I saw crying harder now, as the car drove away.
“Look at this way” Evet patted my hand in comfort “For the first time in your life, you have people in your life that you love so much, that it hurts to leave them”
“I don’t want to leave them” I pulled my hand away and looked out the window “I want to be strong enough so I can stand by their sides, like Queen Kara stands by King Theo’s”
“You will one day” Evet said kindly “You will learn to fight and control your powers, and you can be with them when threats come, but for now, you have to protect yourself. Staying with them now while you’re not strong enough, will only make them distracted and could cost them their lives. They’ll be safer with you away”
I remained silent while we drove away from the city, and after a quick stop for lunch at a questionable diner, we got back on the road and I fell asleep. It was around 4pm when we finally arrived.
I didn’t pay attention to the house, or beach that was practically at our doorstep, instead, I just went straight inside behind Evet, who led us towards the bedroom, we’d be sharing.
Evet threw her bag onto the bed and stretched.
“Well, what should we do first?”
“Nothing” I pouted and climbed into bed, pulling the blanket up over my head.
I felt someone lay on the bed beside me, and then the blanket was pulled down.
“Don’t be like that” Evet said gently “The twins will be fine, come explore the woods before the sun goes down”
“No”
“We could go for a swim, Koda said you’d never been to the beach”
“No” I repeated, and pulled the blanket back over my head.
“Okay” She said, and I felt her move from the bed and leave the room.
I stayed in bed all night, feeling sorry for myself and missing my mates until early the next morning, when my hunger overpowered my desire for solitude, and I got up.
There was a cool breeze that smelt like salt wafting through the house and I pulled my coat closer to my body.
As I passed the glass double doors that opened up to the back yard, I noticed a few of the guards sitting at table on the deck, chatting and laughing, while a few other guards stood to attention. They must have been on duty.
I continued on towards the kitchen where Evet was eating and speaking with a young woman.
“She’s alive!” Evet joked, but I just smiled weakly and went over the Bain maries where I grabbed a plate and started placing some food on it “Maddie, this is Lisa, she’s the house keeper here, if you need anything, just let her know”
“I will, thanks”
“It’s so lovely to meet you, Luna” The young blonde girl smiled at me.
“You too” I smiled and sat down “Jax, Koda, are you okay?”
“Still good, sweetheart” Jax answered me.
“We’re still on the way, are you having fun?” Koda asked.
“Coffee?” Evet asked me and held up a cup.
“Yes, please, thanks” I answered her before returning to my conversation with the twins “I’ve just been sleeping, I haven’t done anything in order to have fun”
“Maddie, please try to enjoy your time at the beach” Koda pleaded, as Evet placed the cup down.
“I’m going to go change into my suit, and we’re going swimming, so eat up” Evet told me and left the room.
“I don’t want to enjoy my time, I want to be with you two”
“We’ll be together soon, now, please, have some fun, do it for us” Jaxson requested.
“I’ll try” I lied, I have no intentions of enjoying my self.
“We have to go, we love you” Koda told me.
“I love you both too”
“Love you, sweetheart” Jax added and cut the link.
The moment I couldn’t hear their voices, the depression seeped in once more, and I just picked at my food, eating small bites.
“Morning”
I turned to see Noland walking in wearing shorts and a singlet, and a large fluffy blue towel over his shoulders.
“Good morning” I said and took a sip of my coffee “You look like you’re having fun, aren’t you on duty?”
“I was on guard last night, I have the next few hours off” He told me “Plus, Princess Evet has said you guys are going to the beach, so I’m coming with”
“Are you” It was a question, it was a statement.
“Yep, see you out there” He bowed and left.
I ate alone, worrying about my mates and hating being here, hidden away, but I knew complaining wouldn’t help, so I just had to suck it up.
I was nearly finished when Evet came back in wearing a bathing suit and long skirt, but seeing me still picking at my food, wiped the smile from her face.
“Damn it, Madelyn” She complained and put her hands on her hips “The twins aren’t even fighting yet, stop being so gloomy, they’ll be perfectly fine, now” He grabbed my fork and put it on the table “Get up, and go get dressed for the beach”
I rolled my eyes and stood up “I think I liked it better when I didn’t have a friend”
“No you didn’t” She swatted me on the bottom as I passed her, and I laughed and shoved her away “Your life wasn’t complete before you met me, now go!”
“Yeah, yeah” I waved my hand as her as I left.
I quickly dressed in a one piece suite and pulled on a flowing singlet dress, before walking outside in the sunshine, where Evet was talking to a few guards and Noland.
“Ready?” Evet said excitedly.
“Sure”
“That’s the spirit!” Evet linked her arm with mine and dragged me onto the sand.
I paused for a moment and dug my feet into the sand “This feels so weird”
“You’ll get used to it”
“I love how warm it is”
“It’s great, isn’t it” Evet said happily “Come on, I’d had chairs set up, we can sunbathe and warm up”
“Sounds perfect”
We headed towards two large beach chairs next to a bunch of childrens toys, a bucket, shovels and a frisby “What’s all of this?” I asked and sat down on the sad next to the toys.
“You’ve never been to the beach so I got something to build sandcastles with” Evet told me, sounding very pleased with herself.
“I’ll build a sandcastle with you” Noland sat down next to me and picked up a bucket “Who ever builds the worst one has to skinny dip”
“That’s never going to happen” Evet glared at him.
“Okay, fine” He gave in “The winner gets bragging rights, and the loser, is just a loser, deal”
“Deal”
“Well, I’m taking a nap in the sun while you guys work” Evet laid back on her chair and covered her face in her hat “Wake me in an hour, and I’ll pick the winner”
“Okay” I smiled and started digging up the sand around me.
We were working in silence for half an hour, and enjoying the heat from the sun, when I couldn’t help it any longer, I wanted answers.
“Are there beaches where you’re from?”
Noland paused for a second and stared at me “I’m not talking about my home”
“Come on” I complained and threw sand at his castle “Just tell me, it’s not like I don’t know the truth now”
Noland looked at Evet, who was still sleeping under her hat.
“Yes, there’s beaches” He commented and went back to building is castle.
“Do you miss it?” I asked “Your home, I mean”
“Yes”
“What’s your city like?”
“Beautiful” He gave another one word answer, which infuriated me.
“Is your family still there?” I tried again “Do you miss them?”
“My family are dead” He answered, his face falling for the first time.
“I’m sorry”
“It happens” He shrugged “We live in a violent world.
“How did it happen?”
“War” He gave another one word answer.
“I’m sorry’ I said again, not sure of what else to say “Do you know my family?”
“Everyone knows your family”
“What are they like?”
“Madelyn, we can’t talk about this”
“Please” I pleaded quietly, so none of the guards could over hear “I’ve met my father, but what’s my grandmother like?”
“She’s terrifying” He told me, his face a little angry “And beautiful, just like you” He added, and I blushed a little “She has gorgeous red hair that looks like fire, it’s like it’s alive, and her eyes are red, she’s also very strict, she doesn’t allow disobedience, if she knew I was even talking to you about all of this, she’d kill me”
“Then why are you?”
“The cat’s out of the bag now” He shrugged “No point in trying to hide it any longer, let’s just hope you don’t tell on me”
“I’ll keep it a secret” I told him “Are all Phoenix like her?”
“Most are, yes” He nodded “You’re very temperamental creatures”
“Great” I sat back on my knees “Will I become like her, if I molt?”
“If?” He smirked at me “You will molt, I can smell your flame growing day by day, it’ll happen soon, and yes, you will change after the shift. That’s why you need a Keeper, to help keep you in check, especially someone from your line”
“Why, my line?”
“You are from a pure bloodline” He told me “And except for your mother, there’s never been a half-breed from a white Lycan family line. You are more powerful than you could even imagine. Why do you think Fenrir wants you more than any other Phoenix, you could be unstoppable? That’s why your mother came home after the war. She was safer”
“And that’s when she met her Keeper?”
“Yes” He nodded “Her Keeper, and mate”
I felt a little uncomfortable when he looked at me with longing “How are Keepers picked?”
“Oh” He pulled down his singlet and whispered something under his breath and a strange symbol appeared on his shoulder blade “This is how we know” He told me and put his singlet back in place “If one of us is born with that symbol, then we know they’re Keepers”
“And how do you know, you’re my Keeper?”
“Who said I’m your Keeper” He winked, but I exhaled in annoyance “It’s complicated, it’s not something you can explain with words, it’s more of an emotional connection, we’ll talk about it more after your molt”
“Will you go home after my molt?”
“It depends on you”
“Why me?”
“Because I want you to come with me”
“What?”
“You know you don’t belong here with them” He told me, his eyes almost pleading “You belong with your own kind, you belong with us, with me”
“I’m not leaving my mates”
“If you stay, your mates will be in danger” He placed his shovel down on the sand and looked at me “Our cities are protected, the entry is open right now, but it will only remain open for a few more weeks before it closes, and once it’s closes, no one, not even Fenrir will have the power to get in, he won’t be able to get ot you”
“I don’t care” I stood up and dusted off the sand from my dress “I’m not leaving my mates”
—The End
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