Page 53 of Prey

I nod. I have it coming. But at the same time, Shasta and I have worked it out so it’s moot at this point. Shasta begins telling him what all has happened, leaving out the sex part. Thankfully. Winnie’s kitchen is the last place I want to have a conversation about the hate fuck we had at the pride property.

“What the fuck, Shas. I just don’t understand how I got left out.” He’s hurt. I can tell, and I can smell it on him.

“It’s been a lot to deal with. I’ll make it up to you I promise. I’m glad you came to help though. I need you, you know. You’re my best friend. I dropped the ball, I know. I’ll try to do better when things aren’t moving at the speed of light.” She hugs him.

He sighs and hugs her back. “I’ve been worried, and Joaquin has filled me in a bit here and there but I understand, I guess, that you had a lot happening at once. You aren’t totally off the hook though. You owe me a spa date.” He pouts at her.

She laughs and sticks out her hand for a shake. “Deal.” You can feel the agreement form with magic. Whoops. She did it again. Emmett’s eyes widen as Shasta winces.

“Yeah, that just happened. Not for the first time either. I have to be more careful. Apparently my new magic likes to make official deals.” She sighs and stomps her foot a little. Cute.

“That’s pretty insane, Shasta. I guess Shiva must get a kick out of that. Now, let me see the new tattoo.”

She pulls her sleeve up to show him the medallion. He traces it with his finger and it sparks. Both of them jump apart and I see a panther form next to the medallion. It looks like a portion of the chain is wrapped around one of its paws as if it’s binding them together. Emmett gasps and we all watch as he raises his hand and a small lotus flower forms between his thumb and finger on the fleshy part.

“What the hell?” Kadi growls out. A form starts to take shape in front of us. We all gasp as a man with blue skin appears.

“Hello, my friends. Shasta, Emmett. I’m sure you’re wondering what just happened. All Gods have humans that are special to them. We can create bonds with them that are different from the other bonds in our lives. Emmett, I understand your frustration with not knowing what was happening with Shasta. Yours is a forever bond of friendship, and as such, no matter where either of you are, if you are in trouble, the other can teleport to you at will. It doesn’t work just any time though. Only if the other is in danger. You’re about to embark on a tough battle tomorrow. You may need this. It’s my gift to you both for all the years you have stayed by each other's side. Friendships are important for us all. Long friendships likeyours are rare and hard to find. Humans can be, well, rather selfish. So you don’t see this type of friendship much anymore and I wanted to give you a way to help protect each other.”

Emmett looks like he might pass out at any moment. This is a pretty monumental thing though, so I can’t say I blame him. Shasta grips Emmett and stares at Shiva.

“Thank you,” she finally says. “And thank you for taking care of my dad. If it weren’t for you…” She cuts off, clearly struggling with her emotions.

“Remember I told you that you and your father were pretty special to me?”

Shasta nods.

“My son, Kartikeya, is your grandfather. He impregnated Amir’s mother through the divine, not physically, to create a stronger demigod line. Keeping your father alive is keeping one of my actual children alive. He didn’t deserve what he was going through and I wasn’t letting him go through it alone.”

Wait. What? Shiva is Shasta’s great grandfather? Holy shit.

Shasta looks shocked. I can imagine it’s a big deal finding out you are actually directly related to Shiva. I’m a little impressed that she’s my mate. Not as if I wasn’t already, but she’s pretty badass.

“That’s a lot to take in.” She seems like she is trying to process everything. Shiva looks at her kindly.

“Just know that I am always a mere thought away if you need me, Shasta.”He cups her face gently before disappearing.

All of us stand there in silence. What do you even say to that? I watch as Emmett turns his hand this way and that, inspecting his mark. Josiah steps up beside him and looks it over as well.

Kadi walks over and takes Shasta by the hand, leading her to sit down on a stool at the island.

Jessa turns back to the potion they were making, giving it a stir, and says, “Well, I know everyone was feeling left out, notthat Shasta was keeping secrets on purpose, but I guess we can’t say that will be an issue anymore.”

You could hear a pin drop in the room and then suddenly everyone burst out laughing.

“You got that right,” Shasta grumbles. “My very own best friend tracker. As if I didn’t have enough of that going on with these two,” she says, pointing to Kadi and I.

Emmett snorts and Jessa sighs. “I don’t want to hear it. It can’t possibly be as bad as the vampire duo,” she whines.

“You rang?” Laken asks as he and Joaquin enter the room.

“I thought you two left?” Jessa grumbles at them.

“Well, we were going to, but then you never came out. So we came to see what was taking so long.” Joaquin reaches to the center of the island and grabs an apple from the fruit bowl and bites into it, staring hard at Jessa.

Shasta crosses her arms over her chest and says, “I don’t know what the hell you two are doing to my friend, but you need to ease up a little. Don’t make me zap you.”

Kadi rubs his abs as if remembering the jolt she gave him earlier. “Yeah don’t make her do that. It’s not a good time.”

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