Chapter 77 The Connection
After a blissful night of very little sleep, it was afternoon before Reiya began to stir. She let out a soft yawn and turned her head, seeing Lee smiling at her. She was wrapped in his arms, cradled in a warm cocoon.
“Good morning.” Reiya smiled as she settled on her side to gaze at him.
Lee chuckled. “Good afternoon.” He watched Reiya’s eyes widen.
“It’s the afternoon? You probably needed to leave hours ago!” Reiya bit her bottom lip, feeling a bit guilty.
“Not today. Today, I’m staying with you.
Selene said you were going to get answers today, so I’m not leaving you for a second.
Not that I want to leave you anyway. If anything, after last night, I’m way more possessive over you.
” Lee let out a deep, throaty sound and inhaled her scent.
Her scent had changed after last night. It was now mimicking his, which was something he wasn’t anticipating.
If someone got close enough to her, they would recognize his scent on her. “You smell like me now, Reiya.”
“Well, no wonder, after last night.” Reiya giggled but stopped, seeing his serious face.
He smiled a bit. “Not from that. No, it’s your actual scent that’s changed. I mean, I like it, but it presents another problem.”
Reiya bent over and inhaled gently. She understood what he meant. She did smell like him. Maybe, because he was a deity, his scent had completely consumed her own? She looked at him and giggled.
“So, you don’t only get to mark my neck, but you turned me into your scent.” Reiya gave him a crooked smile. “So, now what should we do? I could wear your shirts. Then they might just think they’re smelling your shirt.”
“And why would you be wearing my shirts?” Lee raised his brows and watched a sultry smile spread across her lips.
“Obviously, as the mistress to the dragon kings, you get dibs on that, too.” Reiya watched as he let out a low growl and furrowed his brows.
“I hate that rumor. It has you being passed around. I know what he was thinking, but I don’t like it at all. I don’t like you being labeled as a plaything.” Lee growled as he possessively held her in his arms.
Reiya giggled. “He was afraid you might kill him over it. I told him you wouldn’t. Not my sweet water dragon.” Reiya watched his eyes warm up and a smile spread across his lips.
“You have more faith in me than I do,” he smirked.
“Hmmm … You wouldn’t do anything to hurt them. They’re our friends. We’re all going to be good friends. I’ve already decided.” Reiya trailed her hand up over his chiseled abs. She felt the small vibrations from his silent chuckle.
“You really are going to keep my life interesting, aren’t you?
” Lee grinned happily. She probably would never know how much happiness she’d brought into his life.
She gave his life meaning. He woke up every morning just to see her face.
He never knew what the day would bring. She brought excitement into his life; she brought love into his life.
Reiya scooted up and smiled. “I’m going to go get a shower. You probably shouldn’t join me, though. You know it’s not a good idea, since you wouldn’t be able to keep your hands to yourself.” She rolled out of bed and giggled as she watched his eyes roam over her nudity.
He chuckled lightly. “The thing is, my sweet fairy, that you are now and for always my possession. From now on, you are mine to touch.” He swung his legs out of the bed.
Reiya squealed and ran off to the bathroom.
He laughed and ran after her. “There is no escaping me, princess. Not now, not ever.” He slid his arms around her from behind and the two of them laughed together.
He kissed the side of her cheek tenderly and whispered lowly in her ear.
“We’ll start with the shower and see where it goes from there. ”
After a very hot and steamy shower, Reiya put on a pair of her shorts and one of Lee’s shirts. He walked up to her and bent down, kissing the top of her hair gently. “Ready?”
Reiya smiled and wrapped her arm around his waist. “Ready.”
The two walked out of the bedroom door together, side by side. Brody and Chelsie were sitting on the couch, looking at the two with a small smile on their faces. The reason for their late day seemed pretty obvious.
The two of them stood up as Reiya came closer. Brody’s smile suddenly faded, and he looked at her with a small frown. “Reiya, you … you don’t smell like you anymore.”
“You smell like Levi! Ugh, dragon musk,” Chelsie snorted and pinched her nose. She still wasn’t a huge fan of the dragon stench.
“Gee, thanks Chels.” Reiya giggled as Lee walked up to her side. He nuzzled his head against hers and then looked up, smiling.
“Reiya is completely mine now,” Lee said proudly, as a small heat rose in Reiya’s cheeks.
Reiya leaned into Lee’s side and smiled widely. “I got my wolf. Lee is my mate.”
“Ray Ray! You got your wolf?! That’s awesome!
I can’t wait to see her. I’m so happy for you.
I know this is what you wanted.” A wave of relief washed over Brody, his worries dissipating like mist in the sun.
His sister had been worried about getting her wolf, and it made him anxious for her. He was just as relieved as she was.
“Now, we can race together and see who’s faster, my horse or your wolf. I really am happy for you too, Reiya. I know you’ve been crushing on Lee for a long time now, and I’m glad everything worked out.” Chelsie leaned into Brody, his arm settling around her. They could be happy if she was happy.
“You talked about me before?” Lee said with an arrogant air.
“Like I said, it was obvious to everyone but you, I guess.” Reiya swatted at him playfully. He snatched her hand and brought it up to his lips.
“Looks like my kitten is still a bit wild. I need to tame her down some.” He gently kissed her fingers, causing her to giggle.
Kitten? That’s cute. We’ll have to show him what your animal is really like, Lumi said as she wagged her tail in Reiya’s head.
Lumi! See, I was able to seal the deal.
Took you long enough, Lumi snorted with a laugh.
Sorry, I might be part animal, but I am not all animal. Getting mated isn’t my number one priority, Reiya shot back at Lumi.
Don’t you feel better now, though? See, I know what I’m talking about.
Not only about our new strength and powers, but a night of divine exhaustion is just what your body needed.
Nothing like getting a release. Lumi panted happily in Reiya’s head, knowing she was making her blush again.
Such an innocent girl. Well … not as innocent as she was yesterday.
Reiya was getting ready to say something back when she felt Lumi tense up. She began to softly whimper and pace around restlessly in Reiya’s mind. Lumi what is it? Reiya asked, feeling her jitters.
Something feels weird. The moment Lumi said it, Reiya began to feel it too. An odd feeling of nostalgia swept over her, and with it came an intense feeling of fear and dread. Her body began to tremble as a hidden memory stirred. Something that was buried deep was waking inside of her.
“Reiya? Baby, what’s wrong?” Lee turned her to face him. He looked over her contorted face as he held her. She winced from an invisible pain, letting out a soft cry as her legs began to buckle.
“Levi, hand her to me. Chelsie, I want you to stay back. You’ve only just become a guardian.
” Brody gave Chelsie a look, and she quickly nodded.
He then reached his arms out toward the protective embrace Lee had her in.
At first, he glared at Brody, unwilling to part with her, but his face soon softened as he controlled himself.
He could see she was in pain. He looked up and nodded to Brody, hoping he would be able to help her.
The moment Brody wrapped his arms around her, he instantly felt like he’d been stabbed in the gut.
The intense, flowing pain cut through his body.
He winced and tightened his grip on Reiya, taking some of her pain into him.
He wasn’t able to take all of it because it was too intense.
His forehead began to glisten with wet beads from the pain.
He gritted his teeth as his arms began to shake. What was happening to her?
The severe pain kept surging through Reiya’s body.
It wasn’t just physical pain, though. There was an overwhelming feeling of sorrow inside her.
Her chest tightened as her lungs were robbed of precious air.
Images and sounds began popping into her head.
Lumi’s sorrowful howls sounded in her mind as the visions became clearer.
Reiya watched a story unfold in front of her as if she were there.
A young woman was leaning into the side of a young man.
He had his arm around the girl’s shoulders, the two happily gazing out into the field.
She watched as the young man shifted into a dragon and took to the sky.
The young woman chased below him as a beautiful white wolf.
Wet, thick crystals began to stream from Reiya’s eyes as the story unraveled.
The two people were soul mates … no, they were soul twins.
Their souls were the Gemini twins. The man and woman were not lovers but soul siblings.
A rare blessing that was gifted to them.
The two souls had instantly recognized each other and connected as the family they were.
When together, they had the ability to unite and command, which allowed them to form strong alliances.
The two of them together were immune to magic and impervious to fire.
She watched as rogue groups of werewolves and dragons met in secret.
The relationship between the dragon and wolf was misunderstood, and they decided that this interspecies relationship was an abomination.
They didn’t care whether they were together intimately or not.
It didn’t matter. The two of them together were a threat to all of those who wouldn’t follow them.
The two species waited for the right moment when their souls would be apart and be at their weakest. Then, the dragons killed the offending dragon, and the wolves killed the wolf.
The unsuspecting Gemini twins never even had a chance to fight back. They were caught completely off guard.
Yes, Reiya. You’re understanding this correctly.
You and Xander are the Gemini Twins. I scooped your souls up and saved them from oblivion that day.
I delivered Xander to be reborn as the future King of the West Dragon Kingdom.
While you were still in your mother’s womb, Xander felt connected to you.
His instant connection wasn’t with your mother, but with you.
This was when I knew I had to keep Lumi sealed.
By locking up a part of your soul, the two of you wouldn’t be drawn to each other immediately.
Still, when you did meet, I underestimated the powerful bond of your souls.
They called to each other so strongly that Lumi almost broke free.
And then your souls continued to reach for each other.
Selene’s strong voice echoed in Reiya’s mind.
I don’t understand. Why seal Lumi? What was wrong with Xander and I knowing before? Her mind felt overloaded. This didn’t make sense. If anything, it seemed cruel. Her eyes were closed as she waited in the depths of her mind to hear Selene’s answer.