At the end where Destiny awaits: Book 6 of the Kinstone series

(Marron)

I carefully pour several liquids into small vials. Several more rest corked on racks. I gaze at them, watching as their ingredients fully dissolve. I smile as the colors turn from a deep blue, matching Aria’s eyes, to a soft amber.

Part of my time spent here, other than making sure my little sister doesn’t run off on us, has been devoted to the making of potions for us. While we can use magic to heal wounds, it takes time. Even the more battled-hardened fighters know this. So it’s best to have at least a few on hand. The potions I’ve been working on are meant to heal wounds and restore stamina, which in turn restores magic.

Aria’s helped me a few times with their prep, even showing me a couple recipes she learned from her ancestral mother.

I glance up at the lab around me. It’s incredibly well-stocked, filled with herbs and other ingredients that I think I’ve only seen in Velhemina’s greenhouse. Not to mention the equipment here is beyond top notch. Mana burners, pure water from the lake and river, even a few doodads I can’t even dream of making out.

I pan over to see Aria working on a few experiments her mother left behind for her to work on. I have to laugh in how despite we’re on the other side of the world, she works on lessons left behind by her mother.

She did admit to have completed some when she was staying with the Parkstons, she hadn’t even finished a quarter of them. She was also sharing equipment from Evie and Jon who themselves were doing their own work. So here she’s able to do them without worry or having to wait.

There are also a few experiments from her time at school, something I still laugh at sometimes, she’s been working on. I’ve seen her write at least half a dozen papers and reports. Ever the committed and devoted student.

If not training, eating, or resting, I often find her in the library. Orbiting her are sometimes dozens of books thicker than anything even I’ve ever seen before. She did try and teach me Alcoran, seeing how she and her knights will speak the language. I will admit it to be a challenge. Heh, the student becoming a teacher. If she were to have children, she would be an amazing teacher.

I hear the door to the lab open. I pan over to see Athena slowly entering the room. She looks to me and smiles, gently knocking her head and motioning me towards the door. I look back to my sister as she continues her work. Fenris left some time ago for something, so no doubt he’ll be back soon to watch over Aria.

I nod, turning off the mana burner and look over the last few vials of potions, making sure their stable enough for me to leave them. Once done, I turn and follow the wolf out the door and into the hall.

As we stroll I can’t help but look at her. Athena is beautiful, pure and simple. It’s really hard to describe this wolf. Fenris is a majestic as a mountain and ferocious as a storm. Yet Athena…I don’t know. Something about her is ethereal, dare I say ephemeral.

She’s so smooth and elegant in her lines and fur. Even how she moves reminds me of a proper lady, much like Lady Rachel. I have to laugh, recalling how even Aria’s way of walking is slightly different, at times matching Athena.

However, even a rose has thorns. I’ve seen Fenris in a fight many times, and according to Aria, he was trained by their alpha female. So that begs the question, how will this wolf fight? Fenris is already a literal force of nature, so what about Athena? Well, if we do leave here and find ourselves in a battle, I’ll know then.

Athena turns and looks up to me. The tip of her head just barely reaches under my chest. Her smooth face is gentle as her eyes seems looking softly to me. “I know you have wished to speak with me.”

I smirk. First Ddraig now Athena. She is right though. I have been wanting to talk to her, my sister’s second wolf.

“I have.”

She smiles as we turn and head into the parlor. We stroll over to one of the many couches to where I take a seat. I still am in utter awe of this entire place. The Mansion is beyond beautiful, evoking a place where royalty could retreat to. The parlor itself is probably twice the size of Aria’s at her home. The light shines softly on the grey carpeting which is offset by the shale-colored wood paneling on the walls with the darker wood on the bottom paneling.

The furniture is covered in soft, greyish-green fabric that compliments the room. Bookcases line a few walls, along with tables and other chairs strew about. There’s even a bar here. This room is meant to feel comfortable. Not to mention the doors leading out to the terrace and the view it offers.

Athena leads to me one of the many couches, sitting in front of it. I smile, sitting with her. The wolf leans in and starts nuzzling my chest. To say I’m shocked by this would be a little off. Regardless, it’s nothing new.

I smile, stroking her head gently. I listen to her soft groans, clearly loving the attention, something I know Aria gives her in abundance. Not to mention the reverse.

I gently stroke the top of her head. “So you really aren’t going to bond with me?”

Athena nudges my chest, as if to comfort me. I peer down, watching her ice-blue eyes stare up into mine. “No. You and Celestine may share the same heart and soul. However you truly are two completely different people.”

Not going to say I shocked or dismayed. She is right; Celestine and I are different people. I’m not angry or upset, or jealous for that matter. What matters to me is that Aria is loved, and she’s never been short on people who love her. I with her, always and forever at her side. I smile to myself, loving our favorite phrase.

She smiles to me, “I know a great deal of you, Marron. My little one and I spoke constantly while in Dewloura. I do see much of my Celestine within you.”

I smile, gently laying the wolf’s head into my lap. Athena gently lies on the floor, her head easily clearing the top of the cushions. I softly rake my fingers through her soft fur, feeling a cool chill as I do.

“So Aria really is your daughter, isn’t she?”

Athena’s chest puffs with pride, “That she is. Serasfall and I equally claimed Aria as our child.”

I nod softly. A wolf and a human, claiming a child as their own. Again, this isn’t something new to me.

The wolf sighs softly as her tail swishes gently on the floor as I pet her. “I am glad beyond measure to be here with Aria and her father. I am also glad to be here with you, Marron.”

I smile softly, curling her massive ears in my fingers. She groans softly, obviously loving it.

“I have always been watching you both,” she continues, “trying to understand how differently you interact when compared to Celestine. Aria seems different while around you, speaking with phrases and mannerisms she at first used upon her arrival. She listens to strange music, some enjoyable others…unbearable.”

She must be referring to Aria’s love of symphonic metal. Hey, some of the bands she likes are really good, by our standards. A couple I know she only likes a few songs from.

I smirk, “She’s a girl of this era. If you think her choice in music is odd to you, then you’ll be shocked if she takes you to a mall. Granted I know that girl went shopping while in Dewloura. She’s too much of a mallrat.”

The wolf’s head tilts slightly, clearly showing confusion at my statement. I grin, stroking her more. “There’s a lot you’re going to learn about her, not to mention this era. Her knights went through a similar experience after they came into her life.”

She nods, still looking up at me. “I wish to know how you are with her father,” she says. “Even when bonded with her and having spent several months with her, I still know little of my little one.”

I smile, “Fenris and I are good friends, both having fought on the battlefield a couple times. I’ve known him since he arrived at Aria’s home a couple years ago. During that time, I grew to respect him. We even shared some alone time after Aria’s exile and before when we were supposed to travel to safe place with our coven.”

I look up and gaze out onto the parlor doors. Fenris and I spoke constantly during that week, learning more and more about Aria’s mental and emotional state at the time. We are equals, a fact I’ve never once doubted or questioned. I trust him implicitly, while also sharing some cuddle time with him and Aria.

I look to Athena, still stroking her fur. “I hope…we too can have that kind of relationship. If not just for Aria’s sake.” I may be Aria’s guardian and sister, but I really don’t want to drive a wedge or be awkward around Athena. She is new to our little party, one that’s grown close these past few months.

She smiles, leaning up and licking my face. “We already do. Not merely because of whom you were before. However I do feel a connection with you, just not the Bond.”

I smile to her. “That’s fine with me.” It doesn’t matter if we’re bonded. The fact we have a connection is a little surprising to me. Just something we share. That and the love for a certain mischievous kitsune.

Another question then pops into my head. Aria and Fenris spoke of the Bond between them, something that’s special and powerful. She did explain the deep kinship between the wolves and the Great Mansions. Then there’s something else that Aria and Fenris share.

I look to her, “Can you and Aria fuse?”

She shakes her head, “No. While we are indeed bonded, the Bond between us is different as opposed to between her and her father.” Athena closes her eyes, laying her head into my lap. “While our bond grew over time, theirs was from birth. Theirs is far, far deeper. Yet while it was the same for me and Celestine, and my mother and Serasfall, neither could fuse. This was a question my little one posed to Serasfall once.”

She then smiles, groaning softly in my lap, “Despite it all, the fated connection between us remained. She is mine and I hers.”

I nod. This is still something that goes right over my head. The Bond, the kinship, the deep history of Dewloura, it’s pretty much Greek to me and I speak Greek.

I lean over, resting my head onto hers. “Did, did Aria tell you everything that happened between us?”

Athena wraps a tail around me, while nodding. “She did, yet it matters not to me.” She then claps her jaw. “I am angered to know that Selene is alive in this era. I watched both my girl and Serasfall deal a mortal wound to that detestable woman.”

I nod, stroking her more. Selene hit us both deeply, with me here and Aria in the past.

Athena then pulls back slightly and look to me, smiling. “Would you like to ride on me?”

I smile, “Gladly.”

She grins and we both head for the doors leading out onto the terrace. Athena then kneels down for me, to which I climb onto her back. My fingers dig into her unbelievably soft fur. She smiles, rises to her feet and we race off the terrace and into the forest.

We travel around the estate, exploring more of it that I’ve done before. I’ve ridden on Fenris a few times, but this is new for me. I pan over to see the rushing of the waterfalls, their roars echo heavily against the rock face and into the rest of the valley.

“Are you a kitsune as well?” asks Athena as we make a turn for the riverbank.

I smirk, “Sadly no, merely a humble seamstress.”

Aria is special in of herself. I will admit that she has been a kitsune more often since her return. It’s who she is, plus I do love seeing her with her tails, watching her cute ears as they flick about on her head. Although, I wouldn’t mind being one if given the chance.

She smiles, “Is there anything else about Aria either you or Fenris have yet to tell me?”

I chuckle softly, shaking my head. “Where do I even begin with the girl?”

She grins, taking us towards a small inlet by the river. I hop off and we walk over to a tree, sitting under and begin to swap stories. I start with her incredibly tumultuous first year with her mother, adoption, her first solstice festival. Ok at this point her only one so far. I spoke of her first summer gathering and her time abroad, both Italy and Japan.

Athena on the other began telling me of her time in Dewloura, stuff not in Aria’s recount. For the most part she was humble and dutiful. Not really getting into too much trouble. She traveled the city, learning more about it and its people, immersing herself in its culture. She’s shown me numerous sketches she made of various parts of the city. I never knew she had talent as an artist, something I sure her mother pressed on her no doubt.

However the some of the antics she pulled with the pups were downright hilarious. She actually pranked the adult wolves by casting illusions of deer and other game within the estate, giggling along with the pups as everyone ran around chasing shadows, only to be whacked in the head by Fenris.

“That girl hasn’t pulled pranks in ages,” I say laughing.

Athena chuckles, swishing her tails. “My own mother chased that troublesome fox around the estate after a few other pranks. While never serious, she was still scolded for them. Although, I suspect both she and Serasfall were thrilled to have the laughter and joy of children again.”

I grin, shaking my head. Oh the girl.

We spent even more time talking, watching as the day slowly died and giving way to night. I gaze out onto the lake, watching the waterfalls beyond them. Athena then rounds behind me, fully lying down on the grass. I smile, scooting over to her as she in turn coils her tails around me. I scoot closer to her head, stroking it. The wolf groans softly as if to hold me.

I gaze at her, “How often was Aria with the wolves?” Another question I’ve been wanting to ask.

Athena swishes one of her tails. “She was with them as often as she could,” she starts. “The pups drew most of her attention, often wishing to play.”

I grin, “She’s always loved kids. Having a knack for them.”

Athena smiles, “The little ones adored her, always at her side. I learned how they behaved while attending school with her, never wandering off without either her or her father with them. Even the wolves who gathered with them in the courtyard at school would watch over them.”

I grin, thinking how much she grew love it there, the wolves, her ancestors, the city, all of it. I agree with Aria in wondering what might have happened if she never made it back. What would her life have been if she grew up there? Fortunately that’s a path that wasn’t taken.

I sigh softly, wondering if she’ll ever get home, her real home. While I know she can return, she still needs more time to heal and collect herself. She has had a lot to deal with for a sixteen-year old girl. Not to mention what we’re going to do once we get back to America. So many things to ponder and worry over.

The sun finally sinks beneath the massive rock walls, covering the estate in darkness. I pan over to see the lights in the Mansion lighting up, with dinner not too far off.

Athena and I look to each other and nod. We then rise up from the grass and walk back to the Mansion.