Filed to story: The Chosen Saga Novel PDF Free
They all said their final goodbyes to her mate. Their friend and mentor. Their brother.
Until they met again beyond the veil.
“Where is Shavon?” Araiya’s voice was soft, the past few days had taken all of her power. Including her voice.
“She vanished,” Talon answered, handing her a water bag.
“What?”
“We went to search for her while you were singing after he-” Mac looked away. “After Zephyr died, we went to look for her body, but it was gone. We even had Terran shift and search from the air. The black dragon’s bodies were still where they died, but she was gone.”
“Stupid fucking bitch.” Araiya wiped at her swollen eyes. “I just need a minute. Then we can go.” She made her way to the water’s edge and stripped. She had spent days in the same clothes and she needed to wash. She needed space. She needed-she didn’t know what she needed any more.
She walked naked into the cold ocean. She shivered as she swam out farther, before she dove under the waves. She swam deeper and deeper and then she finally opened her eyes. And she screamed as she came face to face with Athan and his toothy grin.
She swam to the surface laughing at herself. She breached the surf still laughing at herself, but soon the laughter turned to more tears.
“Firebug? I brought you fresh clothes. Are you okay?” Mac walked up to the surf. “Araiya?”
But she refused to turn, and refused to answer. She just stared off toward deeper water, away from the island. Mac stripped his own clothes and walked into the freezing cold water after his mate.
“Don’t,” she whispered as he came closer.
“Firebug. Please let me in.”
“If I let you in, and then lose you, I will shatter, Mac. I am already so broken, and Zephyr’s death has proven one thing. The Enforcers are not indestructible. I can’t lose any more of you.”
“So keeping us at arm’s length will save you from that pain if we die? Will you not care if you Keep us at a distance?” Mac inched closer and slowly used his body to heat the water around them.
Araiya turned. “You think so little of me, that I won’t care?”
“Not at all, Firebug.” Mac wrapped his arms around her as she pushed at his chest trying to get his hands away. “I just want you to realize that keeping us at arm’s length won’t save you the pain. But it will hurt us because we love you.”
“I can’t.” Araiya stopped struggling and just shook in his arms, silent sobs wracking her body.
“And you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, never ever again. But I will say my truth. It is easier for me to accept Zephyr’s death because we have a lifetime, many lifetimes really, of memories I can pull from to think of him. I spent all of my life loving, growing and learning with him. It hurts that he is gone, but we lived. I don’t want you to have regrets with us, like you have with Zeph.”
Araiya looked up into Mac’s eyes. “You-“
“Of course. We all have. But I will say it was Talon. Talon knows you the most, and he knew you would spiral over your regrets. You pushed him away because of everything. And now all you can think about is what if. What if he had waited, what if you gave him a chance. But what ifs aren’t going to bring him back.”
“What if I could have saved him?” she whispered.
“He was lost way before you came into the picture, Firebug. You can’t take that onto your soul. But what if you push us away? What if you give up loving us? What if you let these thoughts spiral you away from us, and we lose you? These what ifs are what matter. I love you Araiya. Please don’t push us away.”
Araiya stared into Mac’s face, and thought about what he just said. She slowly closed her eyes, and a few more tears trailed down her face. Mac leaned in and kissed each tear, kissing her pain away. He pulled away just to be pulled back as she kissed him.
Araiya wrapped her legs around Mac’s waist as the floated in the water. Her kisses becoming desperate. “Firebug?” Mac pulled away and cupped the side of her face.
“Kiss me. Touch me. Make love to me.” Araiya kissed him again. “Make me forget for a moment that my heart is broken.”
“Make you forget?”
Araiya pulled back at his question. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“Is this the only reason you want me, Firebug?” Mac asked softly.
“No, I love you. I want you, but you’re right. It wasn’t-” Mac cut Araiya off with his kiss. He bit her lips, and she gasped. He used the moment to deepen this kiss. She wrapped her arms around him, digging her nails in to his back. He tasted of cinnamon and honey. Sweet yet spiced. Araiya grew more addicted to his taste as the kiss continued.
Mac paddled back towards the shore, pulling Araiya with him. He walked up on to the beach and laid her down just put of the water. He broke the kiss to look down at her. “You are the most gorgeous creature I have ever laid my eyes on.”
Araiya pulled back, and her eyes widened. “What did you just say?”
Mac froze, not understanding the shift. “You’re the most gorgeous creature I have ever laid my eyes on. I am sorry, I shouldn’t have called you a creature. Female, the most gorgeous female I have ever laid my eyes on.”
Araiya smiled as he stumbled and kissed him again. This was not a trick, he was not the darkness, and she was awake. Mac kissed her harder before he pulled back and ran his hands down her naked form.