Then he knew that she wanted him to follow her. As the week started to come to a close, he started to get real impatient about what leaving his heavenly angel. So a wonderful idea came to him in that moment now he just had to execute it before his return to the astral realm. Then reality invaded and it was something that he didn’t want to acknowledge. But he knew that it was inevitable about leaving her and that was something he wasn’t prepared to do, just yet.
So they returned to Sanctuary, when he went in search of Anya. He found her with her mate. He was about to turn and leave when his brother called him over. After about a few minutes of making small talk, Lucien broached the subject, “Milady, I would like to mate with Rayven?”
Wulf thought he knew his brother well enough to know that he was going to be a confirmed bachelor. But it was Wulf’s mate that spoke first, “Why do you want to mate with Rayven?”
For the first time in his life he couldn’t find the words to express how he feels about his heavenly lady. Anya was reading his facial expression and his thoughts. She knew that this packmate of her mate is the one for her warrior. So it is with her blessing that Lucien may become Rayven’s mate. No one was more surprised than her own mate. She knew that Rayven was the last of her lineage and without her then the Dream Gate Guardians would be without one of their elite families. Wulf knew what his mate was thinking; he also knew that she worried about Rayven more than she did on any of the other angels.
The only thing he couldn’t figure out was why she worried more about one angel than the rest? He has asked her but all she kept telling him was that it wasn’t her story to tell.
So the preparations for the ceremony were started, the men headed in one direction while Anya headed in the direction that was unusual. Wulf knew something was the matter with his mate but he couldn’t figure it out. But he did keep a check on her just in case she would need his assistance.
Anya had arrived in the chamber of Fallen Angels. She dropped to her knees and mentally asked the spirits if she could pass into their realm. After she gained their permission, she stood and walked through the veil where she was greeted by fallen comrades and those that came before her. Before she could voice the good news the spirits had already begun their celebration of the rebirth of Rayven’s lineage.
It took her no time to finding her friend’s parents. And what she felt from them was dark and foreboding. It was like a shroud had been cast upon them and their lineage. So she took a seat, waved her hand over the blackened wood, and began to make inquiries into their somber mood. It was Rayven’s father that began to tell the sordid tale, “It was some centuries ago that my great-great-great-great grandfather had begun an affair with a silver blonde haired young woman. No one knew where this strange woman came from but one thing was for sure she had captured the attentions of the only Dream Gate Guardian that mattered.”
Anya normally didn’t interrupt the spirits when they started to tell one of their tales but this time she had to, “Why was he so important to this woman?”
“No one ever knew why,” was the only that Rayven’s father said. So Anya allowed him to continue with his story. “The gentleman never told anyone about her. The reason is the others thought that she was not of our world; they thought that she was of the Fey world. No one knew for sure if she was or wasn’t. But he made her his mate. From that union came a child that exhibited some extraordinary abilities that would be passed down through generations. But there is also a curse to the gifts of my lineage.”
“Curse? What curse?” Anya was starting to become weary of her surroundings.
“The curse is that if one of our lineage mates with another that is not of our ancestor’s kind then…”
Anya’s voice came out a hurried when she asked, “What happens if Rayven mates with another person?”
Before her friend’s father could answer a female voice interrupted, “She will perish and so will her mate.”
She recognized the voice and when she turned around she knew who and what Rayven’s ancestor was. She thanked her friend’s parents’ and those of the Shadow Realm and left. She had to get ALL of the Midnight Angels together for what she was about to undertake. She found a few of the angels relaxing in the common room. She had them round up the others while she called in the rest of the angels including the Dream Gate Guardians, the Dream Guardians and so forth.
Once everyone was there, Anya took her place at the head of the round table. Then she informed them about what she had just learned about Rayven’s ancestry. The Dream Gate Guardians were not thrilled by the news and neither were the Midnight Angels, or the rest. But she did inform them that there was a way of saving her from the curse but each one would have to be able to bring back the ingredients that she would need. That was when Riona spoke up, “If it is to protect our sister then we ALL will do what it takes,” she paused as she looked around the table, “NO matter the cost, Captain.”
“All right then. Here are your assignments---be careful getting some of these items can be dangerous and treacherous.” Then she handed out the assignments to each individual that was present.
The only group that she had stay behind were the Dream Gate Guardians the reason is she needed to inform them that she knew who the ancestor of Rayven’s was. That came as a surprise to them considering that her great-great-great-great-great grandfather was a revered guardian and a legend in his own right. Not to mention, Rayven has held up the honor of her ancestor. They were all discussing the options when Wulf came in. He could tell that something was amiss with his mate but he wasn’t exactly sure what it is.
She dismissed the Guardians and left with her mate. She knew what was on her handsome mate’s mind. But until she had finished what she needed to, she couldn’t even tell him and that was beginning to weigh on her heart. She also knew that every decision that she has ever had to make always weighed on her shoulders in some shape or form. They walked to their special place that was outside of Sanctuary, when Wulf stopped and pulled Anya into his embrace. He tilted her head upward so that her gaze could meet his and he knew the truth to what was going on.
He knew that he couldn’t allow his brother and packmate to pay for loving an angel like he had paid for loving his beautiful angel. Wulf knew that if Lucien was given the choice his brother would choose to love Rayven and die for that love.
Wulf kissed his mate and went to seek out his entire pack. Anya went to her alchemy lab and began to gather the ingredients that she already had. When her children walked in it was Christian that piped up and asked, “Mother, what the hell is going on? Why is Sanctuary in a flurry?”
“We are preparing for a mating celebration between your father’s packmate and our own Rayven,” Anya spoke without looking at the triplets.
Sonya was happy about the mating celebration but she slide a glance over toward her brother Dmitri and noticed that his face was stoic. But she could feel the vibrations coming from him. She had to slip out of her mother’s alchemy chamber before she fell to the stone floor. Before she could even open the heavy wooden door, Anya spoke, “I need each of you to gather some of the ingredients that I don’t have here.”
That made Dmitri speak first, “What ingredients are you missing, mother?”
That made Dmitri speak first, “What ingredients are you missing, mother?”
“The light of the ray, purest snow, the heart of a Midnight Angel.’ That was something that even brought Anya up short when she spoke that last ingredient out loud. The triplet’s faces were in a state of shock but they knew that they would be only ones that could gather the ingredients that their mother needed.
It was the three of them that spoke in unison, “Why?”
“Rayven’s lineage has been cursed and if she mates with another then she will die. This is the only way to saving her and to keep her lineage alive.”
“WHAT?” was the only thing that came out of Dmitri’s mouth.
“Rayven is the last of her line. If anything happens to her the Dream Gate Guardians will be not be able to cover the dream gate that is protected by her.”
Before their mother could even assign the three remaining tasks to the triplets, Dmitri took the one that was impossible to complete, while Christian and Sonya divided up the last two. Anya had her youngest son stay behind while his siblings went so they could prepare for their departure to the other realms. She came around the stone table and moved over to his side. Dmitri tried to avoid his mother’s touch only she wasn’t going to allow him to. She looked him straight in the eyes and used her unique ability to see what was hiding in his soul. Anya kissed him on the cheek and allowed him to leave her alchemy chamber.
Dmitri hated it when his mother would use her ability on him, hell they all did. But he has always suspected that she knew about his feelings for the mysterious Rayven. But he knew that he had to help break the curse in order to keep an angel alive. He knew exactly where he had to go to find the heart of a Midnight Angel. He returned to his chambers, gathered the items that he would need and left under the cover darkness. The reason is he would have to pass through Rayven’s dream gate to get to his destination.
He removed the symbol of his father’s and donned the item that Rayven had given to him when he came to her aid during a battle. And the only way to get to his destination was by riding the wild wind. Wulf wasn’t sure how to tell his brother and packmate that if he was to mate with Rayven then he would lose her. Lucien knew that something was the matter with his brother and packmate so he decided that they both needed some time together. Once they were away from the other packmates, Lucien stopped his brother and asked Wulf point blank, “What the hell is going on with you?”
“What do you mean?” Wulf asked in a tone that he hasn’t used since he was a pup.
“I know that tone all too well, brother. You have a choice you can either answer me or I’ll have to go fishing. We both know that if I have to go fishing for the answer then it’ll get ugly.”
So Wulf began to shift into his animal form and started to run. He hoped that maybe his brother wouldn’t follow until he could find a way of tell him. But that little wish didn’t work; Lucien shifted and followed his brother. Both brothers ran for hours until they came to an area that they remembered from their childhood. Wulf had dove into the stream to cool off from his run and to help clear his jumbled thoughts. Before he could shift, Lucien had shifted and had prepared himself for battle.
Wulf wasn’t ready to battle his brother but they both knew that it was the only way to getting him to talk about some serious issues. So he shifted and prepared himself for the skirmish to come. Lucien was the first one to strike at his brother forcing Wulf to defend himself. There was no telling how the long the skirmish lasted but the conversation that Wulf was trying to avoid came out; which made his young brother stop. Lucien didn’t know how to react to the news that if he mated with his heavenly angel he would lose her.
“Are you sure?” Lucien asked in a voice that sounded so alien to him.
“Yes. Anya was the one that informed everyone about it. Why?” Wulf remarked in a manner that could only be described as suspicious of his brother’s nature.
“I need to see her.” With that said Lucien shifted on the run and was able to make it back to Sanctuary in a matter of heartbeats. When he located Rayven she was being prepared for the mating celebration.
Dasha, Malia, Stacia and Saya were adding the last touches to their comrade when Stacia stopped the creature.
The four ladies left their friend but it was Saya that whispered, “If you need us we won’t be far away.”
Rayven knew what she meant by that. As the hard wooden door closed behind Saya the creature shifted. Rayven was surprised to see Lucien standing there before her in all of his beautiful glory. Rayven ran to greet him when she saw the look on his face. But it was his voice that caught her attention, “Why didn’t you tell me that you could not mate with me?”
“What? I want to be with you for eternity. So what the hell are you talking about?” Rayven wasn’t what to do or what to say to his accusation. But she knew that in her heart he was the one for her and no one else.
“I was told that you were cursed—and—that if you mated with me you would perish.” Lucien tried to keep the heartache out of his voice but this time he couldn’t and it became apparent to Rayven that he truly did want her to be his mate.
She touched his face in a reassuring manner before she kissed him. And with that kiss came a wealth of passion behind it. She looked in his eyes and saw the fear of losing her. Then she vanished from his sight and when she arrived it was in the Shadow Realm. All of the fallen angels and friends were there congratulating her choice for a mate. But when she came to her parents, they were stoic and fearful of their only child’s life. She asked her parents point blank of what her potential mate had meant by his comment.
They told her that if she was to mate with him then she would join them in the Shadow Realm. She could not believe what her parents had told her until she felt an icy chill suddenly run over her. Rayven turned around and found her ancestor standing there before her. She hadn’t realized that she even moved until she was standing before her ancestor staring the lady in the face. Then she noticed the eyes. Those eyes were the same as hers and---. Before the lady in question could even say a word Rayven ran as far as she could when she bounced off the veil. Some of the fallen angels had gathered around her to make sure that she was going to be all right when her ancestors came to her a long with her parents.
It was her great-great-great-great-great grandfather that spoke first, “Come on, Rayven. Wake up and listen to the truth of your heritage.”
But it was the lady in question that brushed Rayven’s face and it was her sweet voice that brought the angel back to reality. It took her a few moments to come around. But when she did, she tried to scurry away but she couldn’t. She had to remain there even if it cost her her only shot of being with the man she loved. She had to hear this out, “Alright I need to know what the hell is going on, now?”
“Please daughter, settle down and everything will be explained.” Her father stated as he looked her in the eyes.
“My first question is the eyes. Why have I seen those eyes before on the person that I am to be mated to?”
It was the lady in question that spoke, “Because those eyes are the same as mine.” But it was her mate that wrapped his arm around her slender shoulders. He pulled her close to his body as she began her tale, “I am of another world. I am not fey as many believed me to be. But nor am I of this realm or any other realm. You bear my name. But the one you seek to mate with bears my bloodline as does his brother. I came here to this realm looking for protection for myself and the children that I protected. But I knew that I wouldn’t be able to protect them if I couldn’t find a way. Then I saw your ancestor and I knew that he would be able to protect the children should I fall.
It was with his help that I was able to hide the children from those that would see them dead. I was attacked one day on the dream plane by someone who was from my past. I called out and this man came to my aid. He vowed to protect me at all costs. And that is what he has been doing.” The lady in question turned her face up to her mate and Rayven knew that her ancestor was telling the truth.
“But I don’t understand why I can’t mate with Lucien?” she asked still not fully understanding the reasoning behind her family’s worry.
“Are you sure that it is Lucien?” the lady in question asked with a strange tone to her voice.
“Yes. His brother Wulf is mated to my captain. Why?” Rayven’s voice took on a slight panic tone to it.
But it was her great-great-great-great-great grandfather that spoke, “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Wulf and Anya have three children from their union. Why?” she started to back away from her ancestors and her parents.
“According to legend, the children born of my direct bloodline cannot mate with any other except their own kind. Lest they perish,” the lady in question turned her head and looked up into her mate’s wonderful face and spoke to him the only way she could,
“How can that be, my love?”
“It’s the curse of my bloodline.” she responded to her mate in a distant voice.
He knew better than to ask her the questions that he needed to right now. So he just pulled her closer to him and tried to comfort her as best as he could for now. But it was Rayven that wouldn’t allow the subject to rest, “I do not understand any of this? Wulf and Anya are happy. Their children have grown into beautiful wonderful people. How can it be any different for me and Lucien?”
The lady in question spoke a distant voice, “How long was Wulf gone?”
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