Stellaluna

Suitors

"Are you able to see the spells in this room?" Hypatia asked.

"No, but I can feel them. I'd felt them the first time I set foot in here." I walked around the library, now empty as Selene and Sarge would be... reuniting.. for a while. I lifted my hand and felt the air shimmer and press against my fingertips, the magic aching to be discovered.

"You know something, don't you?" I asked Hypatia, still roaming among the bookshelves. "I know you've been keeping something from me and Selene." I stopped and met her decidedly guarded gaze. When she didn't respond I continued, "I saw the look on your face all those days ago at the lake. Like you had realized something about me."

"I did." She spoke carefully, lowering herself onto her chair and crossing her legs. "You remember the prophecy, yes?" I nodded and came to sit across from her.

"It's been over a few hundred years since I got that prophecy. I could only guess it's meaning back then, but now... knowing you and your growing powers.. the meaning has become clear. You are either the savior of this world... or the executioner." She looked at me earnestly, gauging my reaction. But I didn't even know what to think about it. I was just some nobody a few weeks ago.

"That's... that can't be.." I sat back, just dumbfounded. "I can't possibly.." I sighed

"You can't possibly what? Commune with the dead? See into the past? Perform magical feats that highly skilled witches train their whole lives for? Single handedly decimate an entire enemy's forces and save the pack of your choosing? Disarm spells? Accomplish the impossible? Shall I go on?"

"Hypatia..!"

"Evangeline! Whether you like it or not, you are the the stone that tips the balance scale to destruction or salvation!" She thundered, standing and looking every inch of the ancient grecian goddess that she very nearly was.

"And what if I don't want to be? What then? What if I don't want to choose the fate of the world?" I yelled, jumping up.

"You must!"

"What has this world ever given me but heartache and pain! What if I don't want to save it!"

She sighed and put her hands on my shoulders, and I was taken into her memories.

I saw her as a young woman, yelling into the sky, much the same as I was.

"I didn't do this! I do not deserve this fate!" She cried into the empty air. "Please! Please let me go, I've seen too much for my soul to bear." I watched as she flung herself off of the cliff. The memory stopped, and switched. A series of her running from her Goddess given duty, and never finding peace. Trouble found her wherever she went. I stepped back from her, and looked away having seen enough.

"You cannot escape your fate." She said sadly, "I have tried and failed for many millennia. I do not expect you to just accept this news, as it took many lifetimes for me to, but do not fear, child."

I nodded, having no words to possibly answer her with she surprised me then, by giving me a tight hug.

"I know it is a heavy burden, but know that you are not alone." She whispered in her beautiful musical voice. Through her touch, I could feel she was sincere. She was being for me, what she had wished she had herself all those years ago. A teacher, a friend, someone who understood.

"Thank you, Hypatia. I just need time." She pulled away and patted my cheek.

I walked out of the library deep in thought.

Do you think it's true, Amaris?

I do. I knew the Goddess had a purpose for us, but it still feels incomplete.

I think so too. It's like the puzzle is nearly done, but we are missing a few pieces.

My stomach growled, and I remembered that we hadn't eaten for a while.

Not since yesterday I believe. Amaris added

We headed to the kitchens to find a snack. It was rather late and the castle was quiet as everyone recuperated.

I hummed a familiar sad, comforting tune, and found some leftover beef stew in the fridge and set about heating it up. I had just poured myself a bowl when someone came into the kitchen. I spun around with my spoon in my mouth and the intruder just about fell over laughing.

"Why..." he gasped, "why do you look so guilty?"

"Ryder! You scared me," I said, joining him laughing

"I was hungry so I came to find something to eat and smelled something good in here. You were too huh?" He asked, once we calmed down.

"Yeah, you caught me," I giggled, pulling another bowl out to serve him. He stood next to me as I handed him his food and he set it down on the counter.

"Evangeline, you saved my life. And the lives of my people. I don't know how I can ever repay you."

"You have already showed me more kindness than I deserve. You owe me nothing." I said gently.

"Now eat!" I demanded, interrupting his rebuttal and picking up my own.

We soon finished and he washed our dishes, not wanting to leave a mess for someone else. He took my arm and walked me to my room.

"I'm glad you're alive," I teased, looking up at him.

"I'm glad you were there to save me," he smiled back. He raised his hand to cup my face and rubbed his thumb across my cheek bone, tilting his head down.

Oh sh*t. I thought, as he leaned down slowly, his breathe fanning over my face as his lips neared mine.

"Evangeline, I-" his whisper was interrupted as a door opened down the hall, and I jumped back.

"I should get to bed. Um you should too! Big day tomorrow.. you know the aftermath and all.. goodnight!" I rushed, before running to my room.

Oh my GODDESS! He was going to kiss you!!!!!

Oh my! I know I just got so nervous I-

"Evangeline! You forgot something," Ryder said, catching up to me as I nearly made it to my door.

"Oh I'm sorry," I said, turning around only to find myself caught in his embrace as he held my face and kissed me softly. His lips firm but tentative. I stumbled back in surprise, and he let out a breathy laugh.

"Goodnight," he held my hand up and placed a gentle kiss on my knuckles, then walked up the stairs to his quarters.

What the f*ck

What's in the water here?

Dead people I laughed, slightly losing it. Too much had happened in such a short amount of time. I could not process any of this right now. I walked the rest of the way to my room to find Sebastian just entering his.

"Can't sleep?" He asked. I'm not sure how I looked but he nodded to himself and opened his door. "Come on, I've got something that'll help." I walked right in, without so much as a question. Really, what else could happen tonight. Might as well.

His room was very similar to mine, but it seemed decidedly more masculine. Perhaps that had to do with there being a man in it though. The afore mentioned stood at a dresser he had turned into a bar. He turned and presented me with a glass of golden liquid.

"Honey whiskey, from the eastern kingdom. It's quite good. Goddess knows we deserve it tonight." He muttered, taking a swig of his own. I took a small sip and was pleasantly surprised. It was not overly sweet, but smooth and left a trail of warmth as it passed through my being.

He gestured for me to take a seat and sat opposite me to give me my space. I took the opportunity to look around more. He was very tidy, his bed made, not a shirt or sock on the floor. And it smelled so good in here! It was kind of familiar, though I couldn't place it. I wondered if he had a candle lit somewhere. I looked at him to find him gazing back at me, a question burning in his eyes.

"Go on then, out with it." I said, waving my hand towards him and taking another drink.

"What do you mean..?" He asked surprised.

"You've questions, right? Here I am, don't be shy. But don't be mean anymore!" I added quickly, holding a finger in warning. He chuckled and had the nerve to look contrite.

"Ah, I'm sorry for all that, really."

"I appreciate your remorse, lets not let it happen again, alright?"

"Deal," he laughed "I guess I wanted to ask.. well so many things.." he said thoughtfully.

"I don't think I'll get much sleep tonight, so go ahead."

"How did you save us? Heal us? And your aura rivals that of some of the most powerful alphas I've ever met. I guess I'm asking.. what are you?"

"Well, I'm a werewolf."

I had never gotten asked that before. Could I be something other than that? No. I shifted. I had Amaris.

"Is she your wolf?" He asked, and I looked up startled. "Oh goddess, was I thinking out loud?"

"It's alright. I do it when I'm stressed out too." He laughed. The sound was like fresh, cool water on a hot day. I smiled at him.

"Yes, Amaris is the name of my wolf."

"She's very beautiful." He said, somewhat hesitant. But Amaris was blushing like crazy in my head and was far too pleased by his simple compliment.

TELL HIM, hurry!

Geez okay okay

"Amaris said to tell you that your wolf was very impressive too."

I said handsome and majestic not impressive, Evie!

He smiled but there was something else. I could feel it. I waited quietly, knowing he'd finish when he was ready.

"Your wolf, Amaris," she purred hearing him say her name and it was physically painful not to roll my eyes. "It's just that she looks identical to someone I know from my home." He said carefully.

"Is that uncommon? I mean there are lots of wolves that look similar." I asked confused

"Yes, that's true. But I have never, in all my travels seen a wolf of that coloring before, except in you... and my sister."

"Your sister? So what does that mean?"

"It could mean a lot of things..." he said looking at his glass.

"A lot of things like?"

"Like we could be.. related?"

I gasped and held my hand to my mouth. No! Not after we..!

"But that's impossible! So don't worry about that!" He hastily put his hands up

"How would you know if it's impossible or not?"

"Well.. because the Goddess does not mate family. That's horrible!"

"Woah slow down, what do mates have anything to do with us?" I drank the rest of my drink, my mid starting to spin, and not because of the liquor. Well maybe a bit.

"Ah f*ck," he rubbed his hand over his face and went into his closet and rummaged about. He returned with a tiny vial with a silver substance shimmering inside.

"Whats that?" I asked him wearily.

"You know I have been undercover here," I nodded slowly. "To keep my identity a secret I've been having to take special potions to mask my scent and help hide my aura. This is the antidote."

"Why would you need to hide your scent?"

"Because I am an alpha. An alpha to be, technically. An alpha could not successfully just arrive on claimed territory and not be found out. This potion just had the unintended side effect of hiding me from the mate bond." He downed the vial and grimaced.

"Are you okay?" I stood up and helped him sit down.

"It's silver, not a lot, but enough to purify my body of the potion."

"Oh my- are you stupid? Why would you drink silver?" I looked around for something as he doubled over in pain. I ran to the restroom and found a clean washcloth, and ran cold water over it before running back and dabbing his head.

"It's just temporary, I'll be fine in a moment don't worry." He pulled me down next to him, to stop my fretting. I frowned and watched him, ready to call the castle healer if he keeled over.

"Don't look at me like that," he laughed. "I'm not dying. I've done this before." He did look stronger than he had just seconds ago.

Amaris was nearly pressed against my mind like a kid on the window of a candy shop.

It just.. smells soo.. she panted, trying to find the source. It did smell good. The faint scent was growing stronger. I knitted my eyebrows and looked at the rag in my hand. I tried to discreetly sniff it, but Sebastian chuckled, having caught me. He turned towards me and that movement shifted the air, sending that delicious scent wafting my way. I leaned forward and gasped.

Its our mate! Evie it's MATE! She yelled excitedly in my mind. I was nearly on top of Sebastian now, but I didn't care. The pull I felt towards him was just as intoxicating as his scent. His eyes dilated until the green was just a ring around the endless black pools I wanted to fall into and never find my way back out of.

"Evangeline.." he put his hands on my shoulders and gently pushed me away, making me growl and launch myself at him completely, gluing my mouth to his. I kissed him ravenously, like I would never get the chance to again. He smelled just how he tasted. Sweet, warm, soothing. Every touch was like a balm to my soul. I ran my tongue over his bottom lip, begging him to let me inside when he stood up suddenly. I was holding on so tightly I ended up hanging a good foot off the ground. Surprised, I let go and he gently placed me on the ground and took a large step back.

"Evangeline," He cleared his throat and started again. "I don't want to do anything we would later regret. It's too soon. Its the pull of the mate bond."

"But we are mates.." I said, taking a step towards him. He held out his hand,

"I have had time to deal with it, the bond is too fresh for you. I don't want to take advantage of you." He said, nearly begging. He was hanging on by a thread.

I sat down and took a deep breath through my mouth, trying to clear my head. He was right. There were still too many things to figure out. Like if we were related. Oh goddess, I covered my mouth with my hand as a wave of nausea rushed over me.

He's not our brother! I would know! He's our mate!

Maybe she was right. But either way, my attempt to relax had taken a woefully wrong turn. I took another breath through my mouth, nearly back to my senses.

"Evangeline it's not that I don't want you, because I do. I have since I first saw you." He said, misunderstanding my expression as fear of rejection and not.. ugh. I shivered.

"No, thank you I understand. We barely know each other." He nodded and looked down.

"I am going to go to my room. Thanks for the drink, and the uh.." I left quickly, closing the door behind me before he could answer and ran to my room, locking it before someone else could come and throw their affections on the dumpster fire that is my mind.

I threw myself in bed, not bothering to take my clothes off and refused to think anymore. Maybe that drink was part of the reason my head was spinning. I closed my eyes and willed my brain to sleep.