Chapter 7

When I woke up, I was well rested and pissed off. Mavros forced me to sleep. I got out of bed and went to my window first. I pushed the curtains aside. It was sunset, and he wasn't back. Why did I even think he would be back?

"Oh, you're awake." Mavros said, coming into my room. "I thought you'd sleep for much longer."

I guess I was wrong.

"Were you able to take Zariya back to the spirit realm?"

"I'm going to put this as softly as I can." He sat on my bed. "No, I could not and did not take her back to the spirit realm."

"What?"

"Calm down."

I stood in front of him. "Calm down? You want me to calm down?"

"I believe I said that."

"I can't calm down!" I kicked my bed. "How do you expect me to calm down when she could barge in here and say something?"

"You make it sound as though you committed a crime."

"You don't understand." I sat beside him. "I'm afraid of what she can do. Who knows what she's capable of?"

"I do." He faced him. "Zariya was and still is dangerous, even without her wolf part. Her combat skills are," he kissed the tips of his fingers, "amazing."

"You are not easing my worry in any way."

Mischief glinted in his eyes. "Would you like me to ease your worry?"

I slapped his arm. "You dirty-minded god."

He chuckled. "I'm starting to think I'm being too light on you." He said, rubbing where I hit him. When he saw the look on my face, he added. "Quit worrying about Zariya, I've got your back."

"Of all the gods in this world, why would I trust you?"

"Would you like a list?" he scooted closer.

I needed a distraction to take my mind off Zariya, so I said. "I'd like a list."

"Very well. I am a god; a powerful one at that. I'm good-looking. The good-looking ones are always trustworthy."

"I disagree."

He flicked my forehead lightly. "Your opinion doesn't matter in my list. Also, I have a tendency to come around whenever you need me."

"You should. You introduced me to my past life."

"It was for a good cause."

"It's not so good now."

"Val, darling," he cupped my face. "You're getting worried again."

I moved away from him. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because I'm here, duh." He rolled his eyes. "Let's do something that will get your mind off Zariya for the next fifteen minutes. Truth or dare."

"You know that game?" it impressed me he knew it. "I thought gods didn't do things like that."

"Just because I am a god doesn't mean I don't know how to have fun." He made himself more comfortable on my bed and I followed suit. "I'll start. Truth or dare?"

"Truth." I answered.

He thought for a while before asking. "Have you ever admired your nude self in the mirror?"

"Who hasn't?"

He grinned. "Did you like what you saw?"

"It's my turn, Mavros."

He sighed. "Fine. Ask away."

"Truth or dare."

"Truth."

This was a little touchy for me, but I felt the need to ask. I never really knew the answer to this question. He was the only person who could answer it for me.

"When you were in Layton's body, did he..." I hesitated.

"Did he have feelings for you?"

"Yeah. Did he?"

"He's your mate. Of course he had feelings for you."

That answer made me feel a little better.

"My turn. Truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"Oh, yeah." He rubbed his palms together. "I dare you to..." he studied my face for a moment. "Kiss me."

"You're joking."

"Darling, you were asking for it when you chose dare. I don't want those pecks, mind you."

"I'm not kissing you." I got up from the bed.

"You think I'm bad?"

No. I did not think he was bad. In fact, I had a feeling he would be good. Too good.

"I'm not answering that question."

"Why choose dare if you won't do what the other person wants? It's not fair."

"Life's not fair."

He squinted at me through dark eyes, passing across annoyance without speaking a word. "You bore me."

And he disappeared.

<<<>>>

After the day turned to dusk, someone came looking for me. I feared it was Zariya, so I did not go down. Minutes later, Logan's footsteps pounded against the stairs, and his hands knocked on my door.

"Valeria," he called. "Val, are you in?"

I stayed still, hoping he wouldn't hear me.

"Val, I know you're in there."

He could smell me.

"Come out already. It's not her, I promise. Queen Hannah of the griffin kingdom came to see you."

My hammering heart calmed, and I found my voice. "Hannah?"

"Yes." There was sincerity in his voice. "She wanted to check on you, so she came."

"Logan, if this is a trick, I'll chop off your balls and feed it to you." I threatened.

"Why would I lie to you? I promise, V. I'm telling the truth." A pause. "You know it isn't nice to keep someone waiting."

"Fine." I dropped the baseball bat in my hand. It belonged to my brother. "Let me change out of these jeans and into something more comfortable."

"I'll be downstairs wai-"

"No." I rushed out, stripping out of the tight trouser. "Stay there."

I heard him sigh. "You still don't trust me."

"I do." I went over to my closet and took out brown sweatpants. "Just being cautious." I slid on the trouser before opening the door. "Let's go."

As we went down the stairs, Logan kept looking at me from the corner of his eyes. It was as if he wanted to say something, but wasn't sure whether he shoulder. Like he said, Hannah was indeed seated in the living room with a cup of tea in her hand, conversing with Maya.

"Finally," Mel said with a sigh when she saw me and Logan walk into the living room. "Why didn't you come down earlier?"

"I thought she was Zariya." I sent through the mind link.

"Oh." she sent back.

"Valeria, it's so good to see you." Hannah placed her cup on the center table and got up to embrace me. "It's been too long since I saw you."

"It has." I agreed, hugging her back. When she pulled away, I said. "Love what you did what your hair."

Her black hair was now a dirty blonde. It fit her perfectly and made her green eyes pop. It made me want to try the color on myself. Maybe it'll look great on me. I've had black hair for far too long.

"Thank you." She smiled. "Even my fiancé likes it, too."

Everyone except Logan gasped. That man made me wonder if he had emotions.

"Fiancé?" My eyes found her finger that had a silver band with a beautiful gem on it. "You're really getting married?"

"Yes." She squealed. "It's part of the reason I came here." She sat down and I did the same beside Melody. "I wanted to personally invite the royal household to my wedding, since we're on good terms now. What do you think?"

"I love it." I said sincerely. "So, when is the wedding?"

"Exactly one week from now. Karl and I would like to wed on the date we first met each other."

"That's so cute." Melody gushed. Pregnant Mel was such a romance lover. "We'll be there."

"Thank you." Hannah said. "Since that's out of the way." She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Val, can we talk? It's important."

"Um, sure." I got to my feet. "Come with me."

She followed me into my study. I motioned for her to sit down when I saw she was waiting for me to ask her to sit. I loved the act. It showed she was raised well. I sat behind the desk and she sat across from me.

"Is there a problem?" I asked.

"Yesterday, an elder god appeared to me. He said something was coming for you and that I should warn you to be cautious."

The elder gods were gods who had retired. There was the council of blood (Vampires); the council of brew (Witches); the council of fire (Dragons); and the council of thieves (Griffins).

"I know what's coming for me."

"You do?" She shifted in the chair. "What's that?"

"I have told no one about this, not even my sister, but the thing is, a woman named Zariya has been going from pack to pack looking for me."

"Why would she look for you? Did you wrong her?"

"No," I leaned against my chair and breathed deep. "I have hurt no one. She's coming after me because apparently, I am a reincarnation of her."

"Excuse me?"

"It is what you heard, Hannah. I am a reincarnation of that woman and, from what I was told earlier today, she looks exactly like me right now. It makes me uneasy just thinking about it."

"I don't understand something." Hannah said. "If you are a reincarnation of her, doesn't that mean she's dead? A ghost?"

"I haven't met her, so I don't know. I believe she's after me because of what happened in my past life."

"Care to share?"

I smiled a little. "I've shared this much with you, why not tell the entire story."

"I'm all ears."

"Do you remember the god who met us in the forest?"

"I remember him. Aspro, right?"

"Yes."

"What does this have to do with him?"

"In my past life, I was in love with him. Turns out that falling in love with a god was forbidden because I was a mortal being. As punishment, they split me apart. They sent my human side to the human realm and my feral part remained in the werewolf kingdom. As I was told, Fitia mated my mother and father just so I could be reborn."

"Are you for real?" Her eyes were wide. "So, he was your lover."

"That's what I was told."

"Have you tried confirming it with him?"

"Yes. He said he couldn't be just friends with me, so he left. I haven't seen him in over a week since."

"This is so romantic." She cupped her face. "Forbidden love."

I shook my head. "There is no love here."

"Are you certain you don't love him? Even a little?"

"I don't." I admitted. "Aspro is someone I'd like to have as a friend. Besides, if I was in love with him, the council would have summoned me by now to split me again. Who knows, maybe this time, they might wipe me out of existence."

"Why are they so against a god and a mortal being falling in love?" She crossed her legs. "Love is a good thing. They shouldn't have a problem with two people falling in love."

"I'm going to send for Azura tomorrow morning. I'm certain something happened. Something must have made them disapprove of such a union."

"If my memory serves me right," Hannah began. "The goddess did say you could choose anyone you want as your mate, yes?"

"Yeah?"

"Then choose Aspro. I don't know about you, but I'd like to have a life I could not have in my previous life if I were to be in your shoes. If she was merciful enough to have you reborn, maybe she can put in a kind word for you."

"I don't know, honestly."

I'd hate to get in trouble with the elder gods and end my family's lineage. After all, I was the last blood of the Romero lineage. Father would not be pleased with me if I did something irrational.

"What do you mean, you don't know? You know what? I'm going to be here tomorrow. I'd like to know what Azura thinks of this. Do you understand you're about to let genuine love slip right through your fingers?"

"But the consequences..."

"Oh, come on. The goddess said you are free to choose a mate. So what if it's a god? It's not a sin to love a god. Love is not a sin."

"Hannah, you don't understand." I rubbed my forehead. "To the elder gods, it's a sin. It is the reason they split me apart in the first place."

She reached for my hand. "I understand. What I'm saying is that the goddess should have your back here. She was the one who gave the go ahead that night." She patted my hand. "Not to worry though, when Azura comes tomorrow, we'll know what to do, alright?"

I nodded. "Alright."

She smiled. "Now, let's get something to eat. I'm hungry."