Children of the Goddesses (completed)

Redemption

Ethan’s POV

            The swelling and bruises on Laila’s face made me wish that I could suffer in her place instead. She was only eighteen, yet, I had left her alone to face those cruel traffickers. Her brother was right, I didn’t deserve her, and my heart was torn between joy and despair. Joy at seeing my mate back by our side, not well but at least alive; despair as the uncertainty of our future with our mate hung in the air.

            It was your fault, Ethan! Why am I being punished as well?! I don’t care what you do, and if you have to get down on your knees and beg, then that’s what you would do to get our mate back!

            Gower’s whining did nothing to calm the turmoil in my heart and when Laila’s eyelids began to flutter, my entire body tensed up. 

            “Laila? Laila, can you hear me?” 

            “Argh,” she gasped in pain as her eyes flew open and I had to stop myself seconds before my hands were about to caress her face. 

            Awkwardly, I put my hands back down beside me as I looked at my mate meekly while my mind went blank. “Should I call Dr. Heil? I should probably tell your brother that you’re awake.” Before I could continue with my rambling, Laila cut me off. 

            “Where is Lem? And Hanna? Where are they?” Her weak voice was laced with panic and worry as she tried to sit up in bed. Even though I had no idea what she was talking about, I knew that I had to say something to calm her down. 

            “I’ll bring Dr. Heil and your brother in, alright? You need to calm down, Laila. The doctor said that you’re still recovering and you need rest.” 

            Seeing that Laila was allowing me to help her lie down on the bed again, I took it as a sign that I could leave her for a minute without her trying to get up and risk further injuring herself. 

            “Lovis,” I called out once I was out in the hallway. “Laila is awake.” 

            In a flash, Lovis rushed into the room while I looked to Jove pleadingly for help. Someone had to get the doctor but I simply couldn’t imagine leaving my mate’s side right now. 

            “Fine, I’ll get Dr. Heil,” Jove said while rolling his eyes. “Get your butt in there and stop moving around so much, Cousin. You nearly died from that wound and it just closed last night so let’s not have you die right when we’ve found your mate, alright?” 

            I nodded warmly at my cousin’s sarcastic comments, knowing that he had nothing but my best interests at heart, before heading back into Laila’s room. Lovis had taken my place beside the bed and was gently stroking Laila’s hair as he tried to calm her down. 

            “What do you mean Lem didn’t make it, Lovis? And where did you put Hanna? She’s innocent, Lovis, I swear on my life that she’s not one of them!” 

            “Calm down, Laila. Hanna is fine. Delta Michelle is with her and helping her to settle down in her new room temporarily. Once you’re well enough, we’ll go back to the Tahoe Coven and then Hanna can decide what she wants to do with her life and where she wants to go. She’s fine, Laila. I promise.” 

            My mate’s hurried breathing slowed down as she stopped struggling against her brother’s hold to sit up when suddenly, panic flashed across her face like she had realized something. 

            “Lem! Where is Lem?!” 

            Laila’s cries were met by a heavy silence, causing her to completely break down. Her wails echoed loudly in the room as she tried desperately to get up from the bed.

            “We will find him, Laila. I give you my word, that I will stop at nothing to find Lem. Father is speaking with Ana right at this moment to come up with a plan to find Lem, and we will find him. We will find our Knight. We will find our Lem.” 

            Lovis’s voice broke as he repeated the same words over and over, as if he wasn’t trying to assure Laila, but rather to convince himself that he would not fail. I had no clue who the crying siblings in front of me were referring to but the desperation in Laila’s voice was like a knife plunging deep into my heart, reminding me that someone else had an important place in her heart. 

            “We were going to escape together. We had a plan, Lovis. Lem had it all planned out but I got impulsive and I screwed up. I shouldn’t have pissed off that queen wannabe female. I should have followed the plan, and now Lem is going to pay the price for my stupidity. I can’t, Lovis, I can’t lose him again. I couldn’t stop them from taking him away when I was twelve but I’m a big girl now, I can’t let them take him away from me again. Lovis, I can’t. It hurts so much, here.” 

            Laila’s fist pounded on her heart as she sobbed into her brother’s arms, and I had a faint idea in that moment, who Lem might be. The male vampire that I saw after Ana cast her spell, the way he had looked at her betrayed everything he felt about her, and there was no doubt in my mind that if someone was trying to help Laila escape the Vampire King’s fortress, it would be that male vampire whose eyes were filled with her. 

            Gower whimpered in frustration at the thought of another male who didn’t love Laila any less than we did, and had proven his love for her in ways that we didn’t. 

            It was all you, Ethan! I wanted to protect our mate! 

            Gower’s sad howl made me realize that I alone needed to redeem myself, and now that our mate was safely back by our side, there was only one thing left that we could do to prove our love to her. I had to protect the people that she held close to her heart, the people that she wanted to protect, even if it was someone who wants her just as much as I do. 

            “I’ll go, Laila. I’ll go with your father, and I’ll bring your friend back to you, whatever the cost.” I vowed solemnly to my mate. 

            For the first time since she had woken up, Laila turned her attention to me and as she gazed into my eyes with mixed emotions, I finally felt a tiny spark of hope blossom in my heart again. 

            “Even if it costs you your life? You would do that for me?” 

            “I would. I was ready to die if Ana’s spell to find you went wrong, and I’m ready to do anything for you now, not so that you would forgive me for not trusting you and not protecting you from those despicable traffickers, but because I love you.”

            Laila’s brows furrowed together as confusion clouded her eyes. “If you truly love me, then why did you betray me? Why sell me to the auction house as a female vampire with supernatural healing abilities, only to risk your life to find me afterwards?” 

            Before I could wrap my mind around the outrageous accusation, a hard body crashed into mine, pinning me onto the ground before a fist met my jaw.  

            “How dare you, filthy dog!” Lovis’s snarl was quickly interrupted by a loud thud. To our horror, Laila had fallen off the bed as she tried to get to us to stop Lovis from attacking me. A sharp gasp of pain escaped her as her hand instinctively covered her side. 

            “Laila! Are you out of your mind?” Like a flash of lightning, Lovis got up to his feet and rushed to his sister’s side to carry her back to bed while I struggled to get off the ground on my own. 

            “Don’t hurt him, Lovis,” Laila whispered through gritted teeth. “It’s not going to make me feel any better and it doesn’t matter anymore. I only care about finding Lem now and if he can help, and we could trust him, then I’m not going to say no.”