Here's another chapter for my awesome readers! ;)
Stevie Rae's POV
The taste of his blood lingered in my mouth. He sure didn't taste like I thought he would. I have never tasted anything like that…sweet, electric, powerful…amazing. He'd given me his blood…to save me from dying. Was it just the life debt he said he owed me or could it be that he could actually choose good over evil.
As if Nyx was answering my question, I watched his red eyes swirl and change into a beautiful glowing amber colour. Was it our imprint? Did it do something to change him? Or was it a sign? From the earth around me, a voice whispered to me. Daughter, believe in him. It is all he needs.
I did believe in him. I trust him. I let myself nestle into the soft downy feathers on his chest and upper arms. He stayed still, looking down into my eyes. He was warm and his humanity seemed just beneath the surface of his skin.
He definitely didn't look human or acted like one. But his voice betrayed the human side of him. On the outside, his daddy's features claimed him. Wings, feathers, a beak…but what skin he had was a rich olive brown, like the sun had left its kisses all over him.
On the inside, he had humanity mixed with Kalona's powers and the mixed blood of an immortal and a sweet Cherokee girl that must have been his momma. And slowly, his humanity was growing bigger than Kalona's influence. I hope the imprint would help or at least not make things complicated…which is totally out of the question based on what we both felt when I was drinking his blood.
'What do we do about our imprint?' I asked, staring at his new amber eyes.
'What would need to be done about it?' he answered.
'I don't know.' I said, tilting my head into his feathers as I thought.
'Would you rather I break this imprint with human blood?' He asked.
I looked back at him, surprised at what he'd suggested. Drink from a human? But I saw the glint of humour in his eyes and calmed down.
'Why? Would you?' I retorted, playing along.
'No.' he said, suddenly serious. I turned to hide my blush.
'I often see your cheeks turn crimson though I don't know what emotion causes it.' He said softly.
'I don't always know what emotion makes my body react the way it does.' I muttered.
'Neither do I.' he whispered back.
I smiled, looking down. I loved seeing him so human. Sound so human. Like there was nothing wrong with the picture. A vampire high priestess in the arms of a Raven Mocker and an imprint between us too. It was kinda like a forbidden thingy, ya know…
I ran my fingers along my shoulders. Strangely, there was no huge gaping wound… I looked back and all there was, was some large cuts, already healing. Wow.
'What on earth in the town of Henrietta is going on with my cuts? They should be hurting a lot more than this.' I murmured.
'Immortal blood is more powerful than human or vampire.' Rephaim said simply.
'No kidding…your blood's kinda like green beans to me…' I said, laughing a little at his confused face.
'Green beans?' He asked.
'They don't smell right but they taste great! Your blood doesn't smell right to me either.' I said.
'It's because I am not meant to be your prey.' He said, a slight smile forming on his face.
'You're not my prey…' I said, protesting.
'Then what am I to you?' he asked.
I thought about it, biting my lip in concentration.
'Well, we're imprinted. So technically, with me being a high priestess and all, you're my consort. My Raven Mocker consort.' She said, looking away.
'Then you are my high priestess as well?' he asked.
'Yes, I am.' I said, looking into his eyes.
'Then you are my Red One. Mine to protect and care for.' He said, eyes softening.
'Care for?' I said, making it into a question.
'Is that not what consorts do?' he returned the question.
'It is but what about Kalona?' I whispered.
'My father has no matters concerning you and I, any longer. We are bound by our imprint. I did not go against my father before for the bond of our blood but now I will not betray you for our imprint. My loyalty lies with you.' He said.
Once again, the voice of my goddess lead me and gave me confidence. Daughter, you see how loyal he is. Every day you spend with him, he nears the light. All he has to do is choose. And he will follow where his beloved goes.
Beloved? Mine? Nyx has shown me the way. Nyx believes in Rephaim. She wants him to join us, choose good. And still, I have to hide him from everyone. I had to believe Nyx would somehow make Zoey see that he can choose the Light, just like I did.
Rephaim's POV
She lay on me, still. She seemed to treat my feathers like pillows. She rubbed against me, her hand searching the texture of my feathers. Her fingers drifted through each one, tickling and touching the skin and down below. Her short golden curls, mixed with my feathers, softly brushing along my chest.
She said nothing and I kept my eyes closed, allowing her small touches to lead me down the path to insanity. What was this? Still I did not know, what emotion was consuming me every time she was near. Now imprinted, there seemed to be a certain contentment as well. I was her consort and I was experiencing joy.
I had denied my father. I followed her. I acknowledged her as mine. My high priestess. I was no longer just my father's son. I no longer belonged to my father. Or if I did, I did not feel it. I belonged to Stevie Rae. I felt that much, but there in my depths, surrounding me. There was an emotion, a great feeling that I had no name for. What is that?
'Would you truly like to know, my son?' A voice asked.
'Who are you?' I asked.
'My name is Nyx. The goddess of your consort. You asked to know what you felt for Stevie Rae. She is quite a treasure to me and she believes in your humanity. So I will offer, for her sake and yours, my guidance when you need it.' She said. In my mind I saw the face of a beautiful woman. But she had man faces as well and among them I saw my mother, smiling. I chose to give in.
'Thank you, goddess. I will appreciate your guidance. But for now, only one question need be answered. What is this emotion I feel for my consort?' I asked.
'Love, my son. You are in love with Stevie Rae. Your heart has not mattered to you or anyone else in a long time. Now it matters to Stevie Rae. It matters a great deal, for she is in love with you, so your heart is starting to matter to you as well.' She said.
For the first time, I could feel and recognize every pinprick of this emotion. It surrounded me completely. I drowned in it. Everywhere. Everything I felt. Stevie Rae. How I wanted her. How I protected her. How I cared for her. How I love her.
'Both of you are bound not only by imprint but by your hearts as well. Do not break hers, my son.' She said, finally taking her leave of me.
'I will not.' I whispered, making a promise to Nyx, to myself… to Stevie Rae.