Chapter Thirty-four

Sasha

I could feel the burn of light through my lids. The cool touch of silk beneath my body sliding along my skin. But that wasn't right, was it?

My eyes flew open as I thought about the soft mattress beneath me. I hadn't any memory of falling asleep in a bed. Least of all, not one so soft and luxurious.

As I looked around, confused by my surroundings, a sharp throb in my head forced my eyes to close again. I pressed my hand to my temple and rubbed the spot with a groan before opening my eyes again to take in my surroundings once more.

With fresh eyes, I frowned at the brightly lit room. White marble columns lined the walls with a glow that illuminated the room. I moved from the bed, admiring the white silk sheets that had been wrapped around me like a cocoon. As I moved, I realized the long dress I was wearing and frowned.

Was this what I was wearing before?

My head pounded again, and I stumbled to the side. My hand clutched the bedpost as the world seemed to spin around me. I closed my eyes again, willing the world to stop. Begging my head to push away the pain.

As the pain faded again, I opened my eyes to explore the luxury of the room I was in. A large panel window showed a star filled moonless sky. I walked towards it, curious as to where the moon could be. It didn't seem right for it to be a new moon. I could have sworn there should still be a moon in the sky, and I longed to see the silvery glow of the orb.

A flash of two silvery orbs crossed my mind, then yet another splitting headache that sent me to my knees as a cry of pain ripped from my lips.

"Sasha, my love," a deep voice called out with the sound of the door swinging open. "What's wrong? I could feel your pain."

I turned to the voice, images of dark brown hair and light eyes coming to mind through the splitting headache. However, the man with the soft and loving voice didn't match the blurred images in my head.

His hair was dark as night and his eyes were like voids that stared deep into my soul. I sat and stared up at him, confused about who he was. His clothes were as white as the room we stood in, a glow just under his skin humming with power as he stared at me from the doorway. He reminded me of the images of gods I've seen in old paintings. His aura was larger than himself as it filled the room with his power.

And he called me his love. How could someone so handsome and powerful be calling me his love? Yet, I felt a sense of recognition that I could not quite put my finger on as I looked up at him. His eyes were filled with concern as he approached me.

"What happened? I thought you were resting, Sasha Darling. You really shouldn't be up and around yet. Not after fainting in the garden today."

"I fainted?" I asked, my confusion filtering into my voice.

The man frowned and tilted his head as he bent beside me and took my hand. "Of course, don't you remember? I even warned you that it was too soon after our mate bond and power transfer. But you insisted on a walk in the garden, and I couldn't say no to you."

"Mate bond? Are we mates?" I asked, the thought seeming impossible. This man was a stranger to me. Why wouldn't I know my own mate?

His frown grew, the concern darkening his black hole eyes as he looked back at me. "You don't remember?"

I shook my head. "No, I don't remember anything. I don't even know where I am. I've never seen this room before."

His lips curled into an understanding smile, and he pulled me to my feet as he stood tall. "That is understandable at least. This room is after all, one of my other rooms. Now ours, as we are officially mates. Though I am concerned that you don't remember me."

I frowned and looked around the room, then back at him, that slight ping of recognition flashing in my mind. I knew him, but I couldn't place how I knew him. I could also feel the mark of a mate burning under my skin, so I knew I had a mate. Shouldn't I be able to feel that connection? The tether between mates?

Another spark of pain sent lights flashing in my eyes and I ripped my hand from his and pressed both to my head to press against the source of the pain.

"Relax," my assumed mate cooed to me, his hands cupping over mine. His voice was gentle, and the words in his voice felt so familiar.

I had heard him say it to me before. He had comforted me with that word at another time, perhaps in the garden, before I fainted.

My eyes opened to look back up into his. Maybe he was telling me the truth. What did I have to lose to believe him? He was the only one here. He was the only one who seemed to be worried about me.

"Come on," he said to me. "Everyone is waiting for us downstairs. I think joining the celebration will be good for you. Help you remember where you are and who you are."

I frowned. "I know who I am. I'm Sasha Rigel-Chios."

"Is that all that you are?" he asked with a tilt of his head. "Isn't there some title that you are missing? Aren't you more important than simply the daughter of a pack alpha?"

I frowned again as I wracked my mind for what else there could be. Who else I could be?

"What do you mean?" I asked.

He offered out his hand to me and beckoned me to his side with a smile. "Let the party refresh your memory, Darling. Everyone is eager to see you. They've been waiting for so long, don't keep them waiting any longer."

I could feel a presence in the back of my mind, the pain webbing back in as I felt it push against some kind of barrier. I paused for a moment and looked at this man, who claimed to be my fate. The man who called me his love.

That presence in my mind seemed to revolt at the thought. I could almost hear a growl as it pushed and thrusted against the barrier, a sound of a voice that I knew yet couldn't quite place calling out to me. But I couldn't hear what they said. Only the feeling that they didn't trust this man. That they didn't want me to trust him, either.

He frowned at me, his brows creasing and worry darting across his face. "Sasha? Is the voice back?"

My eyes widened as I looked up at him.

I remembered that. There had been a voice haunting me in my mind. I couldn't remember what the voice sounded like, but it had been there. Calling to me like a wraith in the night. A voice that I feared meant trouble for my future.

I slowly nodded my head. "I can't hear what it's saying."

"That's good," he said quickly and gripped my hand. "That means our bond is working to keep the voice out. So long as I'm with you, Sasha, nothing will come for you. No one will take you away from me. I promise you that."

I couldn't help the shiver that ran down my spine at his words. His voice had an eerie, almost sinister tone. As if it was more of a threat than a promise. But not towards me. It seemed that it was for anyone who dared to take me from his side.

But that's how mates always are, right? They are protective to a fault when it comes to their mates.

That's how my father is to my mother, and my grandfather to my grandmother. Each of them had killed for their mates, so why wouldn't mine not be the same way?

I pushed away the voice in my head and took his hand with a smile. My nerves jumped at the feel of his skin against mine. I couldn't place the reaction exactly, though maybe it was the reaction of the bond. Maybe my fainting spell had altered what I recognized as that feeling of fate meeting at last.

Yet again, I felt that voice try to reach me, and again I pushed it back from my mind.

"What's your name?" I asked my mate, realizing that he hadn't mentioned it yet. I should know his name, especially before meeting with his people who have waited to meet me at his side.

He smiled and leaned into me, his body so close to mine, maybe too close. I fought the urge to step away from him, not wanting to insult my mate at my discomfort around him.

"Morus, my love. My name is Morus. I'm sorry that you don't remember, but you will know it for the rest of your life now."

Another shiver ran down my spine at his words as I swallowed down a hard lump in my throat.

Morus offered me his arm and nodded towards the doorway. "Shall we? Shouldn't keep them waiting, and it would be such a shame that no one sees you in your dress."

As I stepped with him towards the door, I felt the birthmark at the back of my neck begin to vibrate. I had never felt it that intently before. It was as if something inside me that laid dormant for years was now awakening with each step we took.

In the hall, I squinted at the brightness of the room lights pulsing from the pillars. So bright that it seemed to wash out the images of the people we passed. Little more than shapes and silhouettes against the bright lights set behind them.

They bowed before us, their heads down with the respect one would pay to royalty. I looked between them and Morus, my eyes moving along his tailored white suit that matched the shimmering white gown I had woken in.

That power he exuded began to make sense as we continued towards the largest set of doors I had ever seen in my life. We passed luxurious rooms and received curtsies and bows from those we encountered.

My mate had mentioned there was a title that belonged to my name. A title that I had gained with him at my side. A title that was my fate with him.

"You're a king, aren't you," I said beneath my breath for fear of being wrong.

I glanced up at him through my lashes, his grin widening as he nodded.

"And you are my queen, the missing piece that I have been searching for all of my life," he said proudly. "Are you ready to meet your people?"

I looked around us and squinted against the light to try to make out the faces of the guards standing before the doors. I could still feel that annoying nudge from the voice in the back of my mind. It's panic at not being able to reach me, giving me pause before finally nodding to Morus.

"I'm ready," I said, ignoring the pained howl that echoed in my mind.

Morus smiled and then nodded to the guards, who turned and pushed open the doors.

"Presenting, their majesties, King Morus and his mate, Queen Sasha! All bow in their presence!"