Howls of Apollo

Undeviginti

Skaia was still reeling from the kiss, her head hazy with the heat from when the bond flamed the moment their skins touched.

“What?” She asked, her voice breathy and eyes clouded.

Apollo chuckled softly. “Never mind, I got my answer.” He said and kissed her forehead.

Apollo stood from his seat with Skaia still wrapped around him. He motioned for her to get on her feet by slowly pulling her body away from him. She got the hint and carefully unwrapped her legs to stand. They were still so close, with only a breath away from each other.

Skaia dipped her head, feeling shy all of a sudden. “I’m going to – I’m going to get ready for bed.”

Scrambling for her overnight bag, she quickly scuttled into the safety of the bathroom, only letting out a breath after the door shut close. She leaned her back to it as the kiss replayed in her mind. It was breathtaking, figuratively and literally. She can still feel the flips in her stomach, even her heart is still pumping wildly.

She hadn’t expected it from Apollo, knowing of his reservations about her, and admittedly, she too has doubts whether they’d even stay together after all of this is over. But after that kiss, experiencing for the first time connecting with the kind of intimacy only mates can have, she knows there would be no way she’d be able to leave him.

They were just built like that. To a wolf, mates are everything.

Her mind took her back to his confession when he said he wants her in every sense. The statement took a heavy weight off her chest and she realized now, as she’s sobered up from the kiss, that she didn’t even answer him back. She pressed a hand to her cheek and internally chastised herself for losing her voice during what was possibly the most important part of their bond so far.

Because she does.

She wants him in every sense too. Now she just needs to find the right moment to tell him.

She rushed through her nightly routine, and by the time she finished, Apollo was already on the bed, still fully clothed but he stayed on top of the covering. Thankfully.

He looked up the second he heard the bathroom door opening, his eyes instantly connecting with hers. He had a sort of soft, dazed look in his eyes that made tingles erupt in her body and for a second, she feared it was too good to be true.

Nevertheless, he’s still her mate. She’d take what she can get, even if it’s temporary. She’ll deal with the pain later.

Apollo quickly got to his feet and moved towards her. Skaia immediately moved to the side to give him room to pass, giving him a small smile as she expertly maneuvered out of his reach when he was near enough.

She headed for her bed, aware of his slight pause on the entrance to the bathroom, and feeling his eyes on her for a moment before she heard the door close. She let out another breath.

The covers engulfed her the moment she laid down and her eyes immediately felt heavy. She must have been so tired and she didn’t even feel it. She fought the sleepiness for a while before she finally gave in, unable to wait for Apollo to finish showering before she could say goodnight.

Skaia was woken up by a gentle shuffle and a hand softly moving her hair away from her face. It tends to get all over the place when she sleeps and she knows once she looks in the mirror it’d rival the tangled mess of a haystack.

“Skaia wake up.” The voice said. She pouted but relented, her vision blurry from sleep causing her to blink at them slowly until the person hovering over her cleared and Apollo came into sight.

“Come on get ready, we need to get back on the road.” Apollo said, still hovering by her head.

Skaia nodded slowly and on instinct, she held out her hand to him, indicating he help her up. Apollo quickly took it and slowly pulled her to sit on the bed.

With eyes still closed, Skaia took the tie she usually has on her wrist and tied her unruly mane into the best looking bun a person who had just woken up could do. Unaware of the amused look on her mate’s face as he watched her, she climbed out of her bed and went to the bathroom to get ready, missing the chuckle from Apollo as soon as the door closed.

The outside still held a hint of darkness when they got back to driving. It was still pretty early and when a yawn escaped her mouth, Skaia wished she could have had a cup of caffeine goodness.

“How many hours do we still have?” She asked almost childishly as she looked at her mate.

“Two. You can go back to sleep if you want.” Apollo answered.

“No” Skaia shook her head, a yawn starting before she could stop it. “It’d be unfair to you.” She said amidst the yawn, tipping Apollo’s lip up in amusement.

Despite her effort to stay awake, Skaia ultimately ended up falling asleep. She woke up to Apollo once again shaking her softly and was greeted by an old Edwardian home as soon as she opened her eyes. Her mouth opened slightly as she took in the classic architecture of the home. It held a hint of dark tone to it, but it was beautiful regardless.

She rubbed her eyes softly before turning back to Apollo. “Is my hair okay?” It was the first sentence out of her mouth. Apollo smirked in amusement.

“Yes, now let’s go. Remley knows we’re here. He’s waiting.” He said before climbing out of his seat. Skaia watched him round the front of the car before stopping at her door and pulling it open. She quickly got out and got into step with him after he’s locked the car.

She could blame it on her nerves or reflex, but she moved to grab his hand in hers and clutched it tightly. Apollo immediately turned to look at her and he must have seen the nervousness on her face as he tightened his grip.

She’s been around warlocks before, heck she even fought them off, but there was something about this meeting. She’s more nervous about the information she knows she’ll get rather than the bearer of whatever she’ll find out today.

Apollo knocked thrice before the door swung open to a very beautiful man standing on the other side, holding the door open. He had such dainty yet distinct features, glowing caramel skin, full dark head of hair, and the lightest of gray eyes. Skaia couldn’t help but stare. He had a soft smile on his face in welcome. Something about the look on his face gave Skaia the indication he knew why they were there.

“Come in.” His voice rang through like a beautiful melody.

Apollo stepped inside after him, bringing her along. She let her eyes roam the inside and to her surprise, the inside was decorated more modern than she thought. She underestimated how immersed the supernatural world is in modern technology she assumed there’d be cauldrons and potion bottles, not computers and such.

They walked up the steps into an office she assumes belongs to Remley.  Apollo guided her to sit on one of the couches separated by a long rectangular marble coffee table, then took one right next to her. The man from earlier took his own seat on the other couch in front of them.

“This must be the mate I heard about.” Remley spoke first. The smile he had on earlier undeterred on his face, giving her the impression the muscles on his face are permanently etched to form it.

He reached his hand across the table towards her. “I am Remley. I take it Apollo told you about me?”

Skaia’s eyes widened at the rhyme that came out, but took his hand in hers regardless. “Yes he did. I’m Skaia.” She said in a grimace, resisting the urge to pull back when she felt a small vibration jumping from his skin.

Remley’s eyes lit up more in intrigue than surprise when he felt it too. “Ahh so it is true. The gift of healing has been revived in you.” He said in amazement, looking from her to Apollo then back to her.

Skaia took her hand back almost forcefully.

“You’ve heard the rumors then?” She spat, narrowing her eyes at him. Apollo placed a hand on her knee to calm her down.

The warlock shook his head, unbothered by her sudden hostility. “Lyra called. She mentioned a vision that could no longer be stalled. When the healer emerged, our powers surged. The shift was strong but I noticed something wrong.” He tilted his head like he was studying her. “There was a strain, like the feeling when we feel our energy drain.” Skaia looked at him wide-eyed.

“Tell me dear healer, did you take on someone far greater?”

It took a moment for Skaia to answer. The subject sat a little too sore for her as it was the last day Apollo treated her like a mate save for yesterday. She cleared her throat and squared her shoulders to rid of the feeling of her chest tightening at the memory.

“A warlock attacked Clara Solis that day.” She started. “He had the ability to make multiples of himself, so he made explosions on different parts of the pack. It created a distraction to scatter the warriors and the alpha including Apollo and Achilles in different directions. He attacked me in the pack house, then he charmed an innocent child to take on the appearance of the pack’s young alpha.”

She paused to steady her voice as she thought of the next scene. Apollo sat in silence next to her, recalling the events of that day like she is.

“He put a knife through the child’s chest and in my desperation, my ability made itself known. However, in order to heal him, I had to transfer the injury to myself.” She finished, her voice lowering at the end.

“Unheard of.” Remley whispered. The smile on his face no longer there. Instead his brows are furrowed slightly as he looked at his cousin’s mate.

“What do you know of healers Remley?” Apollo asked his cousin, speaking up for the first time.

“I have only been alive as long as you Apollo. I do have a little knowledge about them taught by the previous leader though. They would heal as long as their ability could take them, and like warlocks, energy is where their strength stem. Only growing tired when it is low, but never having to take on their injuries like you said so.” He answered, looking at Skaia once more.

“So I’m not technically a healer then?” She asked, confused as her mother never denied it back at the grave.

“You are, just of a different bar.”

“Do explain.” Apollo said impatiently. Remley looked at his cousin in worry.

“I believe this was how it was to be. The outcome of exorcising her gift is a restriction of her ability.” He said.

Skaia gasped when she understood what he said, as it wasn’t supposed to make sense but it did. Remley gave her a look of sympathy when he saw the understanding in her eyes.

“Healers were hunted.” She whispered, a far-away look in her eyes as she remembered her mother’s words.

“They were hunted for their abilities, abused until they were drained. Healing by transferring their wound to me would make me wary to do so, creating an inherent restriction to use it.” She gave a wry smile to Remley who mirrored it. “It would seem as though I take on the role of a healer, but not with the same free reign to heal anyone.”

The gravity of her words seemed to have hit Apollo as his hand moved from her knee to wrap around her waist, pulling her to him. Skaia moved her glance from Remley to Apollo, looking up at her mate in silent worry.