Sour Souls The Morningstar Series Book 6
Sour Souls Chapter 31

It's been a few days since Ares took me to the fair, since he told me everything about marks. I haven't said anything about marking since. Haven't pushed Ares into anything. Not even when he visits my dreams. Which seems to be every night. Not that we do anything fun. Am I the one that keeps doing that? Is it something to do with this other part of me? This other side?

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No, it's not us. Honi said.

How do you know? I asked.

Just do. She said.

So, is it Ares then? I asked.

Don't know. Honi said.

I frowned. What the hell does that mean? How can it not be me, but not Ares either?

"Emilia."

My head snapped up to see my mate. I've been at home, bored out of my mind. Ares has been.. Actually, I have no idea what he's been doing. When he left this morning, all he told me was to stay here, and he would be back soon.

"What are you doing?" Ares asked as he walked over to me.

I'm laying on the couch upside down.

"Being bored out of my mind." I said.

"Well, I'm glad to see that your dressed. Let's go." He said.

I immediately got to my feet.

"Where are we going? Food? Another date? A run?" I asked.

Ares chuckled. "We are going to talk with Tia." He told me.

I let Ares drag me out of our apartment. The grass tickled my bare feet. Ares kept our hands locked together. He brought the back of my hand to his lips, and kissed my knuckles.

Ares has been acting different since telling me about the markings. He hasn't been pushy, but he's been.. more lovey? I guess. It's making me feel terrible. I haven't been avoiding him, I still get horny, espeically when he feeds, or makes me feed. We've.. done stuff, but no more than what we've already done.

I'm just..

I'm scared honestly. All of that power is a lot to take in. I want it, and I want Ares, but.. I know what it's like to feel a lot of power. I know how amazing it felt when my own would flow through me. When I would kill people.

It was something that always scared me. I liked it. I liked the power. I liked seeing those men die. I ignored it because it didn't matter before, but now..

What if I like it too much? What if I turn out to be a killer? What if I get too power hungry, and I'm not even the same person anymore?

Honi whined in my head. She knows exactly what I mean. Honi has her own fears as well. She knows how I felt in those moments. How thrilling it was to me.

Still, I want Ares. Bad. I want him in every way. I want to go further sexually with him. I want his marks. I want to mark him. I'm head over heels for him.

I'm so confused.

How long will my mate wait? Ares said he won't let me go, but won't force me into anything either. It's not like I want to run away. I wouldn't even know where to go. I don't know what to do from here. We need to figure out what the white flame is. Honi said.

And control it. I added.

Ares and I just made it to Tia's office. He knocked, and she told us to come in. Tia is sitting behind her desk with papers in front of her.

"Hey Emi, how are you?" She asked.

"I'm good. How about you?" I replied.

"Uh, work." She said with a small smile.

"Emi, I figured out a plan for you to get your GED. We don't really offer programs like that here, but thanks to you, that's changed." Tia told me.

"Because of me?" I asked.

"Well, Ares told me about what you want to do with your life. It got us to thinking about how many other adult supernaturals are out there that didn't finish high school. My mate didn't." She told me. Max didn't finish high school either?

"So, over the last couple of days, we created a program. It's going to be a one on one right now with you. Azai has agreed to be your teacher in between his current classes. I will be hiring a new teacher just for this though, and be getting the word out." Tia finished. My jaw dropped.

"I.. I don't know what to say. Thank you first of all, and that's amazing. A whole new program. You all do so much as it is." I rushed out.

Ares wrapped his arm around my waist from behind, and pulled me to him.

Tia smiled at me. "Anything for my sister." She said.

I returned her smile.

"Well, it's only Wensday, but we will start your classes on Monday." She told me.

"Okay." I replied.

"Ares, can I have a moment alone with you please?" Tia asked.

Ares stiffened behind me. I pulled out of his arms, and turned around. Ares looked down at me, and I gave him a small smile.

"I will see you in just a bit." I said.

"Wait right outside this office door." Ares ordered me.

I ignored him as I walked out of the office, shutting the door behind me. Ares is so damn bossy. I can do whatever I want.

With that thought, I left the school completely. Honeslty, I really hate hearing the kids whisper. If they aren't whispering about how hot my mate is, they are talking badly about his family. And if they aren't doing that, they're talking about me being undeserving, or wondering why I don't have a mark if I really am Ares mate. It's annoying.

So, I walked in the grass of the areas that most of the kids don't come to. Which is all the houses. It's a peaceful day. The sun is shinning brightly, there are fluffy clouds in the sky. A slight breeze is blowing, cooling some of the warm Georgia air. I love it here. More than anywhere I've been.

I decided to stop at a random spot. I lay down on my back, and looked up at the sky. My mind is still running though. It's like I can't relax anymore.

Am I completely doomed no matter what I choose? No matter what I do? Why can't it all be simple for me?

"Mind if I join you?"

I looked up to see Epperly standing a couple of feet away. I smiled at her, and patted the ground next to me. Epperly came to sit with me.

"Ahh, this is nice. Lydia took the kids for the day, and it has been so peaceful." She said.

I chuckled. "Good." I said.

"That is, until you got close enough to me." Epperly said.

I turned my head to look at her. Epperly is just staring up at the clouds with a smile on her face. She's so pretty.

"Did I do something? I can go home-" I started, but Epperly interrupted me.

"You didn't do anything. I just think you need someone to talk to." She said.

"Uhm.." I trailed off.

I'm not sure what to say to that.

"I can feel your inner turmoil. Something is bothering you deeply." Epperly said.

I guess she's right.

"Wanna talk about it?" She asked.

I sighed. "I.." I cleared my throat. "Ares told me what happens when we are marked. About all the power that comes with it." I told her. "And?" Epperly asked.

"And it's scary? Weren't you scared?" I asked her.

Epperly giggled. "No, not at all. Ambrose didn't even tell me for a while. Actually, he ignored me a lot after I got here just to try to not mark me." She told me. "Really?" I asked.

Does Ares have more self control than I thought?

"Yeah, I ended up marking him after having a break down because he wouldn't fuck me." She said, and I snorted.

Looks like it runs in the family.

"What was the power like?" I asked.

"Different, but it was shortly after that that I unsealed my mind." Epperly said.

I gave her a confused look.

"It's a long story." She said with a wave of her hand. "Anyways, I don't see what you have to be afraid of. Does power scare you?"

"Kind of, yeah." I admitted.

Epperly finally looked over at me. Her otherworldly purple eyes bore into mine. Into my soul.

"Is it because of what you are?" She asked.

"I.. I don't know what I am." I told her.

"That's not really what I asked." Epperly said with a smile.

I sighed as I looked back at the sky.

"Ares is amazing. I want him so bad. All of him. I want to be marked, and to mark him. I don't want to be afraid." I admitted. "But.. The power he's talking about me having.. It sounds like more than what I'm used to. I know what it's like to have power rushing through me. What it's like to kill without even touching someone. It felt good. Really good. Too good."

A stray tear fell down my cheek.

"I tried to control that side of me, and I can't. What if I'm not the same after all of that power? What if it makes the other side of me stronger, and I completely lose control of myself? I don't want to be a monster." I said sadly.

Epperly grabbed my hand. I looked down at them, and then back to her. Epperly is smiling at me, with amusement in her eyes.

"That will not happen. Do you want to know why?" She asked.

I nodded.

"Because you do not have to take that power on all alone. You are not gaining immense power Emi, you're sharing it. Ares power will flow between the two of you. A give and take. A balance. I'm not sure what you are either, but I assume that it will be the same for you. That power inside of you will flow between the two of you. Ares has immense control of himself. More than the rest of his siblings. He won't let you turn into a monster." Epperly said.

"R-really?" I asked.

Epperly nodded.

I thought about what she said. I wasn't thinking like that before. I was only thinking about what I would gain from this. I wasn't thinking about sharing anything. Even though it was right in front of my face.

"Does that mean.. Do you think that if we mark each other I can learn more control?" I asked her.

Epperly shrugged. "I don't know, but I think you should keep trying without your mate." She said.

"None of you really have any idea what I could be?" I asked.

Epperly shook her head.

"Maybe if we knew who your father is.." She trailed off.

"I have no idea who he is. Not anything about him. Not even a name." I said.

"Really?" Epperly asked sadly.

I nodded my head.

"You never asked about him?" She asked me.

"Once." I admitted. "It was the first time that my stepfather put his hands on me. The only information that my mother gave me, was telling me that she never wanted me, and I was nothing but a mistake that she spent every day regretting." I told her. "That's awful Emi." Epperly said sadly.

I shrugged. "It wasn't surprising for me at the time. I was young, but I knew." I said.

"Well, maybe we can find something out. I'll talk to Tia. Maybe Ryce has some information on your mothers original pack." She said.

I turned to look at her. "Thank you." I said.

Epperly smiled brightly.

"Your mate is coming, and he's not happy with you." She said.

I frowned.

"Just remember what I said. There is nothing to fear of the mate bond. Besides, you would be surprised what this family has to help with out of control power." She said.

Epperly gave me a wink, and got to her feet. I want to ask her what that means. Just as I opened my mouth though, another voice interrupted me.

"Emilia!" Ares shouted.

I stayed where I am. I sighed loudly as Epperly giggled. She walked away, and I just stared up at the sky. Until a very large muscluar skyscraper interrupted my veiw.

"I told you to wait outside the door." Are said.

"I know what you said." I replied.

"So, why didn't you stay?" Ares asked.

He's absolutely fuming.

"Because I didn't feel like it." I stated.

Ares huffed at me, and I rolled my eyes.

"Don't open your mouth to say anything stupid to me." I said.

"Excuse me?" Ares asked.

I ignored him.

"What are you even doing?" He asked.

"Watching the clouds. Wanna join?" I asked.

Ares shook his head. "I am installing that swing on our porch, and my mom just got home with the flowers I asked her for." He said.

I sat up, and looked up at him.

"Can I help?"

*********

A few hours later, and I wish I would have never asked to help. Ares is a grumpy man as it is, I should have known it would just get worse. I have no idea what the hell I'm doing for starters. Ares is a bossy man who gets frustrated way to easily! "I said right here Emilia." He grumbled out as he moved my flower bed over one inch.

Apparently, my mate is also OCD.

"What the fuck was the difference?" I asked exasperated.

"There was a huge difference." Ares grumbled.

My mate went back to hanging the swing up. It's taken him quite a while to put it together. Less than an hour after starting he took his shirt off. Funny how all kinds of girls of all ages just happen to like hanging around over here after that. I've been getting frustrated ever since. It's bad enough that I'm being jealous, but Ares is teasing me. He has to be. There's no way he doesn't realize what he's doing.

The flower beds are only all fucked up because I can't stop oogling my mate. I know I've seen Ares shirtless a lot. Like every single night, but seeing him shirtless, in jeans, while he works on something..

Like right now. The way his muscles flex, and move with what he's doing. The small droplets of sweat that are falling down his abs. His.. rock hard.. perfectly defined... abs.

I gulped.

How Ares hasn't been able to smell my arousal yet is beyond me. I know that it has to be in the air. My underwear are soaked. I've been squeezing my thighs together just to get a bit of relief. Ares is just so.. so damn sexy.

Ares hair is falling in his eyes. He pushed it away, and I want nothing more than to tug on it. I wonder if he could chain me up the way he is that swing. With the things he says, I bet he'd like it. Hell, just the thought of it is making me hornier. Suddenly, Ares stopped. His nostrils flared. Then he closed his eyes, and took a deep inhale. When his eyes snapped open, they connected with mine instantly.

"Emilia."

I think he meant it as a warning, but all I heard was longing. We can do stuff without marking each other yet right? Like... sex stuff?

Or like sex. Honi said.

We can do that right? I asked her.

We can. She said. As long as our mate has control.

And Epperly just told us that he has immense control. I said.

She did. Honi agreed.

"Ares." I breathed out.

That only made the intensity in Ares eyes increase. Excitement started to pour through me. Ares dropped what he's doing. He has one side of the swing up, but not the other. Then he stalked over to me slowly.

I stayed still as Ares came up behind me. He gripped my hair, and pulled my head to the side. I bit my bottom lip to stop my moan. Then Ares ran his nose along the length of my neck. He inhaled deeply, and this time a small moan left my lips. "You smell lovely pet." Ares whispered in my ear.

"A-a-are you h-hungry?" I stuttered out like a complete lame ass.

"Extremely, but.. for something else." He said.

"S-s-something e-else?" I asked.

Ares ran his hands up the sides of my body. I shivered at the sparks that followed. My eyes closed as I leaned my head back on Ares. I heard Ares take in a breath, but then we were interrupted.

"Ares!" Came a high pitched voice.

My mate froze behind me. My eyes popped open to see a woman I don't recognize standing in front of our porch. She looks to be a bit older than us. With short curly bleach blonde hair. She's tall, with long legs. Perfect curves, deep brown eyes, and a bright smile. She's absolutely stunning.

Who the f**k is this woman?

"Lauren." Ares breathed out.

I frowned.

Who the hell is Lauren? Why did Ares sound shocked, and not pissed off like he always is? And why the hell is she looking at my mate like that?

"Ares, I've been looking everywhere for you. I didn't know you moved out of the mansion, er, well, sort of." She giggled. "Finally got your own space I see." Lauren said.

Ares let go of me as Lauren stepped closer. I crossed my arms as I looked her up and down. She looks a bit old to be wearing something so revealing. Lauren has on jean shorts that are way too short. Her a*s is pracitcally falling out of them. And her shirt looks more like those bralette things that I like to wear. Is that what it is? That's all she has on?

"What are you doing here Lauren?" Ares asked in his normal grumpy tone.

Good. Bout time he found it.

Lauren walked to the steps of our porch. I thought for sure that Ares would tell her to go away, but no. Instead, he met her half way, at the end of the steps. Lauren immediately wrapped her arms around my mate.

All I saw was red. The power that I can't control, but am familiar with, rushed through my body. A low growl erupted from me.

I must not have been heard, because Lauren continued to ignore me. Ares didn't hug her back, but he didn't push her away either. That's making it harder to get myself under control.

"I missed you Ares. I was in town, and you know I always come to see you when I'm in town. That's when we have our fun time." She giggled.

Their fun time?

Honi is growling like crazy in my head.

"You should have called first." Was all Ares said.

For what? To make sure she didn't come here? So that he could leave, and go have fun time where ever else?

Honi whined in my head.

Ares wouldn't really do that to me, would he?

"Well, aren't you going to invite me in?" Lauren asked.

This is it. Just wait until Ares tells her no. Stupid girl is going to be so embarr-

"Sure, come on in. I can get us some lemonade." He said.

I froze.

Ares put his hand on Lauren's back as they walked up the steps. Her eyes flickered to me, and she smirked. I looked at Ares, and he just smiled back at me.

He didn't introduce me. Didn't tell her that I'm his mate. He just.. ignored me..

A sadness like I've never felt before settled in my chest. Then an anger like I've never felt followed. That same power rushed through me. I let out a loud growl, and the one side of the swing that is connected to the roof of the porch, broke off. I flipped the flower bed over, knocking all of the soil and flowers out.

It's not helping. I'm still angry. The power is still flowing through me.

I stomped down the porch steps. Where am I even going to go? Who here can calm me down? Should I go see Epperly?

No, honestly, I should just leave.

"Emi wait!"

I froze, but I didn't turn around.

A moment later Kee is standing in front of me gripping my shoulders. She gasped as she looked me over. Not sure what that's about.

"It's not what you think. Ares, he wasn't ignoring you." She said.

"What?" I asked as some of the power died down.

"That woman, Lauren, she has Ares under a spell. She isn't even allowed on this property-"

I turned to head back for my home.

"Emi wait! I only told you so that you can calm down. She is a very powerful creature. Ambrose is on his way from the school to help. He and I can handle her." Kee said.

"I'll handle her."