Legend Has It Book I ~{COMPLETE}~

Chapter 12 More History

PHOENIX

We’d been there at the table for hours as the story unfolded and pieces began to fit together. Sometimes the goddesses spoke, other times they showed us what couldn’t be translated into a modern vocabulary, which could have added decades rather than minutes. I sat by my mate, wanting so desperately to be alone with her, not daring to make contact for fear I’d lose control. The story was too important to save for later, but dammit, the inconvenience was torture.

I still didn’t know how The Guardians fit into the future of this since we were all from different worlds, but I finally had to touch her and find a way to end the night.

“I know there’s probably a lot more to tell, but I really need to—,” I searched for the words, pulling my mate’s hand into mine. “Let this all sink in.” I stared into Genevieve's pale green eyes. “I also really want to— be alone with my newfound mate.”

I loved the slight blush that crept into her cheeks. “If you’re comfortable being alone with me, that is.” It suddenly dawned on me that she was quite innocent and I was a drunk and hardened murderer, compared to her. The Mate Bond may have us infatuated and our wolves were obviously content for the moment, but would I be able to make her fall for me after she got to know me? Shewolves were complicated creatures. She was not Isabella and I was not Isaac.

If I was honest, I wasn’t so sure I was happy with the Universe for adding so much responsibility to me. Why me and not some other Alpha in another realm far, far away?

I’d briefly forgotten the rest of the audience until Conrad swore about what a f*****g night it had been. This didn’t just affect me, but also him, my brothers and sisters. My parents. My allies.

I realized that it might be wise to get away from her. ‘At least for a little bit,’ I thought to myself when my heart clenched at the thought of running.

“I think it’s safe to say that rest is probably the number one thing we all need right now.” Bless Conrad. He was thinking what I was thinking. One way or the other, let’s end this night and come back to it later. Dawn wasn’t far away. My mate stifled a yawn. She was probably more tired than all of us after her first shift.

“There’s not a lot left to tell, though you have some things you’ll have to do own your own,” Francis spoke softly. “There is one more thing that needs to be done now before we all separate.”

“Ahh, yes. Thank you for reminding me,” Mary took over and reached for a thin, braided piece of leather around her neck. She revealed a small golden dagger attached to it. “We need to make a blood pact so we can communicate with each other from a distance.”

Fuck. This was the last thing I wanted!

As I thought about it, though, this would be the next best thing connecting me to my new mate since I might not be marking her soon. I wasn’t sure I wanted in a Blood Pact with the human witch—mage, it seemed she preferred, or the other creatures, though. I had enough people in my head already.

“All of us?” I questioned.

“Yes,” came Mary’s reply. “But don’t worry. It won’t be as intrusive as a Beta bond,” she winked. “You’ll sense a summons as needed, an image of the danger, or project, as the case may be.” Project? I had enough projects.

“I know it seems redundant, but, if any one of us, and we’re all in this together, should become killed or incapacitated, we need the link to the others,” Catherine interjected.

I noticed my wolf was more relaxed than he had ever been. I wondered what he knew about projects or being killed.

After we pierced our palms and joined hands in a circle, we were all at our breaking points in exhaustion, even those of us trained to withstand the intense rigors of war. Genevieve was barely able to stand. The house only had two bedrooms. One for my mate and one for Josephine. I had been hoping to be a little farther removed from this group so I could think, but I doubted we had the strength to find other arrangements. The sofa, the loveseat and two chairs did pull out into beds and their cushions could be used on the floor for beds. My men were accustomed to sleeping on the ground if needed and I assumed the werecats were, too.

At that point, I decided I didn’t give two shits where anybody else slept and began to guide Genevieve toward the stairs where I assumed her room had to be.

“Don’t worry about me trying anything funny. I’m too tired to even think about violating you,” I whispered in her ear.

{~>*•*<~}

GENEVIEVE

By the time Phoenix whispered those words I knew the other creatures could hear, I was too tired to care. I’d begun leaning on him for strength but I knew through both a new Mate Bond and the Blood Pact that he was just as exhausted as I was. His warm breath on my ear gave me the strength I needed to climb the stairs.

I hadn’t shared a bed with anyone but the girls since they were little and had first come into my life. I briefly worried about the human sized queen bed versus his height, but I couldn’t really complete a thought process at the moment.

His touch wasn’t sexually electrifying right now, but comforting. I felt protected. I sensed his struggle over not wanting to leave my side but also wanting time to think and let things sink in. I knew my world was changed forever. So was his.

“Do you want to be the big spoon or the little spoon?” He asked upon eyeing the size of the bed, exhaustion evident in his voice.

I’m not sure what I replied. Things faded to black after that and when I next awoke, it was to the tingling sensation of a breached shield. Phoenix must’ve sensed it, too, and was on his feet in half a second. An image of an older version of Phoenix flashed in my head.

“My father,” he breathed, relieved. “Let’s go face the old codger.

I wasn’t sure if we should be relieved or not. Alpha Khane was accompanied by 11 men, dressed in uniform, if the image flashing in my head was not a figment of my imagination.

I froze in place. Last night’s events flooded back into my mind. I’d made my first shift, found my mate and was now in a Blood Act.

The bed! I’d shared it with a male. My mate, but still a stranger. I realized we were still dressed, but remembered he had seen me naked.

Phoenix paused on his way to the door, noticing I stood frozen. I was still half asleep, still trying to make sense of everything and now there were more strange men. Apparently, he was used to sprinting into action. I was not. I needed coffee.

“Are you ok?” He asked me.

I didn’t know if I was or not. The scar from the Blood Pact itched a little. Scar! It was already healed. My eyes must’ve widened as I stared at my palm. I had to look away from him for a moment. I needed to ground myself before he thought I was a flake.

“Yeah,” he gave a short chuckle. “We heal pretty quick.” I still didn’t move. I sensed motion below us on the first floor. There was a houseful.

“Um,” was all I could say. The confidence I’d had before leaving this room the evening before was gone, but I wasn’t feeling the urge to flee, either. I knew part of my sudden hesitation, probably the biggest part of it, was standing in front of me looking good enough to eat. I had dreamed about him.

“My father’s not that scary,” he said. His eyes narrowed slightly as if he was trying to figure out why I stood there like a deer in the headlights.

I finally managed to blink and met his gaze full on. He was closing the gap between us. His beautiful blue eyes seemed to stare straight into my soul.

“Um,” I tried again. “I’m just… overwhelmed, I think. Coffee would definitely be good.” He was close enough to touch. I couldn’t resist. I placed the hand I had just stared at on his muscled forearm, and was rewarded with tingles at the touch. His face relaxed, and he covered my hand with his.

I suddenly noticed the sheet wrinkles on his face and the strands of hair sticking out from the band he’d tied it back with last night and couldn’t stop the smile from forming. I had a sudden urge...

“Can I—“ I paused. I was about to ask something out of character for me. “Can I...” Dammit. I’d never wanted anything more than what I wanted right then and that was to kiss him.

An image flashed again of his father with an unspoken command to get our butts downstairs.

“s**t,” he swore. “We’ve been out for three days.”

Three days?? We’d all slept for three days!

Phoenix took my hand and we headed downstairs. The moment was lost to me for now.