She didn't realize among her speech that all her words pointed towards marrying me. I had no objections.
Her cheeks flooded with color. To lighten the atmospheric tension I threw in, “I see where she gets her quick-witted humor.”
...hard headed BS buddy.
I bent my eyes down to her. Kissa, retract your claws. He has your best interest at heart. Just breathe!
After she cleared her head slightly, I turned to her father of many roles, “Lord Hathown, I intend to court Anastacia through every means necessary to one day make her my wife. I have not discussed this with her in full, nor have we taken any other steps in that direction. I uphold her virtue to the highest possible standards and am aware of her status according to her lineage.”
What in the hel—heck? Stace thought.
I ignored her solid fear and stated the rest of my business that would forever include her in every equation now. “I will continue to guard her and council her in all endeavors and hope that she sees reason in assuring me that I am present with her for any meets with other factions. I am also aware and have not discussed with her how she will proceed with the new tasks she has acquired. I will first set a meet with the Were leader and go from there. If she sees fit to stay in my court, I have assured her safety and the third floor if she wills it. She will continue her studies if that is your wish and will have her own guard day and night. Hugo has already agreed to the deed.”
Whoa! She guessed my reasoning for telling more free information to get what I wanted. Her father wasn’t naive either. He was figuring out real fast how I felt about his daughter.
“If this is Stace’s wish, then I back it. I would prefer her to be in your court above the Hunter school for the very reason that security is tighter.” He turned to her, “Is this your wish?”
She felt cornered but repeated, “I will think about it.”
Just like before.
Lord Hathown said while standing, “Let me know when you decide.” Stace was caught off guard when her father bent to kiss her forehead.
He shook my hand and demanded, “Take care of her.”
She huffed inwardly feeling like her father was butting in her life a little too late. Little did she remember that his life had been all about her from the day she was born.
I replied, “With my life sir.”
“Nothing less. Good night to you both. You are welcome here for the evening.”
After he jetted, she pivoted fast on her heels and threw a finger in my face, “That wasn’t fair Mr. Lord Cassius Thorn Cross. You cornered me like a mouse. In front of my father no less. And why is everyone so obsessed with my virgin status. What was with the lineage crap?”
“First, say my name again.”
Huh! Cas, she tried out.
“No, the whole thing,” I insisted
Her face loosened and she got this glint in her eyes, “Mister Sneak-ass Lord Cassius Thorn Cross the—
“I think that is enough. And a very cornered cute mouse. Your virginity is very important to me too.”
The red in her cheeks was instant. I loved that. I love your blushing cheeks Kissa.
She hit my arm playfully.
“Your status we will call it, refers to the fact that you are a goddess by birth. You will produce an heir with your blood running through your offspring’s veins that will be the second most powerful being on earth only to you. Who you choose to mate with is very important to your father. Who you choose to produce offspring with is of the upmost importance to the gods alone.”
She thought first, then puzzled me out loud looking at me from under the side of her hair again, “And you knew all this when?”
“I didn’t. My mother assured me that my line is a good match for yours.”
“She did, did she.” I didn’t think she believed me.
“And I have to tell you that the Hunter was told the same. As well as the other man you will meet all too soon.”
She seemed to sense my agitation and didn’t ask, but did share her frustrations about destinies and the lack there of, “Well, it is nice to know she gives me selective options. My whole freaking life was planned before I was made. Why can’t I choose?”
You can Kissa. You choose no matter what.
Her eyes brimmed with tears so for distraction I reminded her again, “The offer stands. My court is your court. And I meant what I said. I aim to make you my wife Anastacia. I won’t hide that fact.”
I was through hiding my intentions as bold as she may see it.
“I will think about it Cas. I want to sit alone and gather my thoughts to myself. I want to meet the Were leader and know that he is in accord with us. I want to make assurance that Calum is secure in his leadership first. You are secure and Cord, the Were, is secure I presume. My brother will be fine. But Calum is a loose cannon that will explode if not given the right attention. After he saw the letter, he seemed only to grow in resentment instead of understanding.”
Hearing her say Cord and Hunter Boy’s name in one dose was setting off all kinds of alert systems that made me boil with resentment and jealousy over letting her near the Hunter and would soon have to meet the other. Stretching my shoulders out to douse the pain of losing her forced a shot of pain through my head so I popped my neck to purge the hate. No relief came. Instead, my mind wandered down paths of getting closer to her again and possibly having her in my rooms again soon.
Love wasn’t a good enough word to describe the harbored feelings I felt for this girl and couldn’t even tell her for fear of scaring her off. Whoever invented the “I love you” statement was just setting the female mind up for a halfway meaningful way of telling someone how they feel. But it is much more than that. It’s all consuming. Devouring of time and space and thought processing in its normal fashion. I knew for many years that she was meant for me and would never have an equal. I dated. Tried to replace her invading lack of memories she had never even filled my life with, yet I wanted them there. I wanted to make those memories right now, as much as possible. Fill my life and hers with just the two of us. I couldn’t tell or show her that though. She would think words like stalker and psycho.
For now, I would take this slow. Let her know me. I just hope she does not think me repulsive and vile when she knows more.
“I know you are not comfortable with my dealings with him, but I assure you he is like a brother to me in more ways than even Szar. I believe he would do anything and will be a great asset to you as well if need be. So ease off him and trust me. He wants more. I will not pretend I don’t know this, but it holds no ground. I also don’t doubt that he will try something again to agitate you. But please hold your gorgeous brooding face for only me to enjoy and ignore the heck out of him. He does not hold a candle to you.” Stace shied away a little, but held her head up to show me she meant it.
Right answer. “I’ll take that advice and wait for your next move Kissa. I will protect what is mine though. Are you mine?”
She tipped up to me, kissed me very slow. Then her sweet like the most exquisite honey words came through my thoughts, I am yours.
Epilogue
Being a Vampire has proved to be the best and fated part of gaining Anastacia Anat in my life, but it wasn’t without its ups and downs. One day I will tell her this. One day I want her to know all of me. One she will be sure she wants to know.
At the youthful age of ten, I was made a new Vampire. My sire was my father, not by birth. He told me things about our kind that would make a monkey’s balls crawl. I didn’t think that first day after my first mission that I would live to see another day, but I did. For her.
The pain was excruciating. Every time I went on a mission with my new father to protect our own, someone died. The blood, no matter the faction, was like wine to a drunk. The more you caught the scent, tasted the flavor, the more you craved it.
After I went on the first mission she was assigned to and ordered to watch her every move, I wondered then if my father knew wh
at he was doing. Or if someone or something told him my future. It just seemed that everything kept falling into place. Later, I learned of my sired father's dealings with Lord Hathown. The only thing I wanted more now was for her to know me. Earlier than later. It didn’t happen.
I told her once I have never killed anyone. And that is true about my need for blood. I’ve never killed a person for their blood. But I’ve killed. For my faction. For her.
Several of her missions required it of me for her survival. I don’t regret it.
She knows how to take full advantage of a situation with just her looks alone. She a beautiful, powerful creature. That is the only way to describe it. I just wish her instinct for her weapons would react a little faster at the onslaught of danger. She does not see that I am trying to do just that. She thinks I do the weapons training for the fun of it. She does not see that I refuse to lose her.
I am the horrid creature she had heard about for years. But with her, I was different.
I have killed for my kind, and taken down some of my own. Some of our own can be dumb at times. Young who think they are invincible get into brawls with humans and other supernaturals.
But she is safe.
Marked Ones Notes and Letters
ANAT (goddess within many)
...goddess who destroyed Orion with the Scorpion to punish his misdeeds including stealing her bow, excessive bragging towards the intention to kill the earth’s creatures, and ignoring her. Legends say Artemis, and even Apollo her twin brother, set out to punish him but Anat beat them to it using trickery and good timing. She used her sordid past to help solve an escalating dilemma among the supernatural factions on the earth. The humans were passive and set in their ways, but those living among them are restless. They want to own each other. That could never happen.
Anat set out to create only one, but that would be impossible. It went awry last time. She would need reassurance when the time came. Who would make the group compatible? Who would make them achieve their goal? Not all decisions can be easily identified as explainable, but sometimes you just know. The goddess rings made available will keep them safer. All asked have willingly accepted my plea for help. The five chosen will bring back unity.
STACE (is marked with ALL signifying the connection between the five)
Goddess ring- multi-colored and blocks thoughts from Cas (and ability to have power increased when touching Cas physically but not revealed until later), enhances electricity with Calum (doesn’t officially know it yet), shields others combined with Szar (finds out later), sees specific future events with Cord( later)
...is the child born to a goddess- daughter of Anat who killed her lover Aqhat (Orion) in the legends. She was created to change a dying supernatural world from destroying itself from the inside out. After many dangers, traitors, and feuding allies she finally makes the group whole in book two with a unified beginning towards peace. But it’s long road.
Anat tells Stace in book two that she took the name Anat over any other simply because she wanted to and that all the names she and the other gods have held are synonymous regardless of how the different people of the world change it.
SZAR (SHIELD) (other connections- Saiph, star in Orion)
Goddess ring- seemingly useless at first and he see it as a dud especially when he sees the others in use, but later a happy chance brought about a situation where Szar actually felt the group in real danger and his own high emotions created a shield from any danger (thus a shield- hasn’t happened yet...)
...is the half god/ half Valkyrie- son of Lord Hathown, leader of the Valkyrie court faction in the supernatural world. He doesn’t find out till much later that his sole purpose is to save Stace. Can he run a faction and save her too? Stay tuned...
CALUM (ORION)(other connections- Rigel, star in Orion)
Goddess ring- enhances the power of electricity through Stace when he wears it combined with highly intense emotions
...is the half god/ half Hunter- who was created to make sure Stace stays safe from all with his brute strength alone, but ultimately in the end he is still (Orion) and Cord (the Scorpion) does show up. Can legends be broken?
CASSIUS (SUN) (other connections-Ra, the sun god, Hathor and Sekhmet)
Goddess ring- increases any power Stace holds if he is touching her (not aware of it until later)
...is the half god/half Valkyrie turned Vampire-who was created to stand beside his beloved and never let her feel alone even when all else seems at an end. To be her stronghold in the darkest moments. Her balance in the fight for their lives.
He (chose) to turn vampire to save her finding only his destiny was never his own even as far back as at birth when she spoke to him in her mind. Made a vampire and moved up in status to be the next Lord allowing him to be her equal and therefore fulfilling the destiny of connecting the five intended to bind together to change the supernatural world.
Incidentally, Cas has studied his roots extensively, for he is born of the very powerful god, Ra.
CORD (SCORPION)(other connections-enemy used to kill Orion by his love, Anat)
Goddess ring- sees specific futuristic events that only he and Stace can envision when joined together by blood (Ewww!)
...human turned Werewolf-didn’t (choose) to become a Were and didn’t know his destiny as the scorpion he was marked with from birth. His destiny is still unknown in most ways for we know not why he was sent to Stace like the others though he was born in the same Val court as the others, except the Hunter. For now, we press on and wait.
Everything was set in motion until Cas was told to go to him and ask him to become the Were leader (by Lord Hathown). He was a human servant in the Val court that Stace doesn’t remember and doesn’t find out until end of book two.
Letter to Anastacia Anat Hathown (hidden for proper time with Lord Hathown till she is 18)
Dear Daughter of Anat,
I haven’t forgotten you. My time on earth was short, but carrying you was the highlight of my time there. I leave you with your father, the chosen male to carry you through childhood and on to the destiny you hold. Please use the resources I’ve instilled in you to accomplish the goal ahead. I hold your abilities above all and will stand above to watch them grow when all have our children have found themselves in one accord. The frailty of the human race kept us from making you anything other than the strengths of the Valkyrie and the powers of the gods. Please use this wisely and step forward on hastened feet. We need you. We are counting on you. They can’t do it without you. Read carefully the prophecy our leader has put before you.
With Love.
The hunter by day will take with him, a huntress, unlike his own. She will bear the mark of Orion, as will he.
The hunter by night will take with him, a huntress, unlike his own. She will bear the mark of the sun. As will he.
They will bring forth a mighty nation of all who come together. They will find Saiph at their right shoulder. Rigel and his stinging adversary will rule like no other. Cross will come between severed twins. Let who stands in the way of fate perish and be no more. In this great peril, the Anat goddess in human form will be the only light.
Lost Letter to Szar Hathown (hidden by father- told before Stace as a young boy and asked to guide her)
Dear Son of Anat,
I haven’t forgotten you. My time on earth was short, but carrying you and your sister were the highlight of my time there. I leave you with your father, the chosen male to carry you through childhood and on to the destiny you hold. Please use the resources I’ve instilled in you to accomplish the goal ahead. I hold your abilities as most important to the survival of your kind and ours and for the single event that it will cost all if you choose to ignore it. You understand what this is if your father followed as I asked and gave this to you at the right time. The frailty of the human race kept up us from making you anything other than the strengths of the Valkyrie and the powers of the gods. Please use this wisely. We need you. We are countin
g on you. The rest can’t do it without you. Read carefully the prophecy our leader has put before you.
With Love.
Letter to Calum Rigel Green (Hidden for proper time with Lord Green till he is 18 but revealed that
he’d seen it years before)
Dear Son of Neptunia,
I am the Father of Neptunia. My daughter was chosen for this task to bare you. I was asked to help build a ruler who would prove strong and agile among the many. I adhere to whatever Anat, the battle goddess and her children deem necessary until such time I should need to intervene and shut it down. You do me proud. Please do nothing else. Beware of your enemies, for they are many. Keep the girl safe from all harm, first and foremost.
Father of Neptunia.
Letter to Cassius Rathorth Cross (Hidden for proper time with Lord Hathown till he ten only because
he needed someone to personally protect her)
Dear Son of Eos,
Son, I am only the pawn in this. Asked by Anat to comply with her orders, I give you my undying love and respect for what you must do in the following years. As goddess of the dawn, I foresee what actions you did and will take to have the human emotion love and to fulfill your destiny. Please use the powers you hold to complete these tasks. Don’t let her go alone. As the son of Ra, you are bound by all orders of our kind and hers. When choosing another form, take care that you are taught properly. The ring will return and be of use to the both of you. Take care.
With Love.
Letter to Cord Ryan (Hidden for proper time with Lord Hathown till he is 18 but given early because he
is turned earlier than planned)
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