My Exotic Mate

Evacuation!

Marise

“Mari!” Mesai’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. I spun around, my heart hammering in my chest. She was running towards me, her orange curls bouncing with every desperate step. Our land—our home—was being destroyed, and there was nothing I could do about it without urging my sisters at risk. Everything was in flames and the ash was raining down like some cruel parody of snow.

We were nymphs—goddesses. Creatures of beauty. Our essence—our very souls—were tied to the elements. Destroy them, and you destroy us and I think someone just figured it out. While we’re immortal, we can be weakened and we learned that the hard way. While we would survive, it didn’t mean peace. It doesn’t mean that there won’t be pain or agony. Watching the land we grew up in, the land we nurtured burn to nothing? That kind of pain had no name.

“We have to go! Now!” Miren yelled as she clutched my arm like she thought I’d fight her on it. And maybe I would’ve if I didn’t feel the surge—the overwhelming pull in my chest that told me we needed to run and rebuild. It was our “source,” as Mama called it. It was an intense instinct that my sisters and I shared. This time, it wasn’t a whisper or a nudge; it was a scream ripping through my veins. I could feel the danger coming closer and had no more time to think on it. My sisters and I took off, the wind whipped past me as we were able to escape. But I felt guilty, anger, and helpless.

I glanced back, fighting the tears that threatening to fall down my face as the last piece of our home exploded into rubble. I could t show any sign of weakness. I was the oldest, the example of strength, and most of all, I couldn’t break the promise I made to my parents. Protect my sisters at all cost. Why us? We lived in peace for years. minding our business, taking care of the land, and this is what we get?

When finally stopped and I didn’t feel the surge anymore. I noticed that we were in the heart of a forest. Miren lit the way with a soft glow from her hands, and for a moment, I just breathed, hoping that we could rebuild and start over. The I thought about everyone else—the dryads, naiads, and the anthousai—our family that we abandoned. I couldn’t even bring myself to call out to them. I couldn’t feel their presence. What if we could die? What if someone found a way to kill goddesses? My parents are gone. Vanished when we were 16 and 17 years old. Messi came to me and grabbed my hands.

“We’ll be okay. We just have to trust the goddesses and gods. Mama and daddy are watching over us.” I wanted to believe her. I really did. But trust felt like a luxury we couldn’t afford.

“We need to start building,” I said. They didn’t fight me—at Miren didn’t. Mesai was the one I would fight with often. Her temper was often out of control. But to my surprise, she didn’t argue back.

“Ten minutes,” I said firmly. “Don’t make me come looking for you.”

The minutes stretched longer than they should have. I busied myself nurturing the earth, coaxing life back into the barren soil beneath my hands. Flowers bloomed, trees straightened their spines, and fresh herbs perfumed the air. It wasn’t the same as home, but it was something.

Ten minutes turned into fifteen. My gut twisted. Something wasn’t right.

I took off, pushing past branches and brambles, calling their names. “Miren! Mesai!”

Pain shot up my arm, a searing heat that made me stumble. It wasn’t mine—it was Miren’s. I forced myself forward, the fire in my veins threatening to take me out. When I found her, she was crumpled on the ground, her body trembling.

“Miren!” I dropped to my knees, placing my hands over her. My energy surged into her, draining me with every second, but I didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. She was all I had left in that moment.

When I came to, I was lying on my back, the sun piercing through the trees. My whole body felt like it had been run through a grinder, but I dragged myself upright, looking for Miren.

She was sitting nearby, tears streaking her face.

“Where’s Mesai?” I asked, my voice trembling despite myself.

Her lips quivered as she stared at me, her eyes swimming with guilt. “They took her,” she whispered.

It felt like the earth dropped out from under me. I couldn’t breathe.

“Who? Who took her?”

“I don’t know,” she sobbed. “They were men. Shapeshifters. They tricked us, Mari. We tried to… we thought we could outsmart them.”

My heart cracked wide open. I wanted to yell, to scream, but I couldn’t. I had to hold it together. For her. For Mesai.

“Do you feel her pain?”

Miren shook her head. “I can’t feel her at all.”

Those words hit harder than any blade ever could. Mesai wasn’t just missing. She was gone, severed from the bond that tied us together.

I stood, fists clenched, and looked out into the forest. I didn’t know who these men were or why they came for us, but one thing was clear.

They messed with the wrong family.

“We’re getting her back,” I said, my voice low, dangerous. “No matter what it takes.”