what about the power
exchange to take place during the Pronouncement. Is that true?”
“Nothing to be ashamed of. It was your
soul sin, Sadie, not you,” her mother consoled her.
But it was Adelina who answered. “It’s said that the mates become fully
bonded when they perform the blood exchange on a full moon. The Goddess can see
down on you most clearly on those nights and with the help of a Magdalena Circle , she’s called to our
presence.”
“Wherever more than one of you gather in my
name, so shall I be.” Her mother quoted from the book of Magdalena.
“Very little is written about the Pronouncement Ceremony, dear, to
maintain the solemnity of the event so even if you’d been paying attention all
along, you’d know nothing more than this.”
“Did you know that some of your powers will transfer to Granger as well?”
“Which powers?” Sadie was intrigued by this new piece of information.
“Well, that’s the trouble. The power transfer is unique to the couple. There’s
no way of knowing how each couple will be affected,” Chiara, her mother,
answered.
“It is usually the gift most evident inside you,” Adelina added. “Or
sometimes it’s one you never noticed because your soul sin covered it up.”
“It’s all fated by the Goddess,” Chiara confided. There was a peaceful
silence as they each drank from their teacups.
Sadie’s thoughts returned to her mate and their future together. She was
ready for him to return home. They’d already received word that the mission was
successful and complete. Now they just needed to get back safely.
* * * *
Done. It was done. They’d closed down
the entire cell, both Valendite and human, that was attempting to harm their
race. Once upon a time, he’d thought his life with TEU was too quiet, but after
these past few years, Granger was looking forward to quiet. In fact, he was
planning to leave his fieldwork with TEU and settle into a career that kept him
at home.
Years
before, he’d bought the land adjacent to the Santucci Vineyards. It was fertile
land and exactly the right thing to invest his family inheritance in. Life had
changed now that he’d claimed a mate. It was time to move into the home he’d
built, but never lived in. It was time to retire his bike for a car. It was
time to grow instead of kill.
Lost in
his thoughts, he realized he’d already pulled up to the gate of his property.
Focusing on the tiny hands looped around his abdomen, Granger said a silent
prayer this would please his mate. He queued the gate
to open and drove through. Undeveloped grape fields lined the long stretch of
driveway that took them to the large stucco home.
He
stopped at the front steps, turned off his bike, and waited for Sadie to hop
off. She pulled her helmet off and tipped her head up to take in the house.
Maybe he should’ve waited until their Pronouncement to present the house, but
there was no way he would wait out the month in the Santucci’s guest room. He
wanted Sadie in his home.
“You
like?” Granger stood behind her, kissing her neck and waiting.
He
desperately wanted Sadie to like it. This home was hers now. It’s where he
wanted to raise their children. It was the place he wanted to begin their life
together. He prayed she would agree.
“Sadie,
give me something here. I need to know if you like it,” Granger nearly begged,
certain she could hear the pleading in his voice.
“I love
it. It’s a beautiful home, but whose home is it?”
Squeezing
his arms around her waist, Granger explained, “It’s ours.”
She
spun and looked at him, shocked.
Granger
shrugged. “I bought the land a long time ago and had the house built. I never
knew why I did it except it was a good investment. The land is fertile and
perfect for a vineyard. I guess I’d hoped someday, you know, if I found a mate,
we would live here.”
He
couldn’t believe he was stuttering through the explanation. Since when did he
falter in his speech?
exchange to take place during the Pronouncement. Is that true?”
“Nothing to be ashamed of. It was your
soul sin, Sadie, not you,” her mother consoled her.
But it was Adelina who answered. “It’s said that the mates become fully
bonded when they perform the blood exchange on a full moon. The Goddess can see
down on you most clearly on those nights and with the help of a Magdalena Circle , she’s called to our
presence.”
“Wherever more than one of you gather in my
name, so shall I be.” Her mother quoted from the book of Magdalena.
“Very little is written about the Pronouncement Ceremony, dear, to
maintain the solemnity of the event so even if you’d been paying attention all
along, you’d know nothing more than this.”
“Did you know that some of your powers will transfer to Granger as well?”
“Which powers?” Sadie was intrigued by this new piece of information.
“Well, that’s the trouble. The power transfer is unique to the couple. There’s
no way of knowing how each couple will be affected,” Chiara, her mother,
answered.
“It is usually the gift most evident inside you,” Adelina added. “Or
sometimes it’s one you never noticed because your soul sin covered it up.”
“It’s all fated by the Goddess,” Chiara confided. There was a peaceful
silence as they each drank from their teacups.
Sadie’s thoughts returned to her mate and their future together. She was
ready for him to return home. They’d already received word that the mission was
successful and complete. Now they just needed to get back safely.
* * * *
Done. It was done. They’d closed down
the entire cell, both Valendite and human, that was attempting to harm their
race. Once upon a time, he’d thought his life with TEU was too quiet, but after
these past few years, Granger was looking forward to quiet. In fact, he was
planning to leave his fieldwork with TEU and settle into a career that kept him
at home.
Years
before, he’d bought the land adjacent to the Santucci Vineyards. It was fertile
land and exactly the right thing to invest his family inheritance in. Life had
changed now that he’d claimed a mate. It was time to move into the home he’d
built, but never lived in. It was time to retire his bike for a car. It was
time to grow instead of kill.
Lost in
his thoughts, he realized he’d already pulled up to the gate of his property.
Focusing on the tiny hands looped around his abdomen, Granger said a silent
prayer this would please his mate. He queued the gate
to open and drove through. Undeveloped grape fields lined the long stretch of
driveway that took them to the large stucco home.
He
stopped at the front steps, turned off his bike, and waited for Sadie to hop
off. She pulled her helmet off and tipped her head up to take in the house.
Maybe he should’ve waited until their Pronouncement to present the house, but
there was no way he would wait out the month in the Santucci’s guest room. He
wanted Sadie in his home.
“You
like?” Granger stood behind her, kissing her neck and waiting.
He
desperately wanted Sadie to like it. This home was hers now. It’s where he
wanted to raise their children. It was the place he wanted to begin their life
together. He prayed she would agree.
“Sadie,
give me something here. I need to know if you like it,” Granger nearly begged,
certain she could hear the pleading in his voice.
“I love
it. It’s a beautiful home, but whose home is it?”
Squeezing
his arms around her waist, Granger explained, “It’s ours.”
She
spun and looked at him, shocked.
Granger
shrugged. “I bought the land a long time ago and had the house built. I never
knew why I did it except it was a good investment. The land is fertile and
perfect for a vineyard. I guess I’d hoped someday, you know, if I found a mate,
we would live here.”
He
couldn’t believe he was stuttering through the explanation. Since when did he
falter in his speech?
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