Chapter 25 #2
As I lay down and cuddle up to my two familiars, I take the time to truly thank the Goddess for bringing them into my life.
I don’t know who this Goddess is, but in the short time that I have known of her existence, I have been blessed with things I never thought were possible for me.
So I thank her, and I will keep thanking her for the blessings that I have been given.
I breathe in a shuddering breath. My emotions are still all over the place.
My body curls around them both out of habit, extremely grateful that I can still have these moments with them.
Even if at first it was because of my best friend wanting to ensure I was protected, and that they were drawn to whatever power I supposedly possess.
It’s a relief that comforts my very soul to know that they stayed because they truly care for me. I know how precious that truly is.
Sensing my deep thoughts, like he always seems to do, Indy nudges my chin.
“Rest. You are still weary from your heat, and I’m doubting your mate’s ability to truly care for you.”
“Yes, but at least her mate is actually tolerable. The other males she subjected us to were just dreadful.” Beretta mutters haughtily.
I groan. “Oh god, now I’m really embarrassed. Wait, did you both watch me when I brought dates over?”
Beretta eyes me over her shoulder, “Do you really want us to tell you that?”
Nope, no I did not.
I smother my face into Beretta’s neck and mumble curses. Indy takes that as the conversation is over and sprawls himself on top of me, beginning to purr loudly, soothing me into a deep, dreamless sleep.
I rub at my tired eyes, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter to keep the truck steady.
It was an unnaturally long shift, and I’m absolutely certain it has to do with being away from Kinley.
Goddess, I miss her. The mating frenzy hasn’t been over long, but our bond is an anchor pulling me home.
My phone flashes with a text alert and I grab it out of the cup holder, hoping it’s her.
I’m only slightly disappointed when my mom’s name pops up on the screen.
I’ve been putting off talking to her and I have no good reason to not answer.
Swiping open my phone, I call; this is not something I should be texting, and sometimes even I need to just talk to my mom.
The ring tone is loud over my truck’s speakers but it doesn’t take her long to answer.
”Well, this is a nice surprise.”
There is just something about hearing her voice that eases some of my lingering tension, and the tight grip I had on the steering wheel loosens. “Hey Momma…You got a minute?”
Her sweet laugh rings in my ear, “I always have a minute for you, sweetheart. Does this have anything to do with the rumors that have been flitting about the Clan?”
I push out a deep breath and figure out how best to put into words what I’m feeling.
I can only imagine what she has been hearing, and I love her even more for not badgering me to talk these last few weeks.
“Yeah, a lot has happened since we talked last.” I rub a hand on the back of my neck as I steer my truck one-handed into a mostly empty lot.
“Don, sweetheart, are you ok?”
“I’m ok, I promise. Momma…” I rub my clammy palms onto my pant legs, steadying myself as I find the right words. “Momma, I found her.”
“Sweetheart, what do you mean? Who did you find?”
I want to speak, but I have to clear my throat first. Goddess, I’m getting all choked up. “My mate. Momma, I found my mate. A real mate with a soul bond ”
Her gasp is louder than I was expecting “Donovan Hayes! When did this happen? Who is she? Do we know her?” The shrillness of her voice causes me to flinch.
She probably would have rattled off a plethora of questions if I didn’t stop her. “Momma…Mom! Take a breath, before you pass out and Dad tears into my hide.”
“I’m calm…” I can just imagine her smoothing down her clothes as she reels herself back in. “Please continue, sweetheart.”
”Her name is Kinley, and she’s no one you or Dad knows. But Mom…she’s amazing, and so fucking beautiful.”
”Donovan! Language!” She scolds loudly.
I put my hand over my mouth to smother my laughter. She always was a stickler for no cussing.
”I’m sorry Momma, but she’s perfect. Goddess, you’re going to love her. I love her.“
A happy squeal sneaks out before she reins it back in again. “Don, you love her?”
I rub my chest as the warmth seeps in just thinking about how much I love her. Our bond tingles, almost as if she knows I’m thinking about her. I’m sure I have a sappy smile on my face.
“More than anything, Goddess I love her.”
There is a long pause and I check to make sure she’s still connected.
“Momma?”
“I’m still here.” Her voice is thick with tears. Shit, I didn’t want to make her cry. “My baby is in love”
I can’t help but sigh and shake my head. “Momma, Rowan is the baby.”
“Oh hush your mouth, you boys are both my babies. It doesn’t matter how old you are or what order you came into this world.”
“Whatever you say, Momma.”
“Oh, Don!” There is a faint sniffle from her end before she continues, “A true mate…the Goddess has blessed you both.” Her voice is still thick with emotion, “And now I have a daughter! You know I love you boys more than life itself, but you and your brother were a handful and a half. Sweetheart, I’m so happy for you! I can’t wait to tell your father!”
I grin widely just thinking about Kinley meeting my Mom; she’s not going to know what hit her. My mom will wrap her up so tight and make her feel so loved, just like she’s always done for us. I can’t fucking wait. Kinley deserves to know what a mother’s love truly is; she deserves the world.
”Thank you, that means everything to me.”
“Does your grandmother know? She will be beside herself with joy, I just know it. A mate!”
At the mention of my grandmother I still. Should I tell her? She usually tries her best to stay out of Council business.
“Grandma knows, we’ve been asking her and Aunt Willow for help. Kinley has no history within a Clan that she knows of, and we haven’t had much luck getting any new information. But they either don’t know, or they won’t tell us, and they keep insisting they need to see Kinley in person.”
“They won’t tell you?”
”No, it’s been a real pain in the ass.”
”Don! Language!”
This time I can’t help the chuckle that slips past. “Sorry, Momma.”
I can just make out her quiet huff, and her mumbling about how she raised me better.
”Wait….Don? Does Kinley not know what she is? Sweetheart! Does she know you are mates?”
”Yes, Momma, she knows. It was quite a shock for her, and it took all of us to convince her we weren’t crazy.
That wasn’t a fun moment, but she’s so strong and has taken everything in stride.
I can’t believe she’s real sometimes.” My voice wavers and I have to stop.
I clench my hands to stop them from trembling. I can’t lose her.
“Don, what’s the matter? You sound like you have the whole world on your shoulders.”
I rub my face, I feel even more drained than I did a moment ago.
”She’s been through so much, I honestly don’t know how she’s gotten so far without anyone but her friend.
There are so many unanswered questions, and I can only assume this is just the beginning.
How am I supposed to protect her from what I don’t even know she will face?
I’m terrified I’ll lose her. I’m afraid that I won’t be enough to help her through what comes next. ”
”Donovan, the moment I laid my eyes on you I knew you were destined for more than what our Clan could provide, and when you were thirteen and the Kelpie claimed you, I saw in your eyes the hunger for a path that was not easily taken.
You have never strayed from the difficult, and you won’t now.
Sweetheart, you were meant to find Kinley.
She’s your destiny. You were molded to be everything she needs. You won’t fail her.”
The breath I didn’t know I was holding whooshes out of me, and just like that my mom manages to do what I can’t, dissipate the doubt.
It doesn’t matter how old I get, she always seems to know what to say.
I should have called her sooner. My mom makes me promise to bring Kinley to see them soon before I’m allowed to hang up.
It’s been too long since I’ve seen my parents and my brother, and I should make more of an effort.
Being with Kinley has made me appreciate my family even more .
As soon as I pull into Brent’s driveway, I go in search of my mate. She hasn’t responded to a few of my texts, but when I run into Cam he mentions that she’s probably napping. I enter our room quietly and smile at the sight that greets me.
Kinley has her arms wrapped around Beretta, her face buried into her furry neck, and Indy is sprawled on top of them both. She looks so peaceful which is a look that I haven’t seen too much of since she came into my life. I need to make sure that happens more often.
I’m about to turn and leave them to their nap when Indy’s raspy voice halts me in my tracks.
Familiars aren’t common in Clan communities; they tend to bond with witches over us.
I’m not sure of the protocol for interacting with them, but the fact that he is communicating with me now leads me to believe that Kinley has talked with them about knowing what they are.
“Water horse, I will only say this once. You will guard my mistress’s heart and soul with your very life. As long as you do that, I won’t eat your heart and burn your entrails.”
I turn back toward the familiar, my eyes gleaming with my beast’s presence. He does not care much for being called a “water horse”.
“That, you won’t need to worry about, familiar. The same can be said to you. Now that my mate knows what you are, if you abandon her, me and my Clan will hunt you down and feast on your carcasses before sending you back to the Underworld.”
Indy perks his ears before giving me a very feline grin.
“Good, then we understand each other. My mistress is precious to us. I sensed the deep well of power in her the moment I laid eyes on her, and when I knew that I alone could not ensure her safety I called upon Berethial to aid me.”
I glance down at the dog lying in Kinley’s arms and notice that she too is eyeing me, assessing my worthiness, no doubt.
“Is that your true name? Berethial?”
“Yes, but I prefer the name my mistress gifted me with.”
I nod, Beretta is definitely easier to say, and then ask Indy.
“Do you prefer the name Kinley gave you as well?”
Indy nods. “Yes, my true name is foreign to your tongue, and I’d rather you not butcher it with your attempts.
Indy suits me just fine. I know how much it means to her.
She spent a considerable amount of time coming up with our names, taking such care to ensure the names fit us just right.
Little did she know how similar they were to our true names. ”
I smile down at my mate. I can imagine her making a list and taking the time to go over each option until she found the right fit.
“She is truly one of a kind; a pure soul. I just wish I knew what I could do to help her unblock her powers and memories. Do either of you know how to do that?”
Beretta responds quietly so as not to wake Kinley.
“We have searched for that knowledge and have come up mostly empty. We managed a few things without the necessary knowledge. But we do not have access to a Clan council like you do. Clan magic, especially female clan magic, is a coveted and secret thing, as I’m sure you are aware.
Whatever or whoever put these geas on our Mistress did so a very long time ago, long before we came into her life.
But thanks to us, parts of the geas will dissipate over time.
How do you think she came to you and you to her?
That was not mere luck; it was meant to happen. ”
My mouth parts, but I find myself at a loss for words. Meeting her had been too much of a coincidence, and now I know that it was truly meant to be.
“Then I am truly grateful for what you have done. I couldn’t imagine what my life would be like without her, and it has only been a short time.
I am also glad that she had you both. I can feel the echo of the loneliness that she experienced when she was younger, and I’m sure you both had a hand in banishing it from her. ”
The familiars both nod their heads in agreement.
“I have a few more things to take care of. Do you mind waking her in an hour or so for dinner? I don’t want her to get hungry.”
I’m just turning to go to the door when Indy speaks one last time.
“It’s good that you can share her, because you might have to share her with more than just us.” His eyes glow a vibrant green and his tail twitches with humor.
A soft rumble vibrates my chest. What is that supposed to mean?
But before I make the poor decision in getting into a verbal tussle with a familiar, I walk out of the bedroom door and shut it behind me quietly.
I keep thinking about what the cat said. Is he talking about sharing her with another mate? I already had suspicions that my Clan brother’s are interested in Kinley, and one in particular needs to have a talk with me, according to the vague as fuck text he sent me earlier.
Is this what he wanted to talk to me about?
I mean it makes sense, and it’s stupid for me to think that as powerful as Kinley is turning out to be, that I would be her only one.
That thought riles my beast. The cat has gotten under our skin, and now he’s thinking we might have to share her with another male. He is begging to be let out.
As I walk down the hallway to Brent’s office, I work to calm myself.
I don’t need to go trashing Brent’s house by stomping around in here with my hooves.
This is my Clan brother, and if Brent wants to talk about what I’m beginning to guess, then it isn’t really up to me.
It’s up to Kinley. Will she even want that?