Chapter 118

*Ariya*


*Ready to reach out to Drake?* Ivan asked.
*I guess. I’m a little worried about being scolded though.* I said, nervously.
*We’ll get scolded together if that’s the case.* Ivan told me.
I sent a push to Drake to connect us.
*All done over there?* Drake asked.
*Yeah, but before you tell them, we wanted to talk to you. Run something by you…* I trailed off nervously.
*Keo’s still feeding. What’s going on, kiddo? Why do you seem worried?* Drake asked.
*Uh…I umm…* I trailed off.
*I can say it if you want me to, Ari.* Ivan offered.
I nodded at him. Still nervous. I wasn’t totally sure how Drake was going to react. Drake laughed in our head. He knew we were nervous about something but wasn’t sure what it was.
*I feel like I’m a parent and my kids are about to tell me they did a bad thing and killed someone who can’t actually be killed.*
Ivan laughed, *Something like that. After Ari and I bonded um…*
Ivan blushed and his face was bright red. I couldn’t help but giggle.
*Not so easy, is it?* I giggled.
*I know you 2 had sex.* Drake pointed out.
Both of us turned beet red.
*Relax. The mate bond is a lot different than a regular bond. Ivan, you’re mated to Ariya. I figured at some point you 2 would have sex. I don’t need to know the details but I’m guessing it was something after that, that happened.* Drake said after we didn’t talk.
*Right. After all of it…um…well Ivan uh…collapsed but like he felt like he was slipping away from me and I panicked.* I said, flustered.
*Ivan, were you blacking out?* Drake asked.
*I don’t know. I think so. I just felt like all the strength was drained from me and I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I tried responding to Ari but she said it came out mumbled.*
*So I may or may not have given him some of my blood.* I whispered.
*Really? What happened?* Drake asked, stunned.
*It felt like an electric shock jolted me back to life. Whatever was happening didn’t end up happening.* Ivan said.
*Ivan, I think you were so umm…exhausted that you were falling into a memory. Because you 2 had just completed the bond you might not have had it strong enough to be able to experience the memory from the other person. Ariya, giving him your blood isn’t a bad thing. It’s not something that’s really done but you 2 are mated. It sounds like you give him a boost of your own energy. If you’re hungry it might not work the same way, but it’s a personal thing. If you want to do that, that’s your choice. It’s not going to hurt him or make him crash in the end. It’s more of a boost of energy that he can use.* Drake responded.
*Wait, so you’re not mad?* I asked Drake.
*Why would I be? Because you gave him some of your own blood? Ari, unfortunately no one here has experience with being mate bonded to an Original Navi Wolf. It means you’re kinda on your own with some of it. There’s probably a lot of experiences that you both will have that none of us are going to understand. I’m here to help and guide the best I can but I wasn’t mate bonded to Derek. Your Mom wasn’t mate bonded to Ivan’s Mom either. So I don’t really have much to go on. You do realize to turn someone that isn’t a Navi into a vampire that they have to take some of our blood right?* Drake asked.
*I’m not turning Ivan am I?* I asked worriedly.
*No, there’s a lot more to it. You might get him addicted to the feeling though.* Drake laughed.
*Too late for that. The second it happened the first time, I wanted it again. Then again, feeling how it is for you guys to feed makes me wonder how you’re able to stop.* Ivan laughed.
*Wait. What do you mean, feeling how it is for us to feed?* Drake asked.
I felt my cheeks turn red. We hadn’t gone into any detail about the mate bond with them. We were still learning things. We weren’t even completely sure of everything that would or could happen.
*Ivan can feel what I feel. The opposite is true too. We’re almost always linked through our thoughts unless we sever the link. Ivan can see my memory if I’m sleeping and he’s awake. I don’t know if it works if we’re both asleep. But we can also use some of the abilities of the other. So Ivan should be able to use my Energy Manipulation and the Dragon’s Eye.* I explained to Drake.
*Sounds like Ivan has a lot of training to do as well. I knew you guys could talk through your mind but I didn’t realize it was a constant thing. I also didn’t know you both could feel what the other feels.* Drake thought out loud.
*Yeah, Ari knows what it feels like for me to be fed on by her. It’s something my parents said that I would be able to show her. She knows it doesn’t hurt us at all.* Ivan said.
*As that bond gets stronger you 2 are likely to become almost untouchable.* Drake pointed out.
*Like you?* I said, excited.
*I’m not untouchable, Ariya. Ivan proved that when he beat me up.* Drake laughed.
*Sorry.* Ivan said.
*Don’t be. It showed me spots I need to work on. Besides, I’m glad to know that Ariya is well protected. I guess we’ll need to focus on you learning how to use our abilities as well.* Drake said.
*Ari’s got that covered for me. She promised to show me what she knows. So as you teach her, she’ll teach me.* Ivan grinned.
*Keo’s done. You’ll probably have to sever the connection with you and Ari so they can work on swapping.* Drake pointed out.
*We will. Oh and the answer to Caleb’s question, yes. I can see the mark in my wolf form. I’ll work on him learning how to use his wolf eyes though. And enhance his sense of smell if possible.* Ivan told Drake.
*It’s going to take a lot Drake, for the swap. Keo and I haven’t fully swapped places yet.* I mentioned.
*What do you mean? You took over for Keo once when he was beating me up. Keo’s taken over for you in the facility once.* Drake asked.
*Yes, but never at the same time. Keo was still in the background when I took over his body. The same way we were all in the background when Keo was in control of mine. We’ve never fully swapped places yet. Only temporarily. I’m not sure how we manage to do it.* I explained.
*Well I guess it’s time for some trial and error.* Drake said.
*Maybe instead of guessing who is who we work on trying to get you both just swapping. Once you get the hang of it we can start guessing?* Ivan offered.
*Sounds like a plan to me. Ariya, you’ll both also have to figure out to let the other know what’s going on later. But for now just see about swapping places.* Drake mentioned.
*Like knowing what happened last? You both could ask each of us a question and when we swap we can give the answer. That’s probably the best way to test that we know what’s going on when we swap.* I added.
*Sounds good. It would be better if it is simple. Like a 1 word thing that is able to be memorized. But we’ll get there. Good luck, Ariya. I’ll see you soon if it works, kiddo.* Drake said.
Drake cut the connection, leaving Ivan and I alone for a moment. I snuggled into his arms, burying my face in his chest. I breathed him in more as he squeezed me tightly.
*I’m still here. But I don’t think I should have you in my lap when you guys swap. That might be a little weird for Keo and I.* Ivan laughed.
I laughed with him, *Can you imagine? Keo would be a little freaked out.*
Ivan gave me a tight hug again and kissed me softly on the lips. He took in a deep breath, breathing in my scent before getting up and moving back to the chair.
*Good luck, Ari. You can do this.* Ivan encouraged me.
Ivan and I cut our connection so Keo and I could practice. I felt Keo pull at my mind immediately after. I let him so we could face each other and try to figure out how to make this work.
“Hey, Ari!” Keo said, beaming at me.
I jumped into Keo’s arms and gave him a hug.
“I miss you.” I told him.
“I miss you too. You’re always hanging out with that wolf though. Sheesh. And you had to go and get yourself caught.” Keo smirked, playing around.
I giggled, “How do you suppose we do this? We’ve only ever ridden as a passenger with the other before. Never both swapped.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. Whoever pulls at the other is where we end up right? So what if we both pull at the same time?”
“It might work but how would we take control? What if we just end up trapped in the other’s mind like we are here?”