Sacred Bond: Secrets of Stone Ridge

by Harms, C. A.

  She and Mom are getting along really well and chatting away like they’re old friends. I haven’t been sleeping well since the dream so they’re all making me stay curled up in front of the fireplace. I appreciate it, honestly, I do, but they need to loosen the reins a little. I feel like I am suffocating.

  When Amelia came over the night I had the dream she checked my vitals and we listened to my baby’s heartbeat, reassuring me that everything was okay. She burned some herbs in the room and placed crystals all around. She said that they’d protect us and they’d promote dreamless sleep.

  Of course that would be if I could sleep more than an hour or so at a time. I can’t help it though, I just wake up scared and then I usually can’t fall back asleep. When Mom and Dad came over earlier, she took one look at the bags under my eyes and made me lie down on the sofa.

  Last night Merick had Ryder over and they were talking about things. I know that more people like him are here to help protect us, and I find it comforting that so many people are seeing to our safety.

  Rowan interrupts my thoughts when she comes out, bringing me a cup of tea Amelia left for me. It’s supposed to help relax me. “Here you go.”

  “Thank you.” I take the cup from her and rest a hand on my belly.

  “Of course. Your mom is so great.” She also places her hand on my belly. “Try and get some sleep, okay? You both need to rest.”

  “I will, I promise.” Rowan surprises me by kissing me on the forehead and then heads back into the kitchen.

  The tea is delicious and cooled off enough that I’m able to drink it all down. I look outside and watch two of the most important men in my life as they chop wood together. Merick smiles and laughs at something Dad says to him.

  It’s the most relaxed I’ve seen Merick in the past couple of days and I’ll take it. My eyes start to get heavy.

  “Should we wake her?”

  “She should probably eat something.” I hear someone say quietly, “Merick what do you think?”

  I fight to open my eyes, but they’re so heavy. I can’t fight it and let myself fall back to sleep.

  The room is bathed in the glow from the fireplace. I sit up, stretching my stiff body. I look over and find Merick asleep in the recliner. “Honey?” I reach out to touch him and he jerks awake. “It’s just me, sorry.”

  He doesn’t say anything only pulls me down onto his lap. “How do you feel?”

  “Rested. I feel bad I slept through my parents’ whole visit. How was dinner?” I rest my forehead against his neck. My stomach chooses this moment to growl, loudly.

  “It was delicious and it sounds like someone is hungry. Let’s feed my girl.”

  Mom pulls me into a huge hug. “I’m gonna miss my girl but we’ll be back in time for the baby.” She smiles at me with tears in her eyes.

  “I wish you didn’t have to go,” I whisper. It’s the truth—I don’t want to give birth to my first child without my mom there, but for their safety they can’t stay.

  Merick comes walking out of the house followed by my father. Dad pulls me into a hug, squeezing me tight. “I’m going to miss you baby girl, but I know you’ll be safe.” He’s quiet for a moment and then smiles at me. “He’s a good man and I know there isn’t much that he wouldn’t do for you. I’m glad you have that.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I love you.”

  We walk them to their car and Merick rests his hands on my shoulders, giving me strength as I watch my parents pull out of the driveway and then disappear down the road.

  I don’t bother hiding the tears as they flow down my cheeks. “They’ll be back when it’s safer for them.”

  My parents received a call that there was a water main break in their yard, and they needed to get home. I’m not sure how Merick made that happen but if it keeps them far away from the danger that’s coming then I’m okay with that.

  I turn in his arms, wrapping my arms around his waist. “I know. Thank you for whatever you did to get them to leave.” I reach up, stroking his cheek. Merick places his hand over mine. I push up on my toes and kiss him before heading inside.

  I pass the mirror hanging on the wall in the entryway and stop. I turn and look at myself. “Holy shit,” I whisper. My belly has really popped out and when I pull up my shirt, I stare in open mouth awe. I look like I’ve swallowed a volleyball.

  Merick appears behind me. “You have never looked more beautiful.” He rubs a hand over my belly and our baby gives a little kick. He looks to the door and pulls me back. “Someone’s here.”

  “Who is it?”

  He looks outside and turns to me. “It’s Marissa and Jonathon. I wanted to see if they could sense anything about your powers and if they’re changing. The dreams are becoming more real for you and I’m just worried.”

  “I will do whatever you feel is best.” Merick kisses me before opening the door and welcoming the healers inside

  Marissa comes to me and pulls my face down to hers, kissing both cheeks. “Come sweetheart. Let's see if we can see what’s going on.” She leads me into the family room and has me lie down on the chaise lounge. “Now close your eyes. I’m going to see if I can feel any magic coming from you or your baby.”

  “O-Okay.” I close my eyes and fold my hands over the top of my belly. The minute Marissa touches my stomach a warm feeling spreads through me. I try to listen to her thoughts, but all I hear is a steady humming sound.

  I feel Merick sit down next to my hip and grab my hand in his. I can feel the tension coming off of him in waves. I bring his hand up to my lips, kissing it. I clutch it to my chest while she continues to do whatever she’s doing.

  When the warmth goes away I open my eyes to find the other woman on her knees with her eyes closed. When Marissa opens them she stands up. Merick helps me sit up and keeps his hand on my shoulder right over where he marked me. When we make love it's an erogenous zone, but right now it's comfort and strength.

  “Is it the b-baby?” I ask. “Is something wrong?”

  She squats down in front of me. “No, sweetheart. Your baby is fine. It appears that not only is your little one part shifter, but they’re sharing their visions with you. I don’t know if it’s the future or variations of what the future could be though.”

  “The dream does change every time I have them. How can my baby have visions? I’m seriously not magical.”

  Marissa shrugs. “It could be something that’s skipped generations. Someone somewhere in your family’s history had special abilities. Maybe it’s something that was triggered by you and Merick mating. This is hundreds of years in the making and we’re all in uncharted territory. I wrapped a protection spell around your uterus. All it’s going to do is keep the baby’s visions from entering your mind. Try to get some sleep, okay?”

  I nod. “I will. Thank you for coming over.”

  We stand up and the other woman pulls me into a hug. “Do not worry, sweetheart. There are a lot of people that are prepared to fight to keep you safe.” She kisses my forehead and then walks over to Merick.

  Jonathon stops in front of me. “We’ll listen to the baby again, once you’re a little closer to your due date. If Mom’s spell doesn’t last, have Merick call me and I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. “

  “Thank you, Jonathon.” I pull him into a hug and the same as with his mother, peace washes over me.

  As soon as they leave Merick locks the door. He pulls me into his arms. “You are so brave. This baby is lucky to have you as their momma.”

  “Well, that’s good because they’re going to be lucky to have you as a father.” I kiss him slowly and then head into the kitchen because as always, I am freaking hungry.

  Merick

  ““I feel like everything is swollen,” Taryn lets out a huff. “My feet, my face, my ass, you name it, it's swollen.” I lean against the door frame just outside the kitchen and listen to her and Lily during their Skype call. Every day, at around the same time, it's the two of them. I secretly love listen
ing to the two of them. It's one of the few times Taryn is allowed to pretend that everything about her life and the way it is now, is normal. I love to hear her happiness, the way her and Lily get a little crazy with one another.

  Sometimes I find myself thinking that she would have been better off had I never pursued her. I know what that would have meant for my people, but the life I’ve forced her to live, the danger I’ve placed her and now our child in, that lies on my shoulders. Living without her would have be torture but the idea that something could happen to either of them, that sits heavy on me every single second of every day and night.

  “I swear overnight I’ve gone up two pants sizes.”

  She exaggerates.

  “And my boobs, they have their own zip code.” Okay, so some things are true. But I greatly appreciate her expanding assets.

  “I bet Merick is enjoying your newly expanding boobs.” I am suddenly reminded of exactly why I like her friend Lily so much. The woman was brutally honest and exceptionally observant.

  “Anyway,” Taryn continues, choosing to ignore her friend but I can’t stop myself from smiling happily. “Tell me about your recent date.”

  I settle in for the next ten minute and listen to Lily proceed to fill Taryn on the recent disaster of her blind date. The guy that split the bill with her fifty/fifty down to the exact penny and then sprayed his mouth with breath freshener and expected a good night kiss. Apparently, he had a unibrow too. One that was wild and unruly.

  To hear Taryn laughing so hard that at one point she even snorted made me happy.

  “I’m glad I don’t have to deal with the dating scene.”

  “Not everyone can be lucky enough to find a man like Merick.”

  That is my que to enter the kitchen. When Taryn sees me she focuses solely on me but continues to speak to Lily. “No because he is most definitely one of a kind.”

  Stepping up behind her I press a kiss to her temple and she leans back into me, my arms wrapping protectively around her middle. With each palm stretched out of our growing child I whisper I love you in her ear.

  “Yeah, okay,” I am reminded that we are not completely alone and look to the screen of Taryn’s laptop to find Lily watching us. Her nose wrinkled though I know she is far from disgusted. She is happy for Taryn. “Sure rub it in my face that you two are so in love and happy.”

  “Good afternoon, Lily,” I say with a grin.

  She rolls her eyes, but her mouth shows unavoidable traces of a smile. “I thought you were gonna find me a man, Merick?”

  “Still working on it, but it's gonna take a special kind of man to handle you, Lily.”

  “Well ain’t that the truth.”

  I find myself wondering if it will always be like this between them. If when the baby comes things will change for them. Or if things really begin to change for us will Taryn be forced to choose between her family and friends for her new life.

  The idea of that breaks my heart.

  “Merick,” Asta offers me a simple nod as I step on to the porch of the old colonial home. One that has only been kept by the grounds people for more than fifteen years. Fiona stands back allowing the elder to observe me, waiting patiently to proceed and offer her own form of greeting.

  “You have your mother’s eyes,” the acknowledgement made my chest grow tight. “And her kindness I’ve heard.”

  I know word has traveled, the ancestors that still mourn the loss of my mother feel as though they need to watch over me somehow. But I am stronger than they presume, now I need to prove that. I don't want to be seen as weak, I wanted to be a leader, a warrior and a protector.”

  “My kindness is only extended to those that deserve it. Don’t doubt my ability for vengeance and my force when it comes to those I love. I will stop at nothing to protect what’s mine. No one will destroy what I am building that I can assure you.”

  “I must say, I am greatly impressed with your confidence.” Asta steps aside and motions to the front door. It is then Fiona feels she had been cleared to offer her own form of acceptance. Hers of course comes to me in a warm embrace.

  My mother and her were very close. She was a mother figure to my own after she lost hers at a young age. Fiona nurtured my mother, she guided her. When my mother looked to anyone for advice on life she’d gone to Fiona. That made her a strong presence in my life too. But Asta he was harder to penetrate, harder to break.

  Much like a long line of the older generation of shifters, Asta showed very little emotion. He was all business, all power.The difference between him and my father was that Asta never allowed it to consume his every move. There was still a man inside of him, one with a heart, only very few people were allowed to see.

  I was one of those people.

  “When will we get the chance to meet this beautiful Angel of yours?”

  Fiona was beaming as she guided me inside.

  “Rowan speaks highly of her, in fact I think her words were the sister she never had.” I can imagine Rowan describing Taryn that way. They are very close.

  “Rowan and Jonathan are with her now.”

  Immediately I see the surprise in Fiona’s eyes. “Is that safe?” The history between Jonathan and Rowan is still a mystery to us all. But what we do know is that rarely are they able to be together in the same place without a battle breaking out between them.

  “Taryn seems to provide a calm they can’t otherwise find.” Another one of my amazing girl’s abilities. She soothes Rowan without really even trying.

  “Hmm, interesting,” Asta adds as we all take a seat near the fire in their expanding great room. “That is a great deal when it comes to those two. Rarely are they able to be together five minutes without wanting to rip one another apart.” he was not joking in the least.

  “Soothing powers and an ability to hear thoughts.” Taryn is still a mystery to us all. “Premonitions were her great great grandmother’s gift.” I nod until his words register in my mind.

  “Wait, what?”

  “Abigail helped us many times, warning us of the visions she’d have. For years she was our guide, our warning system, until others found out her gifts.”

  “Others?” I fear I already know where this story is going but I wait allowing him to continue hoping that I am wrong.

  “Our enemies, those that wanted to destroy us. They looked for weaknesses and she was one.”

  I look between Fiona and back to Asta, observing the solemn face they both now wear. “They killed her?” my heart feels as though it seized. I feel empathy for Taryn though I’m sure she has absolutely no clue of her great great grandmother's demise.

  “They took her, and forced her to use her own powers against us.” I swallow hard the sound of it echoing in the silence as the words penetrate the haze I feel.

  “Are you saying,” I can’t even bring myself to continue.

  “Taryn’s great great grandmother is one of the biggest reasons why our enemies won.”

  A part of me breaks right then and there. The one I love, the woman I am forever linked to and have been since the very first glance is linked to the one person that helped destroy my ancestors. Linked to those that killed my mother, only it was not by choice.

  How am I supposed to tell her?

  I’m not sure I ever want her to know.

  Taryn

  While Merick’s been gone I’ve been hanging out with Jonathon and Rowan. I’ve spent hours watching them avoid each other.

  They’ve been very agreeable to everything I’ve asked them to do while they’re giving each other the silent treatment. So far, we’ve painted the nursery and put the baby furniture together.

  I stand up and look around the room. We went neutral even though I’m more certain than ever that this baby is a girl. The walls are a light mint green with grey trim. The furniture my parents bought so beautiful.

  I place my hands on my belly and begin to cry.

  “Tar, what is it?” Rowan appears in front of me, worry etched on he
r face. “Sweetie what’s wrong?”

  I lean in. “I-I’m just so happy and I’m scared I’m going to lose this.”

  Rowan pulls me into her arms and hugs me. She strokes a hand down my hair until I stop crying.

  I step back and give her a watery smile. “Sorry. My hormones have started fluctuating so bad. In seconds I can go from happy to sad, to horny and pissed off. I feel like I’m on a crazy roller coaster that I can’t get off of.”

  Jonathon comes over and grabs my hand. “Here this will help a little bit.” He cups my face with his hands and closes his eyes. A warm feeling starts in my head and then slowly travels through the rest of my body. When he pulls his hands away, I feel relaxed. “The mood swings should settle down.”

  “You’re like a natural Xanax. Thank you.” Rowan stares at Jonathon, with a look that can only be described as love, shrouded in pain. I turn away from them and see if I can hear what they’re thinking. I know I shouldn’t do this, but neither of them will talk.

  “I think about him all of the time.” Jonathon’s maudlin thoughts break my heart. I know I should’ve stayed out, but neither of them is saying anything ... Who is him? Was it someone close to both of them?

  I turn to look at them both. The tension between them is so palpable, but whatever has happened between them was enough to cause them to ignore each other now. “Are you guys hungry?”

  I don’t wait for either of them to answer. I head downstairs and make some grilled cheese sandwiches--the baby is obsessed with cheese because I crave it all of the time. They both come in and sit while I cook them.

  Since neither of them are going to talk, it’s up to me to get the conversation going. “What was Merick like when he was little?” I set their grilled cheeses in front of them and take a bite of mine, moaning as the melted cheese oozes out of the sides of the grilled bread.