There were two things constantly haunting my dreams. A blurred image of Melanie drowning in her own blood and another of kissing Even.
I didn’t know what either meant or what my subconsciousness was trying to tell me. I didn’t want Melanie to die. . . but I did want to kiss Even.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Even and his suck-me-in blue eyes. He was the one who noticed me and announced to everyone that I was the Moon Goddess. He saw me when no one else had.
Ugh, what was wrong with me? My life was a mess and I’m here thinking about a boy.
“Hey, Hazel,” I picked up my head from my hands and saw Abigail walking towards me with an empty bucket in his hands.
“Can you help pick some strawberries?”
“Sure, I’ll go in a few minutes,” I took the bucket from him and placed it on the ground. All I really wanted to do was take a breather.
“I’m going to tell Flora tonight.” He said confidently and I applauded his courage.
“Good luck, I hope it goes well,” He instantly brightened before leaving.
Even took his place momentarily. He leaned back on his hands, his finger inches from mine.
“What did Abigail want?” Should I tell him? I mean, it wasn’t going to be a secret for very long.
“He wants to be mates with Flora. I mean, even if I could make them mates, I’m not sure it would work,” I paused, “Their auras aren’t the same.” I’m pretty sure auras had to be in sync in order for someone to be paired, although I could be wrong.
“They seem happy.” Even looked over at the strawberry bushes where Abigail and Flora were picking strawberries with each other. Both of them were smiling and their auras lit up around each other.
I turned back around to face Even again, “But can I do that? I don’t want to play God.”
“You’re not,” Even smiled at me, “You’re playing Goddess.”
We smiled at each other for a moment before we spent some time just listening to nature. Both of us just laid on our backs and breathed in the sweet Spring air.
I changed the subject to him, “So, where’s your mate?” I was curious about his life since he never really gave anything away.
“I can’t have one, remember?” Oh, because he was a healer.
“Does that make you sad?”
“No. That way I can fall in love with whoever I want.” He looked at me from the corner of my eye and I pretended not to notice. I hoped he couldn’t hear my heart racing.
“And what about you? Are you sad you won’t have a mate?” He asked and I never really thought about it.
“I don’t know. I’ve never had the hope of finding my mate but from what I’ve heard sometimes things don’t always have a happy ending.”
I remembered what Sofia had said about how she’d waited for her mate to come save her but didn’t. I also remembered what Bruce said about hating how the mate system worked. Hmm, now that I think about it, I got the feeling that all of the rogues hated the Moon Goddess.
“If one mate dies, the other one dies. Seems a little harsh.”
“Mates live together and die together. It sounds harsh but the mate bond is so strong that if one dies, the other follows. They can’t live without each other.” It sounded so cheesy but he was dead serious.
“But you can always find someone else, can’t you?” I asked, glancing over at him. He was staring right at me.
I looked away as he answered, “Sometimes.”
Just then, I realized I was supposed to be picking some strawberries.
“Okay, I should probably be useful and pick some strawberries.”
“I’ll help.”
We stood up and headed over to the bushes. Flora’s barn covered a large portion of territory, all kinds of fruits and vegetables growing in her garden in the back. But the most impressive in her garden was the huge section devoted only to strawberry bushes.
“Wow, that’s a lot of strawberries.” I commented when I saw it. There were rows and rows of bushes, it was like she was growing food for the whole country.
“You should see the apple orchard in the fall.” Even nodded.
We started to pluck the strawberries off the bushes and tossed them into the bucket.
We worked in comfortable silence for about less than an hour when we filled the first bucket.
“I’m going to get another bucket,” I said, taking it in my hands and heading back to the barn.
“Don’t move.” I froze, wondering what he was going to do as he walked closer to me.
He reached a hand out and touched the side of my face; a gentle caress that made my heart race. I licked my lips, waiting anxiously for what he was going to do next.
Even moved his hand near my ear and picked something small from my hair.
“There was a leaf in your hair.” Disappointment weighed down on me. I was expecting something else, I wanted more.
I needed more.
“Is that it?” I cleared my throat, looking into his eyes.
He hesitated and I took that as a signal to leave.
“Hazel,” He called out before grabbing my arm and spinning me to him. And then he pressed his lips to mine.
The bucket full of strawberries slipped through my fingers, I was so stunned.
His mouth was softer than I’d expected and he was much gentler than he appeared. I never knew a boy could be so tender.
I didn’t know what to do with my hands but I didn’t have to worry about it because he cradled my hands in his.
When we pulled apart, it was only for a few seconds before we kissed again.
It wasn’t magical, it was the most real thing I’d ever experienced. A rush of happiness and adoration shot through my body.
His kiss brought everything back to life.
We broke apart again, mostly because I couldn’t breathe, and when I opened my eyes, his aura brightened so much that it was almost white.
“What was that for?” I whispered.
“I wasn’t done.” He smiled, which made me smile.
I had that goofy smile for the rest of the day.
*****
When I woke up the next, everything glowed. I was still high from yesterday’s kiss with Even. But I did have an unanswered question, what did that make us?
I stretched my arms and legs out and looked over at the sleeping bags next to me but they were empty. Where was he?
I walked into the kitchen, greeting Mila and Law.
“Good morning, everyone,” I smiled brightly as I sat down at the table. Law was eating some toast while Mila was chopping something.
“Someone’s happy,” Law said in a grumpy tone, “What did you do to her?” He looked at Mila, who shrugged innocently.
“Nothing,”
“Where’s Even?” If I’d learned anything about Abigail and Flora it’s that life was short.
“He left.” Law said, mindlessly eating his toast.
“He left? Where’d he go?” I needed to see him as soon as possible.
“I don’t know, probably back at the castle.”
I widened my eyes at that, “What? He left?” I thought he left to go pick some fruit or something, but he left?
“That’s what I just said, I’m not repeating it.” Law shook his head.
“When did he leave?”
“Yesterday. Didn’t he tell you?” Mila asked.
“No,” I frowned, “Why did he leave?” I aimed at Law, who probably knew, and when he didn’t answer, I grabbed the toast he was eating and demanded urgently, “Why did he leave?”
“He didn’t say.” Mila interjected.
“Why do you need to know so badly?” Law seemed caught off guard by my mood swing.
But before I could ask anything else, Flora and Abigail stepped in, radiating pure joy.
“Hazel!” Flora greeted me with a long hug, “Thank you so much!”
“What-” I hugged her back but was still reeling from Even’s departure.
“You did it, Abigail and I are mates!” She giggled, kissing Abigail on the lips.
“I actually. . . How?” I gasped.
“We have no idea but when we woke up today, we could both feel it. We’re really mates!” Abigail laughed happily and picked Flora up to spin her around.
They were telling the truth. Their auras were the same, their once different auras had blended together and lit up around each other.
I celebrated with them, excited I was gaining control over my powers.
I can’t believe I did it! I could create mate bonds!
I couldn’t wait to tell Even-
My happiness deflated when I realized he wasn’t here, he’d left without me. Why would he do that? Why would he leave without telling me?
I excused myself and took a walk in the strawberry fields.
Why would he leave without me? Why didn’t he take me with him?
“Hey, you okay?” Law came up behind me.
“Fine.”
Why would he leave when he knew he what that kiss meant? What he was beginning to mean to me?
Law studied my face and sighed, “I know it’s about Even, I can tell by your dejected face.”
“My face isn’t dejected.” But even that sounded dejected.
“You got all sad when I said Even left.” He was right. It was affecting me more that it should’ve.
I pulled a strawberry off its bush, studying its vibrant red color.
“Well, on the bright side, Abigail and Flora are mates thanks to you.” Law tried to cheer me up.
“I still don’t understand how I did that.” I rolled the strawberry between my fingers, sweetness filling my mouth as I took a bite.
“Maybe it was your love for Even.” Law shrugged before walking ahead of me.
He meant it at as a joke, but that was it.
That was the key.
Love, it’s what created mate bonds. And hate, was what destroyed them.
I was in a hateful mood when I broke Ares and Alex’s mate bond. . . But I was in a loving mood when I created Abigail and Flora’s.
Why would he leave without saying goodbye?
One kiss was all it took to invade my heart. Whatever I see or hear makes my head full of him. My senses are trapped and I couldn’t do anything to free myself.
That boy is invading my everything.
And I knew I had to run after him.