Going back..
1107 Words
Maya's POV
Athens came just after sunset. My heart sank at the idea I had to go back. I enjoyed this place and Joe.
"Sooo, spill it!" Athens looked between Joe and me.
Looking up at Joe, his face unreadable. He looked down at me and blew me a kiss. I giggled. "Shaman spoke to us." I smiled.
"Annnnnddddd?" Athens wiggled his eyebrows.
Glancing to Joe, I caved. "We are mates." I looked at Athens.
"Girrrrrl, I knew that! Anyone that has that kind of chemistry!" Athens did a silly little wiggle.
"Then what?" I was confused. Looking at Joe he was too.
"What is the adventure to get there?!" Athens squealed like an excited child.
Joe and I shared a look. Then we broke into laughter. Once our laughter turned to giggles I explained what Shaman had said.
"Well damn," Athens looked at both of us. "I guess we better get you trained!" He winked at me.
Athens brought us back to the ranch. Chaos ensued after. My kids came and hugged us both then wandered off. Elder Braun and Ben were the two that played twenty questions.
"Where the hell did you two disappear to?!" Hollered Elder Braun in a fatherly tone.
Joe and I glanced to Athens. He shrugged and then ran! We laughed until we saw Elder Braun and Ben stomping toward us.
"Athens dropped us off to chat with Shaman," Joe said with his matter-fact tone.
Both men opened their mouths, snapped them shut, and opened them to snap them shut and look at each other.
"He confirmed we are true mates." I chimed in with a smile. "However, we still have to battle after I have been to the tournament." I glanced to see both stares.
"Where is the mark?" Elder Braun said with awe in his voice.
"The waterfall he took us to, healed me. I will carry his mark once the events mentioned are finished." I grabbed Joe's hand. Dragging him toward the house.
I was hungry and I knew he would be too. I made some quick sandwiches while I put together a dinner for later. Joe said he was gonna go check in with Mortou and chat with the others.
I got dinner done and the kids fed when Mortou and Joe walked in. Elder Braun and Ben trailing behind.
"Smells fantastic," Joe said coming into the kitchen. He leaned down placing a kiss where my mark had been.
"Thank you," I whispered. Leaning into the warmth he had.
"Always," he murmured near my ear. Kissing my cheek he looked back at the guys. "What?" There was a silly smirk on his face.
"I have never seen something as big as you wrapped around that small of a pinky." Snickered Mortou.
"And what a beautiful pinky it is," chuckled Joe.
I got their plates served. The conversation took an interesting turn, during dinner.
"Did Shaman say what the last three battles would be?" Mortou asks Joe.
"No, only that Maya would help me with the last two." Joe, spiking some pasta noodles.
"Sounds like you gonna need training too," Mortou mentioned off-handily looking between Joe and me.
"He did mention that all supernaturals went to war over her. That the fates mentioned she could be killed." Adding my two cents.
"Velito," whispered both Elder Braun and Ben.
"Who?" Mortou grunted
Ben recovered first. "Velito" his voice louder. Athens was coming in the door then and hissed, fangs down and his claws instant.
"I gonna say he is a really bad guy?" I asked the group. Noting the reaction Athens had done.
You could feel the mood change. "He is an old wizard," Athens muttered. "He was a great friend before his wife was killed. Newly-made werewolves, couldn't control their change when they first started." Athens leaned back and sighed. "I grew up with him. His wife was from the Lyican line. Not a royal, but had power." His gaze leveled on everyone at the table." He blamed Myra, he was going to kill her. Using the magic in her blood to revive his wife." You could see a far-off look. "He is still around."
All the males growled. The rumble was low, but there. "Do you know how to kill him?" Mortou asked.
"Yes, but you have to get past him. He killed a dragon, using the dying dragon's blood and a portion of the heart in a blood bond ritual, he tied that to his life force. You have to kill her to kill him." He sighed.
"Isn't she dead already?" Ben asked.
"No, for the last 2,000 years he has made sure to keep adding supernatural life force to it," Athens mumbled.
"How would Myra's death help?" Elder Braun asked.
"He would have used her life force to revive the dragon's blood." Athens breathed. Reaching across the table, his eyes lifted to mine. "I am keeping tabs on him. So far he knows nothing of you." He smiled suddenly the seriousness went back to his playful demeanor.
"Do we have a way to shield her?" Ben asked.
"No, the best we all can do is train her." Athens's gorgeous blue eyes smiled at me. "Soul sister, I am gonna make sure you are as badass as possible."
"She is already badass," Joe's hand covered mine on the table. "You just make her even more so." Picking up my hand he kissed the palm. I felt the jolt. A bright light formed on my palm. Everyone watched as it slowly went through my palm into my skin and its orangish glow stopped at my wrist. A glittery tattoo-like emblem of a full moon appeared.
"What is that?" I looked at Joe. His eyes were just as surprised.
"It's a blessing Mark," Ben spoke. "Only the heart of your true mate will be able to do it."
"How does it work?" Joe asked.
"A blessing mark, gives one true mate to the other their love, their soul and their body." Ben looked at Joe. "If the one with the mark is in trouble the one who gave it will find them no matter what." Ben smiled. "You must have done something to make the Moon Goddess do this."
It was an odd feeling, I felt the mark tingling on my wrist but hearing Joe had given me everything in that kiss. A simple act, one filled with love. Yet here I was not knowing how to respond. Could I love again after the betrayal? After knowing I was nothing to someone else. I was worried but relieved at the same time. I needed to sort things out.
- Writer
