Out of the Ashes (Maji 1)

Hurt pierced my heart.

“It was his decision to mate me, not yours.”

Ezah’s chuckle was unnerving. “You have no inkling about what has happened because of your mating.”

I swallowed. “What are you talking about?”

“Kol mated you,” he acknowledged with a jerk of his head. “But do you know at what cost?”

A veil of wariness wrapped around me.

“No,” I spoke softly. “What did it cost for Kol to mate me?”

“His intention to another,” Ezah practically spat.

I stumbled back as if he struck me.

“You’re lying,” I whispered. “He wasn’t intended to another. He would have told me so; he—”

“He said what you wanted to hear,” Ezah cut me off with a growl. “You’re smaller than our females, no doubt … tighter, too. He wouldn’t need much more persuading than that to claim you.”

My stomach churned.

“You’re disgusting!” I managed to say with firmness.

Ezah’s face hardened, but he had a sadistic grin on his face that told me he enjoyed the emotional pain he was inflicting on me more than he was letting on. At least, I thought so; there were moments where he looked unsure, but of what, I did not know.

“The knowledge that my brother was to mate another burns you?” he asked, his brows raised. “It must hurt more to hear that Kol never wanted a noble mating and once told me he’d mate any commoner to get out of it.”

Pain and self-doubt laced around my cracking heart.

“You’re lying, Ezah,” I whispered. “I can feel how he feels for me when I’m with him.”

Ezah’s booming laughter startled me.

“We can seal off our minds to our mates if we choose, and we can project to them any thought that we choose … so what makes you think we cannot project feelings, too?”

I froze and looked up at Ezah, whose brow was raised in question as he awaited my answer.

“I … I …”

“You were available, little one,” he rumbled. “You were convenient, and something new to play with. That is all.”

My breathing became laboured even though I was standing still.

“Maji mate for life,” I said, my body beginning to involuntarily shake. “Why would he choose me if he would have to keep me for life?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Ezah snorted. “Sex, dumb human. Exotic sex.”

It took every ounce of strength I had not to burst into tears there and then.

“Do not fret, my sister-in-mate,” he sneered. “Kol will make you a fine mate. He is a strong male, and I’m sure he will really develop love for you after spending a few decades with you.”

My lower lip was wobbling, so I locked it between my teeth.

“That’s not enough for you, is it?” Ezah asked as he began to circle me. “You cannot move beyond Kol’s lies and deceit … can you?”

No.

I squeezed my eyes. “You’re lying!”

“If you really believe that, little one, go back to your welcoming gathering and have a wonderful time with my siblings. I’ll not keep you a moment longer.”

I looked up at Ezah, hoping I’d see some truth on his handsome face, but all I saw was ugliness spilling over from his blackened heart.

“You asked—”

“I didn’t ask for any of this!” I stated, my voice finally breaking. “All I wanted was to be left alone! When I woke up on the Ebony, I just wanted to be left alone.”

Ezah came to a stop and towered over me. “If you want to leave Ealra, I will help you.”

Sickness swirled in my abdomen.

“Wh-what?”

“I can get you to the human planet Terra,” he said with assertiveness.

“But Kol—”

“Go and ask him if what I have said is truth or lies.” Ezah gestured me away with his hand. “Go and seek the knowledge of my words, and when you find them, I will still be here with my offer standing.”

I backed away from him slowly.

“Go, Nova.” He laughed, the sound echoing through the halls. “Do not be afraid; you already know what I say is the truth.”

I turned and ran down the staircase and back in the direction we came from with one thing on my mind.

Confronting Kol.

I had no idea how I managed to do it, but I found my way back to the Revered Father’s living area. Then with strength I didn’t know my tired body could possess, I pushed the doors of the room open, and my entrance snagged everyone’s immediate attention.

“Nova,” Kol said, crossing the room to me instantly when his eyes landed on my form. “What is—”

“Were you intended to mate a Maji?” I cut him off, my chest rising and falling as I caught my breath.

My heart slammed into my chest, and my stomach was tight with apprehension.

Kol’s eyes widened. “What brought this conversation—”

“Kol!” I angrily cut him off again. “Were you intended to mate a Maji before you met me?”

His eyes, which were glowing, couldn’t hold contact with mine, and I felt my stomach drop.

“Almighty,” I whispered.

Kol reached for me but dropped his hand when I tensed.

“Answer my question,” I demanded of him, though I had an awful feeling I already knew what the answer was. “Answer it out loud.”

He remained silent.

“Answer me!” I screamed.

“Nova—”

“Don’t touch me!” I cried, stumbling back from him when he reached for me once more. “Ezah said you were supposed to mate a female. Is that true, Kol? Don’t you dare fucking lie to me!”

His eyes were wild.

“Yes,” he choked out after what felt like an entirety of silence. “I gave my verbal intention to another, but you must allow me to explain why.”

Kol was intended to another female, but he had mated me instead because his body liked me better. That was all that ran through my mind. His body liked me, and that was the only reason I was by his side.

“I feel sick,” I said, my hands clutching my stomach.

“Forgive me,” he pleaded desperately. “I feel your pain, and I wish to take it away. Let me explain.”

“How can you explain away that you were promised to someone else?” I bellowed, my eyes filling with tears. “You fucking lied to me. Again. All you do is lie to me. Over, and over, and over. I am a fool. You are in my life seven days, and look how many times you have lied to me. Look how many times you have lied over life-changing things!”

“My Nova—”

“Never,” I growled. “Never call me yours ever again.”

“You are mine,” he replied, his voice firm but his expression lost.

“Am I yours like when you said I was your only one?” I questioned with a humourless laugh.

My laughter quickly dried up, and my lower lip wobbled as gut-wrenching pain began to stab at my chest.

“You told me I was your one!” I stated as I shot forward into his space and smacked my fists against his chest. “You told me I was your heart! You told me I was your fated mate!”

Sharp intakes of breath sounded around the room.

“You are my heart, shiva,” Kol stressed, emotion filling his voice. “You are my fated mate. Just look at my eyes. They glow for you!”

“They are true fated mates?” I heard a female voice gasp with surprise, but I ignored whoever it was.