Legend Has It Book II ~ Complete

Chapter 21 Part 2 CANEGON

PART 2 CANEGON

Their Minds, Bodies and Spirits were exhausted but their Will to survive was strong and gave them Strength and Courage. They wasted no time resting, because still, farmers farmed, builders built, teachers taught. The sun rose each day, the moon rose each night.

Home was where your loved ones were. Love was still the essence of Life, but not surviving wasn’t an option.

{~>*•*knows Ashlyn is his mate. Why the Moon Goddess matched him with someone 10 years younger than him makes no sense. But why do they get to know and I don’t?”

“Is everything ok with you and Chance?”

“I guess. He’s been gone a lot and when he’s here, he works on our house almost 24/7 so I haven’t gotten to spend much time with him. I feel like I still don’t really know him.”

“Do you think he’s being distant on purpose?”

Phoebe was quiet a moment before she answered. “Yes. He, uh, says he doesn’t want to start something he’s not ready or willing to finish yet.”

“Ah, and you’re craving some intimacy.”

Phoebe’s face turned deep red. “I don’t know the first thing about intimacy. But I like when we do things together, even if it’s snuggling on the couch watching a movie.”

“For men, that’s one of the beginning steps of intimacy. They handle that differently than we do. When they want us, it’s, uh, visible, if you know where to look.” I waggled my eyebrows at her in my best Phoenix impersonation.

“What if he doesn’t want me?”

“Listen, Phoebe. I’ve seen how he looks at you. His eyes search for you when you’re not next to him. He’s busting his ass to provide for you, and that’s not a guilt trip. It’s partly due to the way he was raised. I think he’s just really concerned that you’ll wind up like this,” baby stirred right on cue, “before you’re both ready. Your brother drives me crazy sometimes worrying that we don’t have the medical facilities we did. Men are just wired differently than we are.”

“It’s still not fair that Philip gets to know.”

“I’m sure the Moon Goddess didn’t want him going mad looking for his Mate. Some do, you know. With all the chaos of evacuations, Alex might have decided to go the Blue Moon. Philip and Ashlyn might not have ever seen each other again.”

“I guess Philip gets to know but has to wait even longer than I do to, uh, act on it.”

I nodded. “That’s a lot of cold showers, Phebes. Just try to be patient. Everything will work out as it should.”

The rest of the household slowly trickled in. The sun set early these days and we were putting up the Christmas tree tonight.

I didn’t tell Phoebe that part of Chance’s distance could be due to us only having one extra room for them in the smaller packhouse. Expansions were ongoing, but rooms were not like the large suites we had on Death Moon. I made a mental note to talk to Phoenix about helping Chance work on their house. Privacy had become a precious commodity for us, too.

I could definitely empathize with Phoebe. Hadn’t I wondered about my Mate not one year ago?

So much had happened and it wasn’t over yet.

{~>*•*all her pups—were on their way to becoming our pups.

Agent Sylvara accepted my partial retirement from the IUC. Esther and I were planning a small wedding ceremony for sometime in the near future and I would now be writing from home—which was wherever she was. I never dreamed I’d fall for a woman or her people as I had, especially this late in life, but I thanked whatever deity was responsible.

Ben practiced osteopathic manipulations with me on those who overworked themselves but also acted as a liaison with the IUC. He, too, enjoyed working in the greenhouse though most of his time was spent at the Armory on strained muscles. Besides myself and the few Fey who were building a small village in the woods, he was the only other non shifter.

If anyone thought we didn’t belong, word never reached our ears.

{~>*•*s**t! Quake. I had gone out to inspect a barn. My dad, Khane and Dan were all three up the hill at the house. I broke into a run.

{~>*•*Oh, Goddess. Philip, Parker, Phoebe. Natalie. I let out one more howl and pulled myself together. I had to be strong for them. My brothers and Conrad helped me get mom inside and covered. I sent young Ashlyn to the kitchen for Al. He was the closest thing we had to an Elder right now.

Alex offered to go get Elder John when he arrived.

“We knew what he signed up for. At least he died with his boots on,” mom’s voice didn’t reflect the acceptance she tried to exude.

Gen was in a hug with Phoebe and Natalie. I got between Gen and Phoebe, wrapped one arm around each and kissed their cheeks. I don’t know when the tears started falling.

It was three days until Christmas.