Chapter Thirteen

The next morning, Dmitrei looked with wonder at his ring on his mate's hand. He couldn't believe it had really happened. It was so fast, but it felt like the perfect timing, so why wait? The world was fickle and dangerous. All the more reason not to wait when you met the one for you. Not to mention, his ring could help her stay safe. While he had no idea what powers were contained there, he knew it was the safest she could be.

Now there was one thing left to do. Call the Oracle and tell her to deactivate the collar. He was ready to be himself again and to align with humanity. Elena had made him want to. She had brought back that kind part of himself, the part that thought it was possible to fight for what was right and succeed.

He tucked the covers around her and smiled at her soft snores as he left the room. He saw keys hanging up and took them so he could lock the door behind him. When he was out on the sidewalk, the blinding morning sun beating down on him, he pulled out his phone and dialed the Oracle's number.

"Hello? Dmitrei?"

"Yes," he said, keeping his voice down so he didn't wake Elena. Even though she was inside, he knew she was a light sleeper. He intended to tell her everything soon, but he had a specific way he wanted to go about it.

"What's going on? Is something wrong?"

"I found my mate. I want the collar off," he said.

She was silent and his heart pounded heavily as he waited. "Okay."

"That's it? You trust me? Do you even know--"

She cut him off, "I know you've been wanting to be asleep ever since you made that terrible mistake. I know I've been waiting for you to forgive yourself and live again."

"I don't know about forgiving myself, but I am ready to start making amends. I am willing to start trying."

"I was never worried about restraining your power because I thought you would hurt humans," she explained. "I restrained it because I though you would harm yourself. Put yourself back to sleep."

He pressed his lips together. He had been fatalistic. Gloomy. Nothing to live for, just wanting to return to oblivion. Amazing that a mate could change all of that.

"How do you deactivate it?" he asked.

"Normally, I would have to touch it, but I can do it remotely. Give me a second."

He heard her set the phone down, rustling in the background, and then felt the necklace slip down his front. He caught it with one hand and stared down at it. In a way, he was grateful for it. It had kept him safe until he could trust himself.

"So, what are you going to do next?" she asked. "I'm glad to have you on our side. We can use your powers. All of them."

"You need rain?" he asked with a laugh. "I mean, I don't think there are as many crops around here begging for it."

"Right, I forgot about your effect on weather. Maybe we won't need that as much, but we definitely will need your mass healing. Your freezing."

"Got it. Well, I'm at your disposal, like Elric, unless my mate is in danger."

"You gave her the ring, right?" she asked.

"Yes. Though, I'm not sure what it will do for her."

"You'll find out at some point," she said. "All that matters is you're with us. You're a very crucial gargoyle. I'm glad you came around."

"Thanks for waking me up and giving me a chance. It's been better than I could have ever hoped," he said.

"Now, just don't screw it up," she said with a laugh and he hung up the phone.

He had somewhere to go. He looked down the empty street and then got into his car to head over to the shelter. With the necklace off and the adrenaline of talking to the Oracle over, he could feel power flooding through him again. A warm trickle that morphed into a deluge. He was more keenly aware of his body, of the energy around him. The water in the air. Making it rain. With all the other powers he had been thinking about, like healing and attacking, he had totally forgotten how useful that once was for humans. Sadness fell over him as he remembered how overjoyed those in his village had been whenever it fell for their crops. Crops that had been burned to nothing. But no, this wasn't going to be like that again. He wasn't going to let everything he loved be razed to the ground. He wasn't staying back and watching while checking in here and there. He was living among them, and he would be there if shit went down.

When he arrived at the shelter, it was still early and everything was locked. He took Elena's keys that he had used to lock her door out of his pocket and let himself in, locking it behind him. It was eerily quiet and dark. He went through, flipping on lights. He didn't know how to explain exactly to Elena about himself, but he figured it couldn't hurt to start with one of his best qualities: his ability to heal.

Rather than explain it, he wanted to show her.

He walked over to Sebastian's cage. He seemed to know something was different today and he mewed slightly as Dmitrei approached.

"Shh," Dmitrei said softly. "I will make everything better, buddy." He unlocked the cage and pulled Sebastian out, loving how the cat always snuggled in. He was really looking forward to being able to bring him home. The interesting little guy deserved a home like all the other cats, not to be cooped up in a cage. Sebastian stared up at Dmitrei curiously, relaxing in his arms. Dmitrei touched the lump on the cat's leg. He wasn't used to healing a single being or one area, but he was rusty and it was a good starting point.

The only thing he couldn't do was raise the dead.

He touched Sebastian's leg gently and the cat jerked. He moved his hand over until he covered the lump completely, then he closed hi eyes and let soothing power wash through him. He felt warmth under his hand. He heard Sebastian mew and then purr. Then he felt clarity, as if a sort of darkness was gone and he knew whatever was inside Sebastian was no longer there.

Sebastian hopped out of his hands and walked over the floor shaking his leg behind him in a comical way, but there was no lump. He mewed and jumped onto the bench, striding around like he owned the place, almost as if he were celebrating how good he felt. He looked over at Dmitrei and let out a long meow, like Peony did when she wanted attention.

Dmitrei grinned sitting down and Sebastian crept into his lap, "Want to come home with me now, buddy?"

The cat pressed his face against him in answer and Dmitrei grinned. Then he looked at the rest of the pets in the cages along the wall. None were as sick as Sebastian, but while he was here, he might as well help them, too. Or maybe he was still nervous about going back and facing Elena. What if she didn't accept him?

He walked over to the wall and held out a hand toward the animals, taking a deep breath. "Don't worry," he told Sebastian. "This will just take a second."

**************************

Elena still couldn't believe how beautiful the ring was that Dmitrei had given her. How things had changed in just one day. He had taken off again, but it was so different after he had told her he loved her the night before and held her as they slept. This time, she knew he would be back and he wasn't just there for the moment. He was there to stay.

He had said he might explain everything today, and she was nervous but ready at the prospect. She got up showered, and got ready all while keeping the ring on. It made her warm and happy, and she never wanted to take it off. A part of her knew she should feel it was too good to be true. That it was some kind of obvious fantasy, but she also knew Dmitrei was flesh and blood. She had felt him inside her. He was as real as the air around her, and she couldn't wait to see him again.

She was changing into some comfy clothes; a light blue hoodie and black yoga pants, when the doorbell rang. Her back was a little achy and she grabbed her meds before heading down to the door. She was sure it was Dmitrei. Of course, he would be back soon. Maybe he was bringing breakfast. Maybe they could eat while he updated her on everything.

She opened the door and gasped when she saw who was standing there, shadowed by the bright sunlight. She couldn't make them out exactly, but none of them were Dmitrei. None had his soothing presence. A prickle of trepidation moved up her back, and she tried to close the door again, but the man in front stopped it with his hand.

"Not so fast," he said quickly, stepping forward into the house as she stumbled back. She turned to make a run for it, but he caught her around the waist. "Guys?" he prompted and the two men with him stepped forward, each catching her by the arm. She looked desperately out the door to see if Dmitrei was back by any chance, but she didn't see him.

"Calm down," the lead man said shutting the door behind him. "We have no interest in hurting you. We just need to know where the ice gargoyle is."

The men holding her shoved her onto her couch and sat on either side of her, making sure she didn't run. Their leader sat gingerly in her favorite chair. His posture was arrogant, as if he were literally looking down on her, his legs crossed, hands resting on his knee. He had white-blond hair, shockingly light, and penetratingly green, almond-shaped eyes that tilted up at the sides. He could have been called handsome if not for the distasteful cruelty to his features.

"Tsk-tsk," he said, casually clicking his tongue. "Unlike Ice, I rather like reading minds, and if you're going to say mean things about me, I might just do something mean as well."

"Who are you?" she asked, pulling free from the men who still had ahold of her arms.

"Let her go," the blond man snapped and his cronies obeyed. They were both tall and incredibly muscled, with dark-blond hair that reached their shoulders, but they looked nothing like the man across from her. He had an elegance, a thinly veiled power that sort of made you want to run.

He studied his nails, "Where is Ice?"

"I don't know what you mean," she said honestly.

His eyes dipped to her ring and he grinned in amusement, "You mean he mated you and you don't even know what he is? Oh, that's rich."

She didn't know why he seemed amused, but she didn't like it. "What do you mean mated?"

He nodded at her hand, "The ring, darling."

"Don't call me that," she snapped. "I don't know what you're talking about."

The blond dude cocked his head, a slight smile curving his lips menacingly, "Isn't that tragic? You are mated to an ancient gargoyle and have no idea. I never thought Ice would be so cruel."

"Get out of my house," she said. "Whatever ice is, he's not here. What do you mean gargoyle?"

He looked at her sardonically, "What do you think I meant? I meant gargoyle. Ancient gargoyle, in fact. You know, immortal, flying, invulnerable, petrifying, strong, powerful gargoyle. And with his particularly special powers, I want him on my side."

"Are you talking about Dmitrei?" she asked astonished.

He folded his arms and leaned back with a nod, "That was one name he used. Given his powers, most only knew him as Ice."

She looked at the sapphire ring on her finger, remembering all the time the temperature had changed with Dmitrei's mood. The man he froze in place. She looked the blond over again, trying to figure out who he was and what he had to do with Dmitrei. Obviously he had known Dmitrei before she did.

His eyes glittered, "Smart girl, I did." He stared at her, unnerving her. "You may call me Aloys." His eyelashes were long. He really could almost be beautiful if it weren't for his terrible personality.

"Tch. Almost a compliment, then you went and insulted me again. Final warning, if you do it again, you will see my powers. Unlike Ice, I'm not collared."

She blinked, "That big chain around his neck…?"

"Restrains his power, yes. Though, he probably has them back now. We have a mole in the Oracle's place who said he was mated and would have his powers, so we came to see if we could get him on our side. Makes sense, right, given his nasty past?"

"I don't want you to tell me anything about him," she said, folding her arms. "He's coming back to talk to me and we'll sort things out then."

"Right," Aloys said. "Because that's the proper order of things. Mating a woman and locking her to you forever, then telling her you're a ruthless monster. Makes sense."

"He's not a monster."

"Murderer, then," Aloys amended.

She narrowed her eyes. She couldn't imagine Dmitrei killing anyone. He was so good, but then just a bit of doubt crept in. She remembered how angry he got in fights. How violent. "Dmitrei wouldn't kill people," she said with surety. She had seen him use self-control. Sure, he might get scary mad, but someone always deserved it. He hadn't gone too far. Much.

"You don't look like you believe that," Aloys said. "Anyway, what would be my reason for telling you? I wasn't here to have anything to do with you. I just thought he might want a chance to join our side simply because, with his past, he might be suited for it."

"Which side is that?" she asked skeptically.

"The opposite side of all the do-gooder gargoyles who want to help humans. Humans are hopeless. We're better off ruling them than trying to protect them."

"Dmitrei doesn't think so," she said.

"I don't know," Aloys countered. "Maybe I know more about him than you. Still, I'm surprised he would mate you without telling you such an important part of his past."

"He can tell me what he wants, when he wants," she said. "Now you need to get out."

Aloys raised a blond eyebrow, "You do not command me, human."

"Dmitrei isn't going to side with you."

"Perhaps not. He has been living with Elric, my nemesis. A complete weakling now that he's at the Oracle's beck and call. Gargoyles were never meant to follow orders."

"Then who are you working for?" she asked. "Somehow I don't think you're doing this alone. You said you were on a side, too."

His bright-green eyes turned fiery and he stood, "I do what I want, when I want. I work where I do because they are aligned with my interests and if they are ever not, then I will show them who is really in charge." He walked slowly toward her and knelt, bringing them eye to eye. Even his skin was gorgeous. He grinned, "But let me tell you something, sweetheart. I may be one of the bad guys, but I have never mowed down a bunch of humans like Ice did." He cackled, "Not that I think he was wrong, but seriously. That was cold." He threw his head back and laughed at some inside joke. He motioned for his guys to follow him as he walked to the door. "We will return when Dmitrei is here," he said, opening it.

"He's here now," a deep voice said and she heard a crack as Aloys was punched in the face and went stumbling back.