Filed to story: The Chosen Saga Novel PDF Free
“No, it didn’t hurt. It surprised me is all. What was that?”
“You have glyphs down your spine. I couldn’t stop myself; they were pulsing, and I just ran my finger down them.” Shavon laced her shirt from bottom to top. The shirt was made of leather with no sleeves and was laced up the center. It was so tight that it pushed her breasts together. She apparently had a little more than they expected because the leather didn’t cover all of her chest even as tight as possible. After she was tied into her clothes Shavon pushed her down and styled her hair and makeup.
“Shavon why are you going through all of this? This seems like an extra hassle just for the tour.”
“Listen, you are about to go through every keep. That means you have four days to look stunning. You are a badass Spirit Chosen even if that means you don’t get a mate. I’m going to make sure that you get a high enough position, that you receive proper training.”
“I thought we didn’t get magic unless we mated with a dragon,” Araiya murmured. At the same time, Shavon put on the finishing touches.
“I have a feeling that you are going to break every rule. Just look at yourself.” Shavon turned her towards the mirror. “You’re a badass, and I don’t think anyone has ever met someone as strong as you are. You are a warrior, a queen, and the world is about to fall on its knees.”
Shavon was right about the warrior look. Her black clothes hugged her body. The once overweight child was now this curvy woman Araiya had never seen before. Shavon had tamed her curls with some oils, so the loose black curls softly curled down her body. The makeup was dark but accentuated her violet eyes and her lips were a deep blood red. The black leather was battle-ready, but the soft purple cloak softened the look. Araiya smiled and she turned to hug her friend.
“Thank you. It looks perfect. I feel more like myself than ever before. I can’t thank you enough for the clothes. You were right. Everything looks amazing.” She pulled back and they walked out of the room.
When Talon saw Araiya, he whistled. “Look who’s ready for battle.” They all chuckled while she pulled on her boots. “I went and grabbed breakfast once I figured out you were taking forever. The journey isn’t long, but it will be a while before we can have a meal. So, let’s eat quickly and go. We already packed our bags this morning after we got all of your new clothing so thankfully that’s done.” They dug into the food.
“Shavon, don’t you have to help Jack? He was your charge as well,” Araiya asked then bit into a roll and groaned. The food was so good here, like it was made with magic. “Do you guys make the food here with magic?”
Talon choked and started laughing. Shavon chuckled. “No, you silly girl. We just have excellent cooks who happen to use magical items to cook with, and Jack was taken over by another. Once the initiation happens, the anointed are broken up one on one. I had two of you, so I was asked to give one up. I chose Jack. I wanted to stay with you, and he’s kind of a jackass if you ask me. He is being helped by a mated pair from Fire. They like to stick you with a mated pair from the same element. Unfortunately for you, there are no Spirit elementals or dragons.”
“Not unfortunately. Luckily, I have you and Talon. I would have you over anyone else anyways. Even if I find this mate everyone talks about, I still want you and Talon. You two are the closest people I have. You two are my new family, my closest friends. I will always want you guys in my life guiding me through this mess. Understand?”
Both of them had shining eyes and huge grins. “Family it is then.” Talon walked over and kissed Araiya’s head.
“Yes, family.” Shavon joined them in a three-way hug that was awkward and made everyone laugh. They finished the food, grabbed their bags and left to meet everyone.
They made their way to the path that Araiya first took when coming here. Everyone was already waiting, their robes brightly colored. She stepped up in the black outfit and purple cloak. Everyone stared at her and started to whisper. Araiya looked over her shoulder at her friends who just wiggled their eyebrows. Obviously, they liked the reaction her new clothes were receiving. She had just turned back to the group when Jack stepped up next to her.
“You look, wow. Um…” He cleared his throat. “You look lovely. I like the clothes and cloak. I hate this robe, so do you think I could get clothes like yours? I mean obviously not like yours specifically.” He kept rambling and she just turned away from him. She had almost made it back to Shavon when he grabbed her arm. Talon started to growl deep in his chest. Araiya turned around and raised her eyebrow at Jack then looked down to where his hand was wrapped around her arm.
“What do you need, Jack?”
“Nothing I just wanted to talk to you.” He let go of her arm and scratched his head.
“Why?”
“Why what?” The boy looked confused.
“Why did you want to talk to me?” Shavon and Talon stepped up next to her.
“You won’t talk to me anymore Araiya. We used to be best friends. You look stunning. I was just trying to…” He trailed off blushing as he looked around.
“We used to be best friends Jack. That was before you made me fall in love with you. That was before you made all those promises to me. Remember them, Jack? How you loved me, wanted to marry me. Be my family. Do you remember those conversations?” Jack swallowed and then nodded. “Then I need you to remember how you broke those promises to me. Remember when you called me ugly and fat and said I wasn’t worth your time. Remember how you left me for my sister?” Shavon gasped behind her. “Remember how fucking pathetic and broken you made me. Then when I finally built myself back up and put back the pieces of my heart that you fucking broke, you came over trying to talk to me.”
“Rai, it wasn’t like that,” he pleaded. “Please just listen to me.”
“No, Jack I think I am good. I don’t want to listen to your bullshit anymore. Now get the fuck away from me.” She whipped around and stalked up to the front by Amara.
Jack was slack-jawed; he had never seen Araiya so angry or beautiful. In her leather outfit she looked ready to attack. Jack just stared after her, realizing just how much he fucked up. Talon just smirked and shook his head and walked after Araiya. Shavon felt torn. He wasn’t an evil man, just young. She didn’t want him to feel too bad, so she patted his back and walked after her mate. She hadn’t realized that Araiya had been through the same heartache she had or that Jack was the boy who hurt her. She still felt guilty for how she acted the first day, and now she felt worse.
When she caught up to the pair, Shavon grabbed Araiya’s arm and turned her. She opened her mouth and Araiya slapped her hand over her mouth. “I will only say this once, so I need you to listen okay.” Shavon nodded. “I never want to hear one more apology out of your mouth for the first day. Like I said, I know exactly how it felt to have the one person you trusted with your heart betray you for Korine. I meant it. She pulled Jack right after Ellis, so it’s been a very long year dealing with those feelings. Things like that leave scars worse than the ones on my back. Even though you had Talon, you still had to deal with that betrayal and the lingering feelings of not being good enough. You were afraid I was like her, but I can promise you I am not. Do not think for one second that you have to apologize for your scars. I understand them.” She pulled her hand away and kissed Shavon’s forehead. “You are more my sister than the bitch I left behind so I want you to promise me that you will never apologize for the scars those two left on your soul. No one should ever ask you to do that, not even Talon.”
A tear slid down Shavon’s cheek and she brushed it off. Talon wrapped his arms around her as she started to shake, and Araiya took a step back and finally let her friend begin healing the broken parts of her soul. Talon caught Araiya’s eyes and mouthed thank you to her. She just shook her head and smiled. She walked over to Amara.
“I see that you are healing some old scars back there.” Amara angled her head towards her friends and gave a soft smile. “That young woman had deep scars when she first came to us. I was worried in the beginning when she found Talon. Talon was a rascal over the years. Then she came with her broken heart, and he became such a loving caring man for her. He put back together most of what was broken over the last year, but I think, you just did the rest lass.”
“Those two are my family. I just want them to be happy.”
“They have been happy my dear, but I think you just gave her the final push she needed to heal. They will be better off once she’s done. Crying is a great release. Everyone says it’s weak, but I think it takes strength to cry. You display your pain and open yourself up to heal. It takes courage to shrug off the hold that anger and pain has on your soul. Accepting the pain, working it, and releasing it to heal is one of the most courageous acts someone can do.”
“I don’t know about all of that. I just feel that holding onto the anger or guilt lets the scars have hold over you. The people who created those scars don’t deserve that kind of effort; they aren’t worth it. Accept it then release it and move on. She can build herself up stronger than before. She is worth it.”
“For such a young girl, you have a very old soul. I see a deep knowledge of pain in you.” Amara stroked down Araiya’s back. “You are worth it too, lass. Always remember that you are worth it too.” Amara kissed her forehead and stepped away. Araiya looked over at Talon and Shavon and saw them break apart. She was brushing her hands over her face and laughing.
She walked back over and was swept into another three-way hug. “Thank you, Araiya.” Shavon kissed her cheek. They all separated and turned when they heard Amara call out.