Page 41 of Finding Embers and Stars (Twin Flames Duet #1)
Chapter forty-one
“ H ello ást Mín. This is a welcome benefit of your mating.”
Sage jolts slightly, a look of guilt rolling across her face.
“None of that, Sage. I’m thrilled you have mated and are happy. They’re good to you and take care of you in ways I cannot.” My bond with Sage is far from traditional, but I consider myself lucky. It would have been so easy for things to go a different way. For me to not exist at all.
Sage sighs, leaning into Piper’s shoulder. “I know that, Atlas. I just can’t help but worry. We’ve had so many changes recently. For years, you had me to yourself.”
Piper mentally runs a hand through my fur, then joins in out loud. “I promise he doesn’t feel neglected, Sage. I would be the first to know if he did.”
“Atlas, if you ever need time with Sage, please just tell us. We’re happy to give you guys some space. You’re just as much her mate as we are.” Liam pauses to scratch his head. “So, I’m not complaining, I love that we can hear you now, but how? Is this a Goddess thing or because Milo is a super special fairy?”
A sudden yelp from Liam has all of us laughing. Piper looks over and we can see that Liam is rubbing the back of his head while glaring at Milo.
“Damnit, Milo! That fucking hurt. I thought we talked about this. Some thoughts are meant to stay inside, not come out into the world to play.”
Milo jumps up to chase Liam around the beach and I use the distraction to speak privately to Piper.
“Piper, can I have a few moments with Sage? I know you just bonded, so if you prefer to wait, I understand.” It’s hard for me to voice my needs like this. There are times I feel like a parasite, clinging to Piper for the moments I’m allowed out into the real world.
She never makes me feel that way, though. With her and Sage, I always have the love and acceptance I crave. It’s my own inner thoughts that drive me nuts with worry.
A snort of amusement rolls through my mind. “Atlas, you hardly ever ask for time with Sage. I wish you would more often because I feel like I’m ignoring your needs when I don’t think of it.”
“Thank you, Piper.”
With her blessing, I push forward to the front of our mind and call for our shift. Shrinking into my wolf form always feels like coming home.
I stand and shake out my fur, ending with a full body stretch and yawn before crawling across the bed and into Sage’s lap.
Stretching my nose upward, I press into the hollow of her throat. Taking a deep inhale, I bask in her scent. The scent of my mate.
She leans down, pressing a kiss to my forehead before whispering in my ear. “Are you doing alright?”
“I’m fine, ást Mín. I promise. They can give you things I cannot. I’m not upset by that. I’m grateful that they are helping me take care of you.”
I stretch again before settling to lay my head on her lap. “When you bonded with them, I felt a different bond snap into place. A sense of brotherhood filled me. I feel connected to your mates in a way I did not expect.”
“Umm, Atlas.” Maverick leans closer, staring at my hip. “Have you always had this mark? It looks like our brotherhood tattoo.”
Sage twists to see the mark herself, then pulls out her phone to snap a picture. Her fingers fly across the keyboard before a soft ping announces an answering message.
The grin that covers her face as she reads tells me that my strange new mark is nothing to worry about. “Amma says that when we bonded, Atlas was pulled into the brotherhood bond that the five of you established years ago. The mark was her way of showing that Atlas is an equal in this relationship.”
My feelings nearly overwhelm me. I’ve always counted myself lucky to have Sage and Piper in my life. Now I have five brothers as well. Ones that seem to truly want me to be a part of this strange family we’re building.
“Is this what it feels like to belong?” I can’t quite get a handle on my thoughts. They’re swirling inside my mind as I gaze at the new mark on my hip. The mark that binds me to this group with ties to more than just Sage.
Everyone nods, and a soft murmur of agreement comes from around the group. Maverick leans over and wraps his arm around my neck, squeezing gently. “Welcome to the family, brother.”