Chapter 20
DECLAN
" T rystan!" I shouted while I kicked in the door to the house, the weight of my unconscious mate in my arms.
Her arms fell at her sides while her head tucked into my chest.
She was breathing, her heart still beating in her chest, but she was unconscious.
Was that storm of her doing? Did she possess Vemor? I had seen no signs of her having magic before today.
Loud footsteps sounded from upstairs as Trystan ran from his room and down the stairs.
"Here, lay her on the couch." Celeste was setting a decorative pillow near the armrest as I bent over and slowly set Talia on the soft cushions of my couch.
I looked up, meeting the gaze of my mate's best friend and asked, "Does she possess magic?" A look of fear flashed in Celeste's eyes so quickly I barely noticed it.
Her eyes widened, her pupils dilating as she met my stare.
She cleared her throat before answering.
"She would want to tell you this herself." The cushions sank beneath me as I sat down at the other end of the couch.
Fear coursing through my veins as I thought of what this would mean for her and her future.
Most half-breeds only possess the abilities from one side.
Natalia was a shifter.
She had a wolf and shouldn't be able to wield magic.
"I know she descends from fae heritage, but her father is unknown.
He had to be a wolf, but I figured she didn't get any of her mother's abilities since she could shift." I spoke quietly while I stared down at my sleeping mate.
Her chest rising and falling with each breath.
Trystan walked over and rested his hand on the top of Natalia's forehead.
"She must have just started manifesting magic.
She would have spoke up if she had always had these abilities right?" Both Trystan and I turned our heads towards Celeste who sat on the fireplace landing with Isla beside her.
Surely her best friend would have told us? Even just so we could better protect her.
"She has possessed her magic since the night of her attack.
It was released at the same time her wolf was.
She had hidden her abilities from everyone, not even Jericho or Lucas know about them." She whispered, a look of pain filled her eyes.
"She weakens every time she uses a large amount at once."
"Why did she use it during our fight? she seemed to not have control over what was happening, it was like it controlled her." I asked Celeste.
She met my gaze and replied, "This was different, it was like her magic was responding to something.
She didn't call on it like she normally does.
You can tell when she uses it, her eyes glow solid purple." I leaned forward, brushing her hair out of her face.
A small smile appeared on her lips as my fingers grazed over her cheek.
She was so beautiful.
I tucked her hair behind her ear as I traced the outside of it, would her ears change when her glamour fully wore off? Would there be a point to them? "You smell so good." She murmured while snuggling into the crook of my neck.
I chuckled while pulling myself backwards, but not before inhaling her sweet lavender scent.
A feeling of calmness washed over me as her scent surrounded me, grounded me.
"You gave us all a scare, little wolf." I grumbled while looking into her beautiful caramel eyes.
"I still won that battle." She whispered, a grin appearing on her lips.
"Try and sit up a bit, take it slow though." I encouraged while supporting her waist as she pulled herself into a sitting position.
She looked around the room, taking into account the others here.
"How many people saw?" She murmured, her gaze landing on mine for a moment before darting to Celeste.
"Well, it wasn't very inconspicuous girl." Celeste told her as Isla stepped towards the couch, "Why didn't you tell us? We could have tried to help you.
Our elders have knowledge of the fae and their old magic." She gently said while squatting in front of my mate.
Her eyes searching Natalia's for something.
"Who cares if you have fae in you.
You are still the Luna of this pack, and we will accept all of you.
Everyone will." Isla said firmness in her tone.
Natalia released a deep breath, before responding, "I didn't know why I had it, I only told Celeste because she caught me using it one night at home." I chuckled at that.
She was not one to confide in others.
I looked towards Trystan and back to my mate, "After we return from our patrol, we will start working on the knowledge portion of training.
We should have been preparing you with that from the start.
You are the heir, you need to know more about your people, where you come from." My sister's eyes shot towards mine as I said that.
Fuck.
She was going to kill me for hiding that.
She stood up quickly, her hands fisting at her side as she shouted, "Heir? She is the Heir?! You didn't think to tell me that your mate, my sister was, the heir to the throne that-" Trystan reached for Isla, his hand resting on her shoulder as he silently shook his head.
"It was not my secret to tell sister, and I instructed my mate to not tell anyone for her safety.
She has assassins after her, and has already had attempts on her life.
This needs to stay quiet.
No one else can know yet." I growled, my jaw clenching tight.
Natalia reached out, her hands wrapping around Islas arm.
Isla turned to face her, her gaze softening as she looked at her friend.
Her sister.
My mate.
"I wanted to tell you, but I didn't want to endanger you.
Just my presence here is a danger to this pack." Isla nodded before saying, "So this is why you have been training so hard, why you have stayed secluded to this house so much.
You don't want them to know." Natalia nodded her head before turning back towards me, "And what of my magic? Who will help me with that?" She asked.
I contemplated how to answer that.
I could call in some favors but it would also come with more questions.
Questions I wasn't ready to answer just yet about my past.
Before I could answer Trystan spoke up, "I know about your mother's magic, I will help in whatever way I can until we find you a teacher." A wave of relief crashed over me as my friend saved me from having to explain why I still had contacts in the fae territory.
She was not ready to hear of my plans to take down the current king sitting on her throne.
That there was a king on her throne.
The creaking of the front door opening alerted us to another's presence in the house.
Soft footsteps sounded down the entryway as a familiar scent hit my nose.
Mother.
"Does anyone want to tell me why you are all brooding around in here instead of getting ready for the bonfire tonight?" She rested her hands on her hips.
The soft cream sweater she wore reminding me of baking cookies near winter solstice as a child.
The corner of my lips lifting as I pictured eating the cookie dough from the spoon, fighting with IsIa on who got to lick the bowl.
"Natalia collapsed during a round of sparring, we were in here waiting on her to wake up, and to make sure she was okay." Isla spoke up while walking towards our mother.
"Oh no! my dear are you okay?" My mother's eyes widened as she hurried towards my mate.
She shoved me out of the way as she sat down on the couch near her.
I reached up to rub my shoulder, shit she was still so strong.
Natalia smiled and told my mother, "I am just fine Athena, thank you.
I just overdid it between my morning training session, then challenging your son this afternoon."
My mother placed her hands over Natalia's and squeezed gently before standing up, "I will let you all out of this one gathering, but the one in three days time, I expect everyone to attend."
She turned her gaze towards where I was sitting and sternly said, "Declan, Trystan, please be safe on tonight's patrol.
I want you both back in one piece."
"Yes, Mrs.
Blackridge." Trystan mumbled while shuffling his feet nervously.
My mother always seemed to intimidate him.
It probably had something to do with the fact that she treated him like one of her own children, despite his age.
She looked my way, her gaze hardening as she waited for my response.
I laughed while shaking my head, "Yes mother, we will have each other's backs out there."She softened her gaze, gave a single nod and headed towards the kitchen to start preparing the meal for tonight's gathering.
Natalia cleared her throat, and said "I would like to clean up a bit.
Can we talk more once you return from patrol Declan? There are a few things I would like cleared up between us." The mood in the room changed, her eyes soft and warm as she looked at me.
"Celeste, why don't we go see if my mother could use some help in the kitchen." Isla giggled, while dragging Celeste from the room.
"Trystan!" She shouted, "Can you go grab some wood from the fire before you head out on patrol?" Trystan stood up and followed after them, leaving my mate and I alone.
"Would you like some help to our room?" I asked her.
She shook her head, "No, I am feeling pretty good, but I do want to apologize for not telling you sooner about my magic.
I wasn't sure how you would take it, and seeing as we haven't spoken to in depth as of late I didn't want to burden you." She quietly told me as she pushed off the couch and stood.
I straightened as she walked over towards me, her scent of arousal hitting my nose.
I closed my eyes, and clenched my jaw to prevent myself from mauling her.
She leaned in, and gently pressed a kiss to my cheek, "Thank you." She murmured.
"Be safe tonight.
Come back to me." My eyes shot up to hers, questions filling my gaze.
I went to open my mouth and she gently pressed her finger towards my lips and whispered, "We will talk when you return."