"Did you know?" I whispered quietly, staring back at Arius.

When he didn't answer, I screamed, "DID YOU KNOW?"

Arius didn't answer, but instead walked over to me and grabbed my hand. He transported me to my room in the palace as I almost lost my balance. Catching myself, I thrashed in his hold and began to hit his chest. He just looked at me with a neutral face as I put all my anger out on his body while he barely moved an inch.

Talking to myself, I rambled, "How is this possible? It's impossible."

Done with me, Arius grabbed my hands, preventing me from continuing, and put my hands behind my back.

"Calm down, baby" he seductively said to me.

"How can you tell me to calm down, I can't believe you're my mate? In some way, it makes sense because of the dreams and all. But how can you be my mate? I already had one, and that ended tragically."

Arius looked angered at the mention of Axel and said, "That boy was not your mate, amare. The moon goddess was brought to power mega-annum (million years) ago and was jealous of my power. So she chose my mate for another male, but of course, I placed a curse on your bond so you would have never been together either way."

"You're the reason I got rejected, asshole," I replied.

"Don't tell me you're upset, after I finally found you I looked into your previous mate. My darling amare, I did you a big fucking favor with him. Did you want to end up with that?"

Rolling my eyes, I replied, "Of course not, but you placed the curse before knowing who or whom my "fake" mate was. He could have been nice."

"You're mine," Arius growled.

"Oh yeah, prove it" I challenged him.

He looked at me with mischief and pushed me down onto the bed behind me. Sparks flared all over me as my body tingled with delight.

"You will always be my mate. My kingdom knows it, my family, your friends, and so will the rest of the world. Get on the same page amare, can anyone make you feel like this," he said, placing soft kisses on my cheek, nose, and the corners of my mouth.

Glaring at him, I put my legs around him and twisted him over so I was straddling him. Bringing my face close to him, I brought my mouth close to his, enough for us to both breathe in each other's air. Arius, thinking I was going to kiss him, closed his eyes awaiting me to plant my lips on his. Smirking at his reaction I got off his muscular body ready to leave the room. Only taking a few steps, I was turned and slammed against the closed door of my room. I looked at Arius, who had his black wings opened.

"Don't ever fucking tease me again, mate."

I looked down to see him hardened against his pants, looking back up I said "Uncomfortable?"

He gave me a look as if he said that it was obvious what his answer was.

"I think you love slamming me against things like walls, trees, and doors," I said.

Arius just shrugged and let me go for me to turn back to the door.

About to open it, he stopped me and from behind he said, "Next time, don't start something you can't finish, amica mea."

For the last time, he let me go for me to leave and go back to my friends. Once I got to Rissa and Leo, they dragged me away from Arius and his friends to get some privacy. Rissa looked as if she was about to burst into excitement, finally able to ask her question.

"Um, what the hell, Nellie? Why were you screaming like the most powerful dude ever?" she asked me.

I looked at her sheepishly, "Funny story, actually."

They both looked at me expecting an answer, I mumbled, "He's my mate."

They looked confused before I answered again louder, "He's my mate."

Their jaws dropped as they looked at me with complete shock.

Leo turned to Rissa and said, "Please tell me she didn't say what I think she said."

"You heard mate right, babe," Rissa replied.

They then turned back to me and said at the same time "How?"

I replayed back the story Arius had told me in the room about his curse.

Rissa and Leo attentively listened to me, before Rissa replied "Aww."

Leo and I both rolled our eyes at her reaction and just laughed. For the next hour or so, the three of us just hung out before Arius barged into the room we were in. Without asking, he teleported us into the gardens behind the castle.

"Hello? A little warning would have been nice before you whooshed me away," I said to him.

Arius said nothing and just walked us over to the bench near the roses as he sat down before I followed his actions.

"This is one of my favorite places in the palace," he said without looking at me.

"It's beautiful," I replied.

Arius moved his face towards me and said, "You smell like roses, amica mea. My favorite flowers, pretty and rosy just like your cheeks."

I blushed and gave him an answer in return, "You smell like lavenders."

Arius chuckled and moved onto another topic "When my mother, Gaea, birthed me and then bore herself with Earth, she placed a mate for me. She created this creature that would lay hidden until my mate was birthed and old enough for me to find. Two years ago, the creature that laid dormant underneath the lake, got out and left to scourge the Earth. I'm sure you know how it looks, the black smoke you have been seeing."

Continuing, he said, "Unlike what you assumed, I can't control it. The only way for it to stop permanently is for my mate to be marked. The temporary solution is for my mate to stay close to me, but once we are mated, you can wander without me by your side."

"So I can't see my family until we are mated?" I asked.

"No of course not, amare. You can, but I would have to go with you," Arius replied.

He then said, "There is more though..."