Origin (Eternal Sacrifice Saga Book 2) (8 page)

“I will speak with Chayah,” I said. “This is new to her, too. She’s unsure of what her duties entail without her memories. Speaking of, she also needs training. Especially now with all the uncertainties of this cross-breed situation. She must be trained if she’s to be protected.”

“Agreed.” Raz nodded. “All the more reason to shorten your holiday.”

“My Gemini and I will decide the fate of our holiday.” I grumbled. “In the meantime, you must get these Newborns trained and assigned. And find out what you can about this cross breed. Confirm if Brennan is, indeed, him. I will discuss this with Zoe, and we’ll join in training after our holiday.”

“Where are you going?” Raz asked.

The door flew open, and Zoe walked in. “There you are,” she said. “What’s going on?”

I reached my arms out for her and pulled her close, kissing her cheek. She smelled so good. This was the last place I wanted to be.

“So.” Zoe started. “Phoebe has a request. She wants to get married.”

“Is that not what a proposal is?” I asked.

Zoe narrowed her eyes and smiled. “I mean now.”

“What?” Raz’s voice cracked.

“Phoebe said she wants to do it now. Today. But—I don’t know how that works, so I came to ask you.”

“Gabrielle usually performs a Convergence Ceremony at the Angels Arch. In Aravot,” Raz said. “But Phoebe’s human, she’s not allowed.”

“It’s a human wedding. What’s wrong with doing it here? At the Great Hall?” Zoe asked. “This is important to her and under the circumstances, I’m okay with it.”

“Julian, go see if Gabrielle will join us,” Raz said. “We’ll ask her.”

“Ask me what?” Gabrielle walked in holding the Genesis immortality cup.

“What’s this?” Raz asked.

“May I speak to Zoe in private for a moment?”

“Of course.” Zoe kissed my cheek, then walked off to speak to Gabrielle in the corner.

“This is highly unusual.” Raz’s voice was gruff.

“Chayah is right,” I said. “We all know their Convergence will not be official until Phoebe can enter Aravot, I see no harm in allowing the child some happiness, however brief it may be.”

Gabrielle handed her the chalice and kissed Zoe on the cheek. They both walked toward us. “I believe the Eternal Mother is prepared to perform her first human marriage ceremony.”

Zoe

“What are you thinking, love?”

Strong arms wrapped around my waist, tugging me to his chest.
Yum.
I was looking forward to officiating my first wedding as Eternal Mother, but damn, did I want to spend time alone with my own man.

I understood now why people took honeymoons. And I was ready for mine.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” My tone dripped with sexy innuendo.

“You’re thinking just as I am. It’s time for our holiday.”

“Mmm-hmm.” I hummed beneath my breath.

Cade’s intoxicating scent was making me want to turn around and demand he take me home right here and now.

“Soon, Chayah.” Cade leaned in dropping light kisses along my neck, making me tingle from my toes to my fingertips. “First, let’s wed your best friend.”

“You mean marry off.” I giggled. “Fine, but after that, you.” I turned around and stepped up, our lips fractions apart. “Are all. Mine.”

I rubbed noses with him and kissed him slow, tugging at his bottom lip with my teeth.

Man, did I want him.
Ugh.

“Alright, if you’re marrying us, who’s going to be my maid of honor?” Phoebe asked, standing beside me.

“I’d be more than happy to do double duty today, girl.” I grinned. “You wearing that?” I pointed at her winter clothes and shook my head. “No way. We can do better than that.” I turned to Cade and kissed his cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

I left searching for Gabrielle.

“Ladies?” I walked up to Sophie and Lailah, talking to Gabrielle by the make-shift stage.

It was almost crazy how the Newborns took after their parents.

Rainah was a fiery red head like Sophie. Remie, a sandy brunette like Raz. And Micah, he had the same nose as Eli, with chestnut hair and hazel eyes like Lailah.

“Chayah.” They bowed.

So. Weird.

“I need some help. Phoebe needs a dress, and we need flowers. A cake. This has to be real. Can we pull something together?”

“Absolutely.” Lailah smiled, all giddy. She was a romantic, just like me.

Sophie was slightly more reserved. “We’ll take care of the dress and cake. Perhaps take Julian and pick some flowers from your Garden. Phoebe will appreciate the gesture.”

“That’s perfect.”

I bounced off to find Julian. He stood over by Micah and Remie, but his gaze was glued to Rainah’s ass.

I rolled my eyes.

“Jules. Got a job for you.” I approached him.

“Chayah.” The corners of his lips curved up. “What’s up, boss lady?”

I need you to take me into the Garden. My portal skills are a bit rusty still, and I want to pick some flowers for Phoebe.”

“No problem.”

He linked his arm with mine, and we went to a small room inside the Great Hall.

“You wanna try?” Julian asked.

I scrunched up my face, and he laughed.

“One time, boss lady.”

“Fine, but if we end up in Siberia, don’t laugh at me.”

“Deal.”

I sucked in a breath and squeezed my eyes shut, visualizing the Garden. I slowly spoke the Latin incantation. “Aye pear-ee-eck Ahhh-steeee-um.”

A light breeze whipped through the room, and I was suddenly freezing my ass off. I peeled open my eyes, and we realized we now stood outside the Great Hall. In at least a foot of snow.

“Perfect.” I scoffed, throwing my hands onto my hips.

Julian laughed. “Good try. I’ll save you, my lady.” He bowed.

“Aperiesque ostium.”
Julian spoke the chant I mutilated two seconds before, opening up a shimmering bridge wind.

Julian grabbed my hand and pulled me through.

Portals leading into Aravot were calming. Peaceful.

The world around us went dark for a split second then a whole new world appeared, replacing the dead of winter with the warmth of Aravot.

“Yeah, I need to learn to do that.”

“Keep practicing, you’ll get it.”

We were standing in the Garden, a comfortable seventy-eight degrees.

“I don’t miss the cold.” I grumbled as I spotted a patch of flowers near my Tree. I had to focus. Every time I was near the Tree of Souls, I’d get distracted and some bloom would call me over to say its goodbye.

“So, um.” Julian stammered. “Are you going to tell Rainah about us, or am I supposed to?”

“How are things with you two?”

“They’re going.” He held back a laugh.

I stooped down and rifled through the flowers, picking out my favorites: Pink calla lilies, and of course, my peonies that smelled so good.

“Do you want me to talk to her?” I asked. “I don’t really know how any of this works. Nobody’s told me anything.”

“Me either.” He kicked at the tall cattails growing alongside a path leading to the Trees. “From what I know, once a couple’s been matched, they need to get together as soon as they can. That sure isn’t happening.”

“You got your Gemini mark already, right?” I peered up at him.

“Yeah?”

“Well if you do, she does too. Hasn’t anybody talked to her about it?” I stood up, arranging the flowers into a pretty bouquet.

Julian shrugged.

“Has she even asked about it?”

“I keep trying to look at her wrist, but she hides it. I don’t know if she realizes it’s me, or what. I’m sure she doesn’t know what this all means if you haven’t told her.”

“Sorry, I don’t know what my role is. From what I knew, we were going to be gone on our honeymoon by now, not me marrying off my best friend or matching Firstborns. I’ll ask Gabrielle.”

I blew out a breath and sat back down amongst the flowers.

“What’s wrong, boss?”

“I don’t know. I guess I expected this to be different. Magical.”

Julian crouched down in front of me. He cupped his hands together and a second later, opened them. A tiny hummingbird fluttered its wings and flew off into the meadow. “It is.”

“Hey, how’d you do that?” I narrowed my eyes.

“It’s the magic of Aravot, baby.” He winked, sitting down beside me.

“Cade and I didn’t get any time together in Chicago. He kept badgering me to go away with him, and I kept putting it off like an idiot. Now when I want to go, we can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t’ know. I have a feeling there’s something going on nobody’s telling me.”

“Yeah, there’s stuff going down. I’m sure boss man will tell you.”

I peered over to my Tree, and a bulb burned brightly, calling me over.

I absentmindedly stood and wandered over, picking the burning bulb. It glowed brightly, lifted off my hand, and disappeared into the meadow.

I’d never get enough of that.

Julian’s hand touched my shoulder. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I know it’s my job and all, but I just got Cade back. I just want some time alone with him.”

I glanced down at the trunk of my Tree and spotted a small black speck of something at the root. I bent down and rubbed my fingers against the goop on the bark. The black stuff stuck to my finger. Sticky, like tar.

“What’s this?”

I turned to Julian, but he’d walked off a few feet away, probably talking to somebody in his head.

I’d have to ask Cade about the Tree.

I turned and walked over to catch up with Julian.

“Ready?” He asked. “Phoebe and Remie probably want to get this over with so they can do the dirty.” Julian wiggled his eyebrows.

“Julian.” I rolled my eyes.

“Hey, it’s true. Humans do that, right? They wait till they’re Converged? I mean, married. No wonder Phoebe didn’t want to wait. She’d literally be dead before that happened.”

“What?” I narrowed my eyes.

Julian sealed his lips, and his eyes went wide. He realized whatever it was he said, he shouldn’t have as soon as it left his mouth.

“Julian?” I set my hands on my hips and narrowed my eyes.

“I…” his mouth stood open for a second. “I can’t. You need to talk to boss man about this one.”

“No, you started it. Tell me.” I moved closer and got in his face, despite the fact he was a good inch or two taller than me. “I’m Chayah. Now tell me what you’re talking about. What do you mean, she’ll be dead?”

His face scrunched up into all sorts of weird shapes, then he turned around and stomped.

“Damn it, why do you have to pull the Eternal Mother card?” He put his hands on his hips, staring at his feet, and blew out a hard breath.

“Because I can. Come on, Jules,” I tilted my head. “Everybody keeps shit from me. Don’t be that way. What do you mean?” I bent down, practically upside down, and peeked at him. “Please?”

“Fine.” He growled. His eyes went wide, as did mine. “I’m sorry, Chayah.”

He lowered his face, doing his
Respect his Elder
thing. Despite the fact I wasn’t liking this conversation, I was beginning to figure out how to get what I wanted with these Eternals.

“I’ll forgive you if you tell me what you mean by dead.”

“You already know. You’re just refusing to admit it.”

“Know what?”

“Think about it, Chayah.” He stared. “How does a human
become
Eternal?”

~

“Remie Samuels and Phoebe Kinkaid, you have drank of the Fountain of Life, sealing your Divine union for this time. As leader of Genesis and by authority of the Elder Council of the Eternal realm, I now pronounce you Gemini, Twin Souls. And as Chayah, Eternal Mother of humanity, I pronounce you husband and wife, for this time. And all Eternity.”

I held back a tear.

“Remie, you may kiss your beautiful bride.”

Remie took Phoebe’s cheeks into his palms and gave her the sweetest damn kiss I’d ever seen.

I melted watching my family seal their Eternity. And at my hand.

Phoebe and Remie were so adorable together, eyes closed, foreheads resting against each other.

Phoebe opened her eyes and peeked over at me. “Thank you,” she mouthed under her breath.

I bowed.

“May I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Remliel Samuels.” I got a wave of goose bumps at my own declaration. “And as my gift to you, Remie, you are off Eternal Duty for one week. Take your wife somewhere nice.”

“We have a gift for the Gemini.” Gabrielle came up to Phoebe, handing her an envelope. She leaned over and whispered into Phoebe’s ear.

Phoebe took Remie’s hand, and they strolled down the aisle toward the exit of the Great Hall.

I blew out a hard breath as they disappeared out the door.

“You okay, love?”

“No.” I sighed as Cade wrapped his arms around me. “We need to talk.”

“Yes. We do.” He kissed my cheek. “Come. Let’s go home and take a walk. Aperiesque ostium.”

Lacing his fingers with mine, Cade created a portal into Aravot. We moved through the bridge wind, landing on the terrace of our home.

I inhaled the warm air, breathing in the amazing scent of my flowers in bloom. I wondered if they were always blooming.

The lavender sky in the Eternal realm was unreal.

“Why is it purple?”

“What?”

“The sky. I know why earth’s sky is blue. Why is Aravot’s purple?”

Cade squeezed my hand. “Because it’s your favorite color.”

I smirked.

Cade led me down a path toward the Angel’s Arch. “It’s true.”

I eyed him and smiled. “Okay, wait. So, explain how Aravot works. If there are different levels of the dark realm, are there different levels of the Eternal realm, too? This can’t be all of it.”

“Of course not, there is so much more to the Eternal realm, but this plane is ours.”

“Ours, as in yours and mine?”

“For Genesis.” He nodded. “When you chose to Eternalize, you were permitted to design your own plane. It represents all the things of the earthly plane you loved. Including wildlife, vegetation. Even the color of the sky.”

“Wow. That’s so weird. Why isn’t there night?”

“I’m unsure.” He narrowed his eyes.

I couldn’t help but laugh. His faces were comical, to say the least.