My mate and my gift

Chapter twenty-two: Matthew

I was lying on a field of grass. The sky above me was blue and the sun was shining. I sat up and looked around. The grassy plains went on and on. In the far distance I could see the edge of a forest.

I got up and shifted, running towards the woods. I had never really liked being out in the open like this.

Once I reached the trees, I slowed down. I tested the air, finding no signs of danger. I saw a white deer in front of me. It ran away when it caught my scent. I gave chase.

I wasn’t hungry, it had just been my instincts kicking in when the deer ran. I lost sight of the deer and slowed down. Ahead was a clearing in the woods. The sunlight and the wind in the leaves made shadows dance across the small lake in the middle of the clearing. Suddenly I heard a beautiful sound. It was coming from the clearing.

I dropped my belly to the floor and edged closer. As I got closer, I could tell the sound was someone singing. My ears perked up. It was the most amazing voice I had ever heard. It also seemed somehow familiar, but I didn’t know where I had heard it before.

I was close enough now to see someone sitting by the lake. She was sitting on her knees, with her back turned to me, pulling her hair out of the water. It looked like liquid flames with the sunlight and the water dripping from it. She was the owner of the beautiful voice.

She turned her body slightly and I noticed she wasn’t wearing any clothes. My jaw dropped and my tongue rolled out. She pulled me closer with her song. I didn’t even try to resist.

When I got close enough to smell her, the familiarity was undeniable. She smelled like strawberries. She turned around and smiled at me, as if she knew I was there all along. I howled and took off in a sprint, jumping on her, knocking both of us in the water. Mira!

I opened my eyes and looked straight into hers. They were filled with tears and she hugged me tight. I groaned. My body was sore all over, and I was starving. I opened my mouth to say her name, but my mouth was parched and all I managed was a strangled gurgle. She leaned over me and grabbed a glass of water – with a straw in it. “Drink something” she whispered and put the straw to my lips. I shot her a look and drank from it. Two glasses of water later my throat was finally back to somewhat normal. “I don’t think I’ve drunk from a straw since I was six” I said. She shrieked and tackled me in a fierce hug, kissing me until I could barely breathe.

I didn’t know what had happened, but if this was the result, I didn’t mind it happening more often. I sat up.

“Careful!” Mira said anxious, “Don’t strain yourself.”

I looked at her and arched an eyebrow. “I’m sorry babe, but I really need to use the toilet” I said with a grin.

She couldn’t help but laugh. I got up slowly, every muscle in my body screaming with pain. The few steps to the bathroom took longer than I imagined. Mira even got up to assist me. What the hell had happened to me?

Once I got back out and was back in bed, I noticed I was naked.

“Soo… What happened?” I asked. Mira looked shocked. She told me about Colin coming back from patrol and about how I had been taken.

“You really can’t remember?” she asked?

I felt bits and pieces come back to me while she was talking, but I couldn’t remember everything in detail.

“Not right now” I simply said. It might come back to me, but from what little I did remember, I was quite sure I would prefer my memories to stay gone.

“What was that song you were singing?” I asked, only partly to change the subject. I had never heard her sing before, but her voice was amazing. She blushed. I tugged her down towards me, and she complied, leaning down, and kissing me.

“I thought you were unconscious – or at least asleep.” She said indignantly.

“I was.” I said, “But your song was like a beacon of light, leading me home. If not for you, I would have stayed there forever.” I could still remember the clearing and Mira sitting by the lake.

But here she was, the real Mira. She was sitting next to me, wearing one of my t-shirts. She placed a hand on my abdomen, gently caressing my skin. I could tell that my body had missed the feeling of her being near.

 I gave her a wide grin and pushed her hand further down my stomach. She puckered her lips and rolled her eyes, but the following smile betrayed her annoyance. She leaned down again, kissing me, and sliding her hand under the covers. I gasped. We were interrupted by a knock on the door. Mira shot a glance to the desk, releasing a breath of relief when she saw it was empty.

A woman came into the room. I growled a bit, not wanting uninvited people in my room. Mira shushed me gently. “It’s good to see you awake” the woman said. Had she been here before?

“Mira, I’m afraid this means you will have to come with me.” She said and shot us an apologetic look.

“What? Why?” I asked confused.

“I have to stand trial or some nonsense” Mira said matter-of-factly. I did not like the sound of that.

I grabbed her arm when she tried to get up. She kissed my forehead and pulled her arm free. I didn’t have the strength to keep her in bed.

The woman took a sample of my blood and measured my blood pressure. It was elevated, but obviously that was because my mate was about to leave my side to stand trial for something.

At the same time, Roxy and Sascha walked in. They were both ecstatic to see me awake, but I was still not happy with uninvited people in my room.

Sascha accompanied Mira and the woman as they left the room, but Roxy decided to stay.

I had no strength to argue. Instead I took advantage of the situation to ask Roxy about this trial.