Chapter 9: An Evening with Mom and Dad

UNKNOWN

The lounge is filled with chatter and laughter as everyone gathers after dinner. Lira and Eros have tied the knot and made their home in the caves high in the Alps, a perfect sanctuary for dragons.

The coven is safe there, and many have found their mates among the dragon men.

The Fae king is expected in three days, and then the serious discussions will begin on how to eliminate the looming threat.

Andrei expresses his plan to confront the three council members of the vampire kingdom first. With Willow’s assistance, he plans to leave tomorrow, ready to eliminate them if they prove to be beyond reason.

Boris discusses the potential consequences of this plan with his father, and Kaiser supports Andrei’s idea. After all, Kaiser was the one who appointed them during his reign, so it’s only fitting that he reassesses their ability to maintain peace. If they can’t, they need to be dealt with. Discreetly.

“I’m off to bed,” Willow announces. “I need to assemble a team early in the morning, and hopefully, we’ll be back in time for your meeting, brother.”

She bids everyone goodnight and heads out the door, her parents trailing behind her. As she opens the door to her room, her parents are right behind her, following her inside.

She laughs at their presence. “Wow! I haven’t had my parents tuck me in since I was about ten. What’s up? I know you’re not worried about the mission I’m going on tomorrow with Andrei. I’ve been on far more dangerous ones before.” She looks at both her parents.

Her father gives her a gentle smile, and her mother tucks a loose strand of her dark hair behind her ear.

“We wanted to ask if Genesis has chosen Andrei as your mate,” Lyric asks.

Willow takes a deep breath. “Okay, yes. She has, but…we haven’t acted on it yet.”

“Why not?” her father questions. “If the Goddess has paired you…”

“I know what you’re going to say, Dad. I’m not resisting it. It’s just…well, he’s old! Like really old. And he’s immortal! I’m not. I have a lifespan. Yeah, it may be hundreds of years, but it’s not forever!”

Willow looks down at her feet. “I am very attracted to him. I won’t lie. I just need to process it. That’s all. He is amazing though. Funny and shares my sense of humor. I’m trying to take it slow. I don’t want to rush in and neglect my duties.

“I’m a shadow wolf. I’m the best, and I have gifts that the Goddess blessed me with. I need to maintain control at all times, and I have a feeling if I let love in, it could throw me off balance.” She shrugs.

Lyric pulls her into a hug. “Oh, my beautiful daughter,” she sighs into her ear. “Love makes you stronger. Sharing your feelings with someone strengthens your bond. Andrei loved a warrior wolf many years ago. He lost her. I don’t know why, but if the Goddess saw fit to pair him with you? Another gifted wolf? You need to pay attention. He will be your strength, and you his.”

She kisses Willow’s head. “I had two other mates before I found your father. He was my strength. His love made me fight for every breath I take to be with him. Your mate is life, darling. Accept Andrei. You have our blessing. Trust in the Goddess as you always have.”

Willow looks into her father’s eyes. “Are you okay that he’s a vampire?”

Kaiser shrugs. “He’s a man. A good man. He was also an excellent king and a kind one. He came to our aid when we needed him. That alone speaks volumes about his character. Wolf, vampire, dragon, bear. The soul is what we trust. Trust his soul, my daughter.” He kisses her forehead and bids her goodnight.

Willow closes her bedroom door and heads for her shower. After her nightly routine, she climbs into bed and lets the darkness envelop her.

~Genesis is sprinting through the forest. She can sense the vampires on her trail. She is leading them on, her adrenaline pumping. She is laughing in her head. These vamps have no idea what awaits them ahead. She skids to a stop and shifts quickly, and soon three vamps stand before her.~

~“We have you now, bitch!” one snarls at her. “Your little boy toy can’t save you now.” His red eyes rake over her. “I hate the taste of wolf blood, but for you, I’ll make an exception. You look absolutely delicious.”~

~Willow tilts her head and grins. She stands fully clothed even after her shift, a trick only she possesses, a gift from the Goddess. Her legs are spread, ready to move in any direction to deflect.~

~“I can’t wait to wipe that smile off your face,” one of the other vamps declares.~

~“Ohhhh! What? No foreplay? No wonder you don’t have any females to fondle you!” she taunts them. “Personally, I can see why though. Neither of you are attractive. Kinda second-rate. No wonder your king set you up to be the bait.”~

~All three lunge at her, and she shifts into smoke, letting them pass through her. She shifts back behind them. “Oh boys!” she sings. “You missed me!”

She drives a sword into the heart of one while she pulls a cord tied to a tree, and another one is hoisted into the air, trapped in a net.

The last one watches his friend ascend, trapped in a net, and loses his mind. He launches himself at her, and she drives her fist into his chest. Wrapping her hand around his heart, she pulls it out and shoves it in his face. “Not today,” she says as he disintegrates into dust.~

Willow sits up in her bed. It’s daylight. She didn’t mean to sleep that long, but sometimes when the Goddess sends her a vision, it’s hard to wake up. She runs her hand through her hair and rubs her face.

“What do you think the Goddess was trying to tell us this time, Genesis?”

ANDREI

Kaiser and Lyric are the first faces I see in the morning, both of them sipping coffee at the smaller dining room table. I pour myself a cup and join them, just as Boris walks in, a smile on his face as he grabs a cup of coffee and takes a seat.

A maid appears with plates of food, setting them down in front of us. I had made sure to bring my backup supply of blood with me, now stored in the mini fridge in my room. I won’t need it until tomorrow, but I figure it’s best to have it ready before I leave with Willow and her team to find the council.

I glance around the room, but Willow is nowhere to be seen. Boris catches my look and checks his watch.

“If you’re looking for my sister, she’s not here right now. She’s usually finishing up her training about this time. She should be here in about ten minutes. She’s very punctual.”

“Admirable,” I mutter under my breath.

Boris raises an eyebrow at me. “Not really. She’s just very dedicated to the pack. She works hard to develop her gifts to protect them, and our family. I guess that includes you now.”

“I’m not on campus anymore. She can go back to her life. My only goal now is to help bring down my brother,” I tell them.

Lyric giggles into her coffee cup. “Are you really that clueless, or are you just pretending?”

I frown at her, confused. Kaiser clears his throat and Boris laughs.

“I think he really doesn’t know, Mom. He’s a vampire, after all. Maybe their signs are different. For us, it’s smell, touch, and our wolves going crazy. Maybe he needs a taste?”

Lyric turns to me. “Andrei, do you feel anything when my daughter is in the room?”

I swallow hard. “Well, I think Willow has grown into a very beautiful woman. She’s smart, like all of you. She’s loyal and powerful. I don’t know much about her gifts, but the one I’ve seen, where she turns into smoke, is pretty cool.”

Lyric smiles. “Like me, she can control water, create fireballs, spirit walk, and she gets visions from the Goddess. She can also teleport. The smoke thing started about a year ago. She was on a mission and needed to disappear. And she did! She can also shift with her clothes on. It helps keep her modest. She’s shy.”

Boris almost chokes on his coffee. “Mom! Willow is a lot of things, but shy is not one of them. She’s sarcastic, bitchy, lovable, and cuddly. She’s my little sister and I hope, Andrei, you’re paying attention.

“There’s no stronger personality in our family than Willow’s. She’s a born leader, blessed by the Goddess. A powerful combination, and for some reason, it seems the Goddess has decided to pair the two of you.

“Willow already let the cat out of the bag. She may not have made a move yet, but give Genesis an inch and you, my friend, will be mated.”

I sit in stunned silence. What am I supposed to say to that? I do feel a pull toward Willow, but I thought it was because of the blood that flows through my veins from Lyric.

“Are you saying that Willow is my mate?” I ask them.

“We’re not saying that. Genesis is,” Kaiser replies.

“Who’s Genesis?” I ask, confused.

“Her wolf,” Lyric explains. “Andrei, how does a vampire recognize his mate? Willow knew when she smelled you and touched you. Plus, I’m sure Genesis was screaming ‘mate’ over and over in her head.”

I lean back in my chair. “It’s the inability to compel her. I can’t read her mind or enthrall her. Then it’s the kiss. The first taste of her is what tells us. I don’t need to drink her blood. Just taste her mouth.”

I think back to centuries ago when I first met Athena, my warrior mate. She was beautiful, strong, and delicious. But it was her kiss. Then I messed everything up and lost her.

“I do feel a pull to Willow, but… I’m a vampire.”

“Well, as you’ve seen, crossbreed mating has been happening for a while now. Look at Eros and Lira. It’s working because the Goddess is behind it,” Kaiser says, standing up. “Lyric and I have already talked to Willow about it. We’re okay with it if you are. Just don’t hurt her. She might just steal your heart.”

He winks at me before he and Lyric leave the room, leaving me alone with Boris.

“They’re right, you know. Willow is the kind of woman you should never underestimate. If she’s your mate and you accept her, she’ll love you and only you. Cross her and she won’t hesitate to kill you. She’s not like Mom, with multiple mates. I get visions from the Goddess too. You’ll be the only one for her. Your last chance. A second chance. Don’t screw it up.”

Boris gets up and leaves for his office, leaving me alone to process everything.

A second chance mate. A gifted wolf. Again. The thought both excites and terrifies me. I thought I’d be alone forever. Now I have another chance to get it right. And I will. I’ll love her and protect her until my last breath.