Nodding, David said, “My mother is very strong.”
“Yes, she is. Every day of your life, the gods have been humbled by your mother’s love and her devotion to you. Knowing the role you would play in the salvation of the world, the gods were pleased when your mother sheltered you from the evil that was consuming the world. That was, until you were five. Then evil found you when Michael saw you one day on a journey through the mountains. Remembering a story that fascinated him, he stopped and hid, setting up a camp so he could observe you.”
“Why me? I was so young and I couldn’t disappear until I was much older…it was my tattoos, wasn’t it?” asked David.
“Yes, you carry the mark of the gods…laurel leaves…on your face and around your neck. It was this that alerted Michael to who you were, or at least who he thought you were. After several weeks of spying on you and your mother, he left, intent on putting a plan into action. After setting up Brenda as High Priestess in his bogus Convent of the Sisters of the Four Gods…”
“Wait,” Zane interrupted, “what do you mean? The Four Gods religion isn’t really a religion?”
“Oh, no, it is an authentic religion…one that holds that there are only four true gods. What Michael did was to use it as a cover for his evil intentions. He knew it would be many years before David would gain his powers, so he joined forces with a woman he’d met a few years before. After showing her the story in the ancient book and a picture of you, she agreed…as long as she got half of whatever they intended you to steal. It was Brenda who came up with the idea of making you the High Priest and she invited the daughters of followers of the religion to become Priestesses, thereby having a ready supply of keepers to watch over you as you grew into your powers.”
“I don’t understand,” David said, looking helplessly at his mate before asking, “Are you saying I’m not a High Priest?”
“No, I am not. Youare, but not a High Priest of the religion of the Four Gods, though everything you learned while you were there is their doctrine. While you were learning it, the High Priestess was engaged in other less savory pursuits which is why you saw so little of her.”
“But she showed me the book you’re referring to and read me the story,” exclaimed David. “She told me it was about me…that I was that person! A person who would be evil!”
“She was lying to you,” answered Oracle.
“Excuse me,” interrupted Zane, “My mate was told he was the boy in the myth. So that isn’t true? The book had it wrong?”
“Yes, and no. The stories in many of these ancient books are a compilation of truth and make-believe. The truth in this story is about you being born and having certainpowers; the rest is fantasy, made up by the author to tantalize readers. Unfortunately, Michael believed every word and spent years searching for that mythical boy. He was about to give up his search when he spotted you playing in front of your house. He was the one who nearly killed your mother and who kidnapped you that fateful day.”
A cry echoed throughout the room, tears falling from David’s eyes as the cruelty of what had been taken from him and his mother became apparent—a life filled with love, happiness and joy, stolen by a man solely for his own enrichment. Burying his head in the curve of Zane’s neck, David cried—for his mother…for himself…for what might have been.
Zane folded himself around his mate, sheltering him from further pain, while fighting the urge to shift and hunt down those who inflicted such hurt on him. David’s tears were filled with his suffering, falling onto Zane’s neck, burning him, forever etching into his soul the agony his mate endured. But he welcomed them—hoping they’d alleviate his mate’s pain.
As his tears sucked the darkness from his soul, a bright light shone in its place and David sensed hope. Catching his breath sharply a few times after he stopped crying, he gazed up at his mate, a smile breaking out on his trembling lips. “I’m sorry,” he said, softly.
“You have nothing to be sorry about,tesoro mio,” Zane crooned, caressing his mate’s back. “Are you feeling better, babe?”
Nodding, David said, “Yes, a lot.”
“Do you want to continue or wait till later?” Zane asked.
“Now, because I must rescue my mother as soon as I can,” replied David.
“David,” said Logan, in a voice reflecting his concern, “I promise you and Zane the full support of the Blackwood Pack to free your mother.”
David glanced at Logan before looking up at his mate and, after seeing Zane nodding, said, “Thank you, Logan, I really appreciate it.” Then his eyes shifted to Oracle. “Please continue, Oracle.”
“The gods are unable to interfere with the course of events on earth so they could not prevent what happened, but they were able to save your mother and guide her to you.”
“Oracle, I’m not clear on something you said. Is David the myth come alive or isn’t he?” asked Logan.
“The myth describes a person who is marked, has numerous abilities and will be a threat to the world because he is evil. David is marked by the gods and has some abilities but that is the end of the truth in the story. Everything else about David is false…especially the part that says he is evil. In fact, it is the exact opposite, as the gods gave him their goodness and light making it impossible for evil to gain a foothold in him,” Oracle answered.
“You also said he was a High Priest, but not one belonging to the Church of the Four Gods. What religion is he a High Priest of then?” asked Logan.
“The gods selected David to be their representative on earth to fight the evil that has taken root in this world,” Oracle explained. “That makes David the High Priest of all paranormals.”
The room went silent. Finally, David asked, “What does that mean? How can I be…how can I…fight evil when others look at me as nothing?”
Growling, Zane said, “That’s not true! You are someone and anyone who says otherwise is offending the gods.”
“David,” said Logan, “I agree with my brother. The gods marked you for all to see and only the foolish would ignore it.”
“There is more, sweetie,” Oracle said. “Not only can others see the sign of the gods, but they will also nowfeelit because you have found your Fated Mate and have claimed him. This ability will be recognized by anyone who means to do you harm and will protect you.”
