Chapter 200


    E


    There are tears in my eyes as Ie out of the memory, the heady drug still swirling through my


    senses. I forget that I’m not alone in the room, trying to wrap my brain around the conversation I just


    recalled. My mind feels as though it might splinter with the weight of so many astounding revtions. I


    met the Goddess, and though I’d been too young to understand the things she exined to me, to


    realize that I was the child in the story, I’m certainly old enough now. I have a family. I think dazedly, the


    Goddess’s own power runs through my veins.


    When the heavy silence breaks, I remember I have an audience. “Holy sh!t.” Gabriel utters in


    amazement.


    “Did that… was that… ” Roger stammers, looking around at the other men.


    “I can’t believe it.” Henry concludes, looking solemn but reverent as he strokes my brow.


    Was that – was that real, or a dream?” I ask nervously, turning wide eyes to my father inw. It felt real,


    but years of disappointed hopes have trained me never to trust such things.


    “No E,” Leon answers stiffly, as if he’s suddenly not sure how to address me. “That was very real.”


    I clench my eyes shut, and rivulets of salt water streak down my cheeks. They wanted me”I


    Murmur in awe. my parents wanted me.


    “Of course they did. Henry clucked fondly, wiping a few of my tears away. How could they not?


    My brother-inw is watching us as if we’re mad, Um…is that all that stuck out to you because-“


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Put a sock in it, Roger.” Gabriel cuts him off with a low growl.


    “Sorry, it just seems like she’% burying the lead”


    Roger answers sullenly, crossing his arms over his c.hest, “Mean we just found out secrets about the


    whole dammed universe and -“


    And E just found out that she wasn’t willfully abandoned by her parents,” Leon cuts him of this time


    “Let her have this moment before we start digging into the rest.”


    You all are being very calm about this” Roger observes grumpily. “But I’m the crazy, insensitive one,”


    Henry tums to re at his eldest son, “Why don’t you make yourself useful and call your brother.”


    ring, Roger does as he’s told, and a minuteter a tablet is pressed into my hand. Dominie’s


    handsome face fills the screen, and 1’m introduced to the joys of seeing my mate while in the clutches


    of the ether. “Hello trouble,” He greets me with a wide, though concerned smile, “How are you feeling?”


    I met the Goddess.” I report dreamily, raking my gaze over the rugged nes of his cheekbones and


    jaw. They’re even sharper under the effects of the drug, and his emerald eyes even more striking. “


    You’re so beautiful I want to l!ck your face.” Sinir chuckles, the worry lines in his brow smoothing out.


    “Well right back at you.” He replies warmly, “what’s this about the Goddess?”


    “Oh, she was prettier than you.” I admit reluctantly, recalling the enchanting woman with her starlight


    hair and cosmic eyes. But not nearly as cuddly… I mean her cuddles were nice but yours are so much


    better.” I stop for a moment, distracted by thoughts of being in my mate’s arms. It takes a moment for


    my thoughts to get back on track. “But you wolves have had it wrrooonngg. I sing, dragging out the


    word. “She’s not even the Goddess of the moon, but of all light – and she has a partner.


    Though honestly he sounds like a bit of a downer.


    Well, isn’t that fascinating?” Sinir tells me, in the tone of one speaking to a drunk toddler. Then he


    clears his throat, “Dad?”


    “Yeah, she’s still pretty high.” Henry mutters, and I emit an affronted scoff. “Here dearheart, listen to this


    while I exin to Dominic.” My phone is ready and waiting at my side, with the recording of Sinir’s


    purrs cued up in case I needed to be calmed down during the session. He presses y, and the sound


    rumbles to life by my ear, sending ripples of cozy warmth through my body.


    In the distance I can hear Henry recounting the entire tale to Sinir, but I find myself dozing nearer


    and nearer to sleep, floating on the waves of the drug and my mate’s purrs. I hear the far- away sounds


    of their astounded discussion, about the God of darkness, the unknown history when wolves and


    humans openly lived together, and my role in this war. There are too many details to focus on all at


    once, and the conversation flits around erratically.I can only sigh and snuggle deeper into the sofa


    cushions.


    ?Can I have a nket?” I ask after a while, my words soft and slurred. “And maybe a cupcake?


    A warm, heavy weight settles over my shoulders, and I burrow into the coverlet, You can have as many


    cupcakes as you want when you wake up, angel.” Henry promises, even though I can hear Sinir


    comining in the background about such an unhealthy prospect.


    “Stop being bossy.” I tell him, interrupted by a wide yawn. “Sugares from nts… that makes it


    sd.”


    Sinirughs, and I realize they’ve brought the tablet back over to me. “Stop sassing me and go to


    sleep, little mate.”


    You can’t make me… ” I mumble weakly, but I’m only met with purrs from both the recording and the


    video call now.


    At some point I hear Leon protest. “What about the therapy?”


    “Let her rest.” Sinir’s deep voice instructs, “Tl go after her, and when she wakes she’lle see


    The next thing I know, I’m in the dream forest, and Sinir is walking towards me through the trees. It’s


    the first time I’ve been able to find my way here on my own since I started digging into my past, and I


    run into my mate’s open arms. “I did it!


    No nightmares!” I exim, Wrapping my arms and legs around him.


    “I see!” He exims, h.ugging me close and dropping k!sses over my cheek, temple and hair.


    I’m so d, baby.” “Are you sleeping in the middle of the day?” I ask, nuzzling my nose against the


    bare skin of his c.hest, that special sp0t where his scent is the strongest.


    I am.” He confirms, running his big hands over my body. “I figured it was worth making an exception


    today.”


    You should do this every day.” I suggest eagerly, nibbling his shoulder and dipping my tongue into his


    vicle. “In fact, if we both slept all the time, then we could just be together here the whole time until


    youe home!”


    That might cause a few problems with the summit.” Sinir remarks wryly, reclining on the bed and


    adjusting my legs so that I’mfortably straddling him. You know, for someone that was so


    exhausted a second ago, you’re awfully hyper now.


    ?Because I’m excited!” I announce, sitting up. He reaches for my hands and I thread my slender fingers


    through his, yfully pushing against his palms and grinning widely. I don’t know how much of my


    euphoric mood is the drugs or the secrets I just learned, but I want nothing more than to be lighthearted


    and silly right now. “I have a family… one who loved me. I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a


    pup.”


    “I’m so happy for you, sweetheart.”I lean down to k!ss him, and Sinir catches me tight, content to


    explore my mouth with his talented tongue andvish affection on my body with his expert fingers.


    Just before our l!ps connect, however, I sense him thrusting some unpleasant emotion away, as if


    putting it aside untilter. I only let him indulge me for a moment before I pull back “What is it?”


    Nothing.” He lies, “Just let me love on you for a while.” He catches my l!ps in another delicious k!ss,


    and my h!ps reflexively rock against his hardness, but I wriggle free of his intoxicating trap.


    No.” I insist stubbornly. “Tell me.”


    He grumbles, moving his mouth to his mark and nibbling the sensitive sp0t. “Don’t you want to enjoy


    this for a while? Come on, let’s leave reality for after the drugs wear off.”


    “If you don’t tell me now I’m just going to build it up even worse in my mind.” I dere fiercely.


    Sinir sighs and drops his head back against the mattress. “Alright, I need to tell you something about


    your family.


    I freeze, my instincts going on high alert. “Do you know who they are? My parents?” I ask, not knowing


    how such a thing would be possible based on the limited information the Goddess shared.


    “Baby, the couple the Goddess described in your a powerful Alpha King from an ancient bl00dline, with


    a tender-hearted wife who couldn’t bear children… around the time you were born… there’s only one


    couple in the world who fits that description.” Sinir exins gently.


    My heart ceases beatingpletely, Who?”