Page 4 of Bloom (Dating a Demigod #4)

Timber

My first thought as we pulled onto Jersey’s property was that my mate had been so close, a mere twenty minute drive away from me, for so long.

I was curious why we hadn’t crossed paths, or why I hadn’t been drawn to him before now, but I knew Fate worked in her own timing.

Perhaps I had to build a rapport with Chuck first, so that my mate would feel comfortable turning to me in his time of need.

But all thoughts were pushed away when I got a glimpse of his land. It was undoubtedly beautiful, scrawling out across acres of gentle hills and valleys, but I couldn’t ignore the large patches of black scorched earth. The photo Jersey showed me didn’t portray the amount of damage present.

Jersey parked next to a soy bean field and my heart sank. Most of the plants were brown with falling leaves, which was the typical look for this time of year. It meant the beans were ready to be harvested. But he wouldn’t be harvesting as many as planned, thanks to the dead patches.

We were both silent as we climbed out of the truck and walked to the edge of the blackened ground. I lowered onto my knees and ran my fingers along the dirt. Any remaining leaves were charred and crispy, and even the soil was dry and stiff.

“I’ve tried treatments for fungus, bacteria, parasites,” Jersey sighed, “But nothing has helped in the slightest.”

It only took a moment for me to know why his treatments hadn’t worked; now that I was seeing the damage up close, I realized I’d seen it before. “That’s because unfortunately, this isn’t from a natural cause.”

“You know what it is?” he asked excitedly. “Wait; what do you mean it’s not from a natural cause? What is it? What can I do?”

“Your crops have been doused in bleach.” I looked up at Jersey to find him staring down at me in utter confusion. “Some people use it to clear weeds. I’m not a fan of the method, because it damages the soil, and even some weeds have purpose and can be transplanted, but it is effective.”

“But…I…what?” I gave him a moment to collect his thoughts and he finally got out, “Who would do such a thing? And how did I not smell it?”

I could only provide an answer to one of his questions.

“I’d bet the bleach was mixed with water.

It dilutes the smell without dropping the potency.

If the water is hot enough, it will actually cause the chemical to sink deeper into the soil.

” As for the other inquiry, I could only ask, “Do you have any enemies?”

“None,” he answered easily, and I wasn’t surprised; my mate was wonderful and anyone would be lucky to know him. “The farming community around here is tight knit. Many of my neighbors offered advice and assistance.”

“Have you noticed anyone sneaking around your place? Any strangers?” It would take a fucked up type of person to hurt a stranger, but I couldn’t think of any other possibility.

“There was a guy who came around a few months ago,” he answered, tipping his head.

“He wasn’t sneaking, but I didn’t know him.

He was nice, though; he said he was new to the area and looking for a place to settle.

He commented on how nice my property was, and asked if I’d ever be willing to sell.

I politely but firmly declined. He shook my hand and said it was nice talking to me, and then he left. ”

“And that’s the only time you saw him?”

“Actually, he came back around last week. He offered his condolences about my crops, and offered again to buy me out and ‘take my problems off my hands’. I wasn’t as polite that time; I was frustrated with the situation and admittedly took it out on him.

I told him to get off my land, and he said I’d regret turning him down. ”

My fists curled into fists on my knees. “That sounds like a threat.” Anger boiled inside me; if anyone dared to move against my mate, they’d face the wrath of the gods.

“I didn’t think so at the time,” he shrugged. “I thought he was just disappointed.” Jersey nodded towards the ground. “But I also thought this was just bad luck.”

“What was the guy’s name?”

“His last name was Hughes. I don’t remember his first name.”

I stood up, retrieved my phone from my pocket, and typed furiously. In the age of social media, anyone could be a detective. I searched the name and the surrounding area, and came up with a list of potential matches. “Are any of these him?”

I flipped the screen to face Jersey, who studied the line of faces. He pointed to a plump, smiling man with a thick gray mustache. “That one.”

“Bart Hughes,” I grunted as I clicked the photo. “He has shifty eyes.” Maybe I was biased, but I immediately didn’t trust him. Especially after I did more digging online, and learned that he was a real estate developer, known best for overseeing the construction of high rises and shopping malls.

“So this bastard just so happens to find himself in Rose Valley,” Jersey snarled, crossing his arms across his chest, “Which is full of undeveloped land that would cost much less than that in bigger cities. He makes an offer and when it’s declined, he decides to use pressure and destruction to try and leave the poor farmer without any other options.

I have a feeling that if he managed to get my land, the other farms around here would start having the same troubles. ”

“I’m calling the cops.” I hovered my finger over the numbers, but Jersey stopped me with a gentle touch to my hand.

“It’s just a theory. The guy may be totally innocent. We have no proof.”

“Then we’ll get some. I say we install cameras all around your property. Whether it’s him or not, we need to find out who is responsible and nail their ass to the wall.” Jersey’s lips curled into a smirk. “What?”

“You’re cute when you’re worked up.” I felt heat spread from my cheeks to my earlobes, but it cooled when my mate’s expression fell. “Hopefully that will keep this from happening again. But is there anything that can be done to correct the damage?”

“Nothing natural or manmade can fix this, but there is one way.” He gave me his full attention as I bent over to scoop up a palmful of crunchy soil.

“There’s a couple of things you don’t know about me; who I am and why we met.

” I took a deep breath and laid it all out for him.

“I am a demigod; son of Chloris, goddess of flowers and new growth. I came to Earth to find my mate - the one I will love, protect, and nurture for all time. And I found that in you.”

A rush of emotions flashed across his face; confusion, disbelief, and even anger, probably thinking I was playing a cruel joke on him. The only way I knew to prove my words to him was to let him see them in action.

I focused my energy on the dirt in my hand. It warmed and vibrated against my palm as its color turned from black to rich brown. A tiny leaf peeked through and within seconds, a stalk stretched towards the sky. Pods sprouted and filled with beans. Soon, the plant was fully grown and mature.

I turned my attention from the vegetation in my hand to Jersey’s face, which had grown pale. His jaw hung open and he shook from his shoulders to his knees. I dropped the plant and stepped forward just as they buckled.

Jersey

“Breathe,” a sweet, quiet voice repeated from somewhere above me.

A hand slowly stroked up and down my back as I blinked my eyes back into focus.

I was on the ground, though I didn’t remember sitting down, and my head was bowed towards my knees.

Did I pass out? I’d never done so before.

I also didn’t remember losing consciousness, but I suppose I wouldn’t.

The reason why I was struggling came rushing back to me. I’d witnessed Timber bringing a clump of dead dirt back to life with nothing but his hands. And what was he saying about being a god? My whole life, I assumed that was the stuff of legends and fairytales. But I couldn’t deny what I saw.

I wanted to ask him to explain everything to me, to help me understand what I saw and what it all meant. But the only sentence my muddled mind could form was, “What the fuck was that?” Not exactly eloquent, but it got my point across.

Timber sat cross-legged in front of me, and gave me a soft smile. “I’m sorry for springing it on you like that, but I thought the best way to prove myself was to show you instead of just telling you.”

He wasn’t wrong, but my mind wasn’t ready for all of that at once. “Now that I’ve seen, can you tell me again, and maybe…go slower this time?”

“Of course.” His pretty hazel eyes held contact as he explained, “Like I said, my mother is Chloris, the goddess of plants and new life. She lives in the Elysian Fields, a place beyond this earth, full of remarkable beauty and abundance. My mother has often traveled to this world, experiencing the wonders it has to offer. Her devotion to ‘new life’ doesn’t just relate to foliage; she joined with many men throughout the years, bearing their children and growing her family. ”

“So your dad is…?”

“Human,” he shrugged, and it boggled my mind it even had to be questioned. “But I don’t know him, and I’m sure he’s not aware of my existence or her identity. My mother met him with purpose, and there was no relationship or love between them.”

“But that’s not what you’re looking for?” I asked hopefully. I wasn’t a stranger to hookups, but the thought of just being a notch in Timber’s belt broke my heart. I had a deep, gnawing need to get closer to him.

“No,” he answered quickly, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

“I came to Earth for specific purposes as well, and one of them was to find my mate. You see, every god and demigod are granted a mate by Fate. This person is their perfect match who completes them in every way. Once they meet, the demigod devotes their life to their mate’s happiness, safety, and fulfillment.

They will never desire another, and will love their mate boundlessly for all time. ”

“ All time?”

“Yes. Demigods have the immortal properties of their godly parents. And when they bond, that passes onto their mate as well, since they cannot survive without one another. When the pair bonds, their lifelines and souls intertwine. They truly become one.”

“And…your mate…that is me? But how do you know? We just met.”

“I knew before we met. When you were driving towards my home, I felt a shift in the air. I knew you were going to change my life. And when you stepped out of your truck and I laid eyes on you for the first time, I knew from the depths of my soul that you were my forever. I know it is different for humans; the instinct isn’t as strong.

But I’m sure you’ve felt the pull between us; an indescribable need to be close. ”

“I have,” I admitted. The way he was talking, there wasn’t any use playing hard to get. “But wait…what about your mom?” Timber’s eyes widened and I snickered at how strange that had to sound. “You said that once a mate is found, you can’t desire anyone else, but she had kids with different guys.”

“She did, but that was before she met her mate. Since they got together, he has been her world and she, along with all of those children, have been his. He loves us, and their worlds are completely intertwined, just as ours will be. I’m here to help, support, and love you.”

“Hell, you’re helping heal my land. You can have my heart, my asshole, my name - whatever you want.”

Heat flashed in Timber’s eyes before he cleared his throat. “I will help you, but I’ll earn your love.”

I gave him a caring smile before asking another question on my mind. “You said one purpose of coming here was to find your mate. What was another?”

“To care for the earth. Because of my lineage, I was born with special abilities.”

“Like bringing dead plants back to life?”

“Well, yes,” he answered with a smile. “I have control over flora, and sometimes I revive farms or forests with my touch. But I also understand what vegetation needs to grow and thrive, so sometimes my assistance comes through educating farmers on how to care for their land. I’ve worked with companies when they’re developing chemicals, and with small business owners like Chuck, so they can care for their communities. ”

“That’s beautiful.” Instead of just waving his hand for a temporary fix, Timber took the time to teach and nurture. He was teaching men to fish, instead of providing a one-time meal.

His pretty smile faltered. “You know, different demigods have different abilities. Some are gifted with great strength; they are mighty fighters and protectors.” I couldn’t believe my ears; Timber was apologizing for what he thought were shortcomings.

“I think a true sign of strength is caring for others, and for things that can’t care for themselves.”

His grin returned and my heart warmed. “Thank you. You don’t know what that means to me.” He sighed and looked at the blackened earth around him. “Speaking of which, we need to get to work fixing this and setting up those cameras.”