Page 40 of Finding Embers and Stars (Twin Flames Duet #1)
Chapter forty
T he night of our bonding calls for a cuddle pile. It doesn’t hurt that I can see the look of longing that Sage and Piper are both throwing towards the daybed on the edge of the patio.
I gesture to Liam and we each take an end and move it to the sand near the fire pit.
If this thing was suspended as a swing the way it was intended, there is no way I would trust it with all of us, but sitting in the sand I think it will be fine.
As soon as we have it in place, Sage and Piper curl up together in the middle with the rest of us arranged around them.
Like the planets, we orbit our sun, or both of them, as the case may be.
A gust of wind makes the fire flare up and then a light tinkling laugh seems to surround us.
“Hello, my beautiful girls. I’m so happy for you and proud of all that you’ve accomplished.” A shimmery outline of a person steps out of nothing and takes a seat at the end of the bed.
It reaches out to rub Piper’s foot. “Happy Birthday, my girl.”
Piper’s answering grin is so happy it makes me smile in response, even though she isn’t even looking at me. “Thank you, Amma. We’ve missed you.”
I bolt upright. “Amma? As in the same Amma from the phone call this morning? Please tell me how you are on a first name basis with the Moon Goddess?”
Sage and Piper exchange a look and then shrug in unison. “It’s not our story to tell.” It’s almost creepy the way they speak in perfect sync.
The Goddess herself chuckles. “I promise to fill you in when you come to Wyoming with the girls. Now, let’s get onto the important stuff. I have an idea for your bond marks and there are things about your future as a group I have never disclosed because it wasn’t time yet. We have much to go over.”
We all lean closer and listen intently as she begins to speak. “Milo, the girls have told you that you are Fae. In the Fae realm, there are four courts or ruling bodies of the people. They are named after the seasons, which are the same as ours—Winter, Spring, Fall, and Summer.” She pauses for a moment, gathering her thoughts, or possibly deciding what she can tell us.
“Milo, you are a child of all four courts, the first one seen in thousands of years as a result of a many generations long war. One of the perks of being a Fae is that when they bond, their mate and mate brothers gain access to their powers. You have the powers of all four courts. The girls will each gain two of those powers and your brother's one. You will need the extra firepower when you go to the Fae realm.”
“Wait, when we go to the Fae realm? As in, we don’t have a choice?” Milo looks shell-shocked, but not so much that he isn’t asking questions, which is more than the rest of us can say.
I’m curious what my new Fae magic will be though.
The Moon Goddess sighs. “There is always a choice to be made. You can choose not to go, however that will doom your parents to an eternity of pain and suffering over what they have already gone through since they bonded against the wishes of the ruling Fae.”
Milo has been stunned into silence and the Goddess presses her advantage. “Now, I know that you all got a brotherhood tattoo, and it was an excellent design choice. If you are okay with it, I think I can incorporate your bond mark into the existing tattoo.”
“Wait! I don’t know what powers I have or how to use them. Passing them out to everyone else when I can’t help them seems like asking for trouble.” Milo slides off the edge of the bed to pace.
“Girls, when I leave, give Ben a call, he can help. Milo, I’ve known your uncle for many years. It’s his story to tell, but I will say that he only left you for your protection. He’s never stopped loving you. In fact, his home is filled with your photos.”
Her hands begin to glow, which is saying something since all of her is glowing, but her hands are getting brighter by the second. “Everyone, hold out your wrists, please.”
She asks so politely, but what does she think we’re going to do? Argue with the freaking Moon Goddess?
Of course, that is exactly what Sage does. “Well, before you get started, I have one question.”
That delighted tinkling laughter rings out again. “I figured one of you would. All these years of giving out bond marks and it wasn’t until this family that anyone dared make a request of me. Alright Sage, what is your demand?”
My mates burst out laughing and it takes a moment for Sage to get herself back together. “I promise it’s more of a request, Amma. I love the colors you started adding to the bond marks. The guys have given us the nicknames, embers and stars. I was thinking that would make a beautiful background for the bond mark itself. One half burning embers and the other a night sky with stars.”
We hear the Goddess hum in agreement before a soothing warmth wraps around my wrist. “It is done. Tell me what you think?”
I look down at my wrist at what she’s created. The brotherhood tattoo we got on our eighteenth birthdays was a simple Celtic knot. Now, that knot is more of a Celtic ring with a tree of life in the center of it. The colors behind the silver mark are just as Sage described, half stars and half embers. The colors have ragged edges, as though they were applied like a paint splatter and then had the symbol placed over the top.
I cough, trying to clear my throat. I don’t think a more perfect symbol could exist to represent our bond. “Thank you, my Goddess. This is stunning and I will wear it with pride. I’ll be forever grateful that you chose such incredible mates for us. We’re in your debt.”
She floats around the bed and places her hand on my forehead. A feeling of peace washes over me. “Take care of my girls, Maverick, and all will be even. The seven of you have a hard road ahead. One that I wish was in my power to smooth for you, but the journey is just as important as the destination when it comes to restoring the balance. I promise that after the battles are won, there will be peace and happiness with those you love at your side.”
I take a deep breath and prepare myself to get fried if I succeed in pissing off a Goddess. “Ma’am, I have a question.”
Piper snorts, slapping a hand over her mouth to try to muffle her giggles.
The Goddess shakes her head, but given her blank silhouette, I can’t read the expression on her face. “Maverick, you might as well call me Amma, like the girls. You boys are family now, whether or not you are ready for the chaos that goes with that. Please ask your question.”
“Umm, well. You seem to be close to the girls, and quite powerful if the legends are to be believed. I wondered why you would leave a member of your family covered in scars that embarrass her?”
I hear the girls gasp, but my focus is on the Goddess in front of me. The playfulness is gone from her voice once she speaks. “I can appreciate that your question comes from a place of love and concern, but you need to realize I never force my will on others. There is always a choice. You need to ask Piper why she chose to keep her scars.”
Stunned, I look towards Piper. She has tears rolling down her face, her fingers laced with Sage’s. It’s only then that I notice Sage’s shoulder’s shaking with sobs and her face pressed into Piper’s shoulder.
“Maverick, we were both damaged by what happened to us growing up. In different ways, but the damage was just as devastating to Sage as it was to me. How could I ask to have the scars erased from my outside when Sage can’t have hers erased from her inside?”
My throat feels like I have a boulder in it when the ramifications of Piper’s choice hits me. She turned down having her scars removed because she wouldn’t take help that wouldn’t also benefit Sage.
Looking around at my brothers, I think it just dawned on all of us exactly how in tune with each other our mates are. They may not be lovers, but there is no doubt in my mind they are the kind of twin flame soul mates that books are written about.
Amma squeezes my shoulder and steps back. “I think that answers your question.”
The girls call out goodbyes and when the silence descends on us everything feels a bit surreal.
“Well, fuck. That is a whole mess of shit to unpack. I’m lucky I have my mates and brothers here so we can help each other through this.”
I look over at Milo when I hear his voice, but he’s staring off into space with a pensive look on his face and his lips aren’t moving.
Deciding to test my theory, I hold up my hand to get everyone to quiet down and then focus my thoughts. “Hey Milo, look over here.”
His head whips around so fast I hear it crack. “Maverick, why is your voice inside my head?”
I open my mouth to answer, but another voice filled with humor beats me to it. “Because you’ve officially entered straightjacket territory. Hearing voices would normally get you locked in a padded room, but with this group you will fit right in. Two more self-hugging jackets on aisle three, please.”
Sage bolts upright, more tears rolling down her face. “Atlas?”