“So, you’re technically your own servant?” Aidan looked up at me.
“Yes and no. While they’re awake they have thoughts of their own based on the magical input.”
“And you said you didn’t know programming.”
“I said I didn’t know computers. There’s a huge difference in adding the right ingredients and writing a twelve-foot string of code to make stuff happen.”
“Not that much of a difference. Each command is just a different ingredient. Thank you,” he said finally sitting down in his chair.
I rounded the table to take my usual spot and stopped short. It was too far from him. Sure, we were in the same room, but the distance hurt. How many times had I watched my parents sit across the broad table from each other without touching? They were true-mates too. How in the name of Frost’s holy balls did they do it?
“The claiming vow helps. Time cements the bond,” my wolf chimed in.
“Too far,” Aidan said mimicking my thoughts. “My fingers get extra twitchy when you aren’t close by.”
“Eventually,” I turned to face him, “you’ll learn to control your magic despite your emotions but for now I think we’re at its whims.”
I was glad for the excuse to turn around and sit down next to him.
“I thought I had a few more years before it woke up,” Aidan said looking down at his hands.
“True-mate responses can speed the process along if your other half is overly magically inclined. Magic has a life force of its own. We wield the energy through connecting with it and sheer will at times, but it wants to connect to its other half too. When both mates are magical the energy forms a circuit of sorts. Both partners grow in ability and power as if the magic chooses to join in true-mates for its own benefit as well.”
“You’ve thought a lot about this,” Aidan said.
“It’s the Montero way. I just woke up.”
Aidan arched a confused brow.
“Monteros go into a magically induced state of stasis when we turn four hundred if we haven’t met our true-mate. I woke up the day Barric signed me up for your holiday matchmaking.”
“You didn’t fill out your own profile?” Aidan asked.
“No,” I shook my head.
“Strange. Even with his filtered data the system matched us.”
“Those we live with often know us better than we know ourselves. They stand outside the storm of individuality and have a clearer view.”
“You should give him a Yule bonus. A big one this year. We wouldn’t be sitting here together without his help.”
“Don’t tell him that. That boy has a big enough head without any help from you,” I laughed.
“It’s not a big head when you live up to your arrogance.”
“The true power of humanity is being competent at what you do and helping others with your skills without feeling the need to boast.”
“You looked awful boastful in the bedroom,” he smirked at me.
“I’m good at what I do. How are your fingers feeling?” I glanced down at the fork in his hand.
“Normal, but tingly.”
“Tingly becomes normal after a while. Once the magic is awake you always feel it,” I explained.
“Why doesn’t anyone tell people these things?” He asked.
“Most probably don’t think about it. Not everyone chooses the arduous task of teaching young magical minds.”
Aidan frowned at his plate.
“I was referring to Barric not you. You’re a Gilmore. I’ve never met a Gilmore who requires years of instruction.”
“It wasn’t that. I’m glad you’re around. As a kid I just always thought Grandma Rosa would be here when this happened.”
“Which part of this?” I asked.
“All of it. Meeting my true-mate and my magic waking up. Thought she’d teach me.”
I reached over and took his hand that wasn’t holding the fork. Our fingers entwined. Our magic expanded flowing through us both while we were connected. I filled the empty wine glasses with an ancient blend from the spring of 1989.
“This was her favorite year. Today we drink to Rosa Heidi Gilmore the woman who brought us together!” I raised my glass.
Aidan grinned and raised his too. After the toast he looked a bit more cheerful. I hadn’t thought about my parents in years. When I did, I assumed they were either watching me from the Other World like the spies they were or had moved on and counted on me having children so Father could be reborn into the proper family line.
“You know years and years ago your grandmother told me she’d bring me my true-mate,” I told Aidan.
“Really?”
“Yes, and she followed through on the promise in her own way.”
“What would our ancestors think? I’m not talking about our grandparents,” Aidan said taking a huge bite of cantaloupe. I paid attention to what he ate the most of making notes on what to keep in stock, so he never had to wait for his favorite dishes.
“Who then?” I asked him.
Aidan looked around as if the shadows eavesdropped.
“You can speak freely. My house isn’t bugged magically or otherwise. I’ve checked the wards since waking up,” I said and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
“Our harpy ancestors. We came from opposing tribes.”
“Not so opposing in the ways you think. Like wolves, harpies are territorial. Don’t intrude without invitation to do so. Don’t touch the eggs or the babies.”
“Harpies lay eggs?” Aidan asked.
“From what I’ve read it depends. Sometimes their births are live. Other times they lay eggs. I think it depends on the tribe. Most of the egg layers have receded into the Other World and refuse outside contact. The Gilmores and Monteros were always live birthers from my research anyway.”
“Maybe that’s why we were the two largest harpy tribes,” Aidan sighed.
“We still are. Whether our physiques show it or not, we’re harpies. We carry their magic and their blood. All the best witches and mages come from harpy blood.”
“What about elves?” Aidan laughed.
“Elves are battle ready creatures. They are strong and fight with the dragons too much. Before Earth harpies didn’t battle much. All of the fancy wings, teeth, and claws were used for hunting, dances, and mating. Wings for travel too of course.”
“You don’t like elves, do you?” Aidan asked.
“I have no problem with any elf I’ve met personally. I just side with the dragons when I read historical accounts. They’re always protecting something that belongs to them that elves want.”
“That makes sense,” Aidan nodded, “but we were opposing tribes. That’s one reason the humans chased us off so easily. I mean, if the tribes worked together to fight their oppressors we’d have won. No question.”
“Would we, though? Harpies have a code of justice. Would we have killed them aimlessly just to prove a point?” I asked him.
“It would’ve been justified. If they’re trying to kill you it’s natural to fight back.”
“Humans are like wild animals. At least, that’s how I look at it. If a bear wanders onto my grounds I’m not going to bother him. Maybe help him if he’s injured. I might try to get him somewhere better suited for his needs.”
“You’re an elitist!” Aidan’s mouth hung open.
“A humanist,” I shook my head. “I don’t think we’re better than them. We’ve had more time to evolve as a species. The dragons, elves, and shifters too. Shifters borrow the knowledge from their ancient animal side. You know that as well as I do. Humans are a young race. They don’t have ancient inner beasts guiding them. They need time to evolve. Maybe they still can despite the fall of their ridiculous governments. Who knows? I’m no seer. What I do know is that I believe our harpy ancestors could have viewed them the same way. Where’s the justice in killing a bear picking at your berry bush?”
Aidan tilted his head. His wolf’s eyes lurked just beneath his.
>
“I’m not trying to change your mind. Maybe we should have worked together and showed them who was boss.”
“That didn’t work out well for the humans who tried it with their own,” Aidan sighed.
“It didn’t. History is written in stone. There’s no changing it. Our opinions can change, but it’s not my job to tell you what to think. Perhaps if the Monteros and Gilmores worked together we could have brought the humans into their next stage of evolution.”
“You don’t have to placate me,” Aidan said.
“I’m not. Opinions are not facts. Facts cannot be changed. Opinions should evolve over time as new information and viewpoints become available. Our opinions do not change the past, but it’s still a fun subject to debate about. I’m glad you’re here. I’m happy we’ve found each other. I’ve spent quite a bit longer than you waiting. That doesn’t mean I’ll placate you or agree with you for the sake of keeping the peace. We’re mates, but that doesn’t mean we’ll agree on everything. I think the harpies did the right thing by moving back to the Other World. It had consequences, but they weren’t as devastating as wiping out a whole race of beings just to stay here and you don’t have to agree with that.”
“I didn’t mean they should’ve killed all humans. I mean, we’re here. So, some of the humans had to enjoy the company of harpies, if you know what I mean,” Aidan said.
A hot blush crept over his neck, face, and ears. I smirked. If he blushed like that every time sex or reproduction came up, he’d win every debate. I squeezed his hand and leaned in closer to him. He rested his head on my shoulder and we fell quiet for a long moment.
“Anyway,” Aidan said pushing his plate away, “we’ve gotten off topic. What do you think our ancestors would think about us being true-mates? That was the original question.”
“I can show you that I think at least one of your ancestors and one of mine believed we’d sit at the same hearth someday.”
“What are you talking about?” He tilted his head.
“Come on. It’s easier to show you. It goes without saying where I am taking you is a family secret and I’ll ask that you keep it to yourself. Barric would nut his robes to see some of what my family’s stashed away over the years.”
“You know he’s not much younger than me, right?” Aidan asked and bit his lip.
“Perhaps, but he acts young. He doesn’t run his own successful business and most importantly he’s not my mate.”
“What are you hiding in this manor of yours?” He smirked.
“More than I’ll have time to show you in a single lifetime.”
Chapter Fifteen
Aidan
“Should we clear the table before we run off?” I asked Luc.
“The servants will handle it,” Luc said and took my hand in his. “My wolf thinks I should wait to tell you about this particular part of history, but I think you deserve to be well informed about what might be going on.”
“What’s going on? You’re making me nervous,” I said and leaned closer to him.
His warmth spread over me as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and kissed the top of my head.
“It’s nothing to worry about. It doesn’t change who or what we are. It might not even be about us. Come on. Let’s get downstairs before I scare you away.”
“I’m not afraid of you. It would be just my luck that the same day my business is hacked that something stands in the way of my claiming ceremony too. Like is there a reason behind why you didn’t claim me in the bedroom earlier?” I looked up at him.
“You needed to eat. The claiming vow will calm and inform your magic, but the acts leading up to it can make it more volatile. Your other needs must be met before we dive headfirst into our future.”
“Will this help?” I asked him.
“I believe it will answer your question as to what our ancestors would think of us.”
Questions circled my head, but I kept them to myself. Feeling unsure of myself was new to me. I never questioned that eventually I’d crack the code and connect true-mates sooner rather than later. Gloria and I never questioned whether Mated for the Holidays would support the lifestyle we wanted. We just charged in and conquered a market that we birthed. It didn’t matter if others liked me or not. I was a Gilmore witch and a successful businessman. Now, the primal pull from my inner beast and fate made me desperate to know for sure that Luc wanted me around.
“He feels the same way,” my wolf said.
How do you know? We can’t feel him yet.
“It’s the way things go. Everything is uncertain until the claiming vow. It’s like a dragon standing outside of the biggest treasure hoard in history. He’s nervous until the door unlocks and it becomes his. Until he’s inside anything could go wrong.”
“This doesn’t affect our claiming vows,” Luc said as if he read my mind. “It might affect how you envision our future.”
Luc led me down a long staircase to a potion lab in what used to be a dungeon. Whiteboards covered the walls. Scribbles marked every inch of the boards. I stopped and frowned.
“This is from Barric?” I asked.
“Yeah. He burnt through all my dragon scales trying to figure out this damn charm.”
“Why didn’t he cleanse it?” I asked him.
“Because he’s yet to realize that’s the missing key to all the Gilmore recipes. Don’t tell him when you meet him. He needs to figure it out on his own.”
“Telling him might save some poor dragon from going bald,” I laughed.
“I’m still waiting on my delivery to replace what he wasted,” Luc shook his head.
“I have some in the trunk.”
“Why do you carry dragon scales?”
“Because they have a magic all their own and didn’t need mine to make them work. Plus, they’re great if the car needs a jumpstart.”
“Is something wrong with your car?”
“Not really. I just like being the guy who pulls up to someone who’s broken down with all the answers.”
“You sound so much like Rosa.”
“Is that bad?” I asked him. “I mean, I know you two were close, but not like that.”
“It’s never bad to remind someone of an old friend. We are how our ancestors live on once they pass through their door.”
While we talked Luc led me to a dead-end wall in the basement. I looked around for his secret passage to wherever Luc was taking me. If Montero Manor was anything like the Gilmore House they were everywhere if you knew where to look. Luc dug around in the pockets of his mage robes. After our shower he emerged from his walk-in closet wearing more casual black robes. The color suited his serious demeanor when it came to history and magic.
“Found it,” Luc said and pulled a quill out of his pocket. “This feather predates the harpies’ departure from Earth. It belonged to my great times something grandmother, Ella Montero. She was the founder of the memory vault.”
“Memory vault?” I asked.
“Each of the Monteros leave their most important memories behind before their doors show up. It’s a longstanding family tradition of the Monteros and our mates. Some of the memories are small and fragmented. Some are long and drawn out. Importance is in the eye of the beholder, but as a half-harpy she witnessed the harpies moving to the Other World. She was there for the speech your great times something grandfather gave before they sealed the door to their part of the Other World. Ella didn’t leave the whole speech behind only a prophecy in which he spoke about the fate of the harpies and both of our tribes. Maybe about us too. My wolf and I speculate that the prophecy speaks of us anyway. Nowhere else in history have our families crossed.”
When he finished speaking, Luc took the black feathered quill in his writing hand and wrote something on the dirt wall of the dungeon. I squinted to see the tiny writing. In the ancient language of the harpies he wrote ‘Greetings.’
“You’re telling the wall hello?” I laughed.
“Magic is simpl
e. Our ancestors knew just how simple and straightforward it could be.”
The dirt slid aside to the left and right to reveal a massive oak door. The wood was marked with engravings of harpies and their young. I traced the engravings with my fingers wondering what life was like for the people pictured in the art. Were they happy? Did they like Earth? How many of them returned to the Other World when the humans finally drove the harpies out?
“Ready?” Luc asked.
“As I’ll ever be. Someone spoke a prophecy about us before we existed. That’s a little trippy.”
“We probably existed or at least our beasts likely did,” Luc squeezed my hand as he opened the door.
Inside the vault was lined with shelves. On the shelves set various crystals of every size and color I ever imagined and then some.
“You can explore later. Some of them won’t make sense until after our claiming vows.”
“You’re going to let me poke around your family secrets?” I arched a brow.
Most magical folks protected their secrets with their lives.
“They belong to you too. You’re a Montero now.”
“No, you’re a Gilmore now,” I smirked.
“Quit being a brat,” my wolf said. “He’s trying to make us feel welcome.”
“You can show me yours later,” Luc winked at me.
A scorching blush washed over my face and neck.
“I’ll show you whatever you want, but I think you’ve already seen it,” I managed to say without stuttering.
“You’ll have to refresh my memory,” he said and walked towards the center of the vault, “but first you should watch this.”
In the center of the vault set a single waist high stone pillar with a red velvet pillow atop it. On the pillow set a single rock. It wasn’t a gem or precious stone like the others I seen. The stone on the pillow could have been any old rock you picked up from your front yard.
“Watch it how?” I squinted at the gray stone.
“Press it here,” he said and tapped the center of my forehead where my third eye chakra resided.
“Will it hurt? I’ve heard the horror stories about peeking into the past.”
Mated for the Holidays: A Holiday Mpreg Romance in the Hemlock Mpreg Universe Page 6