Page 52 of Valpar

I let out a frustrated grunt. “And why are you telling me this? I would have accepted her no matter what.”Even if some male had touched her. She was mine, and I would find out who had touched her, even if that meant going to the Earth Realm.

Osirus smiled and his wings fluttered in excitement. “I knew you would, and I know you would never give up on her. I think that is why the Moon Goddess chose you for her. You are strong, capable and possessive. You will protect her at all costs, especially now that you know what she’s been through.”

“I would protect her as fiercely as if I had never known of her past, King Osirus. She is my gem, the third light source of my life. There is no other.” I vowed.

The king’s smile widened, his fangs descending. “Of course. And with that, I have advice and a warning.”

I did not need to be given a warning. If he thought I would hurt her he was mistaken, and I did not care if he was a royal; I would run my blade, my claw, my teeth through his tiny little neck if he thought I would do anything to hurt her.

“One,” Osirus held up one finger. “The spell we cast, took away her memories of her past and her scars. She has no fear. She trusts everyone, like a child would. The fears she may have could be irrational, such as thunderstorms or a tiny bug.” He smiled at that.

I grunted. Good, then I would appear even stronger to my miresa.

“Two, she needs boundaries set, even punishments.” He raised an eyebrow. “Theresa and Birch have been too soft with her. She gets into trouble. Falling off of balconies and trees, not doing what she’s told. She needs warnings and punishment. Theresaand Birch don’t have the heart to do it, but it is necessary. She needs a good spanking, and not just the fun kind.” He winked.

I rubbed my chin and smirked. “We have already talked about this. I will make sure she will not leave my sight.”

“I figured as much. And three,” Osirus rubbed the back of his neck. “The spell we cast; it erased the memory of the abuse. She is who she is; her personality, her love, the hope, is all who she is if the darkness did not befall upon her.” Osirus’ eyes softened and he crossed his arms. “When you mate her, bond her—”

“Brand,” I said. “When I brand her.”

“Yes, that,” Osirus replied uncomfortably. “When you brand her, the spell, the block we have on her mind, it might break.”

I stopped breathing. “W-what do you mean?”

“I mean, the spell might break. The memories she once had might come flooding back. Calliope may remember who she was. She could have nightmares again; she could become sad. Relive what she never got over.” Osirus frowned and stepped forward, putting his hand on my arm. “I’m telling you this to warn you, Valpar. It may not happen at all. It was a powerful spell, but with you branding her, making her your own and your kind being immune to magic it—it’s just a possibility. If it happens, we can’t do the spell again.”

The drum in my chest shook, beating several times before I thought it stopped completely. I did not want my miresa to feel any pain once I claimed her as mine. I didn’t want her to think of her past. I did not want her to know what it was like before she came here. I want her to always be my happy little fairy.

If I claimed her, branded her—she would be sad.

“Valpar, do not overthink this. You must brand her. You have to make her yours.” Osirus said firmly. “The Moon Goddess demands it. It will hurt both you and her if you don’t.”

“I do not want to hurt her,” I whispered. “I don’t want her sad. I never want to see her cry.”

Only cry for pleasure, not pain.

Osirus patted my arm again. “The Moon Goddess takes care of all of her children. I know of a mated couple where the female went through many, many trials in her life. They have lost a child, they were kidnapped —”

My head darted to Osirus.

“— despite that, they love each other. The trial has made their bond stronger. They still look for her and have hope. You have forever together, only if you complete the bond, Valpar. You and Calliope will get through this. Do not wait because of your fears. Or hers.”

That was easy for him to say. I just received my female, and now I feared I might ruin everything. She came to me so easily, unafraid and now I knew why. She feared no one, because of a spell.

The bond was still there, but now there was a pain in my chest. I rubbed where my chest felt heavy. I did not know if it was my pain I felt or my female’s, my Calliope’s.

“Don’t.” Osirus took the parchment from his pocket and put it into my hand. “Do not treat her differently now that you know. She hates it. She wants to be normal, and you see her as normal when no one else sees her as such. You are irrational, demanding, controlling, and she needs that. Be the orc you were before you came out of the cave.”

I groaned and held the parchment in my hand. “What’s this?”

“Calliope’s letter to herself. Her past self to her future self. You have the choice to give it to her or not, she has no memories of writing it, but once she sees the handwriting she will know it’s from her.” King Osirus pointed to the parchment in my hand. “Her family wanted to keep it from her. Keep her in the dark and never put her through that pain again, but I am giving it to you. Let her read it and let her have the choice.” I promised I wouldmake sure her mate would receive this when the time came. That he would know when the right time would be to give it to her.”

I did not like this. I did not want to be the one to give my mate pain. I did not want her to open this letter, either. How could I be the bearer of bad news to the other half of my soul.

I let out a painful grunt, casting my eyes down and away from him.

Osirus chuckled. “You know, Calliope didn’t believe she would get a mate after all that she had been through. Let alone have someone to care for her. And here you are.”

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