battle our enemies together. As one.“ And then because my mouth has a mind of its own, “And if we die you can just go to the Between or whatever and bring us back.”
At the last of my words her face twists into complete disgust, before she rubs a hand down her face. She doesn’t even notice that it’s the one she had previously injured, and that only a small amount of bruising now remains.
Lucian can certainly work miracles, I will give him that.
“Blake, you have such a sweet heart. When your fucking mouth doesn’t get in the way.” There is no heat behind her words, and I can’t help but smirk.
“Hey, I may be an asshole, but I’m your asshole.”
Wait…
She scrunches up her face. “Yeah, that doesn’t sound right. But, yes. You are an asshole.”
She blows out a heavy breath and sags a little.
“I promise that I will get better about being more open.” She looks up at me from under her lashes. “Be patient with me?”
I can’t help it. I laugh.
“Oh little nymph, if I weren’t patient with you, I would have run away after you broke my nose the first time.”
Forsythia and Lucian both chuckle.
Yeah, she’s not the only one that needs to get better about expressing herself.
Hopefully this little heart-to-heart will help push us all in the right direction though.