Chapter 12
twelve
. . .
Calla
“No one touches my mate!” The words ripped from Calla’s throat, just as the Harmonian’s body dropped beside Zera with a sickening thud.
She stood there, panting, frozen in place. The hatchet trembled in her hand. Her heart galloped in her chest. She released the weapon still attached to the corpse, as if it was smoldering against her skin, she wiped her hands on her linen pants.
I killed him.
Her stomach turned. The bile rose, but then she saw Zera’s shoulder.
The blood.
The torn fabric and the deep slice just beneath the collarbone.
All the fear vanished. The nausea dissolved.
“Zera,” Calla whimpered, rushing to her side. “No no no no no! Mierda! You're hurt, you're bleeding, oh gods, you’re—” She shuddered in a breath. “Ese cabrón, hijoeputa!”
Zera winced, one hand on her wound, but her voice remained calm. “It’s not that deep, my flower. I’ve had worse. I just need to clean it and stitch it. That’s all.”
“Mierda eh’! You’re bleeding!” Calla’s voice cracked, tears already welling in her eyes.
Zera sighed softly, then reached with her good arm and pulled Calla close. Her embrace was tight yet warm.
“Easy,” she murmured. “I’m okay. We’re okay.” She felt Zera shake in the embrace, but it wasn’t cold or fear. She…she was laughing…
“Zera?”
“My mate is as savage as I am. I am proud.”
Calla sniffled against her. Her hands still trembled, her breath shallow.
“We have to go,” Zera whispered, voice tender. “Pick up the silk pouch, my flower. Let’s go home so you can patch me up.”
Calla nodded quickly, wiping at her cheeks as she helped Zera stand. She retrieved the bloodied hatchet, gagging at the wet pull as it detached from the Harmonian’s skull, and picked up her machete. She gave it a quick once-over, making sure it was hers.
As she saw the familiar etch of her name on it, she breathed in relief. “Now we know where my machete went.”
Without a second thought, Calla pulled off her blouse, tore it at the seams, and wrapped it tightly around Zera’s shoulder as a tourniquet.
Together, slowly, they walked.
And all the while, Calla whispered silent prayers thanking both Demeter and Rhea for keeping her mate safe.
When they reached the village gates, Calla saw Jefa Soledad speaking to a tall Vulcanian man in dark leathers. The man’s posture was strict and stiff, and by the way his hands moved, he didn’t seem to be happy at all.
Zera’s grip on her tightened at the sight of him.
“That’s my superior,” she whispered.
As they approached, the man’s sharp eyes landed on Zera’s shoulder. His brow furrowed. “What happened?” His Arevulcan sounded stronger and rougher when he spoke it. “I asked about you, and they said you were gone for a day. We have to go.”
Zera looked down at Calla, and automatically, she felt the surging fear in Zera’s chest. Calla patted her lower back, as if letting her know she was there and that she would do anything to keep her safe. She had proved herself moments ago by killing that Harmonian.
“There was a Harmonian rebel near the mountain trail. I got rid of him.” Zera said, straightening her back and raising her chin.
The Vulcanian paused, then gave a single nod of approval. “Good work.” He turned slightly. “The Vulcan Kingdom needs us on a new mission. We're heading to the Sky Kingdom. It appears that— “
“No.” Zera’s response was immediate. “My place is here. In the Rhea Kingdom. With my mate.”
Calla’s heart fluttered as she looked up at her. There was no fear or anxiousness in Zera’s features, but only Calla could feel the thrumming of her nervousness within their bond.
The Vulcanian glanced down at Calla, brows raised in surprise. Then, to their astonishment, he laughed in amusement. “Ah! Now I understand,” he said with a smirk, clapping Zera on her uninjured shoulder. “Fuck to your heart’s desire. You deserve the pleasure of having a mate, Zera Halvorsdottir.”
Calla felt heat rise to her face, and she covered her embarrassment by hiding behind Zera’s shoulder. Jefa Soledad eyed her curiously, clearly not understanding what Zera’s superior had just said.
“Jefa Soledad!” He turned, shook Jefa Soledad’s hand, and walked away with his Vulcanian soldiers in tow.
Jefa Soledad turned her eyes on Calla, her gaze now amused. “What just happened?”
Calla took her place next to Zera, her hand now holding on to Zera's tightly. “Bueno … este …”
“She is your soulmate,” Jefa Soledad said, not as a question, but a truth.
Calla nodded. “She is.”
The Jefa tilted her head toward Zera. “And you wish to stay here, Vulcanian?”
“Yes,” Zera said simply.
Jefa Soledad scoffed. “What about your mother, Calla?”
Just then, Amara burst out of the house, arms flailing in joy. “I knew it! Mother knows best! You just needed uninterrupted bonding time!” She launched herself at Zera, kissing her cheek excitedly.
Zera groaned loudly, clutching her shoulder. “Ahh! Ow!”
“Mami! ‘Perate! She is hurt! Her shoulder!” Calla cried, gently pulling Zera away. “We need to clean the wound.”
“Ay, nena, perdona, es que me emociono,” Amara said, flustered and delighted. “I get too excited when things fall into place. I told you, you needed to get her to get plátanos for the mofongo. What better love language than to get the ingredients for your favorite food, huh? No e’ verda’, Soledad?”
“Eso e’ verda’,” Jefa Soledad said, grinning at both Call and Zera.
Zera smiled despite the pain, looking at Calla as if she were sunlight. Calla groaned in embarrassment as her mother went to Jefa Soledad giving her all the details of how she was the one who got them both together.
After Amara walked away to their home, Calla and Zera followed her closely behind.
And just before stepping inside, Calla paused.
“Are you sure this is what you want? Chaos, my mother being loud, humidity, crazy weather, mosquitoes.”
“Good food, a loving home, a paradise, and my mate for as long as I live?” Zera scoffed. “I want that and everything you are willing to give me, my flower. I will take it all.”
Calla sighed, swallowing hard and about to pinch her cheeks to make sure that she wasn’t dreaming, that this woman, this … very bloody, very dirty, very strong woman was real.
Zera leaned down, and their lips met in a soft, reverent caress.
Calla sighed into the kiss, her heart full to burst. When they finally pulled apart, she rested her forehead against Zera’s.
She was awake, she was home, and for the first time, she was ready to meet whatever the future would bring.