Chapter 22

Ashley

"I don't understand. Our people came here through a miracle of the goddess. We didn't come here on a ship," Axon looked at me with imploring eyes, as if I held some secret answer to why the ship was here and why the priestess had the key to unlock it.

"I'm not sure. Maybe the miracle was the ship." I attempted to cheer him up by throwing out ideas. I couldn't imagine what he must be feeling, knowing that the foundation of his people's origin story might be a lie.

"Maybe the goddess provided your people with the money to buy this ship which they used to come here?" I hedged.

"Then why not just say that? Why keep us in the dark about our past?"

His expression turned from confused to angry in a flash. "My brother shifters have spent their entire adult lives believing that the goddess punished them for killing our mothers and sisters, and there's a possibility that the goddess might not be real at all," he seethed .

"I need to get to the bottom of this. My brothers deserve answers. The entire dekes deserves to know the truth."

"This," he pointed to the ship, "this is our history and for some reason we've been kept in the dark about it."

"What can I do to help?" I offered. Axon was my mate, and I loved him with my entire being. It killed me to see him in such turmoil, and I would do anything to bring him peace again.

He furrowed his brow and looked back at the ship, then back at me. "Come with me."

"Come with you? Where?"

"I'm going to seek out the priestess. I'm going to demand answers. I will bring her here tied up in my web if I need to, but she will give me the answers that I seek."

It was dangerous, but I understood his need to face her. He was confused and hurt and needed answers, and I would support him in this. I would be by his side every step of the way.

"I'll go with you. When do we leave?"

Axon looked to the sun that was still high in the sky, then he looked to the east in the direction of the valley where the priestess lived.

"Right now. Today. There's a cave that's a midway point between here and the valley. It belongs to Rhaz, but I'm sure he won't mind if we use it."

"Today." I nodded my head in firm agreement of his plan. He'd keep me safe physically, and I'd do my best to protect his heart. We'd go on this journey together as mates.

I tugged on Axon's hand as I headed back down the path back to the tunnel. He looked at the ship one last time then joined me, leading the way.

It didn't take long for us to get back and start packing. I had my pack, which we used to store some food and water skins and Axon has his pack to store more food, bone knives, and four furs. I had to argue him down from six. He had insisted on my comfort and I'd insisted on having a lighter load to carry. Four was our compromise, and I could live with that.

Once I shoved the last satchel of dried berries into my bag, it hit me how real this was. I'd never been one for long hikes or dangerous adventures. The kala only appealed to me because it was on a well-worn path not too far from our mountain home. This was different. This was heading right into the lion's den and hoping not to get bit.

Warm, gentle fingers caressed my back. I turned to find Axon looking somber and I suspected I might find him looking this way often until we had answers.

"Will it be a long walk to Rhaz's cave?"

Axon shrugged his shoulders. "It is not a great distance for me, but I know you aren't as used to traversing the hunting trails, so it might be for you."

I nodded my head, thankful for his honesty. I decided to add one more pack of mushrooms to my bag when Axon reached down his hand and gently put it back in the storage basket.

"We might run out of snacks on the way back," I argued.

Axon shook his head and, by the look in his eye, I could tell what he was going to say next. He was going to ask me to stay here.

"Ashley," he began, but I cut him off by placing a finger on his lips.

"I'm going with you." I stubbornly put the mushrooms in my bag and tied the flap closed.

"I can't lose you," he continued. "I shouldn't have asked you to come with me."

"You won't. You can hear danger from a mile away, and I'll always be by your side. We'll be fine."

"I can hear danger, but what if I can't protect you from danger?"

"You can and you will. I'm going with you, Axon. You are my mate, and I refuse to be left behind when you face something so momentous. Something so life-changing."

Axon's shoulders relaxed, and he let out a sigh of relief.

I put down my bag and gathered Axon into my arms. He let out a shuddering breath then clung to me as I clung to him.

This was a lot for my mate. It might be dangerous what we're about to do, but I wasn't about to let him go on his own.

I ran my fingers through his hair and he relaxed into my arms even further.

"What if everything I know about the goddess, my history, is a lie?"

I think about what answer to give Axon. I'd been in a similar place to him once. I left my religion in my early twenties. It was scary at first, jumping head first into the unknown, but ultimately, it was one of the best decisions of my life. So I opted for honesty.

"It would be difficult. It will feel uncomfortable at first, but you'll get used to living with the truth. You'll take things one day at a time, and you'll decide what things from your people's history you want to keep and what you want to let go of. Your life is yours no matter what the truth is, and I'll be here with you."

I pulled away so I could smile up at my mate. "And I'm yours too."

Axon gave me a warm smile with eyes full of unshed tears. "No Ashley, I am yours. Every bit of me belongs to you."

"We belong to each other now." I intertwined my fingers in his.

"Together." Axon agreed.