Chapter Four

I woke the next morning to a combination of my phone buzzing, the bright sunlight, arms around my middle and the door opening as I smelt the scent of late-night dew, crisp night air and night blossoms, letting me know it was Brodryn and the smell of pancakes and coffee let me know he brought breakfast. 

I sat up and stretched, glancing at the phone and seeing a morning text from Silas. I sent him one back quickly before smiling and moving my feet so Brodryn could sit on the bed, smiling as he placed the tray of breakfast by my feet. Magnus stirred and then sat up, looking surprised that he had fallen asleep with me in bed. Despite how many times we hung out late at night, we've never fallen asleep in bed together.

“Did I wake you little one?” Brodryn asked as he held out a cup of coffee. I shook my head and took a sip, smiling as Magnus reached over and started to undo my braid and run his fingers through the long tresses.

“Yes and no. A few things woke me at the same time. But I am happy to see you.”

“Did I interrupt something between you two?” He asked softly, holding out a fork for me to eat the pancakes with.

“No brother mine. We just fell asleep while talking. Nothing untoward.” Magnus informed as he picked up my brush from my bedside table and brushed my hair, pulling some of the strands back to do braids on either side of my head and fastening them together, the rest of my hair down and loose.

“Just thought I’d ask. We all agreed to have open communication.” Brodryn commented as he took the other cup on the tray and sipped it. Magnus nodded and stood up, stretching before smiling at me as he headed to the door.

“You guys enjoy your morning together. Darling, I will come find you later for your next lesson.” I nodded and gave him a small wave as he did a playful bow before turning and leaving my room. I looked at Brodryn and took another bite of food he offered, not at all minding that he enjoyed feeding me. It was a strange intimacy I found I enjoyed as well.

“Are you looking forward to going home?” Brodryn asked as he sipped his coffee while I took a piece of bacon and ate it. I sighed and shrugged as I scrunched my nose up in thought.

“Yes and no. I’m looking forward to seeing Gram and Gigi, finally starting and taking my pack back. Moving forward without all the lies holding me back. And admittedly, I want to see Silas. I miss him, I want him to hold me.” I sigh heavily and sip my coffee. Brodryn looked at me calmly, waiting for me to explain my jumbled emotions in my own time.

“I’m struggling with what I need to do. I don’t want to hurt Silas, but at the same time, I need to reject him and take back what's mine. I’m hoping I can do it without killing. I know that’s not realistic but still, I’m hopeful. Mostly I’m thinking of these black wolves and what they want with me and if they are what’s been attacking other packs. There’s just a lot honestly. Also my second chance mate in Kane and then having to be honest with Jax, that somewhere along the way, my feelings for him changed.”

“You have a lot to sort through, little one. No one can make these decisions for you, but I hope you know that you won't be alone when you make them. You know how we brothers feel about you and you know we’re here for support when you need it. Magnus may be the only one that can go back with you as we all have other responsibilities, but we are only a phone call away.” Brodryn soothed as he fed me the last piece of pancakes and then set the empty tray on the floor.

“I know Brodryn. I’m extremely lucky to have you guys. I’m just pouting and being dramatic.” I stand up and stretch before looking back at him, blushing as I notice how intently he was checking me out. “What are we doing today?” I asked curiously, bouncing on my toes in anticipation. He grinned and stood up as he looked down at me.

“Today I want to take you to one of my favourite places on the island. Hot springs high in the mountains, the water feels amazing. I will fly us there otherwise it will be a very long walk.” I grinned in excitement and quickly headed into the bathroom and quickly did my business and morning routine. Once finished I run into my closet and strip out of the sleep slip and find a long sleeve, floor-length green and gold marble pattern dress and slide it on, pulling my hair out of the back and letting it settle against my back before coming out to see Brodryn, already in dragon form and waiting at the open wall.

He was huge like Cadmus in dragon form, his scales and spikes the most aggressive looking of them all, his scales large and super-sharp that I couldn’t touch any part of him with my bare hands without being extremely careful. He was so dark he looked like the night sky came to life. Stars danced among the blackness of his scales and it truly was an amazing sight to see. I took the hard leather blanket off of my couch and draped it over his back before carefully climbing onto him and setting between his neck spikes, tightening my legs and gasping as he launched himself off the ledge and into the air. 

I clung to him as he flew higher into the air before levelling out, my arms out at my sides as I enjoyed the feeling of the wind gliding past me, its caress against my body. I grinned wide and whooped in excitement as he moved into a straight dive, the wind powerful and whipping past me before all of a sudden he levels out, the force of it making me grunt and collide with his spikes, the front of my chest a little sore but no damage done. He then gently moves till he's on the ground and tucks his wings in. I climb off quickly and pull the leather blanket with me, blushing as he turns back into a man and motions to the hot springs all around us.

“God it’s beautiful here. It smells so amazing this high up the mountain.” I go with him to a very large hot spring, nestled far back from the cliffside and pull off my dress, my entire body flushing as I hear Brodryn’s sharp inhale of breath and feel his eyes against my skin. I keep my back to him and climb down into the water, sighing at the warmth of it.

Once submerged up to my neck in the water I turn to face Brodryn, blushing deep red when I notice just how much the sight of me naked affected him. I swim father back into the water as he climbs in, his eyes never leaving me as he submerges to his neck, his arms moving to keep himself afloat as neither of us could touch the bottom.

“So why is this place your favourite?” I asked quietly as I treaded water, the warmth of it feeling amazing against my exposed skin. He smiled and swam a little closer, pointing to the bottom of the pool, visible in the clear water.  I swam to the middle and looked to the bottom of the hot springs, gasping when I saw the entire bottom of the pool was a geode, we were swimming inside a geode that was a brilliant pearl pink colour.

“That’s why it’s my favourite place. Every single hot spring is a geode and I swear that the water in each one feels different. This pink one makes me feel...light almost and invigorated. My favourite one is the black geode. It just feels like every negative thing I carry around gets washed away.” he explained with a smile. I grinned and counted 17 different pools at a quick glance.

“Can we try them all? I definitely want to try the black geode, I could do with some negativity just washing away.”

“We can stay here as long as you’d like, little one. Every pool needs adequate time to explore.” Brodryn responded with a smile as we swam in the water. I grinned and held my breath, going under the water and swimming to the very bottom to run my fingers over the geode, surprised by how smooth the gems felt. I found a couple of loose ones and swam pack to the top, gasping as I took in a large gulp of air.

“Look. They’re so beautiful. So smooth too.” I said as I held them, gasping as I almost went back underwater before blushing deeply as Brodryn pulled me to him and made me put my arm around his neck while he kept treading water. I bit my lip at the fact that we were naked and pressed together but it was as tame as it could possibly be in this situation, our sides pressed together only. “The colour is even more beautiful this close.” I held the small round stones in my hand and showed him, the pearl pink colour more bright and pronounced now that it was in direct sunlight. “Can I keep them?”

“I don’t see why not. Gems are a dime a dozen here so no one will care if you take them. Besides you are Queen, you are entitled to what you want here.” He commented with a shrug as he picked up one and looked at it before placing it back in my palm. “Should place them with your dress.”

I nodded and let go of him, swimming to the edge and climbing out and kneeling by my clothes, placing the gems on the grass beside them before going to another pool and climbing in, gasping when I saw that the bottom was a big amethyst geode. I grinned and climbed in, gasping at the wash of energy and power I felt from it. Like I was awakened on a completely different level, more in tune with the magic and entities inside of me. I felt incredible and I could already tell I would spend most of my time in this pool.

I held my breath and swam to the bottom, once again finding a few loose crystals and taking them before swimming back to the top and climbing out, placing the stones with my others before choosing another pool. I did this for the next few hours, choosing crystals from the bottom of each pool, making a rather sizable pile for myself. By the time I had crystals from each pool, it was later in the afternoon and both Brodryn and I were in the black pool. I sighed and just relaxed in the water, sitting on a rock ledge that kept me submerged till my neck. The water just washed away all the stress and negative energy that clung to me and it felt like absolute heaven.

“I can see what you mean about this pool being your favourite. Everything just washes away.” I sigh in contentment, resting my head against the wall of the pool, feeling so at ease that I really did not want to leave.

“It’s definitely my favourite. I have to head back to the castle, do you want me to tell Magnus where you are for your lessons?” He asked, then laughed loudly as my stomach growled. “And tell him to bring a picnic?” I nodded and grinned sheepishly.

“Yes, please. As delicious as breakfast was, I'm starving.” 

“Alright, little one. I will take the leather cloth back to your room and then I will see you later. Good luck with your lesson.” I smiled and waved, watching as he shifted quickly into his dragon form and curled his claws around the leather cloth before jumping into the air and taking off back to the castle.