Maldows Isles

Chapter Nine

Amaria's POV

I yawn, stretching my body out, tilting my head upwards to look at the sleeping man next to me. His tiny snores and peaceful expression have me in a trance. I softly brush my fingers against his cheek, so as not to wake him. I kiss him softly, and I roll out of bed as quietly as I can. I walk towards the closet in search of clothes, silently praying that a woman lived here. Once I find something decent to wear I head to the bathroom to shower. The warm water flows down my body as I let all the dread that I'm feeling wash don the drain with the soap. What if I'm not ready to face her? What if I fail and everyone falls into her hands? I stay in the shower until the water gets cold. When I get out I quickly dry off and get dressed. As I walk into the bedroom I notice Ash is awake.

"Why didn't you wake me?" he asks.

"You were sleeping so peacefully. I thought you wouldn't want to be disturbed." I respond plopping down on the bed next to him.

"I have to be ready too, Amaria. I will be going into battle beside you, not as just your mate, but as the Goddess's vessel." I had almost forgotten that he was the next vessel.

"You're not the vessel yet, Ash," I tell him, looking into his eyes firmly.

"I have trained my whole life. My mother kept me on my toes, telling me I needed to protect my mate whenever you returned home. Trust me when I say my mother is ruthless." He chuckles at that.

"Okay, if you're training with us let's go," I tell him pulling him off the bed. "There's some clothing for men in that closet, shower and come meet us outside."

"What, no breakfast?" he asks with a smile settling on his face. He pulls me in, kissing me hungrily, when he pulls away I smile, "The best way to start the morning." He heads into the closet then, and I make my way outside. I head towards the clearing, where my grandmother's house once stood, to meet my father.

When he sees my expression he frowns, causing me to falter in my steps and lose my blissful smile, "Please tell me you did not spend the night with Ash."

"Yes, I did. What about it dad? We're mates." I say, a hint of exasperation evident in my voice.

"I know you're mates, little lily. Since you didn't understand my question. I can assume you guys didn't complete the mating process." he says, searching my face for an answer.

"I don't understand what you mean dad." He starts to stutter then, completely caught off guard.

"I thought Calissa explained everything to you?" His hand moves to scratch the back of his head.

"What do you mean by completing the mating process?" Calissa and Ash choose this moment to make their entrance then, saving my father from having to answer my question.

"To complete the mate bond, you'll have to do the deed," Calissa says bluntly, causing Ash and me to turn red. I think back to last night and understanding dawns on me. That's what he meant. He didn't want me to feel as if I was forced into completing the bond since I had no prior knowledge of it.

"I see it wasn't for the lack of trying on your part then," Calissa laughs then, her smile overtaking her delicate features.

"I did not need to know that. Thank you so much, Calissa," My father says as he shakes his head in disgust. This makes all of us laugh at him. "Alright, no more fooling around. We have to get started now. Amaria, first you will spar with me." He tosses me a sword.

I catch it, "It's a good thing you made me do all those classes when I was younger." I smile right before I am knocked flat on my ass.

"Ouch, dad! What the hell?" I lean up on my elbows, and then he places his foot on my chest, the sword tip pointed in my face.

"The battlefield will not wait for you to be ready, Amaria. Let's go again." He says quickly. Ash and Calissa are sparring next to us. I watch them as my father advances on me. I wait until he swings his sword at me before I jumped backward, twirling around to swing to shove my elbow into his back. Right before it makes contact, he grabs ahold of my arm and slams me onto the ground again.

I gasp out in pain, which causes Ash to lose focus. Calissa gets the best of him then. Now we're both on our asses. "If you keep your mind on your mate you will fail each time Ash," Calissa says. I look at Ash then, giving him a small nod, before I knock my dad and Calissa down with a gush of wind. Quickly standing, Ash and I press our feet on their chest.

My dad smiles, "You didn't hear that Calissa?"

"No, I didn't Ash's thoughts overpowered hers. That was great you guys." Calissa stands, helping my father up. We continue sparring until my stomach growls loudly.

"I think it is time we all get something to eat," Calissa says. We all agree and head to the house Calissa has chosen for herself. When we enter the home a delicious smell hits my nose.

"I may have put some food over the fire before we began to spar." She says shyly. After lunch, Ash and I head out on a walk. I know there's no one around to see us, but I am still too nervous to reach for his hand.

"So, to complete the mate bond we have to have s*x, right?" I ask him, my body heating up at the thought of it.

"Yes, I didn't want you to feel like I tricked you into mating with me. It will be your choice when you are ready to mate with me." That gives me peace of mind, knowing it is my choice.

"Okay. When I am ready then." I kiss his cheek then, "Let's head back now. I want to train some more." Changing our direction, we head back to our parents.