Chapter 30
W ell, that went worse than expected.
Never in a millennia did I ever imagine my father’s reaction when he learned of Asherah and me. Sure, I expected him to be worried. Disappointed, even. But furious? He wasn’t even that furious when I received my mark.
Well…I mean…he was somewhat furious.
I can still remember his face when the elemental mark appeared across my wrist—the initial astonishment that flitted across, followed by the outright scowl of anger. I’d never intended to hurt him in any way, never thought I could until that day. My father was my hero. Still is in many ways.
The truth is it didn’t matter what reaction Baba had to my elemental mark. Being a Guardian was all I’ve ever wanted since I was a tiny faeling. I’d begged my parents to venture to the capital for the Tournament of Champions—the once-in-a-decade competition between the Guardians of Atlantis. “No,” Baba had told me, much in the tone he’d just had over dinner. “You need to pull your head from the dome clouds and stop dreaming of the Guardians. Now, go do your chores,” he’d told me.
So, like any other young sprite challenging their limits, I snuck out and went to the tournament.
I’ll never forget the pain in my arms from the amount of horse manure I had to shovel for my disobedience. But I smiled through the pain with each shovel full of horse shit. All I could think about was how I would win that tournament one day.
And I had.
Three times.
I was destined to be a Guardian. Baba’s disappointment—while difficult at first—became second nature to me. I didn’t need or want his approval. Atabey blessed me with my mark. I’ll not shame the gift I received at her blessed hand.
But for Baba to show disappointment in who I’d hoped was my mate? For him to throw an adult tantrum about who I planned to present myself with at Guake’te in hopes of gaining our bondmarks?
That’s a step too far across my boundaries.
Which is why I followed Baba into the fields that lined the property; the faery grapevines used to ferment the most delicious wine in all of the realms scraped across my scales as I shuffled further down the pathway. I watched—the corner of my lips twitching—as he vigorously plucked grapes from the vines, tossing them down in a large wooden bucket at his side. He continued his plucking and seething as I reached his side.
“I’ll not be happy about it. You can forget that,” he declared as he stomped down to the next set of grapes.
I casually crossed my arms. “I’m not asking you to be happy about it, Baba . I’m asking you to show Asherah some respect. I’m asking you to show King Cathan and the late Queen Neleah some respect; Atabey rest her soul.” I plucked a grape from a vine and popped it in my mouth, contemplating my following words with careful consideration. “She means something to me.”
The vines shook with how hard he pulled his next few grapes. “Oh, I’ll bet she means something to you. You’re thinking with your cock pocket, boy.”
“I most surely am not.”
Baba stopped picking and turned to face me. “And just what is it that you think you’re feeling?”
I paused, breathing deeply. “You once told me what it felt like when you met Bibi . You told me you felt the calling in your center and the itching around the left side of your chest where the bondmark appears. You told me you knew she was yours just as much as you were hers. I remembered every word you said. I’ve had the good fortune of witnessing the love you share with Bibi . Since I was a little faeling, I’d look around at the females—some of them beautiful beyond words—and analyze how my body reacted to theirs, beyond the usual attraction, of course. When I grew into a young male, there were hoards of females who would throw themselves at me, wanting to be with a tournament champion—wanting me despite them not knowing the real me. And I knew these females weren’t my mate because they’d never made me feel like you had described.
“Until Asherah,” I laughed under my breath, “my goodness. The feeling the first day she arrived at the gates of Atlantis. It was incredible, Baba . I thought the feeling would take me to my knees. I was embarrassed by how I felt. So vulnerable. I’d never felt like that before. In fact, at first, it made me a little angry; angry that she could make me feel that way.”
I lifted my gaze. His expression had softened, giving me the encouragement to continue. “I know you’ve never been fond of my elemental mark. I’ve always understood why, even though I’ll never understand why you cannot accept my fate—this wonderful path the goddess has chosen for me. But the journey of understanding is not my burden to bear. That is yours.”
“ Guali ,” he responded, his shoulders sagging. “I could never be disappointed in you. Atabey, forgive me if I’ve seemed ungrateful for the gift she has bestowed upon you. What I am is terrified. I’m terrified, Draevyn. Every day that the tension builds—and mind you, it is building fast—I worry that I may never see you again. And now you tell me you are to stand at the side of the very person the Akani seek to kill?”
“Over my dead body,” I replied with a hint of menace. I couldn’t bear that thought.
Baba threw up his hands. “Exactly, my guali . It will be over your dead body.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Sorry. Poor choice of words. I only meant it as a form of expression.”
“But it’s not just a form of expression, Draevyn. You’re already in danger as her assigned Guardian. But as our King? Even more so. And I can’t bear that. No parent should.”
I placed a hand on his shoulder. “ Baba , this is my calling. The goddess wants me to be by her side, and I do this gladly. Willingly. She is everything to me.” The tears gathering in his eyes glimmered in the rising moonlight. “Please. Try to be happy for me. For us. She is an amazing female, and I don’t say this because she is destined to rule this queendom. I say it because she has such a beautiful heart and soul if you just let her show you.”
Baba sighed and threw the grapes he held into the bucket. “Do you love her?”
The question caught me off guard. I’d never formally told Asherah how I felt. My reply was one I’d never used regarding any other female in my life but my mother. “I do love her. With everything I have, with everything I am.”
He grasped my hand at his shoulder. “Very well. I’ll…I’ll try to give all of this a chance.”
“Whoa,” I exclaimed, jerking back. “Did the great Zoriato Eliron actually concede?”
“Watch it, boy. I still remember how to check you.”
“I wouldn’t dare to forget,” I said, placing an arm around his shoulders. “Come. Our females must be worried.”
For the first time in a long time, I welcomed the camaraderie with my father. It’d been far too long since I had.