Losing The Light Of The Moon

The Spoils In Life--Both Good And Bad...

Chapter 62: The Spoils In Life—Both Good And Bad...

HORACIO

It came as a relief when Tati said we didn’t have to hide our love anymore and while I still planned on attempting to find out whatever it was that she was hiding from us, once I saw that she continued to be struggling slightly following her latest vision, I chose to wait before pressing her to tell me everything—deciding it may be best to try obtaining that information through our connection first...

Instead, I chose to take care of my Fairy Queen—again raiding the main house kitchen and preparing a tray of food hoping I could entice Tati to eat a little something. While I was making our tray, I linked Umar, who was thrilled when I told him the news, but a little worried when I told him about her vision and the toll it took on her—and worried about me apparently—for the threats he feared I would get. I informed him that I had already received several, which he also seemed to thrill him—jokingly saying he was finally getting payback for everything I put him through...

Tati is good for you—I hope you realize that, he sincerely told me, I’m glad you finally took a step towards something for you, Horacio—you deserve it—just don’t screw this up, huh?

There’s no going back now, I honestly told him, I’m hers forever, Umar—she’s completely ruined me.

Music to my ears, Umar happily returned, before cautiously and worriedly advising, Go take care of our girl.  I don’t like what Tati’s visions are doing to her. I’ll check in with you later.

When I returned to the room, I found Tati asleep, looking so peaceful, I almost hated to wake her, but I knew she hadn’t eaten all day—a habit of hers that concerned me, especially in her current state...

As it turned out, soup was again a good call—but this time, I made a small plate of mashed potatoes and gravy to coax her into something a little more substantial—a small victory as Tati appeased me by eating a little of both, while musing about the differences in our eating habits. I ended our dinner by coaxing her into sharing a few bites of the huge hunk of Lorelei’s apple pie that I snatched up, feeding them to Tati as we chatted about the next day.

The more we talked about it, the more her whole body tensed as sadness filled every beautiful feature on my Fairy Queen’s face—reflected especially in her brown eyes that seemed to lose much of their sparkle as we discussed the long afternoon and night ahead of me at Spirit Walker. My leaving obviously bothered Tati as much as it did me, leading me to pull her into my lap to calm us both—her dispirited reaction breaking my heart...

“I’ll be busy well into the night or I would ask you to come with me. I’m performing a surprise inspection of our midnight patrols and have no idea when I’ll get done,” I soothingly told her, “I’ll link as much as I can in between my planning sessions with Lorenzo and Alastor and the rest of my long list of things to catch up on. Hopefully, I can get everything finished and be back the day after tomorrow, depending on how things go. If I am delayed another day, maybe you can come and visit Priscilla—encourage me to hurry through my work so I can cuddle with you like this in our room there—I can promise you, mine is not a revolving door.” 

“I have quite a bit on my plate that will keep me more than busy, and I don’t want to interfere with your work,” Tati dishearteningly stated, nervously fidgeting with the end of her dark green sweater, “but I will miss you terribly. If you get delayed, I may make a visit after I finish my work here. I’ve been quite spoiled as of late having you at Crescent Moon so much, but we will work out a schedule.”

Pulling my arm in to envelope her completely in my oversized frame, I playfully kissed her on the nose, softly pleading, “Just promise me that you won’t overdo it please—and definitely don’t block me at any point—I’m not kidding when I say our line always stays open. It’s no longer an option for me not to talk to you every day in one form or another—it’s going to be torture not having you in my arms at all for that long.” 

Placing her hand gently on my cheek, Tati’s fingers grazed lightly across the pepper and salting stubble on my cheek before they stilled—her lips coming up to softly claim mine in a long, lingering tender kiss—both of us losing ourselves in the other. My heart swelled with every perfectly rhythmic movement, feel, and touch—again realizing what I have missed all these years—making me relish this moment—this reflection of our love—with every fiber of my being.

“We’ve been quite spoiled, you know,” I rasped out through the small space of our parting lips, dipping down to lightly brush across hers before continuing, “I’m going to miss you just as much, if not more, you know. And I have every intention of spoiling you every minute I can for the rest of my life, Fairy Queen—”  

Grinning, I softly added, “Except for flowers, I guess—Beast has that covered—and as his warning was ten words long, I’m not tempting fate.”

Tati half-heartedly laughed, “Good call. I think we should just keep spoiling each other this way—like we are now.”

I paused, looking at the door—just before someone rapped on it, muttering under my breath, “How did I know that was going to happen?” 

Tati let out a genuine laugh this time, sighing, “If I were to guess—”

“The expectant mother and Alpha of the Moon Stone pack?” I chuckled, rubbing my forehead in frustration. 

“Mmmmm,” Tati humorously hummed out, “We’ll get back to spoiling one another momentarily.”

Sliding out of my lap, Tati answered her door, to find Mahan, Loa, Luminara, and Badru, who deeply apologized, “I’m sorry, Auntie. I did try to talk them into waiting until morning.”

“As did I,” Loa grinned, hugging Tati tight, “You only have yourself to blame, Tati.  I’ve heard you’re already a favorite!”

Tati giggled, “I am indeed—as are my soon-to-be new grandparents. Congratulations!”

Mahan took his turn eagerly embracing my love, “We just received confirmation from Talon. You have helped make me an incredibly happy man, Tati!”   Looking over towards me, he kindly greeted, “Horacio, good to see you. I do hope we are disturbing you two.”

“Expected visit,” I cordially replied, standing up to shake his hand, “Good to see you, Mahan. Congratulations.”

“I can say the same to you. Congratulations on winning our Tati’s heart,” Mahan knowingly drawled out, “Just a light warning from me, as I’m sure you have received several harsh threats already—Tati is very much loved, which means you had best love her well or face dire consequences.”

“My warning is a little harsher,” Badru lowly stated, wrapping his arms around Tati’s shoulders, “I’m quite dedicated and devoted to our Auntie and more than willing to get in the long line of vengeance if you don’t hold up to our standards for her—and before you ask, word always travels fast within the grapevine around here.”

“Again, expected,” I chortled, “and I actually respect the love Tati brings out in everyone—and the protective streaks.”

Luminara was glowing, beaming at Tati as she came up on the other side of her, “We are incredibly protective in our love for her—and admittedly, I’m overwhelmed with curiosity currently. Madeline is on her way, too, Auntie.”

Tati heartily laughed as another knock came at our door, “Correction—she’s here. Seems we have a full room of guests this evening.” Opening the door, an excited Madeline and humored Nicholas lovingly greeted Tati before everyone made themselves comfortable.

“Alright, first things first, my darling,” Tati cheerfully stated, bringing forth a plate of blueberry scones covered with a thick layer of white icing, setting it on the table to all of our laughter, “Just keeping a promise I made to our precious little ones.”

Taking her seat between Luminara and me, Tati delightedly sighed, “So, I take it you want to know the gender of your little ones.”  

Luminara eagerly nodded, immediately taking a scone off the plate as Tati kindly told her, “My darling Luminara, you and my Badru are going to have the best of both worlds. A girl who will look exactly like her stunning mother, the gold in her grey eyes shimmering the brightest of you all, and a boy—who will be the spitting image and have every trait of his amazing father. He’s already overly protective of his sister and their minds are completely in sync—a beautiful closeness and bond between them that will last a lifetime. Something that will bode well not only for your family, but the Moon Stone pack itself. They will do everything together.”

“How marvelous, Tati,” Mahan intriguingly breathed out in awe, looking at Luminara with deep love and reverence, “Talon confirmed all is well with Luminara and I will continue to make sure that remains true throughout. Tell me, you can see the same with the children—they are both well and content?”

“Very much so,” Tati warmly returned, “and already know they have their grandfather wrapped around their little fingers—especially your granddaughter, who already loves and adores you like no other—and rightfully so. You are already imprinted heavily on her sweet little heart. She feels the immense love you carry inside and very much enjoys hearing your wisdom—a trait she will carry as well—a calm and soothing demeanor much like yours, while your grandson is Badru in every way—a beautiful heart, great strength, intellect, and instinctive leadership skills. However, it appears his grandmother is the favored between the two of you. He will seek you out the most, Loa—in fact, he will be very protective of all the beautiful women in his life. Quite a little chivalrous charmer.”

Loa’s expression softened, inaudibly breathing out in disbelief, “Really, Tati?” 

Receiving a slow nod from my love, she seemed very touched and surprised, “I never expected that—but I am very much looking forward to it—more than I can say. Seems I continue to receive surprising gifts despite my bad decisions of the past. Gifts I am incredibly thankful for and will embrace wholeheartedly. Thank you for your insight, Tati. I wish I had the gift that you have, being able to see so much about them already.”

“Don’t look back, Loa,” Tati enthused, “Do as you have just said—embrace the future wholeheartedly...there is so much for you to look forward to. Not to mention so much to embrace right now in the present. Forgiveness will enlarge them both. Believe in who you are now, not who you were then.”

“Thank you, Tati,” Loa admiringly replied, as Mahan kissed the side of her head, wrapping his hand around hers.

“Well said and congratulations all around,” Nicholas earnestly grinned, “It truly is the best of both worlds.”

Madeline enthusiastically clapped her hands together, “I can’t wait to spoil them—I’m so happy for you both!”

“Thank you for appeasing my impatient loved ones, Auntie,” Badru adoringly said, reaching out to take Tati’s hand in his, “Admittedly, I didn’t mind hearing all that as well, especially how close they will be—and the knowledge that I won’t be outnumbered!”

Her mouth full of scone, Luminara ecstatically hugged Tati, “See? I told you he was dying to know! Thank you, Auntie! Thank you so very much!”

“Oh, my darling, you are so very welcome!” Tati eagerly returned, “I already have plans to make sure you are comfortable and fashionable during your pregnancy and will undoubtedly keep yours and the children’s closets filled! I cannot wait to hold them! For now, you take care of yourself and those little ones!”

“Oh, Badru and I will make sure of that, I assure you,” Mahan beamed, “They will be fortunate in the gift of wisdom and immense love from all our extended family, which does my heart good as well. It’s nice to have some good news like this currently, but it also leads me to desire all this dreadful business to be put behind us quickly and have Mattias and Guntur home, so we can fully enjoy the beautiful spoils of life.”

***********

Lying in bed enjoying the aftermath of our own beautiful spoils of life with one another, including some pleasure and wickedness following the closing of Tati’s revolving door—including a quick stop by Constance and Jace to check on her, who thanked me for getting her to eat—I mused, “I did enjoy being here when you revealed such happy news tonight. I still marvel at your ability to do that. I will be truthful though—part of me wishes I had been able to enjoy that experience.”

“Part of me wishes I had more children as well,” Tati dreamily replied, “but that just means we will steal our future little loves often and spoil them rotten.”

I was intrigued—immediately asking, “Can you see them already?”

“Mmmm, not clear yet, but I do feel there will be more than one with Jace,” Tati ambitiously replied, tracing the outline of my chest as she contemplated out loud, “I hear the name Papi in reference to you by the children as I think about it now—it appears mine is not quite decided yet.”

“I wonder why?” I curiously asked, thinking it odd and a bit worrisome that mine was the only one to come forth.

“It just isn’t time for us to know yet,” Tati quietly replied, but I heard her undertone—it was the same as my thoughts, “I’m sure yours came through so clearly because of your current thoughts. It’s nothing to worry about.”

We both went silent after that—my mind continuing to think about Tati’s revelation—the new nickname I already found myself very attached to—looking forward to the day I would finally hear it called from the voice of a little one I would undoubtedly adore—and the worrisome absence of a nickname for my love—intending on waiting for the moment I could try to see if our current dire situation was the cause. 

Unfortunately, the comfort I felt holding my Fairy Queen and our long day ended with both of us drifting off to sleep—together...

************

Where was I? Nothing looked familiar—it was dark—underground—some sort of dirt path leading to somewhere unknown. I was panicked—fearful—determined—and hurried—bolting down whatever this corridor was in my wolf form—but what was I running towards?

I hit a dead end—there was nowhere else to go—frantically looking around trying to find something—anything to get to—I had no idea, but from the looks of it, I was pissed!

I saw it then, an outline in the ceiling of some kind of secret hatch—my way in to wherever I was—using every ounce of strength I had to furiously thrust myself through, destroying the hatch as my paws solidly hit the ground, immediately taking off in a mad dash down what appeared to be another hallway—brown dust circling wide all around me from the force of my wild run. 

But I couldn’t see what lied ahead—it was completely black—no sound and nothing in my sight—I felt completely helpless and full of fear. Out of nowhere, I heard Guntur’s devastatingly fearful cry, “Unc! NOOOOOO!” just before a blast of dirt sailed through the air, dust and debris flying straight at me—and then silence...eerie silence that brought with it sheer and utter devastation as my wolf let out a deafening, devastated howl—and then a flash of Tati’s Believe necklace—reminding me of her words about the note inside it not long ago...

I must have been holding my breath in my sleep, waking up to the sound of the loud gasp of my intense sharp intake of breath—fighting against the instinctive violent jerk my body took in my startled, frightened state, so I wouldn’t wake Tati.  My chest felt heavy and constricted as I fought to regulate my breath, my whole face covered in sweat from the nightmare I had just endured.  I was about to bring my hand up to wipe my forehead and brow, but that’s when I noticed—my hand was wrapped around Tati’s—hers, as always now, laid above my heart—our conjoined hands surrounded in green...

I had no doubt my eyes were crazed as they darted down to confirm Tati was safe—maneuvering my other arm that was wrapped around her to place my hand on her back, making sure she was breathing normally—able to slightly catch my breath when I realized she was alright—but still filled with fear not only for her, but Guntur...

Giving myself a moment to calm down, I brokenly attempted to ask my question, my voice hoarse, dry, and cracked, “Tell me Fairy Queen—nightmare—or shared vision of the future?”

Tati pensively murmured her answer—a frustrating one, “Only a possibility to prepare you, Horacio. The picture is still not clear. Some of the final decisions will be at the last minute. There is no more to tell—for now.”