SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter Eighteen
Amethyst’s Pov:
My hands shook as I pulled away the hair from my neck, exposing the area where my mate’s mark should be. So many times, before, I wished for this day. My heart raced to match Timothy’s as he shifted slightly. To my surprise, he swallowed hard. As always, my frustration swelled thanks to his hesitation. We both wanted this. Why was he denying it? “Tell me you truly don’t want me as yours or mark me, Timothy,” I pressed.
The world came into focus, and I stared across the table as a silhouette took shape. The white-haired young woman with greenish silvery eyes looked at me with concern. “Who are you?” I asked. “What do you mean, who am I?” she replied with surprise in her voice.
“I mean just that. I don’t know who you are,” I snapped. Her eyes glazed over for a moment. Obviously, she’s linked someone. “Amethyst, are you ok?” Tim’s voice came from behind the young woman. He studied me closely as he placed his hands on the back of her chair.
Delighted to see him, I got up and embraced my beloved, placing a kiss on his cheek. “OMG MOM!” the young woman shrieked in horror. Her words hit me hard, ‘mom’. Stunned, I backed away from Timothy. Confused, I glanced at him, then at her, before my eyes fixed on her.
Mom… That was something only a moment ago I believed I could live without being called. Now, after hearing it, I realized I couldn’t. With tears in my eyes, I pulled the girl into my arms, holding her tightly. My heart seemed as if it may explode with love and joy.
Tim tightened his grip on my waist, kissing my marking spot. “Stop,” I whispered, with tears in my eyes. “What did you say?” he asked. His warm breath on my neck felt so good. Only now I wish it didn’t. “Stop,” I repeated. He pulled my face to meet his and searched for the reason for my sudden change of heart. “I think I saw my daughter,” I explained.
“You did,” the Girl’s bitter voice announced her presence, startling us. “Timothy speaks the truth; this child cannot exist if you mate with him. But the choice is yours,” she sneered as she vanished.
My heart shattered into a million pieces. My love for Timothy was strong, but seeing my daughter was too much for me. Tim’s powerful arms lifted me up and carried me to his bed.
Carefully, he sat us down on his bed just as I fell apart and sobbed uncontrollably. “I am so sorry Timothy, I thought…” I attempted to explain myself. My guilt pulled me in two directions at once. Guilt for pushing Timothy so hard to mark me to the point I almost lost the greatest treasure I was yet to have. On the other hand, for not allowing him to mark me. As this was something we both have craved for some time.
“Shh, nothing to be sorry for,” he whispered, stroking my hair. “I am the one that should be sorry. I should have kept my resolve,” he whispered, kissing my head. “You are walking down the right path, Amethyst,” he insisted.
“Rest here, take the day. We will talk more when I get back. But as much as I do not want to leave, it’s only a matter of moments before the Goddesses drag us both out of here,” he sighed. I clung to him tightly; not wanting him to go. I realize I shouldn’t, but I still need him.
Reluctantly, I let him go. I watched as he left the room, turning for only a moment. As much as it hurt, I understood it was all he could do to keep himself from staying. I accepted he was right. If he stayed, the Goddesses would drag us both out. The tears flowed like rivers again. I sobbed for what seemed like years. But something in my soul felt as if I just lost my mate.
Tim’s Pov:
I glanced at Amethyst one last time, curled up in my bed. My body, heart and soul aching to go back to her. I quickly glanced away before I lost the last sliver of my resolve. I shut the door behind me as softly as I could, taking a moment to breathe.
My pain threatened to escape. How could I be so weak? She was still young. Her mate was out there, somewhere. And in my selfish desire, almost cost the one I loved the most: her future.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, my child,” mother’s voice greeted me. She filled her words with concern. “Why not?” I replied, allowing some of my anger to bubble to the surface. “You pair everyone. I know this: she has a mate. It’s only a matter of time before she finds him,” I snarled.
“While you are correct, I do pair everyone. Amethyst truly is chaos to my balance. If I’d only seen it earlier, I would have paired her with you, even against your wishes,” she answered, unfazed by my behavior.
I stopped dead in my tracks; the hairs standing on the back of my neck. “Seen what earlier?” I shouted. A sad expression washed over her face as she walked, urging me to follow.
“She is your perfect mate, and you are hers. Amethyst brings just enough chaos to you, and you bring just enough order to her. It’s such a powerful thing, the laws I have put in place disobeyed our plans. Showing Amethyst her child was the only way to restore order,” she admitted.
“I fear when she does finally meet her mate, she will not love him as mates should. I would have undone her pairing if there wasn’t so much riding on it,” mother confessed. “You mean you are manipulating us?” I growled.
“Watch your tone, boy,” the Girl hissed. “You can’t know what we see. We’ve seen what happens if you took Amethyst as yours. It will leave too much to chance. We can’t repair every consequence that’s been put into motion because of you,” the Girl hissed.
“What do you mean?” I asked. The expression which crossed my mother’s face left me unsettled. This was information she undoubtedly wanted to keep away from me.
Mother wrapped her arm around me as if she was trying to brace me for a shock. “Thyst was meant to love her mate. In almost every outcome we witness now, Celeste fails,” she whispered.
“What do you mean she fails?” I blurted out in utter shock. “How could this be related to Thyst loving me?” I demanded. My anger returned with a vengeance.
“It was not written in stone that Amethyst’s child would be stronger than her. It would appear as if she no longer will be. We needed to alter our plan,” mother explained.
“Alter the plan, how?” I growled, unable to shake the sense of impending doom. “What makes a general strong?” the Girl asked abruptly.
“The strength of those who follow her,” I stated, understanding the Amazons have always believed this. “Yes, Celeste will only be as strong as those that support her; therefore, we shall grant her a sister who is a witch,” the Girl beamed.