Odessa

A bright light filled the wide terrace of the marble barricade, holding us in from falling. Apollo stepped back from the railing, pulling an awe-stricken Creed behind him. Clinging to Creed, my face continued to stare at the brightened spot of the terrace until, out of nowhere, a beautiful woman sat with her legs crossed, leaning back on her straightened arms. Her curled hair pinned back away from her face, she brushed some whisps that dared to get close to her. The light now faded. She stood up, making sure her long robes didn't inch up above her ankle. "There's my favorite couple," her soothing voice lured us closer, but Apollo didn't dare let us move. Apollo went into a parental figure stance, he stood in front of us, his feathers already spreading down his back.

"Are ye a siren? Coming to trick meh son? He has his mate and their bond is too strong fer ya!" She chuckled lightly. My dragon was at peace with this woman, but Creed and his father were certainly skeptical.

"No, my charming griffon, I am Hecate, Goddess of Magic and Spells." The few brief moments she let us have to contemplate the massive shock of information sink into our minds, I thought back to the witch's comments at the ceremony. 'To listen to the words of Hecate.' This woman was the actual goddess. She looked like one the very moment we saw her, but now it had become so more real. A soft glow of gold wrapped around her body tightly, her fair skin that had never seen a bit of sun, no wrinkles not even a beauty mark. Her face looked painted by Michelangelo himself.

"I...I... I don't understand. Why are you here? You will not put spells on any of us, will you?" I muttered. My voice felt so small, but how could it ring confidence when this goddess could throw any of us off the balcony, put a spell of forgetfulness or even wipe us away from this world entirely? Why else would she be here? I've read about the wrath most gods would put on humans just for the mere jealousy of someone's looks. I mean, hello Medusa? My hands gripped onto Creed and Apollo, worried she would take them away from me.

Hecate chuckled, waving her hand in her face. "Fates, child, no! I'm here to help you use your powers. You are pretty powerful, you know, and you don't even realize it."

"I am?" Hecate nodded, walking towards us. We no longer stepped away, but we watched her every move. Our dragons halted their noises, just keeping our bodies from shaking with worry.

"You two," Hecate pulled at my curls, observing my hair. "Despite Creed here having a spell cast on him, he could still find his mate. You both courted each other without a bond pulling you together, you both created your own bond. The bond you had created before Creed's curse was broken is now doubly strong, making you both very powerful. The magic inside you, Odessa," she pointed to my heart. "Is that of a dragon and a griffon. You were once an empty shell as a human. This gave the magic that Creed carried from his parents' alpha lines that could now be placed inside your body. Only females can carry such power since males are a bit more vicious." She winked at Creed. "The magic of the dragons will return, but with a catch." Hecate smiled, her finger dropping, looking at Apollo.

"The Griffons, your people, died out because they could not find their mates. They are very emotional creatures. They also liked to live alone. The secretive creatures they were made them die out. No other supernaturals would help because they had no clue what you were. Your kind wasn't the friendliest to newcomers." Apollo nodded. "You came from an ancient race. Once more and more supernaturals arrived from Earth to run from the persecution of humans, griffons hid. It isn't anyone's fault. Your forefathers were doing what was best for their mates." Hecate brushed the side of his beard.

"Now, dragons have come to a problem. No more female dragons are being born, thus creating no more full-blooded female dragons which are needed to keep the magic flowing. Well, then comes along Odessa. Fates had an interesting fate for you. Now the magic flows in you, Odessa, taking Ondi's powers and Apollo's, creating a hybrid creature. Combing both species will save both the griffon line and the dragon, keep the magic strong together."

"But why does Creed have feathers? He looks like Apollo too?" I asked.

"Ah yes, the hybrid part. You are all wondering about that, I'm sure," she laughed. "As you all know, even if you are mated with a different species of supernatural, your offspring will take the form of one or the other." Creed and Apollo grunted in reply. I stood silent, not understanding everything fully. "Hybrids are extremely rare, but desperate times cause for desperate measures. The gods allowed both Apollo and Ondi's DNA to mix, saving both lines of creatures and their magic. To keep the magic still flowing, it was important for this to occur because the future is dark." I frowned, watching a wave of concern sweep over her face.

"Your powers are great for one little dragon, Odessa. They will continue to grow until more fledglings are born and, with that, we need to have more hybrid babies, if you get my drift." She winked to Creed, who shifted uncomfortably. Slapping my hand over my mouth, I tried to contain my laughter about a goddess wanting us to hurry and have kids.

I had hoped we would have more time together, but alas, it was for the better of the species. Apollo stood uncomfortably, backing away slowly from the group.

"I'm not finished, dear Apollo, griffon, who was named after a dear, dear friend of mine." She laughed. "You were named after Apollo in contrast to how dark your skin was when you were born. Your parents called you Apollo because you were the sun in their lives." Apollo stood still, his head bowed.

"They were beautiful griffons, and they taught you well." her hand pulled his face to look at hers. "And tonight, after being cursed for so long and cruelly and staying true to the promise of a mate for many years, I want to offer you a choice." Creed held my hand to his chest as we waited for the dramatic pause to end. Pray that she doesn't take him to the other side! Creed had just found his father!

"I can have Selene find you a second chance. She will be brought here to the palace this night and you will not have to look for her. You will have your mate and help continue the new line of hybrid dragons with your seed." Apollo's worried eyes softened, shaking his hand.

"Ondi is may only mate," he sniffed. "I will die to find 'er in the afterlife." Hecate smiled, pulling her hand away from his cheek.

"Something about this bloodline that gives me chills. I pray the offspring from this line continues to produce such a rare breed amongst men." Hecate brushed her hands together, coming back to me.

"Let's get this started, then." Hecate pulled me from Creed's arms and another woman walked up in a pale pink robe. "Gah, you are so dramatic, Hecate." The woman had long, flowing blonde hair pinned up to the side to show her flawless face. "I mean geez, you knew he was going to say no to a second chance."

"I had to be sure," Hecate paid no mind, pulling me in front of her. Brushing the hair from my forehead, I glanced at the woman beside me. Aphrodite, she had to be.

"Yeah, I'm a big fan," she smiled. "Creed and Odessa power couple, woohoo!" She twirled her finger in the air in a mocking tone. "Nah, girl, seriously, you both did well. The super-strong bond you share will help this be quick. You have no idea how many times I wanted to strangle Daine for interrupting you both so many damn times though." She rolled her eyes.

"Quick? Quick for what?" I panicked.

"Shh, shh, it's fine." Hecate cooed at me like I was about to get a shot at the doctor.

"I'm using Ondi's powers inside you because I cannot do it alone, not something this powerful. This can only happen with me here. I'm breaking so many rules right now, but I think it's worth it." Hecate breathed heavily, putting her hands in a praying position.

"You aren't breaking any rules. I'm here helping using their pre-bonding love, besides if you don't do this, we are going to be screwed later with the blood magic stuff, and..." Hecate threw her hand over Aphrodite's mouth. "Bitch, you messed up my lipstick," Aphrodite grumbled.

Hecate had me copy her arm movements. She mumbled in a Greek and Latin dialect that I couldn't understand. The surrounding wind rustled. Creed immediately came beside me. Hecate grabbed his hand and put it on my shoulder. Apollo did the same, copying his son.

A tingling power started with my toes, flowing and rising like the waves of the ocean. The further it went up my body the stronger the surge felt. Once it reached my chest, it pounded into me heavily until it reached the top of my forehead. The pressure was overwhelming, pushing so much power through a small space.

The leaves danced around our feet, small bolts of lighting tickled my fingers, one rather large one coming straight from the middle of my head. My eyes closed, and as a movie reel, I saw Ondi and Apollo at a steaming pond in the middle of winter. They held onto each other, holding, kissing, laughing. Apollo danced with his mate, she laughed, being dipped lower until their eyes met each other. Once their lips touched, the picture of them blurred and everything came to a halt. My body came falling into Creed's arms, the heaviness of my lids was tenfold. Creed was calling my name, shaking my shoulders lightly. I wanted to sleep, the pressure that had pushed through the tiny hole in my head was now gone, but my strength had left. Until I could finally open my lids, I found my father-in-law and mate staring back at me. "Are ye alright?" His worried tone had me laugh. I just had a lightning bolt come out of my head, but I was doing just fine. "Yes," I whispered. Now seeing another face, I did not recognize leaning over us. She looked so familiar until my brain finally rebooted. "Ondi?" I whispered. Apollo stood up, his hand over his heart. Creed and I continued to lie on the floor of the balcony. The goddesses were gone and now, here stood Creed's mother.

Ondi.

"Apollo," her hands stuck to her chest. The white linen clung to her body while the wind brushed her hair away from her face. "It's me," she whispered. Apollo's legs faltered, stepping back, only to lean forward.

Apollo took two large steps to her, picking her up and burying his face into her chest. "My Ondi," he cried. "You are here, you are here! Gods, they have blessed me!"

"Mother?" Creed helped me stand as I watched father and son embrace their mother. They grabbed onto her, both men sobbing. She was no longer standing but held above the ground like a precious jewel that dare not touch the dirt. Was this what Hecate and Aphrodite were talking about? Could this power inside me bring back Ondi? With the help of Hecate, of course, but... it was too much, so surreal that this could happen. The Bible on Earth tells of stories of a select few that had been resurrected from the dead, such as Lazarus and Jesus. This, this was something else entirely. She had no scars, no imperfections, but her body was that of a body. Nothing like the gods that stood before us. Ondi was real. She cried actual tears and touched her men like she had been doing it for years.

"The black magic," Hecate stood behind me. Turning, Aphrodite was still missing, but Hecate's demeanor had darkened. "The black magic laced with dragon's blood is strong, Odessa. It can wipe out an entire race. Magic grows each day, and this magic is becoming too powerful, even for me. Magic evolves constantly and I can barely control it myself sometimes. It is up to the rulers of Bergarian to snuff it out now before it gets out of hand." I gripped my dress, hearing her words of warning.

"You cannot repeat the spell we just accomplished, Odessa. Ondi was taken from this world by black magic, but not fully. She refused to cross over. You and your mate's bond is so powerful, it magnified the magic Ondi had passed on. Powerful enough to bring her back from the in-between." I stared back at her with awe. "Her fierce love kept her from seeing the light, even if she was covered in black magic. Her soul knew to wait, wait for her mate to come to find her once his spell was broken. Falling in love before a bond is almost unheard of, but you both did. You helped save Creed's parents, little dragon." I sniffed, wanting to cry. Apollo and Creed continued to hold on to Ondi tightly.

"Love can conquer almost anything," she whispered. "Remember that."

Hecate sighed, her eyes tired and her body no longer ridged. "I suggest you get some rest, little dragon. You have some fights to win." Before I could ask a single question, the bright light that had blinded me earlier blasted quickly, then faded away as fast as it came.

Bewildered at what had occurred, I rubbed my forehead. A slight sting came from it but nothing that wasn't manageable. Both of the shifters in front of me laid their precious woman in their lives down on the floor. Apollo still gripping onto her tightly. Creed's body shifted, holding out his hand.

"My Fawn, I want you to meet someone." Knowing who she already was, I took Creed's hand gladly, her soft eyes still looking at her mate. They were complete opposites, just like Creed and I. Apollo had a dangerous allure about him, one that I found similar to Creed, which didn't scare me in the slightest. Ondi reminded me of what I would have wanted in a mother. Caring, passionate and so soft. Her beautiful eyes looked down at my shortened stature, she smiled softly, her hand cupping my cheek.

"This is the girl that has my fledgling so enamored," her voice soft, delicate. "I hope he has treated you well." I hummed, touching the hand that cupped my cheek. "Thanks to you, he certainly has."