by Mary Ting
My heart squeezed in agony, and the room spun out of control. My world tilted right under my feet. You have to let her go. Mason’s words drilled a hole in my lungs and trapped my air.
“No. I can’t let her go,” I snapped. Then I placed my hand on her chest and shocked it, trying to re-start her heart. When it didn’t work, I did it again and again, as memories of my childhood came in flashes. Mom, who had bandaged my wounds, wiped my tears, taken care of me when I was sick, who would die for me, who had loved me unconditionally. Nothing could ever replace a mother’s love.
“Sky.” When Mason placed his hand on me, I jerked and wrapped my arms around Mom. I didn’t want to believe it. It felt like a dream. When everyone else touched her, I became even angrier. “Don’t touch her. She’s not dead.” I didn’t recognize my voice, nor did I recognize myself. Suddenly, without warning, my pain and realization crashed into me.
“Mom!” The ache poured out of me in sobs I couldn’t control. As my body trembled, I held on, not wanting to ever let her go. “You can’t leave me, Mom.”
“Sky, what are you doing?” Mason asked.
I heard his question, but I didn’t reply. I didn’t understand why he would ask that question until Mom’s stomach warmed under my touch. When I peered up, a glowing light enveloped her. At first I thought it was from her, but it was from me. Light illuminated around me to her. My energy flowed to her stomach…the baby? I had never touched her belly until a second before, to silently say goodbye to the baby. Disgusted by the fact that he or she was part Hephaestus, I had never wanted to when everyone else did.
“I don’t know. What’s going on?” I gasped.
The wind had come from nowhere. The energy sparkled and sizzled. Beautiful lightning surged around Mom and me and then extended to the entire room. We were in a tunnel of a lightning storm, only it didn’t harm us. It was magnificent and surreal. My gut feeling told me something good would come out of it.
The flowing lightning came to a dead stop. Mom’s chest rose sharply, let out a long heave, and her eyes fluttered open. The monitor danced with colors and the sound of life came back.
“Mom?” Tears ran down my cheek, but this time for a happier occasion.
Mom looked dazed seeing everyone around her, but she seemed less confused when she realized she was in bed.
“I almost died?” she questioned.
Dad squeezed her hand and kissed the back of it. “We almost lost you. But a miracle happened. Sky and the baby saved you, I think?”
“The baby?” Mom panicked.
“Somehow the baby took in Sky’s power, and along with Sky’s blood in your system, they beat the odds. The baby is fine,” Zara explained.
Mom blinked in confusion and smiled. “The baby will turn out to be good, just like Sky.” She rubbed her little bump softly.
“You gave us one hell of a scare, Mom.” Zeus placed his hand on Mom’s feet.
“I’m sorry.” Mom offered a smile. “What happened to Cronus? Since we’re here, I assume everything went well?”
“You don’t have to worry about Father anymore,” Poseidon muttered.
Hades ran his hand down his face. Looked like he rubbed tears from his eyes. Hades did have a soft spot. He cleared his throat. “He’s little now. I don’t think we have to worry about the Titans anymore. He’s locked away underground in New Olympus.
“Good,” Mom sighed. “Everyone okay?”
The door slammed open. Amanda, Noah, Nick, and Sarah ran in. Their eyes grew wider at the site of Mom.
“Aaron and Colin are in trouble,” Nick informed us.
“Skylar, we need more of your blood,” Zara said.
“Whatever you need.”
Chapter 30
Skylar
After Mom, Aaron, and Colin were out of danger, everyone headed home. With one nonstop trauma after another, it was the first time Mason went home, and thankfully we were alone. The dogs went crazy. They jumped, barked, and welcomed Mason.
“I missed you too,” Mason said, sprawled on the rug in the living room, squirming as he allowed the dogs to lick his hands and face. When he’d had enough, he got up, and the dogs continued to follow him.
“I don’t think they missed you.” I snorted and turned on the light switch for the hallway.
“Probably not. I wouldn’t miss me if I had someone like you watching over me.” He winked.
I placed my hands on my hips as I watched him slowly make his way toward me with purpose in his eyes. He wore sweatpants and a T-shirt, but holy Mason, it didn’t matter what he wore. He had the body of a god, toned in all the places that counted. “I didn’t miss you either.”
Mason took another step and stopped. I glimpsed his lightning tattoo I missed touching daily. “I see. I didn’t miss you, too.”
I took a step back toward the kitchen. “I never thought of you.”
Mason took two steps and stopped with hunger in his eyes. “I never thought of you, either.”
I took two steps back. “I never wished you were home.”
Mason took three steps and stopped. His eyes sparkled with his power, silvery lights dancing in his eyes. “I never wished I was home, either.”
“I never cried for you.” Tears pooled in my eyes. Though we were being playful, recalling how I wept all those nights alone, wallowing in the gut-wrenching pain of missing Mason, wondering if he’d been hurt or if he had his memories taken away, I couldn’t help it. And even though he was here with me, the ache still lingered.
“I…I…” Mason choked up, his lips quivering. Tears pooled in his eyes too. “I thought I would never see you again.” He dipped his head and then looked back at me.
The playfulness between us ended at that moment. With all the speed he had, Mason collided into me. My back slammed against the long cabinet, and he kissed me hard. He kissed me as if it was our first and last kiss, so much passion and desire. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him tighter.
Oh, dear God, how I missed him. Tears streamed down my cheeks. He was home…he was finally home. The long, torturous days were over. I went through hell, but I’d found heaven again.
“Oh, Sky, I missed you so much,” he murmured between his lips on my face and down my neck. His hands ran through my hair and all over my body. A couple of times he shocked me, but I didn’t jump. I didn’t want what was happening between us to be interrupted.
Panting, enjoying his hands caressing my back, I said, “I know. I missed you too.”
As we continued to lock lips, he lifted my leg and anchored it around his hip. Then he yanked off my sweater and his T-shirt. The warmth of his toned chest made me combust. Lust and love filled my body, and I wanted him as much as he wanted me.
Sizzling, silvery-blue lights engulfed us. Every time we were intimate, we glowed together. I wasn’t sure if this happened to other couples, but I didn’t care and I never questioned. To me, it was something special between Mason and me, and the pleasure he gave me through his power was unbelievable. It felt out of this world.
“Oh, Mason,” I moaned and gasped.
Electric lights flowed from his fingertips. He knew exactly what he was doing to me.
“I’m going to make you feel so good, Sky. It’s been way too long. I’m going to show you how much I missed you,” he growled. I loved his wild, animalistic side. His eyes darkened, simmering with electricity in his irises.
I waggled my eyebrows. “And I’m going to show you too.”
Pop! One of the light bulbs in the kitchen light exploded, but we didn’t flinch. Having to change light bulbs caused by our passionate exchanges was something we were used to. Pop! Pop! Two more cracked. The lights flickered.
When Mason froze, I did too. “What’s wrong?” I asked, out of breath. I gazed up to see if we had caused a fire with the light bulbs, but I didn’t see anything unusual.
“We have observers.” He grinned.
I had forgotten about the dogs. All twelve of them were sitting
, wagging their tails, and watching us.
“This is so awkward. They’re staring at us.” Mason chuckled. “Should I let them out?”
Though Mason and I had time, I didn’t want to be let go. I had a better idea. “No. Let them be. Why don’t you take us to our bedroom in the speed I love you to move?”
He winked and his lips curled wickedly, melting my panties. “I would love to.”
Mason and I illuminated the whole house. Even the whole neighborhood felt some dosage of our love shock. We blew out the circuits. Not only did the block become pitch dark, they lost their power for hours.
Mason’s love shock! The things it does to me.
The Next Day
After a much needed rest, we headed back to Kayla’s hometown the next day. The town had been blocked, but there were people cleaning. Zara cast a spell on the humans to leave so we could clean up the mess. We decided it would be best to leave the buildings the way they were. It would have been too much for the Oracles to put everything back to its original place. The town had been destroyed beyond recognition. Though we couldn’t bring the humans back to life, we did our best to bury them. It was easier and faster when magic was involved.
The news had spread worldwide that a tornado had hit the town, the reason for the devastation. It was the only explanation the humans could understand. As far as the craters the Titans and human giants had made, no one mentioned those. Sometimes what couldn’t be explained would never show on the news. The Oracles fixed the craters so that the humans could re-build faster. Faster? It would take years.
After we did all we could, Mason, Nick, Kayla, and I headed to my parents’ house. Auntie Kelly was already there.
“I’ll bring some tea,” Mom said and got up.
“You need to stay off your feet,” Kelly scolded, following behind Mom to the kitchen. “At least let me help you.”
Auntie Kelly had no recollection of the incident at her diner, besides the fact that she was there when it was nearly destroyed. She remembered blacking out and that Kayla had driven them home before the tornado hit.
“It’s strange to know everything when Mom doesn’t,” Kayla confessed, sitting next to Nick on the sofa.
Nick placed his hand on her leg. “Get used to it, but hopefully there won’t be another incident where we have to block Kelly’s memory.”
Dad leaned back into the sofa and released a sigh. “I agree. I’m getting too old for this.”
“We’ve been through so much the past year.” Mason held my hand. “I can’t believe all that has happened. I feel like it was a dream.”
“I know what you mean.” I rested my head against Mason’s shoulder.
Mason kissed the back of my hand and gingerly ran his thumb over the diamond on my engagement ring, which I had put back on after the battles. “First, you entered my life. The vultures attacked openly. We had to deal with Alana and then Hephaestus, and how could we forget the human monsters Hephaestus created. Then we found out the gods were not dead. We rescued them, or Sky did.” He nudged me.
“No, we all did,” I interrupted, nudging him back. Mason always gave me credit.
“Anyway, we have a lot to celebrate,” Mason continued.
I intervened again. “Don’t forget how you were taken from us and how we had to deal with Eris.” I scowled.
“She’s one crazy bitch,” Nick chimed.
“She’s got to be the craziest of all, and I thought Hephaestus was bad,” Dad muttered.
Kayla gaped between us, staying quiet. I was sure Nick had told her about all of our adventures, but from her confused expression I figured he kept her out of it. It was probably better that way for Kayla. Though she knew about our crazy world, the less she knew, the better.
“Here you go.” Kelly came back with a tray full of mugs in her hands. After she passed them out to all of us, she put the tray on the table, and picked up hers to take a sip. “So, do we have names picked out for the baby?”
Dad and Mom glanced at each other.
Kelly frowned. “Don’t tell me you’re going to wait to find out?”
Mom released a long sigh and gazed down to her bump, popped out even more. “This is our last child, and we want the element of surprise.”
Kelly groaned. “Fine. It’s going to suck when planning a baby shower.”
“You’re going to plan one for me?” Mom’s eyes twinkled.
“Of course I am. Sky and Kayla are helping too.”
Mason cleared his throat. “Nick and I are too.”
Mom smiled. “Thank you so much.”
“I hope it’s a girl,” Nick commented. “You know, cause then we can decorate with a My Little Pony theme. How cute would that be?”
Mom tilted her head, tugging her brows together, trying not to laugh. “My Little Pony. You know what they are? How interesting.”
Chapter 31
Mason
It felt good to have things back to normal. Whatever normal meant to us. My life changed when my father left us, it took a turn for the worse when Nick and his mom entered our lives, and then it became the worst of all when my mom died at the hands of the vultures. I had been powerless then, and there was nothing I could have done, or so I told myself. But I couldn’t help but wonder—had we listened to Nick’s mom’s warning, could she still be alive today? As always, I pushed away those thoughts.
I passed through life like a zombie. Nick was the only person I trusted wholeheartedly and then eventually Everett and Amanda. They had been my only family until Sky entered my life. She had turned my world upside down. I never wanted to find that special kind of love. I purposely avoided girls and even dating.
I found out you can’t help who you fall in love with. Love finds you and sticks to your heart and won’t ever let go no matter how hard you try to get rid of it. And when you find it, it’s the most beautiful part of you. Love changed me. Made me whole. Made me a better man. Sky raised the sun on my rainy days.
“Mason,” Sky moaned, rubbing her sleepy eyes and snuggling closer to me. “What are you doing?”
“Staring at you. What else would I do?” I kissed her forehead.
Her cheeks turned pink as she smiled. “Why? You know what I look like. You see me every day.”
“Because you make me happy. Because when I was Eris’s prisoner, the image of your face and your smile kept me alive. You gave me the strength to fight whatever I had to face. I knew she was crazy, but I didn’t know how crazy. Luckily, she had a crush on me.”
Sky pinched her lips together, rolling her eyes. “I want to say that was a good thing, but at the same time, it makes me mad.”
I had told Sky about my experience being locked up as Eris’s prisoner, but I didn’t tell her about all of it. She didn’t need to know how depressed I had been or how Eris had kissed me when she had placed me under a spell.
I caressed her cheek and changed the subject. “We need to discuss something.”
Just then Mason jumped between us and started licking the both of us.
“Mason, that’s enough.” I chuckled, petting his head. It felt strange to call an animal my name, but Sky insisted we had to call this one Mason, since he was her favorite.
“Good morning, Mason,” Sky cooed, sitting up and then rubbing Mason’s belly.
I grazed my finger down her arm. “I’m glad Mason was here for you.”
“He was, but Hades was too. I mean of course my parents, Nick, Amanda, Kayla, and Everett were too, but I found the most comfort from Hades and Mason. I don’t know why.”
“I’m glad you had everyone to help you through it.”
“But you didn’t have anyone.” Sky frowned.
“I had you, not physically, but mentally. I held onto those thick eyebrows.” I traced her eyebrows. “I held onto the cute bunny nose.” My finger slid down the bridge of her nose. “I held onto these delicious lips I pretended to kiss.” My thumb slid across her bottom lip, making her close her eyes and moan. “And I thought
about your beautiful smile.” I caressed her cheeks. “You were with me, Sky, every single second, minute, hour, day.”
Sky leaned her face into the palm of my hand and sighed. “I have to confess. In some ways, Mason replaced you. I mean, he reminded me of you. He slept with me every night.”
“Lucky dog.” I winked, making her giggle. “I think I’m jealous.” I creased my brow.
Sky stroked my biceps, feeling the bump of my muscle, and then brushed my lightning tattoo with her finger. “Don’t be silly.” Her tone softened. “You’re the only Mason I love.”
“I better be,” I playfully demanded.
Sky giggled, throwing her head back onto her pillow. “You said we needed to discuss something.”
“Huh? Oh. Well…” I glanced at Mason, who sat on the edge of the bed with his head down on the blanket, two paws under his chin. Was he pouting? With that expression, he could get away with murder. My gaze turned back to Sky. “We should get married soon.”
Sky’s lips curled to her ears. “We don’t have a date.”
She sat up again, then I did, cross legged, our knees touched. “We will have one now.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?” she squealed.
“Okay, how about next week?”
Her tips twisted as she thought. “I need a dress. We need to find someone to marry us. We need to find a place to have a reception. Unless you want something really simple. We can go to a city hall and get married. I don’t think my parents will like that, though.”
I took both of her hands in mine. “We do what you want. If we had it my way, we would’ve been married already.”
Sky smiled. “You want to marry me that badly?”
“I wanted to marry you the day we met. I immediately fell in love with you, but I didn’t know it then. You drove me crazy. When I finally admitted it to myself, life became simpler. I became happier. I became whole.”
Sky’s eyes filled with tears. “I feel the same, Mason. I hope you know that. You’re saying so many beautiful things. I feel like we’re getting married right now.”
