Sunshine

Metas woke up first, and sat up as though he were awaking from a nightmare. His lungs heaved, and he reached up to his chest as though it could somehow stop his pounding heart.

"Mandy..." he said with alarm as she started to slide from his chest with how fast he had pushed himself up.

"Nnhn..." she groaned and grasped onto him in an effort to cuddle against him again. She had been so comfortable, and he had been so warm, and smelled so good - so very, very good.

He was alarmed at first to see no one but the male wolf he and his closest had rescued from the pits of the castle, and Syrana who looked as though death had already grabbed her fully by the wrist and was just moments away of pulling her under the bleak surface.

"Sire," the stranger said kindly and offered him a bow from his sitting position. "I am Veltar, thank you for taking the risk to save me and Syrana - and thank you for knowing about Silas' trickery."

Metas had just woken up from a dream he couldn't remember, and his head was very foggy, so the reply he had seemed disingenuous, "yes - no problem."

"The others went out on a scouting mission, should you wish to know," Veltar finished his words and returned to the tea he had been running across Syrana's lips.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save her in time," Metas replied as he realized more and more of what was going on.

"Don't be. Silas poisoned her rather quickly. She didn't have a chance without the proper medicines. I still don't know if she will make it or not, but I'll try until I can't any longer. Should she live, her eyes will not recover, unfortunately. I would very much like to kill Silas," Veltar finished with a darkness Metas hadn't heard in a very long time.

"After I beat him in front of everyone, you can do what you please in return. It will be free reign. Lava veins included. He must pay the highest price for his abominable crimes," Metas answered and nodded over to Veltar.

"Happy to be on your side, my Alpha" the alchemist returned and gave a grin. If Syrana died, he'd live only to destroy Silas, and then he'd go into the demon's territory, or perhaps walk into the river and let it take him.

Metas wasn't able to smile yet, not with Myranda still asleep - so instead, he nodded with approval at the male's words.

The alpha couldn't help but want to stand - but he wasn't going to leave Myranda behind. His strength being abnormally high, it was easy for him to scoop her up and hold her to his chest.

"If Jyriah freaks out, tell him to take it up with me later. I'm going to see if I can wake my Luna up in the sun as gently as possible. I don't want her to wake up to see her beloved sister in such a state. It would break her heart, and it's the last thing she needs," he commanded Veltar more than he requested, but his tone was still respectful and strong.

"As you ask, I shall do my Alpha," Veltar complied as he continued his work on helping heal Syrana.

The king left the safety of the cave, through the heavy water he shielded Myranda's face from, and into the meadow that he had first met his mate in. The sun was still high enough to shine through the leaves and thick canopy of their woods, and he headed to a spot where a large, bright beam shined down on a soft patch of grass that had a plethora of wildflowers growing in it.

"My beautiful Luna, you should wake up. I need you - our people need you," Metas said with a tender affection as he ran his fingers through her silky black and while strands. "We have so much to enjoy and experience together."

As if she heard him in her dream, she gave a grunt, and snuggled into Metas further. The alpha couldn't help but give her a soft chuckle, and leaned down to kiss her forehead and beckon her further with more sweet words.

"Come on, my love. You cannot sleep forever - lest you wish to break my heart?" Metas questioned into her ear with a tease.

In response, her eyes squinted into a clamp to keep the sunlight from hitting her eyeballs that had started to register the heat and illumination in front of her eyelids.

"Mandy," he started with a light tone and then leaned in to kiss her lips and face over and over again softly. "I see you trying to stay asleep," he added with a deeper sound.

"Noooo" she groaned and moved her arms to where her hands could cover her face.

"Hmm, I don't know - you're responding. I think my Luna is playing games, yes?" Metas replied and with one hand, he pried one of hers from her face, as his other arm cradled her to him lovingly.

She gave in and opened her eyes slowly, only to shield them a moment later from the sun. He helped sit her up and couldn't help but caress her face with his hand softly.

"I love you, Myranda. Thank you for saving me."

"I didn't save you; you saved me,"

"I disagree," Metas said with a smile.

"Well, I disagree with you disagreeing with me...but..there is one thing you've said that I agree on. I know you love me, I trust you, and I accept you. I love you, Metas. I love you so very much, and I wish I had told you before. I'm grateful that I was able to do it before it was too late. I'm sorry I denied it from you for so long," Myranda said as her cheeks rose in color.

"Fair enough, and I will accept no apologies from you, as you needn't give anymore. I accept you for everything you are, including being stubborn. It's just one of many reasons I love you so much, my mate" he replied and leaned in to kiss her lips with a hunger that he curtailed with softness.

"What happened to you? Why did - well all of this happen?" she asked with confusion, and still a little alarm as the memories came flooding back to her.

"That's right, I forget they forbid the teaching of fated mates. It's as simple as it sounds - you and I have been together before, and we've chosen to be together again. The longer mates stay together, the more their bond grows that even time cannot break it. I don't know how long we've been together - but nothing could ever feel long enough for me," Metas explained as he looked into her beautiful orbs of the sun and moon.

"Would you explain it to me more, please?" she swooned with a happy sigh and leaned into him. She couldn't resist wrapping her arms around one of his large ones, and rest against it. Metas happily obliged, and there in the happiness of the bright solar rays, he told her everything he knew about being meant to be.