Chapter 45 — A Long Dinner

I was stopped by a woman. “Excuse me, you’re Aqua, aren’t you?”

I nodded. “I am.”

“I need your help if that’s okay.”

I smiled. “Of course, it’s okay.”

“My son is a hybrid. I’m an elf but his dad is a dragon shifter. He went off flying and I have no idea where he is. He’s twelve and he usually flies close to the village. A few dragons are our looking for him.”

“But I could find him faster.” I didn’t need to know who he was. I closed my eyes and looked around the area until I saw a young boy flying into a river. He had about as much flight control as I did a week ago. I described the area where the boy was, and the mother thanked me. They found him quickly. Ever since I left the castle, I was doing whatever I could to use my abilities to help people.

Lexus flew with me into Wilwar. We didn’t feel good being back, but my grandfather lived here. We weren’t anywhere near the castle, so it wasn’t so bad. I was able to fly half the way then road on his back for the rest of it.

We landed not too far from the restaurant. “Let me know when you guys are done.” Lexus kissed my forehead in our human forms. “If I need to come get you earlier then tell me.” 

I nodded and walked in. I was escorted to the table and sat down. Mom and Dad were already there. “Hey.”

Mom smiled “Hey Aqua, you look a lot better than the last time I saw you. I kind of wish this dinner was just us three.”

“Four.” Me and Dad corrected in unison since we were both referring to Cade.

Mom nodded. “Yeah, four.” 

I looked at Cade as he walked in and to our table. “Grandpa isn’t here yet? Is Grandma coming?” He sat down.

Dad shook his head. “She isn’t.”

“Cade, this is my Mom Mae. Mom this is Cade.” I introduced them.

“We’ve met.” Cade mumbled. “When we were looking for you.”

I didn’t know that until now. “Oh.” 

Mom picked up her menu. “It’s nice to meet you again Cade, especially in a better situation.”

Dad pointed to something on her menu. “You’re not going to want to get that.”

Mom frowned. “Why not?” 

He smiled. “I love it but I’m a dragon shifter and I heard your species aren’t fond of eating greens and vegetables.”

Mom laughed. “Maybe kids.” She rolled her eyes. “I happen to love salads. I’ll get the salad and you can get something else, and we can eat off each other’s plates.”

Dad chuckled. “I’m not gullible enough to believe you’d share food with me. Not after last time.” They seemed so happy together.

“I don’t want to be rude,” Cade interrupted. “I was wondering, are you a mage? You give off a magical aura but not the same one as a dragon shifter. Plus, my dad implied that you’re a different species.” I still hadn’t told Cade that I was a hybrid.

Mom smiled. “I’m a human witch, that’s all.”

Cade looked shocked. “Oh…” he looked at me. “Why didn’t you tell me you were a human hybrid?”

“Dad didn’t want anyone to know at the time and it hasn’t come up recently.” I answered.

Mom frowned. “You didn’t?”

Dad put his hand on Mom’s hand that was on the table. “Only because of the king and queen and her safety. Things are different now.” He kissed her forehead.

“How did you two meet?” Cade asked.

“It was thirty years ago when we were kids, it was in the forest near my home in the human realm.” Mom answered. “Meeting Konain was unforgettable.”

Our Dad nodded, “Mae was the first human I had ever met, and I still haven’t met one like her.” Then he turned to us. “What’s new with the both of you? We can catch up a little before my father arrives.”

“Well… I’m mated to Lexus.” I said and pulled my shirt at the shoulder so they could see. They all looked surprised. “Was I supposed to get married first or something? Is it taboo?”

Cade shook his head. “It’s not taboo but most people wait so that they can celebrate, they also don’t mate within a few months of knowing each other. Mating is a big deal. You two are true mates so it makes sense. I heard they used to mate right when meeting. Did he propose?”

I shook my head. “No, he hasn’t.”

Cade turned to Mom and Dad. “When are you two going to mate? You’ve practically been married for the past twenty years and now his shoulder is free.” His tone was bitter.

Mom frowned. “I’m sorry Cade, Konain—”

Cade cut her off. “Stop calling him that. Only my grandparents call him by his full name.” Cade wasn’t comfortable with my mother. 

Mom looked away. “I know but I’ve always called him that. He’s only ever corrected me once, but I can stop…”

“I'm fine with you calling me by my full name Mae or I would have said something more than once. I actually really like it.” He looked at Cade. “I’m sorry if it was too soon to invite you to dinner with Mae.” Dad apologized. “Your grandfather requested us to all be here, but you don’t have to stay.

Cade scoffed. “It’s fine, I had to be here to represent your old family.” Everything was so intense.

I stood up. “I have to step outside.” I walked away.

Cade walked after me. “Wait Aqua, I didn’t mean it like that.”

I shook my head. “How did you mean it? We’re separate families, aren’t we?”

We walked out of the restaurant. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s hard seeing my d—our dad—with someone else. While you were away, I finally forgave him for his affair, and I even forgave him for lying about how long it lasted. I wasn’t ready to see him with her this soon. In there I just felt like I couldn’t fit into his new life with her.”

I couldn’t understand what he was feeling because things were completely different for me. Or maybe I could understand it a little. “When I saw Dad with Lynn, you and Gray I didn’t feel great either. I felt like I wasn’t a part of your family enough and couldn’t fit into it either. Seeing you guys spend time together as a family without me hurt. I’m sorry you have to go through this now. My mom is fine with you being a part of our family.” Lynn wasn’t welcoming to me at all. “We’re just one family and now my mom is a part of it.”

Cade sighed. “I know my mom wasn’t thrilled about you being a part of our family. Your Mom is nice, and I guess she is a part of our family now. None of that was even the worst part. The worst part is how different he is. He’s so much happier with her. He wasn’t like that with my mom. I have a lot of stuff I need to get through with this.”

I hugged him. “I’m here to help.” I pulled away and saw our grandfather. We greeted him then all three of us walked in. Now that our grandfather was here, I really felt stressed. 

When we walked back into the restaurant, we led our grandfather to the table with my parents. Dad laughed. “Mae.”

Mom laughed. “Konain stop.” 

They both stopped messing around and looked at us. “It’s good to see you Father, this is Mae and Mae this is my father,” He reintroduced them.

We all sat down. “It’s nice to finally meet you Mae again.” Grandfather picked up the menu. 

“I have news.” Cade announced. “Sadia, my girlfriend is pregnant.”

Dad dropped his menu. “What?”

“That’s good, isn’t it?” Mom asked.

Dad shrugged, “You started seeing Sadia not that long after her last relationship. Is the—”

“Yes, it’s mine.” Cade answered the question before Dad finished asking it. “The timing makes it clear it’s mine.” When Sadia found out she told me right away so I could tell Lexus. We were all really relieved. “I’ve already joined the pack.” He showed the pack mark on his shoulder. Grandfather didn’t react or say anything.

“Congrats,” I said. We all ordered our food and gave the waiter our menus. I closed my eyes to see what Lexus was doing. 

 He was at a bar, but he was smoking instead of drinking. ‘Are you spying on me?’ Lexus asked jokingly and telepathically.

‘Yeah I am. My grandfather just got here and I’m a little nervous.’

“Aqua.” Grandfather called me.

I opened my eyes. “Huh?”

“You shouldn’t use your abilities for your own purposes.” Grandfather said. 

“Why not?” My mother asked. “It’s her abilities.” Dad looked am worried.

“They were given to our family to better the kingdom not for our own gain. I don’t expect you to understand Mae,” Grandfather explained.

“Is that what we came to talk about?” Cade asked, annoyed. “I didn’t need to be here if it’s about Aqua.”

“No, it’s about all of you. You need to go back to the castle and apologize to the king and queen. This is ridiculous and a mockery to everything my father and our ancestors built.”

“Did you explain it to him?” I asked my dad.

“Yes, he just doesn’t believe it.”

I frowned. “You don’t believe that I spoke to the moon goddess?”

Grandfather shook his head. “I believe that you believe you did but it doesn’t add up. Why wouldn’t my father have spoken with the moon goddess? Why wouldn’t she have led him down the right path.”

I knew the answer, but I wasn’t sure if it was good for me to explain. “Did he ever have a dream about her?”

Grandfather shook his head. “No but if it was important to her she would have visited his dream.” 

He didn’t understand. “Diana had tried with holders before him, but she wouldn’t order them to leave. She gave them the choice of leaving, and they knew she didn’t intend on them working for the royal family. The problem was their loyalty.”

“And you have none.” Grandfather said as if it proved his point.

“And that’s why I was chosen as the new holder. I’ve been doing all kinds of hands on good for people. I’ve been helping them face to face and not from a distance in a big castle.” I looked at the waiter as they brought our food. 

As we started to eat no one said anything but there was a lot of tension. My grandfather didn’t care that the holder was never meant to work for the royal family. He cared more about continuing what we’ve always done because Diana gives us free will. She gives us the choice, so he doesn’t want to give me one. I noticed my grandfather had a bag with him. “What’s in the bag?”

“My father’s journals, he documented his time as a holder. I thought it might help you realize your power and capabilities.”

I smiled. “I think that would really help.”

“It would have.” He muttered.

My smile turned to a frown, and I slightly pushed my food away. “You’re not giving them to me anymore?”

Grandfather shook his head. “My father knew it was impossible for him to teach the next holder. When a holder dies only then can the next holder be born. Two holders can’t be alive at once. He documented all he could to teach the next holder of the castle.” He stood up. “You’re not the next holder of the castle so you don’t need these.”

‘Are you okay?’ Lexus asked me telepathically because he could feel my anger. I didn’t usually get angry, but my grandfather was being unfair.

Dad spoke up, “You’re risking a good relationship with your granddaughter out of pettiness, Father.” 

Grandfather didn’t care. “It was nice seeing you all again, congratulations to you and Sadia.” He said to Cade. “I’m excited about my first great grandchild and your grandmother will be too.” He walked away. I clenched my fists and took a deep breath.

“Aqua, do you want to do something else?” Mom offered. “I don’t want you going back this upset.”

I noticed through looking out the window that Lexus was waiting outside. “Is Lexus welcome?” I wasn’t sure how my mother felt about Lexus.

Mom nodded. “Of course, he is. Cade, you're welcome too.”

Cade chuckled. “Not if Lexus is going to be there.”

We were all done eating so we paid the bill and left. Lexus walked to me as soon as we walked out the door. “I’d ask if you were okay, but I can feel you’re not, that’s why I came down here.”

I looked up at him then tried to hold back a smirk. “Yeah… I’ll explain later.”

“What’s funny?” Lexus asked.

I decided to answer telepathically. ‘You look really high, like really high. Your eyes are bloodshot and low. It was just funny because of how concerned you are. Anyways my mom invited us to spend time with her but I’d rather you be sober for that.’

“Aqua.” Cade said. “I’m going to go. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

“Okay, tell Sadia I say hi, okay?” I waved as he walked off. “Mom, Lexus isn’t going to join us.” It was obvious to everyone why.

“That’s fine I wanted to talk to you about joining my coven,” she said.

‘Could you do me a favor babe?” Lexus asked. ‘When we’re apart, could you not use your third eye to watch me? Could you let me know when you’re going to use it before you do?’

‘Oh… yeah, no problem.’ I was still really disappointed about what happened with my grandfather but at least I could spend time with my parents.