Chapter 4: Not meant to be?!

'I'm right here, don't talk as if I'm not here damn it! What are you on about Mother? Morgan saved my life.' Aura was so angry, her hands closed into fists, they had some nerve…talking as if she was not here, ignoring her as yesterday news.

'I told you your mother wouldn't be happy.' Morgan came to stand behind her, holding her protectively against him.

'Aura, Morgan is the High Guardian.' Hecate said seeing her daughter's face acquire that look of surprise and then anger she knew so well.

Aura turned in Morgan's arms and looked up into his face, his eyes were cold and that said it all, 'You… why didn't you tell me that you're not only a guardian that you are the Guardian, you let me go on about my powers when you knew that on my own I would fail again against him.' She tried to get loose from his embrace but he was too strong.

'No, not true you will help me defeat the Shadow, you have done it before, you know his weakness and I need you.' He said gently holding her closer for comfort.

Hecate looked surprised at the scene going on before her eyes; her daughter was involved with a Guardian and for what she could see, he was in love with her, although she knew Aura would have a hard time admitting that she was also in love, she knew one thing about her daughter and that was that she did not do things lightly the connection Aura felt with him must be very strong.

'Sorry to interrupt the prelude there, but you two have to get something straight, you are my first born Aura, even if all throughout your life you've denied it you will be the one to take my place.'

Aura knowing where that was going interrupted her, 'No Mother, you have always thought I would take your place but Asia is the one that has all the knowledge it doesn't matter if she is the youngest, the throne will go to her, she is a pure blood and I …well…I'm not.' Aura said adamantly, shocking Hecate into a complete silence.

'What does your mother mean?' Morgan asked suspicion making his heart clench with fear that he might lose her even before he had her.

'As Goddess of Witchcraft my mother is Queen of the Magical Realm, I didn't tell you because it has no influence in my decision making, she is just my mother.' Aura muttered feeling uneasy with his stare.

'You resent the fact that I'm a High - Guardian but you didn't think about letting me know you would someday be Queen?' he threw at her stalking back to the bedroom leaving a speechless Aura behind.

Hecate laughed 'First lover's tiff! Don't worry; it's normal especially if you take after me!' Aura glanced back at her Mother furiously 'Thanks a lot!' and with that she banged the bedroom door shut behind her, Hecate stood there smiling until Mrs. Ingram came back with her tea, 'Madam, Aura…' Mrs. Ingram didn't know how to say to a mother her daughter had lost her innocence,

'Yes, I know. It was meant to be, it was written that my first born would be part human and that she would defy me every chance she got, she is a powerful force of nature and the guardian is smitten…the light shall come forth from the darkness…I really hate the Fates, only now is it making sense.'

Hecate smiled a secret smile, the fates had done it again, and she should have known they would ensure the continuation of the line, even if against her wishes, she only hoped Aura would find happiness.

In the bedroom, Aura stood looking at Morgan 'Could you listen to me, please?'Aura asked thinking on how to explain that her Mother liked to piss her off for no good reason.

'I'm a guardian and you will be Queen, what kind of chance…no let's not go there.' He said avoiding her eyes so she could not see the sadness and rage that grew in his heart, the beast wanted release, if she didn't know he loved her he would be better off.

He was glad she did not know what he was, that way she couldn't hurt him anymore than he had already been hurt when Hecate had told them more for his benefit than that of Aura's of what was expected of her, it was true he had no rights over her, but his heart didn't think that way and the beast in him would never let her go, not after last night, it wanted to stake its claim…but now he would never do it, she would never belong to him, he had no hope, he had lost his heart.

'Didn't you hear anything I said, I'm never going to be Queen, I don't want to, my sister Asia is perfect for it I'm not, I'm an outcast, a loner…' she said coming closer to him smoothing his t-shirt, he looked better with no clothes on she thought, feeling her heart clench with the possibility that he might not want her, that he was just having a good time as the humans often said 'no strings attached' she felt the rage build and her heart turn to stone.

'I don't think so, you will make a beautiful queen, you are wise and kind, and after we defeat the Shadow you'll no longer be an outcast.' He said stubbornly not wanting to believe that she might love him enough to renounce her throne, it had all happened so fast.

'If you think that way, there is nothing I can do.' She said her head down not believing she had made the biggest mistake of all, falling in love with someone that didn't really even want her.

He walked to her lifting her chin and gazing deep in her eyes, 'It was not meant to be, you and I, but, for as long as we are together we will be one.' He dipped his head down, his hair touching her face as he gently kissed her lips, salty from the tears she was soundlessly crying, he savored her slowly and deeply, caressing her face and wiping away the trace of tears, the sweetness of the moment like nothing she had ever felt.

'Yes, I believe we will always be…' she murmured but Morgan didn't hear her, he released her as if he had just been burnt, 'Let's go, your Mother is waiting, we need a plan of action, the Shadow is going to try and get you before the shifting.'

Aura felt powerless, but she knew what she had to do, protect her heart and keep it safe from being hurt again, loneliness as always would be her solace and her comfort, as Morgan had said, it was not meant to be.

Her heart heavy Aura looked at Hecate silencing her mother with just one look, as Morgan started speaking, 'We need to act fast, the Shadow is not dumb, and it's not going to wait until after the shifting, we need to get Aura to the Magical Realm, she can shift there.' Morgan realized he was not in a position to give out orders especially to a Goddess and Queen, but he desperately wanted to protect Aura and the only way was if she returned to their world or stayed with him.

'I see Dagda as yet to teach his guardians some manners!' she said looking at him sideways.

'Mother, please don't start, I think Morgan is right, but I'm not going back, that's what the Shadow is expecting me to do, to cower and run back home, I'm staying.' Aura said looking from one to the other to see their expressions.

'You don't mean that, I can't be here for long, you need protection daughter, don't do this to me Aura, I would not bear to lose you.' Hecate said coming to hold her closely kissing Aura's forehead gently combing her hair, thinking how changed her precious daughter was, and for what? A guardian that was half-beast? The fates did know how to screw things over, big time.

Morgan was at a loss for words, he had given her the easy way out but she had chosen to stay with him and fight, because it would come to that, they would have to fight for their lives, 'Aura you have to go, I know it would be a lot easier if I had you by my side, but I can handle this.' He said taking in her subtle change when she heard him, as if she was cringing inside.

'Yes, I could go couldn't I? But I won't…I need to do this for myself as much as I need to breath, it's become vital to my existence that I destroy this Shadow before it destroys that which I love in life…wouldn't you die for those you love?' she asked looking into his eyes the depth of her pain something he knew oh so well.

'I have no one.' The curt statement surprised her so much she stepped forward in order to offer comfort, holding his hand, 'You have me. No matter what happens you will always have me.' She spoke looking him straight in the eye not giving him a chance to deny the bond they had forged between them in the short time they had been together.

Hecate was more than surprised at the depth of feeling the two of them seemed to share, and how unaware of it they seemed to be, maybe the Fates hadn't been wrong, 'Ok you two, I believe my stubborn daughter will not do as I ask, but still I'll ask you both to be very careful, the balance is at stake here, not just you, but both worlds, we can't afford to fail this time…' she looked worried at the prospect of losing her daughter but the Fates would not put her in harm's way if they didn't have a backup plan, you could always count on them having a backup plan.

Mrs. Ingram who had stood in the background listening and observing attentively to everything that was going on cut in, 'I think I know how we can lure the Shadow out.'

Three pair of surprised eyes jerked to look at her, 'You do?' they all asked. 'Yes and please try not to sound so surprised, humans are known to be intelligent.' she teased laughing at their open mouthed look.

'We have to pretend Aura is going back to the Magical Realm, prepare everything and make enough of a fuss, so the Shadow knows we are leaving, the trick is to get it close to the Portal because that way it will be weaker from the pull the Portals have on you.' She explained as if she had been thinking about it for a while.

'Brilliant idea, it might just work, provided the Shadow is dumb enough to follow us.' Morgan put in trying to keep them close to the reality that there was a possibility that the Shadow would not fall for such a trap.

'I know the Shadow, he is eager to get his paws on me, the quicker the better, the last time he was lucky, this time I'm not leaving anything to chance… Morgan will be there, even without my sisters help I really think we can defeat it, he has grown reckless in his eagerness to kill me and Morgan's Medallion is made of light, it's going to be hard but I'm sure the Fates want me to survive this, even if it is to screw my life at a later stage.' Aura said convincing Hecate she would no longer need her supervision.

'Watch your language, your Godmothers do not like it when you swear, especially at them, could you at least have some sense of self-preservation?' Hecate admonished her, knowing it would be useless.

'Come on, you know them as well as I, who tells the truth deserves no punishment, besides they love me as much as I love them.' Aura said looking at Morgan who was only now realizing she was goddaughter to the meanest goddesses in history; the same Goddesses that had made him take the beast in order to grow more powerful.

'You have to be kidding!' he jerked back away from her, 'Nope, they really are my Godmothers, that does not mean I escape the web of life, on the contrary I am more controlled because of that, they probably knew about you long before you were even born, now I understand their smug smiles every time I said I did not want a man in my life.' Aura mumbled understanding the game they had played with her and how she had played along, how dumb could you get? They had been preparing her for the moment she met Morgan.

Hecate reading Aura's reaction as she understood what the Fates had done tried to minimize the impact, 'Aura do not go there, you know that every decision you have made in your life has been yours and yours alone, you have gone against me, against your sisters, you chose the path you took, not them…fortunately it lead you where you should be, it often doesn't, thank them for that.' Hecate looked at Morgan who was looking forlorn, and withdrawn, as if there was something he wasn't saying.

'It is time for you to leave Madam.' Mrs. Ingram said looking at Hecate, 'Yes I know, please make sure you defeat the Shadow, and show no mercy.' She said looking at Aura who was now standing close to Morgan; it was obvious they fed each other's power, Aura knew nothing of the beast he held inside and it really didn't matter because if everything went according to plan, she would never need to know.

'I'll be waiting for the time when you want to come home, please keep me and your sisters in your memory, we love you, when the time comes and you are ready, we'll be waiting.' The trace of tears something alien to a Goddess, but not to Hecate, marred her beauty as she turned to leave, Aura gave a strangled cry and run to her, 'Thank you, mother; I will not disappoint you this time.' She said hugging Hecate strongly who caressed her hair gently and said in her ear, 'You have never disappointed me, nor could you ever do it, take care.' She turned looking at Morgan.

'I know you hold secrets within you nobody should have to hold, but now you have my precious daughter to help you unburden them, do it, you know what you have to do.' And with that she went, Mrs. Ingram taking her to the Portal that opened in her bedroom and that no one knew about.

'So that's how she got here so fast.' Morgan observed, 'Yep, the Fates made it for me, so when I feel like seeing them I always can.' Aura smiled sadly thinking of her sisters fighting alone against the Shadows on the Magical Realm, she wished they were Ok.

Morgan sensing her thoughts snuggled closer to her holding her strongly in his arms, making her feel safe, 'Don't worry, the guardians will help your sisters I know all of them and they are good people, who love the Magical Realm and will give their lives to keep it safe.' He bowed down to kiss her lightly, as she felt his lips, passion ignited inside them, she deepened the kiss, hands up and down their bodies, they needed to feel alive, to feel like they were needed by someone, the passion frenzy took them to the sofa, clothes flying everywhere.

'I love the way you smell, I just want to gobble you up.' Morgan whispered spreading feather light kisses along her jaw line, nipping her chin and coming up an inch to devour her lips, biting gently, her response was so spontaneous and fiery, he just could not have enough of her, it was like a thirst and no amount of that fiery woman would be able to quench it.

Her skin was the most delectable thing he had ever tasted, she moved so beautifully and her face changed as the pleasure grew inside her, her eyes changed color to a misty grayish blue when she was falling down into the tormenting pleasure she now knew would happen when she kissed him tasting deeply, their tongues dancing, she gasped, everything froze in that amazing heart stopping second, and then all hell broke loose as Aura thought that if she was going to die, she might as well do it now…it was soul shattering when she realized that whatever happened, there was no going back, she had fallen in love…