From gaining strength against the meek
A stance must make itself known
A kingdom rises with one on the throne.”
I focused on the prophecy to figure out where I fit in it. It was clear she had worked her way repeatedly through it over the years. Vada tried not to fidget anxiously while I quietly repeated it again in my head. We had different thoughtprocesses, which I was excited about. She had the ability to view this from a big picture lens, and I liked to dig into the minutiae. I was anxious to hear her thoughts.
“What makes you think this is about us? I mean, you were told the prophecy, so obviously you are a part of it, but what makes you think I am the other part?” I asked, my eyes returning to hers. I was trying not to get lost in them.
“I was told this prophecy 108 years ago by Baba Yaga. She very specifically mentioned you. At the time, you were still under your father’s thumb, and neither of you were in the kingdom. That made it safe for me to visit Baba Yaga. She went on to tell me that the prophecy that a powerful succubus Demon and the strongest Fae alive would be the only two who could become curse-breakers.” She paused right in front of me, putting her hands on my knees. I breathed in deeply for a few breaths, my thumbs running circles across the fabric of her borrowed leggings before she spoke again. “That’s when she also told me that I would find my fated mate. I hadn’t realized she meant you, but I can’t deny my draw toward you.”
We’d only known each other for days at this point, but Vada continued as my world was completely rocked, “I’m so sorry, sweet girl. I really didn’t want to tell you this way, or this soon, but I also didn’t want it to come from someone else without you first hearing it from me. I understand if you need some time to think about this. I’ve had a long time to come to terms with it. I know you don’t know me yet, and I was hoping to get the chance to let you get to know me before I told you this,” she rushed out as she turned to pace.
I was quiet for a long time after that. I wanted her more than I wanted anything else in all the realms, and I didn’t know if that was because I’d found her so attractive, or because the Fates decided we’d both been punished long enough. Was I in love with her already? No. But there was a pull to her I’d nevernoticed with anyone else before her. I could see something beautiful blooming from this if she was willing to give us a shot.
Standing from the bed, I reached up to cup her cheek. She tried to hide her amusement at how short I was, and I internally rolled my eyes. Apprehensiveness radiated off her, her eyes telling me that she expected the worst. “Are you sure?” I asked her.
She closed her eyes, leaning her head more comfortably into my hand. “I’m positive.”
I stepped in closer and wrapped her arms around my middle, my head coming up just above her breasts. Vada pulled me in close, tucking a lock of hair behind my pointed ear. As her hand briefly touched my face, the silent tears I tried to hide ran down her palm. My fingers grazed her ear, and she visibly shuddered. I gently pulled her away from me so I could see her face, but she tried to hide away from me. I tucked my finger under her chin and nudged her to focus on me until she reluctantly did.
Alarm ran through her features. “Sweet girl, why are you crying? The last thing I want is your tears. I never wanted to cause you pain.”
I smiled through my tears, dimples catching the drops as she ran her thumbs under my eyes gently to catch the rest. “They’re part fear, part relief. Let’s just say I had someone in my life that had convinced me they were my fated. Until tonight, I believed her. I’ve… I’ve become jaded. It’s hard for me to trust anyone anymore, and I didn’t trust myself enough to believe the draw I had toward you. But that’s a story for another time. What I’m trying to get at is that I’m willing to see where this goes, but I need your assurance that we can go at my pace,” I all but pleaded, worried about how this was going to work.
“That’s valid, and I’m willing to wait any amount of time you need. We go at your pace. No pressure. I’ve waitedmillennia for you, and through so many lifetimes and trials to find you. I will wait as long as it takes for you to be ready. Even if that never happens, I just want to know you. You’ve had me enraptured since the moment I first saw you many, many moons ago. While we had never met, I knew you were meant to be something to me,” she said.
I laughed, wiping tears away. “That’s some declaration for someone you’ve only just met.”
Chuckling, she replied, “But it’s true, and I promise from here on out never to lie to you. We can go at your pace, but I needed you to know where I stood now that you know.”
“It’s getting late. Do you want to crash here tonight?” I asked, suddenly anxious again.
“I would love to, yes, but I think you need some time to yourself to think this through. I want you to take all the time you need to figure out what you want from this relationship. Make a list if you need to. Right now, I just want you to make sure you’re ready for something serious, because I am too damn old for games. I think you are, too,” she said as she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and held me close to her.
My stomach dropped. She wasn’t rejecting me. The opposite, in fact, and she was right, but I was a little sensitive from all the news over the last few days. I’d wanted her to stay, and that left me conflicted. I needed to take the time to understand what I wanted. A thought occurred to me.
“Vada, do you know who the two men were in the alley that night?” I asked.
“I do not. I haven’t heard back from my friend yet about who they were either. They appeared to be human, though. Why do you ask?” She placed a soft kiss against my forehead.
“I’m wondering how they got into that alley, and if they’re somehow connected to this mass murder,” I said, thinking it through. I was beginning to wonder if I was supposed to be atarget, and if Vada’s arrival and the prophecy answered my questions about my power surges.
“I’ll chat with Medb tomorrow morning and see if she has any information,” she replied as she stepped back, taking her warmth with her.
As I walked her to the door, I caught the time. It was 3:30 in the morning. I groaned.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay? It’s late, and I have a spare bedroom,” I said, trying to prevent her from having to call a rideshare again.
“I’m sure it’s the best idea for now, but thank you, sweet girl.” She stepped up next to me, kissing me softly. I leaned into the kiss, if only to hold her there just a little longer, even though I needed to take this time.
“Please get home safe. Can you text me once you’re there?” I asked her.
“I’ll text you as soon as I get home. Good night, sweet girl,” She kissed me again, this one lingering a little longer than the last. I had to stop the intrusive thoughts about how this was a permanent goodbye, because it wasn’t. My brain just hadn’t caught up with the program yet.
“Night, baby. I’ll see you soon.” I walked her out to the rideshare, and watched as the car rounded the corner, taking what could be my entire life with it, if I’d let myself have something potentially good.
April 15th
