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Zicko's POV

I walk out to the edge of the water. I know I am dreaming but this is the only way I can still see her. Just a figment of my imagination but it helps to keep me calm. I am on some beach which seems weird since I normally see her where we first met.  I walk out into the water until my ankles are submerged. The water feels refreshing and it cleanses my worries, fears, and anger. For once the grief and pain are washed away and leave me with a longing to see her one last time. To hold her one last time and kiss her supple lips. Tough her soft skin and feel her love. I start to cry knowing that nothing will change and I will never have her back.

"Who are you?"

I whip around to see her, Kalli. I lose the power to stand and collapse to my knees. She looks worried and steps closer. Could she really be here?

"I missed you." I say.

"Why would you miss me?" she asks.

I am thrown for a loop. Why is she doing this?

"Because I love you. And I thought you loved me too."

"I don't even know you. Are you okay?"

I realize I am clutching my chest and I feel talons digging into my skin and blood freely flowing over my fingers. I feel the anger cloud my vision and consume me. I am shaking uncontrollably and my rage at the situation is escalating.

"Why."

"What?" she asks.

I roar my frustration and someone appears in the dream who was not here before. I look at them through my brother's eyes.

"Hello Zicko, I am here to tell you something important. Kalli no longer remembers you or that you are her mate. However, if she choses to be with you she will regain her memories and will live as long as you do with the same benefits as well. The one stipulation is that she doesn't remember and doesn't want to return but we want her to live with you."

I think I remember who this is. But why would they willingly give her back to me. For every favor given one favor must also be taken. What will I have to give up in order to have Kalli back in my arms?

"Why are you willingly doing this?"

"In order to save the innocents that will die if you are not brought back from the edge of damnation. I want to protect you as well, since you are Io's son. Meaning you are part dragon god. Your powers will destroy the Earth if we do not find a way to prevent it. My hands are tied though in laws. I cannot force her to be with you."

"I have no parents, they died when I was young."

"No. But we had to hide the fact that you were the son of Io since many would try to harm you in order to gain her favor. I have always watched over you though. Do you remember me? I would protect you from those bullies in the village."

My eyes widen as I realize that my village leader was really a god all along. I feel a hand touch my head and turn to look behind me. There was a younger woman standing there with a smile on her face and love in her eyes.

"It's nice to see you Zicko. I have waited for this day since I had to leave you in that shit hole of a village. I have always loved you and wanted to be with you but I could not bring you to the world of the gods at that time."

"Who are you?" I ask.

She still smiles even though it must hurt her to know I have no recollection of her.

"I am your mother, Io."

Feelings of abandonment and loss in my childhood flood me once again. Where was my father? If I had her than surely I had a father.

"Do I have a father?"

Her smile drops and a soul crushing sadness replaces her happiness.

"At one time yes. But he died due to disease in the village. I tried to bring him back but the price would have been your life. I knew he would be ok with me choosing to keep you rather than bring him back. In the end I never regret that decision but now I must save you."

"Then give me my mate. Now."

"It does not work like that. She must choose for herself."

Kalli's POV

Who is that guy? He seems unstable and I don't know if I want to be with him. When he fell to his knees earlier I could see how much pain he was in. But he said that he loved me. I was about to agree to go back with him but then the gods had showed up and I was pushed to the side as he learned about his family. I started to walk away but was stopped. Zicko had dashed to grab me around the waist.

"Don't leave. Please, I need you in order to continue living. Without you in my life I have lost my own. Nothing matters anymore, all I want is to hold you like this and to know you are mine."

My heart speeds up and I feel my cheeks heat up. I was unprepared for his statement.

"How did I fall in love with you?"

"I can't answer that. I can only tell you how I came to love you."

He rests his head on my shoulder and turns his head towards my ear. He whispers quietly about how he first met me. That I stole his heart from that very second he laid his eyes on me. He was so nervous that he didn't speak to me much and even ran away to gain control. Over time he began to learn about me and wanted to show his past to me and his favorite things but never had the chance.

"What will happen if I decide to go with him?" I ask the gods.

"You will get all of your previous memories but this memory will be gone along with the one where you met us. I will give you longevity and faster healing powers. Also, For these gifts I must take something to balance out these acts. If you accept then you will wake up in bed."

"What will you ask for in return?"

"I will ask that you complete the mating ceremony in my kingdom. Also, I would like to be involved in your lives since I have missed many years with my son. Do you accept?"

What do you think she will do? I will continue to update through-out this week.