Rising from the Ashes

Trying not to fu.ck it up

Chapter 12

Marcus’ pov

I had been looking forward to Ginny turning 18 for years now, I really wanted her to be my mate, I just couldn’t imagine loving anyone as much as I love her. She deserves all the love in the world, and I want to be the one to give her that.

I had been planning on teleporting to the west dragon kingdom later today to see if she was mine. I already had a ring for her, a beautiful emerald that matched her eyes. If she was my beloved, I wanted to ask her to also be my wife.

I knew it wasn’t going to happen when my gran appeared in front of me and her eyes held so much sadness, I knew what she was about to say would hurt but I needed to know either way, and if she had met a mate who loved her I would be happy for her, once I had drunk my feelings of course.

“Just tell me” I sighed, bracing myself for the news.

“August was her mate. It didn’t go well, and now she is back in the underworld with Lilith. They rejected each other, Sophia caused problems again, and is now in custody. Regina needs to heal from the pain of her family hurting her again” she tells me.

I barely hear most of it as soon as she said August was her mate. My heart felt like it was being torn in two and that I was trying to hear while being underwater. Why did it have to be him he was a stuck-up di.ckhead, who never saw Ginny for who she was, never saw how amazing she was.

I think I managed to grunt some sort of response to her before I walked away to my room. I spent the whole day in there and then the next one. By the second night, I was going stir crazy and was desperate to numb the pain any way I could.

That was my first mistake, I got totally rat a.rsed on supernatural strength whisky. At some point, a red head joined me, I didn’t care if she was there or not, but it made me feel a little less lonely. She was happy to encourage me to drink and chat.

Her hair was a reminder of Ginny that I both didn’t want to see and craved to see. It was dull, just a solid colour not nearly as pretty and soft looking as Ginny’s hair. Her’s was vibrant with red and amber hues that made it look alive and caught the light beautifully.

The more I drank, the more it made it look like hers and not a pale imitation. That is when I made my second mistake and let her flirt me me and talk me into going back to my room with her. It seemed like the best idea in the world when my mind was addled with alcohol.

I have never been so thankful to my twin sister as I was that night. When she saw that woman practically carry me into the Palace, she was furious with me. Her well aimed slap was enough to knock some sobriety into me, Cassie has never been the violent type.

She used her queen command, and the girl scarpered away so fast I wasn’t sure if my drunkeness was speeding things up. Then she dragged me to my room before making me swallow a potion some staff member brought for her.

I was sober in an instant, and I wasn’t entirely sure about what had actually happened after I went to the bar. I started to get flashes of memories back as I cringed in embarrassment. I wasn’t even sure who exactly the woman was at this point.

“Seriously Marcus what the hell are you playing at?” She asked me, looking so angry that I was nervous, and my sweet sister never made me nervous.

“I was just in so much pain, I wanted it gone even for a little while” I say and I know I was whining like a child but I couldn’t stop it coming out that way.

“But really, Melinda bl.oody Franks, that girl is always trying to trap any guy with a pregnancy to scr.ew her way into a rank. At least pick someone decent if you are going to throw your virginity away after all this time instead of keeping it for your beloved like you planned” she ranted.

Sh.it, how didn’t I recognise that rank chasing wh.ore she has been trying to get me to sleep with her for years, and she almost succeeded. The last I remember, she was a blonde, though. I am so glad that Cassie saw me.

“I was so drunk I didn’t even realise it was her, I just liked seeing the red hair and couldn’t focus on anything else” I groaned.

“You do realise that Regina is still single. What if you are her second chance, and you could have messed it up by knocking up that hoe” she said.

“What do you mean she is single?” I shout out so loud I make her jump.

“Gran told you they rejected each other, and she was back with Lilith. You haven’t lost her, but you might if you show her that you are not any better than most of the men in her life at the moment. She doesn’t trust many, and you are one of the few she has let in” she says like she is lecturing a child.

“I think I may have switched off when Gran said August was her mate. After that, it was garbled like I was underwater” I admit, embarrassed.

“i***t” she says, shaking her head.

“Right Sophia made out that Regina had kidnapped Raine, and August rejected her, but not before he slept with Sophia. From what I heard, she happily accepted and also rejected Sophia and Julius as her family” she said smiling.

“She then let herself out of the cell in the morning when everyone was arguing. That’s when our grans turned up. After they had cuffed Sophia and unfu.cked Tybolt’s mind, she pulled off her top showing the scars Sophia had given her and walked away with her head held high through a portal with Lilith” she says grinning at this point.

“That’s my girl. They will regret not having her in her life before she regrets not having them around” I say proudly.

“So how bad is she because we both know she is good at putting on a mask and she won’t let them see the damage they have done?” I ask concerned.

“Pretty bad, Marcus, she won’t see anyone apart from Lilith and Claudia right now, and her nightmares are back. I think she will stay away from everyone for a while. I am glad she is with Lilith. No one can reach her there” she admits, and it breaks my heart.

The next morning, I make a call to the underworld. Hades is the one that answers, and he makes it clear that there are no exceptions. No one gets to speak to Ginny. I pi.sses me off as he knows how much I love her, but he won’t budge, I am relieved when Lilith goes in and takes the phone off of him.

“Lilith I need to speak to Ginny and see how she is” I say desperately.

“I’m sorry Marcus, I love you, but no. If it was reversed, I would respect your wishes too. Regina is not ready to speak to anyone. Everything is out now, and she is in pain. She needs time, and I won’t lie to you I have never seen her this bad it is going to take a while, if you love her as much as you say you do you will give her that” she says softly as if trying to coax a child.

“I just want to help” I say helplessly.

"I know you do, Marcus, but she is scared. She is scared that you are not her 2nd chance and equally scared that you are” she tells me, confusing me.

“But I would never hurt her like that”

“I know you wouldn’t and so does she. She says if she is your mate, you deserve her at her best, not broken like this” she tells me.

“But I accept all of her the good and the bad”

“I know, but she needs to do this for her. Also, I don’t think her heart could take it right now if you were not her mate. I think you are, but I don’t want to get your hopes up it was just something the moon goddess said to me” she says.

I admit that gave me hope and shocked me a bit. Now my sister is having chats with the moon goddess. Do they all just pop in to see Hades on the regular. Lilith is certainly leading an interesting life right now.

“I can’t believe you are dropping names now” I say, a bit more lighthearted, making her chuckle.

“Trust me, I almost fainted when I saw Hecate sitting at the lunch table. They were here as a favour to Hades he asked them to speak to Frances as a thank you for coming and doing my ceremony” she says amused.

“Well if Python pops by, tell him he owes her one for all the sh.it she has been through” I say semi seriously. Who am I kidding I am totally serious.

“Oh I will speak to you soon, stay strong, brother. I hope that you get the outcome you want” she says to me.

“Me too, sis, I love you, look after our girl and let her know I am here whenever she needs me” I say, getting off the phone.

If it is time she needs, I will give her that. I will still save myself, and hopefully, she will turn out to be mine. I can wait as long as she needs, I just hope that I don’t end up getting a beloved in the meantime, as I just can’t imagine my life with anyone else.