Chapter 26

Chapter 26
TWENTY SIX

GAGE'S POV

I looked around the thick woods wondering if I was at the right place. I could never get his turf, it just seemed to always change.

“Elder Astrid!” I called out, vigorously searching with my eyes. “Are you here Elder Astrid?”

Was he not here after all? I really wanted to discuss things with him. I looked for a few more minutes before losing a little hope.

“Gage my boy.” Elder Astrid suddenly responded.

“There you are, Elder Astrid. I've been looking for you.”

“I'm here now,” he smiled. “What can I do for you?”

“Nothing much, just a little catching up on.”

He took me to his downer chamber and I recalled when I and Indie first came here, she was so startled. But she was so much stronger now and I didn't just mean strength.

“How's your mate these days Gage.” He asked, handing me a cup of coffee.

“She's exactly who I wanted to talk about, her and two other of her mates.”

“Don't tell me–” He held his breath.

“You guessed right, we've all been permanently mated. The last full moon, it turned red and we all felt the Goddess at that moment, smiling towards us.”

“This is unbelievable, those that mean that the Ancient prophecy is actually right?”

“Seems so. Indigo finally told them about it and both Alpha Lariq and Valtor were completely startled. I don't blame them, so far it is true. Indigo is especially powerful, just a measly training yesterday and she's already unlocked her wind and earth forces. It's amazing.” I took a sip of my coffee.

Yes, it was truly amazing, at times I questioned why she was thrown into my life or if I was just her that was thrown into mine. But that moment, when we were all tied together. I felt it and I think we all knew –that we were meant to be.

“I did have a glimpse at just how powerful she is, I can see why the Sanctum wanted her but I fear it's not for good purposes.” I felt his gaze lingering on me. “You must protect your mate at all costs Gage.”

My jaws clenched. It was a thought never leaving the back of my mind. It was true, they wanted to use Indigo as some kind of weapon of mass destruction. Against who–I didn't know.

The number one role in the Sanctum was loyalty, whatever major decisions you were to make, the Sanctum had to be approved of it first. It really was a pain.

But the agreement made between I, Valtor and Lyriq to keep this mate deal and prophecy to secrecy went against everything the Sanctum stood by and we could be gravely punished.

“Please keep this a secret Elder, I will protect her now matter what but this mustn't leave this room.”

“You have my trust child.” 

My body eased up. I stared at my now cold coffee, its surface reflecting my face. I couldn't help but think things were getting complicated and not in a way that eased one up.

There was so much at stake, I clenched the cup. Indigo felt she was the only one that needed to get stronger but that wasn't true. I needed to get stronger too, if I was being honest Valtor and Lydia were way stronger than I was. 

If I were Indigo, I wouldn't depend on me either.

“In a clan of necromancers, only one elemental and having three mates to handle and to top it all off an ancient prophecy. It really must not be easy.” Elder Astrid muttered.

“And not just that Elder.”

“There's more?” He raised a brow and I nodded, placing my cup on the floor beside me.

“There's something after Indigo, something dark, something wanting to hurt her, using a necromancing so vile even we have little idea as to what it is.The other day she was attacked by these moving shadowy figures. No spouse near the vicinity and they were hunting her. If it weren't for this mate bond, Goddess knows what might have happened.”

“Oh dear, this is serious. Who could they be Gage? Why do they want her?”

I shook my head, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “I don’t know. That’s what keeps gnawing at me. We’ve always known there were risks, enemies lurking in the shadows, but this… this is different.”

Astrid narrowed his eyes. “Do you think it’s tied to the prophecy?”

“It’s a possibility,” I admitted. “But even if it is, what’s their endgame? Are they trying to stop her, manipulate her? And why now, just as the bond between us has been forged?”

“This is most alarming, I hand it to you Gage and this is something you must fight. All of you.” He stood going over by his cabinet searching within. “I wish an old elder like me could help out more but my fighting days are over.”

“It's fine Elder Astrid, after all I didn't come here for that. I just genuinely needed someone to talk to.”

“I still have to do something for you my boy.” He came back to me, gesturing for me to hold up my hands and so I did. He placed four silver rings in my hand.”

“Silver rings?” I muttered but they didn't harm me. I was startled, I looked closely and each was engraved in some kind of symbols or inscriptions.

“They’re imbued in magic, they will give you and the Alphas more resistance. This is the least I could do.”

“Thank you so much Elder Astrid.” 

He saw me out to the front of his cottage.

“Come visit me more often, you hear that Gage.” I nodded with a smile.

“I will.”

“And, you should inform your mate to meet the watchtower woman, she can help her find harmony in her powers so closely linked to her emotions.”

“The watchtower woman,” I grinned. I hadn't heard that name in so long. She was more of an odd one and you could always find her at the library. She was obsessed.

“I won't let that slip my mind.”