Destiny Rising: Destiny Series: Book Two

by Cooke, CJ

  “No, no kitten. Don’t worry about that. Whatever happens, we will always be mated. Fate would not allow a link to break. But if the link became unstable, we could lose our ability to mind speak. It could even affect the level of our magic. However, it is also a way that some people can estimate how many mates they would have.”

  “So, have you always known I would have more mates out there somewhere?” Why did this thought piss me off?

  “No, or at least I didn’t know at first. When we first met you, your magic wasn’t this strong. It didn’t occur to me until Virion came to speak with us this morning,” he explained.

  This whole situation just felt like a massive mess, which was an accurate reflection of my life in general. I didn’t know this man standing in front of me telling me he was supposed to be one of my mates. What was I supposed to do? Just jump into bed with him and accept it’s what’s meant to be. Is he supposed to just give up his whole life to follow me to God knows where? Surely he has a life here? Why would he just leave all of that behind to be with me? My mind began to spin out of control again, and I felt Kyle tighten his arms around me.

  “I can feel your confusion. What can I do?” he asked me, holding me tightly against him.

  I looked up at Virion, who was still standing off to the side, allowing my other mates to comfort me. He didn’t look uncomfortable, he just looked lost.

  “What do we do now?” I asked him.

  “I know you are on a journey and I know things must seem impossible at the moment,” he looked down at me sat on Kyle’s lap while he spoke but he didn’t look upset about it. He just smiled kindly at me. “I would ask to come with you, to have the opportunity to get to know you, and support you through this as much as I possibly can.”

  “But you would be leaving your whole life behind to be with me,” I pointed out to him. He’d spent decades locked away in this realm with his people.

  “Yes, it’s true that until now, my life has been here with my people. But that doesn’t mean that is all my life will ever be. And it also doesn’t mean if I go with you, and you decide not to accept me as your mate, that I can’t come back. Although personally, I’m hoping that’s not what you’ll decide.”

  I looked between my three other mates. “And this honestly doesn’t bother you? This is your chance to say something,” I told them. They all just shook their heads and shrugged. I looked at Sykes specifically. “You were so upset when you thought I was looking at Trent like I was interested in him,” I pointed out.

  Sykes just shrugged. “He didn’t feel like pack in that way,” he simply said.

  I looked at Virion and smiled. He broke into a massive grin when he realised I wasn’t going to say no to him. “I guess you’re going to need to pack a bag.”

  Chapter 22

  Virion

  I’d never been happier than I was right now. I’d found my mate! I didn’t understand what I felt when I first saw her in the forest. Of course, I’d never admit that to her. It had taken Tasar explaining it to me before I understood. Again, not my finest moment. In my defence there hadn’t been an incident of a fated mate since we’d closed the realm gate and locked ourselves in Galvinae.

  Tasar was over a hundred years old, and he fought in the battle of Galvinae. He was also my most trusted friend and advisor. But having him explain fated mates to me was a little like having a sex talk with your parents.

  Last night had been torturous. Going to the house to speak with them about my suspicions and being able to hear their moans of pleasure had been more than I could take. I wanted to storm in there, rip off my clothes and join in. Walking away had been one of the hardest things I’d ever done, and I’d suffered through my father’s training on how to fight.

  I didn’t know how her mates would react when I came to them. I didn’t exactly think they would challenge me for her, but then I didn’t think they would welcome me into the pack either.

  It would be good to get out of Galvinae and travel the realms getting to know Aria and the others. This place was starting to feel stifling to me. My father was happy for us to remain locked in the realm for the rest of time. I understood it at first. We’d lost so much in the war. So many of our people had died. We were slaughtered, even though we’d eventually won. Now there were barely any Fae left. Our numbers had dropped below one thousand. And less than ten percent of those were women. As a species, we were dying out. It was only a matter of time, and my father either wouldn’t or couldn’t accept that.

  The only option we had if we were going to save our species was to open the gate and seek out mates outside of our realm. My father and I had fought over this time and time again. We were undoubtedly going to go over the same ground today when I told him I would be leaving with my mate.

  When I walked up to my father’s home, I noted the four guards he had posted at the front door. It was unusual, and it made me uneasy. They didn’t stop me from entering, but two of them peeled off and followed me into the house. When I entered my father’s office, they closed the door behind me, no doubt, staying by the door.

  “You’ve increased your guards,” I noted as I sat down in the armchair next to the fireplace. My father, King Haryk, was already sitting in the other chair sipping on brandy, even though it was still only eleven in the morning.

  “We have outsiders in our realm. We can’t be too careful,” he grumbled.

  I regarded my father as he sat there, staring into the fire. Something was bothering him. This was what he did when he was troubled by something. Sat and stared into the flames while he thought through all the potential outcomes.

  No matter how much I disagreed with him now, I’d always respect my father. He’d been faced with an impossible situation in the Galvinae War, and he’d stepped up even though it meant the near destruction of our people.

  No one knows why the angels betrayed us. They were the natural enemies of the demon races. They should have been the most likely to stand beside us. Just the fact he had led our armies to victory when the odds were stacked so far against us, was nothing short of a miracle. But now? Now he was hiding behind the gate. I believe it was because of the guilt that weighed down on him for the loss of so many of our people.

  “She is my fated mate,” I stated simply. I hoped Aria’s theory of just putting it out there was a good one, but I could see no way to gently introduce the subject to him anyway.

  He turned his head to me and regarded me for a moment before he silently turned back to the flames. He swilled the brandy in his glass, but apart from that, it was like he hadn’t even heard me.

  “You intend to leave with her,” he finally said.

  He still wasn’t looking at me. It was disconcerting because without looking him in his eye, I never knew how he was going to react.

  “Yes. She travels to Valhalla to seek the assistance of the Valkyrie, and I intend to go with her,” I told him.

  “And after that? Will you abandon your people just to sink your dick into some half-breed woman?” When he turned to me, I saw it. I saw the anger flashing through his eyes.

  “Was my mother your fated mate?” I asked him suddenly.

  “You know that she was,” he sighed, turning back to the flames. “And yes, I would have followed her anywhere. I keep trying to think what she would have done had she been here. What advice she would have given you. But everything I can think of is completely at odds with what I want you to do. It’s like I’m arguing with myself, like the incompetent old fool I’ve turned into.”

  I never knew what to say to him when he got like this. Over the past few years, it had gotten worse. I knew the guilt weighed heavily on him. The fact my mother had died in that final battle made it all the worse.

  “I won’t try to stop you,” he sighed. “Fate has laid this path before you, and you must take it. Your mother would have loved that you have been gifted with a Valkyrie as a mate.” He chuckled, taking a deep drink from his brandy.

  “So ... she’s a Valky
rie now,” I laughed, standing up and pouring myself a brandy before retaking my seat.

  He at least had the decency to blush. “My apologies for that. When do you plan to leave?”

  I was just about to answer him when the doors to the office flew open, and my brother stormed inside. “Where is she?” he shouted at me.

  “What is the meaning of this?” My father shouted, leaping out of his chair. “You may be my son, but I am still King here, and you will show me respect.”

  The guards stormed the room as they heard my father’s raised voice. Then they hesitated. It was clear they didn’t know if it was their place to restrain my brother. That was the problem when the Royals had their squabbles. Everyone else got burned in the fallout.

  Aubron huffed out a breath and began to pace the room before storming over to the brandy and pouring himself a large glass. It looks like we’re all becoming day drinkers now. “My apologies, father,” he mumbled.

  The guards immediately relaxed, no doubt relieved they didn’t have to intervene in a family quarrel. My father waved his hand, and they left, closing the door behind them.

  “Now, what is this latest tantrum in honour of?” my father asked. I couldn’t blame him for his weariness. My brother was difficult. He needed to grow up, and if I left, he needed to do that quickly. He would be becoming the heir to my father’s throne. If anything, he should be delighted this was happening.

  “Is it true?” he seethed. I’d never seen him act like this before, and it was surprising. I’d witnessed some of his more epic tantrums, but they’d never been like this. “Did you let a woman into the realm and claim her as your fated mate?” he shouted at me.

  “You are twisting the facts,” I told him.

  My father just sighed. “Is this all because you feel cheated out of a mate?” I didn’t know how much more of his behaviour my father would take before he took more drastic action. I was starting to be thankful I probably wouldn’t be here to witness it.

  “I should at least be able to meet with this female, see if she is to be my mate as well. All of the males should be allowed to meet with her,” he said, puffing up his chest.

  “And then shall we have some kind of tournament so you can decide who shall win the right to crawl between her legs?” my father asked him. I was impressed he was managing to keep a straight face.

  “If it comes to that, then it should be considered,” my brother said stoically nodding. He was truly ridiculous.

  “Are you sure he’s my brother?” I seriously asked my father.

  I could see Aubron’s face turning a deep shade of red. It seemed likely this situation would devolve into something we probably wouldn’t feel proud about tomorrow morning.

  My father, much to my brother’s continued annoyance, just laughed. “Aubron, I understand your frustration. You’re not the only male who has yet to find a mate. And I’m aware of the situation we find ourselves in. Your brother has been advocating for the realm gate to remain open, so others have the opportunity to leave and find mates.”

  Aubron looked at me in surprise. He’d not been present during my father and I having our many arguments on this situation. He was generally off drinking, fighting or hunting.

  Unfortunately for Aubron, my father continued. “I disagree with him. Especially now, it is apparent the demons are invading their realm again. It is too great a risk for our people.”

  I sighed in defeat. It was the same argument over and over again. If we left we would die, if we stayed, we would die out. But my father’s counter was that to seek mates of other species would dilute the Fae blood and our people would as good as die out anyway. We were never going to be able to agree.

  My father’s main goal was to preserve our people and our heritage. I thought his guilt affected his judgment, and he thought my inexperience and libido were affecting mine. Essentially, we were at an impasse. I’d tried to discuss it with Tasar, but coming between my father and I was the one thing he refused to do.

  “I still want to meet her,” Aubron huffed out as he sat on the edge of my father’s desk.

  “You will meet her tonight at the feast we will be throwing in her honour,” my father told him, and I raised an eyebrow at his declaration. I caught the subtle shake of his head and said nothing.

  “Good,” Aubron replied, standing and straightening his jacket. “I will go and prepare myself for tonight.” And with that, he walked out of the room without another word to me.

  “You have to give one thing to him, he always gets information faster than anyone else I know,” I said sipping on my brandy. My brother may be immature, but he had a very impressive system of spies.

  “I suggest you and your mate leave well before dinner,” my father said, turning to me. “I will deal with your brother.”

  “Thank you, father,” I said, standing from the chair and moving for the door.

  “Send me word of what you find in Valhalla,” he told me as I left. “This is a situation we need to keep a close eye on.”

  “Of course,” I told him before I left. Perhaps there was still hope my father would change his mind and come out of his hiding place. The impending war was only going to make him want to seal the gate again forever.

  I went back to the house where I’d placed Aria and the others. Thankfully, there wasn’t a group of desperate males surrounding the place. When I went into the place, I found it empty. My first thought was they’d left without me, that this morning had been a lie. My heart dropped, and I felt like I was going to throw up. But then I heard the scuffling noise coming from the back yard. Every house had a small enclosed yard you could reach through the kitchen. When I went out through the kitchen door, I found Liam leaning against the kitchen wall watching Kyle and Sykes spar. Aria stood close by giving Kyle some pointers and directing him through a series of moves.

  When she saw me walk through the door, Aria’s face lit up with a smile and my heart, which had previously felt like it was dragging on the floor, began to soar.

  “We need to pack up and leave,” I told them bluntly.

  “What’s happened?” Kyle asked, suddenly straightening up.

  I grinned as I thought about the ridiculousness of the situation. “It seems Aria’s arrival has caused a bit of a stir amongst our male residents and it would be better to get out of the realm before the hoards of unmated males come knocking at your door.”

  “Awww, are you worried about me?” Aria laughed.

  “Erm, well … okay, I don’t know you well enough to be able to answer that question without potentially making you hate me,” I answered.

  “That was a good way to get out of getting your ass kicked,” Kyle said, slapping me on the back and walking past me to go back into the house. “I’m going to pack up our bags,” he shouted back over his shoulder.

  Aria came up and gave me a peck on the cheek which made my chest puff up with pride. It was the first time she’d initiated any kind of contact in front of her other mates.

  “I’m going to get in one last shower before we get stuck in nature for the foreseeable future,” she laughed and then my mind fell right down into the gutter as I imagined her beautiful body naked and dripping wet in the shower.

  Sykes came up behind me and threw his arm around my shoulders, leaning in close. “We’re right there imagining the exact same thing as you,” he chuckled. I just hoped he missed my blush and the shiver that ran down my spine as he said it. Now they were some confusing feelings!

  Chapter 23

  Aria

  If I was completely honest with myself, I was slightly disappointed when I got out of the shower, having spent the entire time alone in there. Worst of all, I was more disappointed Virion hadn’t been the one to come and join me.

  I didn’t know how I was supposed to initiate anything with him. I hadn’t had that problem with the others. It all just sort of happened around us. I needed some advice, but the only place I could get that was from one of the guys, and I was pretty s
ure that would be a bit weird. Would it? Argh!

  I heard the knock on the front door of the house just as I was finished getting dressed. I joined my mates in the small living room and saw the soldier, Tasar, had joined us. He gave Virion a hug—the manly, slapping kind everyone seemed so fond of.

  “I’ll escort you to the other side of the portal, but your father has forbidden me from joining you on your journey,” he told Virion.

  Virion just laughed. “You didn’t actually think he would let you come, did you?”

  “I didn’t even get the chance to ask. He flat out refused as soon as he saw me,” said Tasar joining in with Virion’s laughter.

  Seeing the two of them together made me feel awful. They must be friends. And I was taking him away from that. I felt like I was selfish, but it wasn’t like I had any control over my life at the minute. If I ever got to meet Fate, she was definitely getting a tit punch from me.

  “What’s wrong, Kitten?” Liam whispered into my mind.

  “He looks so happy with him. Am I just being selfish, taking him away from here? From his friends and his family,” I whispered back to Liam. This mind speak thing really came in handy when you wanted to talk about someone in the same room as you.

  “He would be miserable if you left him behind, Aria. His place is by your side. After all of this is over, there is nothing to say we can’t come back to this place,” Liam pointed out.

  “Anyway,” Tasar said, stepping back from Virion, “I came to let you know you need to leave now. There is quite a crowd gathering at your father’s home. It seems Aubron has been causing quite a stir between the other unmated males.”

  Virion sighed and rolled his eyes before he looked over at me. “Are you ready to leave?” he asked me. I could see something about the situation was frustrating him and I decided, as he was placing himself in the potential mate category, I would be nosy about it.