Embrace the Dark

5

Chapter Three

T

he next morning, I woke late. I’d tossed and turned so much that once sleep finally took me, it didn’t want to let me go. I slowly bathed and dressed, remembering the strange, deadly man in my dream, and wondering about the other men I might dream of next. As I pulled on a casual green gown and tied back my wild hair, I stared at myself in the mirror, at my light brown skin and hazel eyes.

Today I was a new person—the Ascendant. Yet I didn’t feel any different. I was still just Sora. Daughter of heroes. Child to four fathers. Girl with an inescapable destiny.

I headed to the small dining room where my family often shared an informal meal together, wondering if I would find any traces of breakfast. A few pieces of fruit and bread remained, and I put together a small plate. A servant rushed in and offered to make me something, but I declined. She returned anyway with some juice and scrambled eggs, because the staff always took good care of me. I thanked her profusely and then sat down to eat in the quiet room.

As soon as I took the first bite, the door burst open and Erroh rushed inside. “There you are!” he said, as he came toward me. “I’ve been looking for you.”

He seemed excited to see me for some reason, but all I could think of was how he’d skipped my birthday banquet. “Is that so?”

He slid into the chair beside me. “I have something to tell you.”

I raised an eyebrow as I stabbed my fork into my eggs. “Is it an explanation for where you were last night?”

“Yes, actually. I’m very sorry about that, but something happened. Something incredible.” He drew in a deep breath. “The Air God came to me.”

I dropped my fork. “What?”

His eyes danced with barely-contained excitement. “Sora, I’m one of your mates. Can you believe it?”

“No, I can’t.” I stared at him, and he gazed back with sincerity. Was it possible? All of my mother’s mates had been strangers, so I assumed mine would be as well. “Is this a joke of some kind?”

“Definitely not. Watch.” He waved his hand, and a huge gust of wind hit the flower vase on the table and knocked it over, spilling water everywhere. He jumped up and righted it immediately. “Oops, I did not mean to do that. I have a lot to learn, obviously.”

I let out a surprised laugh. Erroh was one of my mates! My first one, at that. Tears of joy hit my eyes and I jumped up to throw my arms around him. He hugged me back hard, and then our lips met without any hesitation. He kissed me with so much passion it made my heart race, and relief swept through my entire body. Kissing Erroh felt natural and so right, and now I could do it for the rest of my life without guilt or worry. I didn’t have to give him up after all.

“You have no idea how much I prayed for this,” Erroh said, as he pressed his forehead against mine. “I’ve loved you my entire life, and I couldn’t stand the thought of not being with you. I begged the Gods to choose me, and the Air God listened.”

“I always loved you too, but I didn’t think it was possible for you to be my mate, so I never let myself hope.” I let out a long breath and laughed softly. “Oh, this makes me feel a lot better.”

He pulled back and studied me. “What do you mean? Is something wrong?”

I hesitated, but there was no hiding anything from Erroh, my best friend for my entire life. And now my mate. “My dream last night… I’m sure it’s nothing.”

His brow furrowed. “You didn't dream of me?”

“No. I should have, but it was someone else.”

“Perhaps everyone's Ascension is different. So much was lost during your grandmother's rule. For all we know, it happened much differently for her than for your mother.”

His calm voice always settled my nerves. I smiled. “Yes, I'm sure you're right. If the Gods chose you, they must know what they’re doing.”

The door opened again, and Carth strolled inside with a big cocky grin, followed by a more serious Zain, with eyes that smoldered as they landed on me. The instant they arrived, my knees grew weak, and I grabbed onto the nearby table to steady myself. I suddenly knew why they’d also missed my banquet—they’d been chosen too.

“Let me guess, Water and Fire?” I managed to ask, though I was suddenly breathless.

“How did you know?” Carth asked.

I pressed a hand to my spinning head. “All three of you missed my banquet last night. Erroh was chosen by the Air God. It only makes sense you were chosen by Water and Fire. I just can’t believe it’s possible.”

“It’s a great honor to be chosen by one of the Gods,” Zain said. “And now we can continue protecting you, as we’ve always done.”

Carth nodded. “It makes sense. The three of us have always looked after you your entire life. We’ve always been your closest friends. Who else would the Gods choose but us?”

When he put it like that, perhaps it did make sense. They said the Gods always chose the best mates for the Ascendant, and maybe they looked into my heart and saw how much I cared for these three men, even though I’d tried to deny my feelings my entire life. Now I didn’t have to do that anymore, and it was a huge relief. My last and final mate, my future Earth Dragon, would no doubt be a stranger, but that would be all right. I’d have my three oldest friends by my side through whatever came next.

I gave Carth a hug and kissed his cheek, and then did the same for Zane. Both of them let their hands linger on me, igniting heat between my thighs. “I’m so happy you were both chosen. Truly.”