My Exotic Mate

The Degrees of Separation

Mari/Risa

“So, I thought about something,” Apollo spoke. Risa squinted her curious eyes.

“What is it, my darling?”

He turned and smiled at her. “That area. The one where those hounds are staying at, it’s perfect.”

“Perfect?”

“Yes, Risa, perfect. I think we should go back and take out their pack and take over that area.” No! He got what he wanted! Why would he want to go back there? It’s plenty of places that he could go. Anywhere, but there. “It’s closed off. So close, but so far. It’s like hiding in plain sight,” he explained.

“And what are you planning to do there?” Risa wondered.

“To build my own empire, one away from my father. I want to have my own army.”

“So you basically want to prove to your father that you can run an empire?” She frowned. “I thought you did this so we can be together?” Her confusion made me feel slightly bad for her. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He’s playing her. He doesn't plan on building a life with her.

“Risa,” I whispered. “He’s going to lie to you.” I hoped that she would listen to my warning.

“Shut up, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” she silently argued. She was fighting her own confliction. A part of her knew deep down that he was using her.

“My love, can’t you see? We’re here together already, but it’s not enough.” Risa inhaled a breath, not showing Apollo that he’s breaking her heart.

“What?” Her voice cracked.

“Sweetie, you haven’t kneeled to me since I’ve brought you back. A queen kneels to its king, or better yet, it’s God. It seemed like you failed at taking over Mari’s body because she is somewhat still controlling you.”

His statement pissed her off. “No, she’s not and I’ll prove it.”

She walked up to him, despite my warnings and kneeled.

Her head was down and he smiled.

“Risa, don’t let him control you. He’s just using you until he gets what he wants,” I yelled.

“You may stand and come and please your God,” he ordered.

“No Risa, don’t,” I tried to use my kinetic energy to stop her but it wasn’t working. s**t.

“Not this time, Mari. I have to do this. He’s the love of my life.” She planted her lips against his. He demanded entrance with his tongue and she obeyed. Why? Why would she do this? He pulled down his pants and underwear revealing his shaft. She kneeled and he brought it closer to her face before she opened her mouth. I couldn’t believe this right now. He moved back and forth and she took him in. His grunts filled the room and he guided her head with his hand. A few more pumps and he pulled away, relieving himself in his hand. He pulled her back up and kissed her. He nibbled at her neck and throaty moans escaped her lips. He stopped and stepped away from her.

“What’s wrong?” She frowned. He walked away and came back with a golden apple with the words “to the fairest” written on it.

“Do you see this?” He asked.

“Yes, my Lord, but-“ she started to speak

“This apple isn’t just any apple, it’s stories goes back within generations and generations of Gods and Goddesses. Many Goddesses fought over this to prove to their God that they are the fairest. You haven’t.”

Her eyes widened at his words.

“Risa, don’t listen to him. You deserve better than him,” I tried to encourage her.

“Shut up, Mari! God, I should’ve just killed you!” She yelled out loud.

“See what I mean? She’s still controlling you. How can you be a worthy queen if she still has a hold on you?” He taunted. “Get rid of her and show me why you deserve to be queen, why you deserve to be the fairest of them all.”

He walked closer to her and leaned in. “Marise, I know you can hear me. You’ve always been feisty, it’s your strength and your downfall. I’ll be careful if I were you, babe.” Asshole. I couldn’t believe what just happened. A part of me felt like I cheated on Kai. Even though I wasn’t in control, it was my body, my mouth. The guilt that consumed me made me want to cry. I became frustrated. I needed to get Risa to understand that Apollo is only thinking about himself. He left the room, leaving Risa alone.

“Risa?” I called.

“No,” she cut into me. “He’s right! I’ll never be good for him if you’re still in the mix.” She began to pace back and forth. “I should’ve just killed you.”

“Why didn’t you?” I asked. Although, I knew our souls are tied together.

“Because if I did-“

“Then you’ll die too and all of this would be for nothing.” I finished for her. “You need me, Risa. You need me to live and that’s why I’m still here.”

She remained quiet, like she was almost convinced that I was right.

She walked to the mirror and my reflection appeared. “Look, he’s a God, so it’s not going to be easy. Whatever love Apollo had for you is gone. He doesn’t love you. He just used you and told you that you weren’t worthy. If we going to stop him-“

“Hold on, now you’re on my side?” She asked. Maybe a little but I wouldn’t tell her that.

“I just want my life back,” I answered.

She folded her arms. “And I want to live.”

“I know. Maybe there is a way that it could work for the both of us, but I need to know if you’re on my side. I know you are not an evil person, Risa. You were wrongfully killed and I want you to get justice.”

She scoffed, “Justice? Really, that's the best you can do?” Ignoring her snarky remark, I continued.

“We need to integrate.” I learned about this as a kid and forgot about it until now. I think this may be our only option.

She laughed, like full belly laughed. “You want us to integrate?”

“Yes, it’s the only way for us to get what we both want.”

She was almost convinced by my words, but she shook her head. “No, no! I can’t betray Apollo like that. You are in the way of us being together. I’ll figure out a way to get rid of you.”

She’s fighting herself again. I think what I said really hit home for her. I had to learn that maybe a part of me did need her. She was fearless and I envied her for that. Her love for Apollo would be her downfall. He’s playing on it and she’s not realizing it. I just hope it won’t be too late when she does.

Mesai

Kai came as soon as I called. With Roman in tow, we all went to the library where I was testing out certain spells and magic that could help Mari. “So there’s this integration spell where we can combine Mari and Risa’ s soul.

“No,” Kai immediately shut down.

“I wasn’t done, Kai,” I responded. “Anyway, once they integrate, then they would be one person, but there’s a loophole. Risa can get a chance at redemption.”

“Wait so she doesn’t get to pay for what she did?” Roman asked.

“I am Goddess and our morals and values are to forgive. If any God or goddess has a quarrel, even as the Kings of Gods have forgiven us, we also forgive them. So yes she would be forgiven, but I won’t ever forget. There is a spell that can unbind they’re soul once integrated. Once their souls are separated, then Risa can choose redemption or condemnation. It’s her choice.”

“Okay so we need to lure Risa back to the pack house,” Kai guessed.

“Yes, but I know Apollo isn’t going to go for that. He took her for a reason. We do not know what that reason is.”

“I think I do,” Roman chimed in. “Back when my parents were alive, my mom became queen of the dragons when she married my father. She was also betrothed to someone else, but ran away to be with my father. He didn’t take it well, and started this war against my kind in which they succeeded.”

“Wait, the guy your mother was betrothed to wasn’t a dragon?” Kai asked.

“No, he was a God. A very powerful God by the name of-“

“Ruben,” I chimed in.

Roman’s face scrunched. “How’d you know?”

I looked at him, “He’s Apollo's father.”

“What the hell?” Kai sighed. “So is it possible that Ruben is really calling the shots?”

“Very,” I answered. “So we need to be careful when luring Risa, because if Apollo gets involved, I have a feeling that Ruben will know.” Then it dawned on me.

“Wait a minute? Was your mother a Goddess?” I asked Roman. If she was betrothed to a God then she had to be, right?”

“Yes, she was,” he confessed. “Her name was-“

“Hemeria,” I cut in again. “I remember my parents talking about them. Your mother was the Goddess of light and your father was a Dragon King who saved her from being r***d by Ruben. Being a God, my father forgave Ruben for his attempt and they started talking again. This was before Ruben married Apollo’s mom and had Apollo.”

“So all of this is a family connection?” Kai asked. “So what role do I play in this? I’m a wolf, an Alpha.”

“I’m not sure, maybe it has something to do with your mating with Mari. Maybe Mari choosing you instead of Apollo reminded Ruben of what Hemeria did to him,” I guessed. It made sense to me. It’s so crazy to think that Roman and I have been linked through our families and on top of that, he’s half-god, half-dragon. It explained why he was able to block my powers when I was brought here. Was I mad that he kept that from me, a little, but I also know he had a good reason.

“So we need to prepare for war then because if Ruben is involved, then all hell is going to break loose,” Kai said.

A sudden sharp pain hit my chest and I clutched it.

Roman was immediately at my side. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just felt this sharp pain. I’m fine,” I convinced them both. Something was wrong.

“So we need to let Miren know and you need to tell your pack this is going to be a fight for survival,” I directed. Another pain hit me. It’s Miren, something is wrong and just before I could tell them, Kai’s phone rang and Miren was on the other end, screaming.

“Kai! It’s Malik. He had a seizure and now he’s not waking up!” She sobbed loudly into the phone. Roman and I exchanged glances, knowing that this is just the beginning of everything that’s going to unfold. We immediately grabbed all of our things and left. Damn if it’s not one thing, then it’s another.