Beneath a Flaming Sky - Book Three (Moon Child Series)

Chapter Seven

“I am no mate of yours, mutt.” I spat. Draco was bouncing around so hard in my head I was afraid he’d burst out. But I stood to my word, even if my soul felt like it was being torn asunder as tears spilled down her cheeks all the while telling myself this was for her.

“Xander!” I turned to see a shocked, and disgusted looking Nimue gazing at me from the balcony where she had just landed in time to hear my statement. I was shocked as she ran past me, her arms wrapping around Mia as she sobbed into her shoulder. Her glare could peel paint as she shook her head at me. I just returned her heated glare with one of my own as she tried to comfort MIa.

“This must be your friend you were talking about. The hybrid.” I said, my tone filled with boredom. “Well, it seems mission accomplished on both fronts then.” Nimue’s glare turned confused and I shrugged. “She is the young woman from my dreams.” I uttered my tone once again bored. Her eyes widened at that statement as Mia sniffled into her shoulder. I turned from her tear-stained face, afraid that it would pull me to her arms. “Great. So now that that is done, we can go home. Say goodbye to your friend, Nimue.” My steps froze at her next words and I turned to her with a loud growl.

“No, Xander. I’m staying. And if I stay, then you have too as well.” Her eyes held no fear as my growl vibrated through the small room, and her arms tightened around MIa as she seemed to step back at the sound.

“Nimue. Let’s go.” I growled through gritted teeth. Her face turned stubborn as she shook her head.

“I’m staying, Xander.” With one last glare she turned from me and slowly led MIa to the little audience we had that was standing near the door. The pregnant vampire embraced her excitedly, practically squeezing the life out of her, but it seemed as though MIa didn’t care, happy to return the hug. With a huff at my sister I sprinted out the balcony door and shifted as I plummeted towards the ground with a loud roar and a burst of flame.

***

Mia’s POV

I closed my eyes as the warming sun drifted towards the horizon and prepared myself for another night of running. After a few minutes, the warmth did not relent as it usually did once the sun sunk beneath the horizon. Instead, it spread through my body, radiating outwards from my lips, that tingled as though I’d eaten something spicy. The heat spread right through me making me feel safe and warm. No screeching sounds cried through the air as I’d expected, just beeping noises and my breathing. The tingling sensation left my lips, and the absence was definitely missed. I felt my eyes flutter open and my emerald gaze collided with an amber one, fire raging deep in its irises. My lips spread into a soft smile as I recognised the face before me as the man in my dreams and my hand reached up to softly brush his cheek with my fingertips, assuring myself he was indeed real. Tingles shot through my fingertips and up my arm as I brushed his stubble covered face, enjoying the feel of my skin on his. I’d finally found my mate. Correction, he had found me. The fates had pulled him to me, and now we’re together. Scarlet bounced around happily in my head, her excitement palpable.

“Mate.” We sighed together; our voice croaky from not being used in four years. My heart fell and Scarlet howled in pain as he stepped from us, confusion probably evident on my face as he did so. A blur to my left had me jumping as Viktor appeared and pinned my mate against the wall, his hand around his neck. They eyed each other off as Viktor hissed at my mate, yet he seemed unfazed by the fact that he was pinned to the wall.

“Do not touch her, lizard.” Viktor hisses, his fangs causing him to slur the words.

“If you don’t want to be barbequed, I would advise removing your hands from me at once.” My eyes went wide at his words, hoping that Viktor would heed his words. However I should have known better, Viktor has always been a stubborn man, and this was evident in the way he rose his free arm in the air, ready to strike at my mate. Panic struck me.

“Viktor, wait!” I cried out. “Please, wait. He’s my mate.” even though it appeared the man did not want to be my mate, the fact of the matter was that he was, and I couldn’t let any harm come to him. Viktor arms went slack as my voice reached him and his face was full of shock as he turned to me, his eyes welling with tears.

“Mia.” My heart swelled as his voice cracked on my name and I smiled widely, my arms open just as wide to welcome him in for a hug. I squeezed him tight as his arms wrapped around me and his familiar smell had me almost bursting into tears of happiness. I was home, finally. A cough from behind Viktor broke the moment and we pulled back from each other to gaze over at my mate, where he stood looking as bored as before. I silently thanked Viktor as he helped me to my feet, my legs a little wobbly after four years and slowly made my way to my mate, causing Scarlet to bounce around happily. His passive expression did little to break my determination as I came to stand before him, and his scent hit me for the first time. In all the excitement of waking up I’d not taken notice of his scent, but now it was having me almost quivering with just a whiff. He smelt of cinnamon, spicy yet sweet, and I could live in its smell forever.

I once again reached towards him slowly, and I cautiously stroked at his cheek with my hand, revelling in the swarm of tingles that vibrated up my arm and through my body.

“Mate.” It was nothing more than a sigh, but I hoped it conveyed everything I was feeling for him in that moment. I’d waited so long for him and at long last we were together. My arm was roughly thrown to the side, disgust apparent on his face. Hurt and rejection coursed through me like poison making my eyes sting with the tears that appeared there.

“I am no mate of yours, mutt.” He spat the words as though they were a bad taste in his mouth, and I felt my heart practically break as Scarlet howled in despair. The hot tears burned my cheeks as the traitorous drops chased each other down my skin.

“Xander!” a familiar voice cried out in horror from the balcony doorway and as my eyes connected with her familiar green ones, I felt happiness at seeing her, but it was still drowned by my despair at the hurtful words of my mate. She ran towards me, her warmth enveloping me as I felt sobs rack my body. I couldn’t control it even if I wanted to. Despair and rejection were drowning me with their poison and Scarlet retreated from me, going to lick her wounds.

“This must be your friend you were talking about. The hybrid.” His voice was like a knife driving the despair deeper into my heart as he spoke as if bored. Why was he being this way? “Well, it seems mission accomplished on both fronts then. she is the young woman from my dreams.” My tears began to dry up and I sniffled into Nimue’s shoulder as she stroked my back comfortingly. I gazed up from her shoulders, my eyes momentarily connecting with his and he turned from me, making my heart ache more.

“Great. So now that that is done, we can go home. Say goodbye to your friend, Nimue.”

“No, Xander. I’m staying. And if I stay, then you have too as well.” A growl vibrated through the air, coming from him, and I jumped at the sudden sound, Nimue’s arms tightening around me comfortingly.

“Nimue. Let’s go.” His tone held no room for argument but Nimue set her shoulder, staring straight at her brother.

“I’m staying, Xander.” With those words, she turned me from him and walked me towards where Amelia and Viktor had been watching from the doorway. The sight of a pregnant Amelia had all thoughts of despair being pushed down into a corner where I would deal with them later and were replaced by utter happiness as I remembered I was going to be an aunty. Amelia pulled me towards her for the tightest hug I’ve ever experienced, and it was the best hug I’d ever had. A loud roar pulled me from the embrace of my sister-in-law, and we all turned to the balcony door in time to see my mate flying off in a rage of flames. Nimue shook her head beside me and huffed in frustration. Her eyes turned to me apologetic and angry.