Beautiful Ocean Moon

Tobias and Anessa

“Enough.” Ares commanded in a growled. “Explain Mira now.” He demanded as he looked at me. “Send Jax to go get them Ares and I will explain then but I need them here to do it so please.” I didn’t have to look at Rayna or Lily to see their shocked faces I stayed looking at Ares hoping he would help. Ares gave another growl but looked at Jax and nodded who left to do as asked. “Mira you better not being playing games.” “ I am not playing anything just wait and see.” I interrupted Ares who narrowed his eyes. It wasn’t long before Jax returned with the two people I asked for. “Who wanted to know why I wanted them here well here is the answer they’re both from this village.” Tobias and Anessa both stared at me in shock while everyone was confused. “What?” Jax was the only that spoke. “How do you know that?” Max asked after Jax. “Their eyes. Both of them have a trait that can only be passed down but a paternal parent. In this case it’s the green circle around the irises of one with Hazel colored eyes.” Everyone looked at them and then back to me. “Okay I am not sure how that proves anything although it’s uncommon especially in humans it does happen so?” Seth said. “Your right but the fact that the village head also had that same trait as did his two sons makes it more than coincidence. Especially since Anessa is Tobias’s younger cousin and she has been using potpourri to hide her true scent and before you ask anymore let me also point out that the picture on the wall behind everyone also proves it.” Everyone turned it didn’t take long to recognize the two young children in the picture where Tobias and Anessa. “It is time to talk Tobias.” Ares’s tone was one of warning and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “She speaks the truth.” Was all Tobias said as he wrapped an arm around Anessa who sagged against him. “Our grandfather is the current village head and two weeks before him and the other villagers vanished he sent me a message but I haven’t been able to decipher it. When I heard about the mission here I had me and Anessa assigned as servants to hopefully have a chance to sneak in and find something I could use to help me. However when I learned that the Sword of the Kingdom was sending someone to help I knew that whoever it was could throw a wrench.” “That’s why you acted like that when we arrived.” Lily said and he nodded. “Yes I was hoping to get your group to leave what I didn’t know was that you where his daughter and once I did I had to find a way to avoid you at all cost.” Tobias finished and then hung his head. “Is that why you where bold enough to fake a rock slide to injure Mira and myself.” Ares was growling and it wasn’t a question. I had barely managed to step in front of Tobias and Anessa to stop Ares from lashing out. “What no we would never.” “Ares, listen to me there is no way either one of them could have caused that, think for a minute they had left ahead of us and we would have smelled them if they had come back around as we were downwind from them. Not to mention it had to be someone that was right there at the moment it happened for it to come so close to hitting us.” Ares seemed to listen to my words but I could still feel his beast just beneath the surface. “I swear I can’t believe I am about to say this but your Highness grab Mira.”

My head snapped to Rayna shocked at her words. “What the f**k?” “Why?” Those were the questions asked all in shock at Rayna’s order. “Your Highness please grab her, hold her to you, and shove your face into her neck.” I finally understood what Rayna was doing but damn if it didn’t piss me off. “Um okay, what the f**k?” Jax questioned. “Not one word of this.” I said before slowly lifting my arms and wrapping them around Ares's waist. I knew I had to be as red as my hair in the moment but I also knew it was necessary. Bending my head just slightly to expose some of my neck was enough to get Ares to react because soon he had his arms around me and his nose pressing against my neck. Once he did I wrapped my aura around us both. One trick I had learn was that I had a calming effect on most canine creatures rather supernatural or not and it came in handy when dealing with certain incidents back home. There was a downside to it, it only work if the canine I was trying to calm to a deep breath of my scent and generally the best place was my neck the upside I only ever had to do it like that if the beast was just under the surface about to be unleashed. Otherwise standing next to most helped them. Thankfully it didn’t seem to take Ares long to calm down because he spoke up from having his face against my skin though I was the only one to hear him. “Neat little trick you got there little red. Also the next time you want me to bury my face against you all you have to do is ask.” I shoved him off hard and he stumbled back a step. “Like I said you’re an asshole.” I walked back over to where I had been sitting and didn’t care about proper I plopped down and glared at Ares who wore a smug grin. “Hem. Why don’t we get back to the conversation.” Cameron said clearing his throat. “I apologize for deceiving you Prince Ares but I needed to find answers and I didn’t know who to trust.” Before Ares could speak and cause us to backtrack I spoke up. “Tobias regardless of what you may think we are only here to help get answers I know it seems suspicious with the fact you don’t know us and none of us can fully vouch for each other but everyone has only wanted answers so please let me see the message.” Tobias looked at me for a minute and then Anessa nudged him and he looked at her. She nodded her head to me and I watched the fight leave Tobias’s eyes as he turned back and then pulled something out of his pocket. It was a paper and I watched as he slowly unfolded it. “This is the message but I can’t make heads or tails of it.” “Shadows will appear but you find no one. You must remember that more light does not mean less darkness. The dark flame is the hope they bring.” I read the message out loud. “Okay, what does that mean?” Lily asked kneeling next to me. “Tobias, was there anything with this message?” Ares asked him. “No, Your Highness.” That was the answer. “There is a story that is passed down to the heir on the night of their official ceremony as the heir. It’s also passed down to the future sword of the kingdom.” Ares looked at me but I didn’t look at him I already knew what he was thinking. And it was a story that terrified me.