Beyond the Veil Mira- The Complete Series

by Trina Bates

  -Thank you Kigiree, let's shift on the other side. She might not know how strange it is for her to be able to teleport with so many people, but your added size might be too much for her.-

  -Agreed.-

  I peer into Mira's beautiful red and silver eyes, and stand there, simply taking her in.

  Before, she might have been a Hollow, but now, now she’s a strong warrior with the most beautiful long blonde and red hair. A Death Demon, who’s divine curves are covered in the sexiest tattoos, a fucking Valkyrie with wings that would take her to safety and keep that gorgeous heart-shaped face of hers in tact. I might be a little biased since she’s carrying my daughter, but damn if we all don’t agree, Merrick, Rhett, Ebbin, and I are all blessed that she chose us, kept us, and made us a family.

  “I’ll shift once we’re there gorgeous, I want to get everyone over safely,” I say to her, still staring at her beautiful face, hoping she’ll agree.

  The pure adoration and a hint of guilt make her look adorable. Her hands are clasped tightly in front of her body, and her shoulders are pulled forward while she rocks on her feet. She might talk big and come off strong, but I know just how she’s feeling, I won’t out her, ever. I just hope she knows, none of the decisions she’s made lately have been easy ones. Anyone would be drowning. Not just her.

  -Thank you Rhydian, I’m so sorry I sprung it on you like that. I know how you feel about being behind Kigiree, but I really do need him… Forgive me?-

  She says into my mind, making me feel comforted and loved.

  -Of course, I want you and Alyria safe at all times, even if that means I have to give Kigiree the reins.-

  I tell her honestly.

  “If we’re all ready, I need everyone to hold onto each other while I portal us out,” she says, but before we can get to her, she rushes around the other side of the couch grabbing her armor and helm under one arm, and her new sword in the other.

  “I’ll be right back. Rhydian, can you come give me a hand?” Her question surprises me.

  I’m still amazed that she finds the time to give us all time with her, along with everything else she has going on right now. Pushing myself away from the wall I was leaning against, I rush after her fleeing form.

  Up the stairs and into her room, she starts putting on her chest plate first, I walk to her back, and help her strap that and her arm pieces on and then her shin guards. She adorns her helm and picks up the sword she had carefully laid on the bed before I could make it in the room.

  Seeing her suited in her armor without the god awful smock she wore before, now with just her wearing shorts and a tank top she looks like a modern day warrior. Like a female Hollow guard. I walk around her to get the full view and fuck if I don’t want to strip her naked and make her beg me to never let her go.

  When she lets her wings fly out from her back, I have to take a step back to really appreciate her. I can talk of her beauty for days, but seeing her like this, I’m speechless and in awe of her. I try to shut my open mouth before she looks up, but the adorable little smirk she gives me lets me know she caught me, but she likes the attention. She always has.

  “You look stunning, gorgeous. How is my little one doing as well?” I hadn't said anything to anyone about it yet, but knowing that my daughter had died, at the hands of Mira’s best friend no less, it really shook me. When the words were said, I felt my heart skip beats and my stomach drop. It felt like I had been punched in the gut. I almost vomited at the knowledge, but there were others that were counting on me. I had to be strong for them.

  I step closer to her, putting both of my hands on her stomach which now feels a little harder and rounder than before. I’ve watched through her eyes when she’s starred in the mirror trying to see a difference, felt the disappointment when she couldn't see anything. I bet if she did so now, she would be able to see and feel the difference, Maybe even bring a smile to that gorgeous face of hers that seems to always be drawn in worry.

  “Torunn had to bring her back,” she says as her eyes fall away from mine and down to my hands that are still cradling her stomach. “I thought, with the barrier still in place from Rhett, though weak, that I would be okay. I don’t even know what happened Rhydian.” Her voice wavers and I watch as tears start to form in her eyes, unable to move or say anything. “I don’t want you to tell Rhett, please. He already feels bad enough with Alastor getting to me. I don’t want him thinking this is his fault. I told him right before it happened that I had felt the barrier give, that I needed to reinforce it. This was my fault, I don’t know how to deal with that. I don’t.” Her admission crushes me, I wasn’t mad at her a moment ago, but that’s quickly shifting. She should’ve stayed away if she knew Blue was unstable and she hadn't taken better precautions.

  My hands fall away from her as her words sink further in. She thinks she’s invincible, she’s NOT!

  I can feel the rage building in me.

  -You need to calm down. Imagine what she is already going through, you can see it on her face, she, too, blames herself. She needs you and your heart, more than your anger right now. Tell her your feelings but be gentle. The time for you to let go and vent, it will happen, but ease her, you are her mate. She is baring herself to you. This is not just your child, my friend. It is hers, and the others as well.-

  I listen to Kigiree’s words, though they don’t help the pain, they do resonate deep within me. He’s right. She’s already blaming herself enough. I won’t deny it to her, but I will not aid in making her feel worse.

  “Alyria’s safe now, I can still feel her and hear her. What do you need to do to reinforce your shield?” I ask her. My words are calm and I do my best to reassure her, yet stay away from trying to make her feel better. She fucked up. Immensely. She needs every feeling that’s coursing through her to remind her just how fragile she really is. No matter if she’s pregnant or not.

  “I feel like, what Rhett’s already placed, is still there. It’s just weak. I don’t really know how to make it’s stronger, but I think my body might know. Let me try, it’s like there’s something there, that I can feel, I haven't tried to do anything like this yet, but I know if I follow what my body wants, things will be okay. It’s strange to try and explain, just, here...” she says as she closes her eyes. Her shoulders drop and her body seems to relax under whatever she’s doing.

  When the wisps of her magic starts to appear before my eyes, I can't hold back the surprised gasp that leaves me. I’ve never seen magic like this before. I could feel Rhett's and see what he wanted us to, but I’ve never watched pure magic become a visible thing.

  Mira's magic swirls like smoke but red and grey, like the two-toned eyes, hair, and wings she already possesses.

  The wisps start to change direction and swirl into her body. Her shoulders seem to tense and her body goes rigid. I go to touch her, but her eyes shoot open. Her once red and silver eyes are now solid red. The whites of her eyes and pupils are the same. In this moment she looks like a pure, fearsome demon.

  “Love, are you alright?” I ask her worried. I tried to keep my voice strong, but that’s not what came out, you could hear the fear and wonder in my voice.

  She needs me to be strong, and then this happens. Great.

  Her head cocks to the side as she stares intensely at me with her eerie lifeless eyes.

  “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” she questions back.

  I gesture to the small vanity that’s in the corner. She walks over to it and puts her hands to her mouth when she too notices her eyes.

  “Fuck Rhydian! You don’t think they’re going to stay like this do you?!” she exclaims. Her voice filled with surprise and fear.

  “I don’t know love,” I say, coming up behind her, too worried to touch her, so I stand here like a dolt. “What about the barrier? Do you think it worked?” I ask trying to get her attention off of her eyes and back onto what’s most important.

  Standing straight and flexing her hands a few times she shrugs her shoul
ders and glances up to me with a sheepish grin.

  “I think it did, but can you do something for me?” Her question takes me back for a moment.

  “Of course I will,” I tell her honestly.

  “Good, I need you to try and hurt me.” Her smile is meant to be one of innocence but with her eyes so Demon like, it comes off the wrong way and has me cringing instead of thinking she’s cute, like she no doubt intended. I also am not about to try and hurt my pregnant mate. I might do a lot for her, but hurting her is never something I could, can, or will ever do.

  “You know I can't. I love you and you’re carrying my child for fuck’s sake. There’s no way I could even try,” I admit to her.

  She jutts one of her hips out and puts her hands on her waist. “Throw something at me, please? Rhett’s barrier wouldn't let dust fucking touch me. If I did this right, then something that means me harm, even the damn pen right behind you,” she says exasperated pointing to the small table behind me, “wouldn't be able to get through.”

  Seeing the truth in her words, I pick up the pen and raise my eyebrows at her. She motions with both hands in a ‘come get me’ way and I let loose the pen with minimal force behind it and watch as it sails through the air at her.

  Before the pen can make contact, about six inches away from her body the pen hits with an audible ‘ping’ and drops to the floor. Mira smiles brightly and starts jumping up and down while clapping her hands in the air. She reminds me of a dolphin when she does it for some reason. It’s a strange sight to see.

  A gorgeous, tall woman with wings and bright red eyes, full armor and a helm, is jumping up and down like a cheerleader. Strange indeed.

  “I did it!” she shouts with a shrill tone.

  “You did love, now we really should go. The others are probably wondering just what it is we’re doing up here after all this time,” I tell her, turning to grab her dropped sword and holding it by the blade, hilt out to her.

  “Thank you for helping me, for taking care of me and not making me feel like the world's biggest shit bag. I know I messed up. I wish I could take it all back, I do. I didn’t think. I’m so sorry for making you and the rest of the guys go through that,” she says with agony ringing through our bond, she closes her eyes and lets the tears fall from her face that hadn't been there a moment ago.

  I feel torn, on one hand I want to hug her and tell her everything will be alright. On the other, I want to scream at her to stay here and quit putting herself and our unborn child in harm’s way. I settle for the middle ground.

  “I love you, but you need to stop throwing yourself in harm’s way. As powerful as you may be, you're not invincible. Neither is that little girl growing inside of you. I’ll never stop being there, but I can’t sit around and watch you play hero anymore either. You’re taking on too much and not letting us help. We all want to be there, and be this…” I stop and take a deep breath trying to find the right words. I need to calm down as well, I feel like I’m going to say something I might regret. “this, team that you wanted, but at the same time love, you aren't giving us the chance to be.” I don’t want to keep going, I don't want to keep hurting her like the expression her face and posture is showing that I am. I’m trying to stay calm and talk low, but the conviction I hold in my own heart won't let my words stop. I place my hands on her shoulders to give her physical comfort through contact, but she shakes me off.

  There isn’t an ounce of anger in the air, all I smell was defeat. I hate that, but I also have to finish.

  “We try to give you your space and the chance to prove yourself, but what worries me is, who are you trying to prove yourself to? It's not us. We know how strong you are, how powerful you are. I think you're trying to prove it to yourself. Which, if that's the case, I can only ask you, why?” I huff out the last bit and she finally looks me in the eyes. The sadness and guilt there is shit on my part, but I had to say what I did, and I feel better for letting her know, for being honest.

  “You’re right,” she says taking a deep breath and standing straighter. “You’re so fucking right. I am, trying to prove something to myself, that I am worth these new powers... gifts, things?! Whatever you want to call them. I grew up alone, a weak little Hollow. Now I am supposed to be this all fucking powerful being, but how do I do that? In my head? I keep trying, keep training, and getting smarter. I was alone for many years.” Her eyes close, and you can see the memories playing on the back of her eyelids, the pain clearly etched on her face. I feel like an asshole.

  “I might have had Ebbin for the last while, but still, I did a lot on my own. It's who I am, who I was… I have all of you now. So I feel like there is a part of me that has to prove more, that I have to prove to myself that I can do it. It really never was about you,” she says with a new found strength, thankfully the haunting memories seem to be gone for now, and she’s taking control of her own destiny.

  Her head held tall and her posture straight, she finally admits to herself that she is who she is, but she has others to count on too. -That's what I was hoping for.-

  The thought is supposed to have been kept to myself but she obviously caught it when she turns her head to me and smiles.

  Taking her hand in mine, I pull us out the door and down the stairs. Coming to a stop at the bottom, everyone in the room including that cute little Lynx that has so quickly wound herself into my heart, is standing there with appreciation in their eyes. They can see and feel the difference in Mira.

  I’m proud to be holding her hand while she steps forward with a new strength and more courage than any one person should have.

  Her eyes seem to be the biggest hit, a few worried comments and one high five from Rhett, along with an appreciative hug from Gor and that was all that was needed. I feel guilty for how big my reaction was when I first saw them.

  She takes Rhett’s hand and walks into the kitchen. I can hear her telling him about her new barrier, which he’s mystified at. I will have to remember to tell him about her magic.

  After they come back in, she holds her hand out to Gor, who quickly grants her request. She holds up a hand and asks for one more hour.

  Confused, but knowing she has something important to do, we all agree and watch as she walks away from us, with her brother.

  Mira:

  Taking my brother’s large hand in mine, I walk us to the small office/study I had spent a little time in with Rhydian before, when I had first started learning about who I was...what I am. I sit him down at the desk where he runs his hands along the leather arms and inhales deep. A huge smile takes over his face, “This smells amazing! I need one of these, what do you call these contraptions?” he asks in bewilderment.

  “Gor, they’re chairs, much like what you have at your cottage, just...softer.” I say trying to hold back the grin that’s threatening to peek out.

  “No, no! Those are nothing like these! We call those cathedras, these are so soft, and…” he wiggles his big frame around in the chair, sinking deeper into it before he finished. “And well, soft!” He exclaims, leaning back, enjoying the chair more than I would have thought was humanly, or Otherly possible.

  “You should feel what a real bed feels like, and a damn couch,” I mumble under my breath, but of course he hears.

  “What is a couch?” he asks with one brown brow high on his forehead while he stares at me, waiting on bated breath for an answer. His eyes so wide I swear they are about to fall out.

  “Oh Gor, I’ll show you later even though you have already seen it. I brought you in here because of what we already talked about, you, manifesting.” His posture is rigid and his eyes go dark with something I’m too afraid to ask about.

  “I am happy with who I am, little sister. I do not want to be like that man, the hate he has in his heart and the anger. He is ugly,” he says as he leers at me with anger. I know it isn’t for me, but for the man who was supposed to have been our father.

  “Tell me why you are so insistent on this? You have brough
t this to me twice now. Is it for your benefit or mine? Or maybe there is another reason.” He hit the nail on the head without me even knowing it. What my true intentions really are.

  “I think a little of both, to be honest. I might be… strong, full of power and have amazing guys and my Agathion at my side, but when you, Torunn and Blue all said you were coming along? I felt relief. Like there was no way we were coming out of this unless it was the outcome we wanted.”

  I hesitate with my next words, there’s so much good that comes from the bad, I hadn't seen it at first, but knowing what I can do? I can’t overlook it anymore. “I can teleport. Alastor can stop time, for short periods. I don’t see why we couldn't. Not only are we immortal, along with both our other halves,” I say with a smirk on my face as I wiggle my eyebrows at him. He knows I’m meaning Torunn.

  “But we’re also able to save, damn, and protect souls, more so than my Valkyrie side. There are a few other very unsettling things we’re apparently able to do, but that doesn't mean we have to.” I know he wants all the details so I continue on with the rest. “We can cause plagues, physical and mental suffering, and we can feed off souls… to give us more power. That's why Alastor is so strong, he fed and killed off his own children for the power their souls gave him. We can also read souls, I’ve only done it once and didn’t understand what it was until I had re-read the books where it gave little detail. But we can see what a person is made of, the truths in their soul.”

  Every time I say a new ability, his eyes get wider but it seems he shrinks further into the chair at the thoughts too. He’s intrigued yet mortified. Just like I was when I first found out what I could do.

  -Shit, I can’t believe it's only been a few weeks! I feel like I have been doing nothing but fighting and running. Does it ever stop?- I wonder to myself, but alas, there’s always someone listening in.