Creed

My family, everything I have ever wanted, was right here on this balcony. My mother, my father and my mate. Everyone's animals purred collectively as we held onto each other. I had worried Odessa might feel left out of our embrace, but luckily, she was as happy as I was, if not more so.

Her feelings through the bond showed excitement, love, and wanting. Odessa wanted us all to be together as one family, one unit. My dragon had wanted this for so long, to be a part of something bigger and here it was our own tribe. "You are just adorable," my mother cupped her face. "Everything I would have wanted in a mate for Creed! I bet he hasn't even fought in front of you yet, has he? To keep your little eyes clean of all that savageness?" Odessa shyly shook her head. My Fawn had seen enough blood come from her body, the bodies of other humans in Vamparia. She needed to see nothing else.

"This is your mating celebration, you should go back inside," mother cooed at us. "Dance with her Creed, as I taught you." Mother had shown me how faes and shifters dance. It was like humans, and she told me one day I would have to dance like this. Now I wonder if it was because of a higher power that told her.

"Go on," she shooed us to the inside. I smiled at her, giving her one last hug. I knew I would not see my mother the rest of the evening. My father was eying her too lustfully. His hand was already tracing the side of her waist, his nose tickling her neck. She giggled, eyes full of love and her hand that tickled his bare chest at the opening of his vest. "Your father and I need some time alone," she winked.

With a skip in my step, I pulled Odessa over my shoulder. Squealing, she held onto my back, squeezing my side. "I'm going to ask again, how do you get them so hard? It's like I'm grabbing a rock. Do you do squats when I'm not around? They just bulge every time you walk. Boulder, boulder, boulder..."

I slapped her behind, her laughter now invading the halls of the ballroom. The lights were dimmed; the lights flashing calmed and the music that came from strange boxes stopped playing. Now the harps, stringed instruments of the fae and elves played a softer, slower music.

Setting Odessa softly to her feet, her arms wrapped around my neck. "Slow dance with me, Prince Charming?" My massive hands wrapped around her minuscule waist, the room now dark with other calming bodies. Faes began kissing, touching, holding each other while Odessa and I stared into each other's eyes.

My Fawn had given me the greatest gift, using the power of dragons to bring my mother back from the in between. Stray hairs covered her face, moving the strands away. Her hand caught mine. She brought my palm to her lips, kissing it affectionately.

"You know why I love your hands so much?" I shook my head, now feeling her hand on my cheek. "Because they were the first thing I felt when you pulled me from that tree. I felt so safe with you and I didn't even know who or what you were. Your hands cradled me like a fragile little piece of glass and protected me. You cleaned me, held me, clothed me, you did so much work with those hands." Her finger traced where my scar used to be.

"If you never got your voice back, I'd still be happy with you, still love you as fiercely as the day I realized it, because actions speak louder than words." My lips smashed into hers, wrapping her legs around my waist. She giggled, playing with my braids like she always does.

"Thank you," I breathed into her mouth. "You didn't just give me your heart, but my family too. How am I supposed to repay you for that?" Odessa's thumb wiped away the sweat from my brow.

"Since when are we supposed to keep score?" Holding her close, my nose went into her neck as I slowed danced for the both of us. Her little yawn escaped her lips. As much magic as she has used this day, I'm surprised she had not fallen asleep sooner.

"Sleep, my little Fawn. I'll take you to our nest." Humming contentedly, her head rested on my shoulder, her nose right into my neck.

Once we reached the guarded doors, Orion stood with his arms crossed. "Creed? A moment?" Nodding, we walked to a sitting room that held nothing but Elven guards. "Vampires are in the Light Kingdom," Tangle spoke harshly. "They are few in numbers, but their speeds are great and their smells have been covered. Fae Warriors are out now, traveling in groups of five. We wanted you to be aware. They will not climb from the palace's thick outer walls and the main Palace walls. There is a spell cast by Orion's sorceress that will not let a nightwalker enter."

"How can this be?" I growled.

"Vampires can walk with light sources, but their skin can handle only so much. The spell that has been cast holds ultraviolet molecules. If you walk outside, it looks like the castle is on fire. We are only limited to the castle. Be sure she does not walk outside and stays confined to your room. We must always know where she is." My grip tightened on Odessa, feeling her steady heartbeat and breathing.

"She's weak," I said. Orion's stoic stare gave no surprise.

"I know." Orion grabbed his sword and put it in his sheath. "Ondi looks the same the last time I saw her," he winked. "Your parents have been briefed about the situation as well. Your tribe is within the palace gates to protect them. Those who live in the light kingdom have been advised to take shelter either in our walls or in their homes. Once dawn approaches, we seek them out. We are no match in the dark. The fae draws their power from the light sources."

I rubbed the back of Odessa's hair. "Thank you," my voice was low, unable to truly thank them for what they were willing to do and risk for my mate.

"Don't worry Creed, we will protect her. This could be any one of our mates in your situation, but it is severely important to protect Odessa, she will be the light when darkness overpowers our world." My dragon growled heavily. My Odessa was not ready to fight. I won't let her.

"Let's go," Orion led the men out, Willa waiting at the door with her own dagger. They exchanged words, causing Willa to throw her blade at a nearby wall, stomping away.

Thank the gods, Odessa was perfectly happy letting me protect her.

Ondi

I was here. It wasn't a dream at all. I could touch them, feel the heat of their skins, feel the warmth of the hybrid dragon and griffon be upon me. Apollo sobbed, the massive Alpha sobbed into my neck while Creed held onto me like a little fledgling.

My family was all together again, and it was all thanks to Odessa. She does not know what she has done. The magic inside her has yet to grow, but with Hecate's help, the will of the gods, they granted our family one more chance. More families were more deserving than us. I had an entire month with my mate. Some die in battle or never find them, like Apollo's friends from home. We were lucky. We had Creed. I had a beautiful son that looks just like my mate. If only I had remembered when I was last alive.

The in-between, the dreamlike state where I could relive past moments with Apollo, but there was no physical touch because I had willed to see it over and over. Visiting Creed, he allowed me in his mind once the curse was broken, but when the curse was alive in Apollo, he did not know me.

The dreams are over. My time, our time, of curses were finished. Reunited with my mate brings such joy into my heart. Apollo, was shy. He held onto me like it was our last meeting. Daring to take me, to make me his before we were interrupted.

Pushing Creed away, knowing that he wanted to spend time with his mother, was difficult, but Apollo needed him. Hell, I needed him! Once Creed was out of sight, Apollo picked me up, wrapping my arms around his neck he made my legs wrap around his waist.

"I ain't waitin' any long'r, Ondi." I giggled into his shoulder, kissing his soon-to-be marking spot. He groaned, feeling his erection against the lower half of my body. We were close to the same height, two alphas with amazing strength and genes to carry on our lines.

It's funny how the gods plan these things.

I couldn't see where we were going. His beard tickled my bare shoulder as his teeth ripped the fabric away. His teeth nipped, causing me to moan into his neck. My kisses ran up to his beard until I sucked on his earlobe. Both my hands cupped around his neck, scratching with my claws. His fingers tightened around my ass, and gods feeling those large muscular forearms bulge as he did made me wetter than any waterfalls in the Light Kingdom.

"I don' want dem to smell ya, Ondi," he growled, biting my shoulder playfully.

"Then you must be quick, mate." A feather fell from his head, causing me to laugh while he kicked the elaborate double doors to his room.

"I don' have a nest," he sighed disappointedly. "Our nest, I don' have one worthy." I sat up in his arms, shaking my head.

"It isn't about our nest, my love. It's about just you and me," I sighed, kissing him. His mouth massaged my lips, his warm tongue invading my mouth. He groaned, pushing my lower waist into his thick shaft. The thin dress I was wearing was doing nothing to protect me from his beast.

Laying me down on the bed, he gently raised the dress from my ankles, kissing every bare spot up to my core. Each swipe of his lips, his tongue, had me tingling in anticipation. "Apollo..." I moaned out, my legs quivered, feeling ache between my thighs. He taunted his tongue, probing, licking the little nub until I cried out. "More!" I grabbed his hair, pushing him closer. "Mine," he growled into me. "I remember dis taste," Apollo hummed, now sucking my clit with passion. My chest rose above the bed, wanting to release my tightened nipples into the air.

His hand came to the top of the dress, his talon ripping it right in two, his hand now kneading and pulling. Apollo was so passionate, his hands rubbing the side of my waist as he feasted upon my body. "No one will take dis from meh." His griffon cooed in his chest. Claws extending, he gripped onto my waist, pulling my hips to the edge of the bed.

Pushing my legs wide, bare for all to see, his red eyes of his griffon looked at my weeping core. "Beautiful yer are," he heaved a breath, pulling his leathers. Apollo was so timid before he marked me before, he was a shy griffon but now the waiting, the wanting, had us both wanting to finish this as quickly as possible. No interruptions.

I tried wrapping my legs around his waist. "no," he growled. His cock sprung free, hitting his stomach. His beastly figure hovered over me, my legs dangling from the royal-looking bed. With no warning, Apollo thrust into my wetness, his mouth descending to my breasts, sucking my nipples.

His thrusts grew frequent, faster at a rhythm that had my clit screaming for more of his skin to graze. "Legs aroun' meh now," he ordered. Swiftly following, my legs wrapped around him. He gripped the floor, hearing his talons on his feet dig into the hardwood.

"Ondi," he chanted as he thrust harder, the head of his cock rubbing my g-spot as I tilted my hips. "Yes," I moaned, feeling my breasts hit the top of my chin. His cock swelled. My pussy clenched, trying to milk his seed into my body. The feeling, almost too much, had water fall from my eyes.

"I'm going to," I gripped his claws, sinking them deeper into my skin.

"Mine, Ondi mine," his guttural growl had me release my orgasm as he sunk his seed deep into my womb. Leaning over, we both bit into each other's shoulders, drawing blood. Every bit of energy coming back to this world and now completing a bond had drained me. My body was slipping, but I didn't want to dream. I didn't want to go back... there. From watching the world around me, watching everyone suffer without me was not a place I wanted to go. Not again. "Ondi," Apollo's soothing words washed over me. I could hear his voice inside my head, griffons could mind link, and now I could not only feel him, but hear him too. "Ondi, it's alright," he murmured. His hands trickled down my body, wondering if this was still a dream.

"Ya will not go back there." Taking an enormous sigh, almost sob, he pulled me to his chest, licking the mark he planted on my skin. "Ya won't. I'll die before dat happen'."

"I've missed you," I sobbed. "I missed you, even with the spell. I knew something was missing. It was you," gripping his hairy chest, I cried. My tears soaked his body, his warm hands-only keeping me pinned to his chest.

"I missed ya too. I couldn't understand you in da dreams. When I woke from da magic," his chest rose suddenly. "I was 'furious," his griffon growled. "I 'ad no control." His grip became tighter, kissing the top of my head. "B't our son, he saved me."

"They both saved us, Apollo, Odessa and Creed. Now we need to make sure we can save them."