The Choosing (27 page)

It takes them four days to get back home. Jerath and Serim seize the opportunity to ask about the raid on their village.

“Why did they take you?” Serim asks. She looks up at Ghaneth as he sighs heavily.

“They wanted to sell us.” He shudders a little and Serim hugs him tighter. “They knew to look for tattoos, and only took the older boys who didn’t have them.”

“So they thought those who hadn’t changed yet were easy targets?” Jerath says, and Ghaneth shrugs.

“Yeah, I guess. But they didn’t know about the Choosing ritual. They thought that shifters would get the ability to change forms when they came of age. They knew it had something to do with the full moon, and kept those with fangs under heavy guard during it. They planned to sell us each separately before the next one.”

“Who to?” Serim asks.

“I’m not sure exactly, but apparently, shifter slaves would fetch a nice price further south. They have special collars to prevent the shift and only allow it for their entertainment. The raiders were very forthcoming with that bit of information.”

Jerath shudders. He doesn’t really know anything about the villages south of Kalesaan. Before Ghaneth mentioned it, he hadn’t known they even existed.

“Thank the Goddess we got to you before they found out the truth.” Serim sighs in relief, and Jerath knows just how she feels.

Everyone falls silent for a few moments. Jerath can imagine what would have happened. If the raiders discovered that their prisoners would never be able to shift and were therefore useless to them, they would probably have killed them all.

“When they attacked the village, why didn’t the shifters change form and attack?” Jerath asks. It has been bothering him the whole journey. If everyone had shifted into their animal forms, surely they could have overpowered them?

It’s Ghaneth who answers again. “They took everyone by surprise, Jerath.” He looks a little guilty. “They grabbed seven of the children before anyone even noticed them and they threatened to kill them if we didn’t go quietly.” Jerath feels a little sick at the thought. “There was nothing we could do.”

Jerath nods and doesn’t comment further. Children are precious. No one in his village would do anything to put their lives in danger. He thinks about the raiders who died during the rescue and doesn’t feel an ounce of remorse.

T
HERE
are shouts and cries of disbelief from the people of Jerath’s village as they finally break through the forest and reach Eladir. Word spreads fast, and soon the travel-weary group is surrounded by family and friends, all frantically searching for their loved ones. Torek and his men tactfully move off to one side and watch the reunions with soft smiles.

Jerath sees the families of the few who lost their lives. He feels their desperation and sorrow when they discover they have a body to claim and bury, instead of the warm hug they were hoping for. There are thankfully only three who died, but it’s three too many, and Jerath sends a prayer to the Goddess asking her to take good care of them.

“Jerath! Oh, my boy!” Helan’s voice is loud and clear as she barrels toward him and wraps him up in a fierce hug. “I can’t believe you’re back!” She sobs into his chest, so Jerath pulls her tightly against him and kisses the top of her head. He closes his eyes and breathes in her scent, lets it wash over him and soothe his tiredness away.

The trek back to Eladir seemed to take forever. Everyone had been eager to get home, and each time they stopped to eat or camp for the night, Jerath felt the restlessness getting worse. But they’re here now, and Jerath holds his mother until her tears finally subside. His heart aches with the knowledge that he’s going to leave her again soon, but he already misses Meren desperately and he knows without a shadow of a doubt that he can’t stay.

“I’m okay,” he says when she takes a shuddering breath. “I promise.” He pushes thoughts of leaving to the side for now and instead smiles at her when she looks up.

“You have fangs!” she gasps, and her fingers flutter around his mouth as though she wants to touch them and check that they’re real. “When did this happen?” She sniffles again and Jerath reaches out and wipes a stray tear from her eye.

“Come on, let me introduce you to a friend of mine and I’ll tell you all about it.”

Jerath takes his mother by the hand and leads her over to where Torek is talking quietly with his men. “Torek, this is my mother, Helan.”

Torek smiles over Helan’s shoulder when she wraps her arms around him and thanks him for bringing her son back to her. Jerath rolls his eyes and laughs, but he loves the way his mother so readily accepts Torek. She immediately invites him back to their house for something to eat and drink, and Torek tells her he would be honored. The rest of Torek’s men are being well taken care of by the village elders, so Helan leads the way back to their home.

Jerath slumps down into one of the kitchen chairs almost as soon as they get through the door. He’s so tired and lets out a long sigh as he stretches out his legs under the table. Torek sits opposite him and does the same. Helan quickly rustles up a selection of meat, cheese, and fruit and laughs softly as both Jerath and Torek tuck in straightaway.

“Food was limited on the journey here,” Jerath mumbles by way of explanation.

Helan allows them to eat their fill, then settles her elbows on the table and rests her chin on her hands. “Now, Jerath.” She reaches up to ruffle his hair and he ducks away, blushing slightly. “Now that you’re fed and watered, I want you to tell me everything.”

So Jerath does. He starts at the beginning with his and Serim’s fishing trip, which seems a lifetime ago now. He explains what happened when his fangs came in, how he and Serim found the perfect place to perform the ritual. He skims over the details, blushing profusely, and aims a kick at Torek under the table when he grins at him.

“You were right about everything, though,” Jerath says as Helan wipes away more tears. “It was perfect, nothing to worry about.”

She smiles at him and grasps his hand tightly in hers. “I knew it would be. Serim was the perfect choice for you.” Jerath blushes again.

“Can I see it?” she asks. Jerath nods, then stands up and pulls off his shirt.

“Oh, Jerath!”

He glances back over his shoulder to see his mother looking at his tattoo with wide eyes.

“It’s beautiful.” She’s smiling hugely now and Jerath grins back at her. “I know it’ll be difficult to find your match here in Eladir, but there are some very nice boys over in Westril who have jaguars as their animal, and their elders aren’t quite as rigid in their beliefs as ours. If you want to….” She falls silent as Torek coughs.

Jerath shrugs his shirt back on and turns to face her.

“What is it, Jerath?”

He catches hold of her hand again and gently sits her back down at the table. “I’ve met my mate,” he says, and just the very mention of it makes Jerath’s chest hurt. He rubs at it absently with the palm of his hand and sighs.

“Who?” Helan looks accusingly at Torek as she asks the question.

“No, it’s not Torek.” His mother relaxes, and Jerath knows she’s relieved because now she thinks it’s someone from their village. “His name is Meren. He’s the son of the chief.”

Jerath watches her face fall again.

“Are you sure about this, Jerath?” She clutches his hand tightly. “Once the bond is complete, one of you will have to leave their village. You do understand this?”

Jerath looks down at the table, suddenly unable to meet her eyes. Torek takes the lull in conversation as an opportunity to make his excuses and leave. He thanks Helan for her generous hospitality but tells her he needs to go and check on his men. He shoots an encouraging look over at Jerath and then disappears quietly through the door.

“Jerath?”

He’s been dreading this moment the most. There’s just no easy way to tell his mother he’ll be leaving again soon. For good this time.

“You’ve already bonded, haven’t you? And you’re going to live in Kalesaan.”

Jerath’s head snaps up to finally meet his mother’s gaze. He fully expects to see her eyes brimming with hurt and disappointment, but she’s smiling at him. There are tears steadily falling down her cheeks, but she’s still smiling.

“I’m sorry.” He can’t think of anything else to say.

“Sorry?” Helan says, and looks a little confused. “Why on earth would you be sorry?”

“Because you’ve only just got me back, and now I’m going to leave again.”

She pulls him into a hug and shushes him. “You have nothing to be sorry for, do you hear me?” She nudges him until he nods against her shoulder. “I’m going to miss you so, so much, Jerath. But you’ve found your mate, and Kalesaan is not like here. You can live freely there in a way that you never would’ve been able to here.” She takes a deep breath and holds him even tighter. Her tears wet the front of his shirt, but her voice is full of love when she speaks again. “You’re my son, Jerath, and I love you dearly. All I want for you is to be happy, even if that means you have to leave.”

Jerath doesn’t try to stop his own tears. He lets them fall and holds onto his mother for just a little while longer. “You’ll come and visit, though. Won’t you?” Jerath finally lets her go and sits back in his chair.

“Of course!” Helan wipes at her eyes and laughs at the mess they’re in. “I need to meet this man of yours.”

She gets up to make them both a hot drink, and Jerath takes a moment to get himself together. He feels wrung out and exhausted but so much better now his mother knows everything and she’s happy for him. He should have expected nothing less.

“Now, Jerath.” She sets the two steaming mugs down on the table and settles back in her seat. “Tell me all about Meren.”

T
HEY
’
VE
been back in Eladir for two days now. Preparations are well underway for the upcoming full moon and the two Choosing rituals that will be taking place. Ghaneth and Serim are virtually inseparable, much to the annoyance of the elders. There’s no guarantee Ghaneth’s animal will be a match for Serim’s, but neither of them seem to care. Jerath prays Ghaneth’s tattoo takes the form of a sleek black panther, just like Serim’s. They both deserve this after everything they’ve been through.

Kyr will also be taking part in the ritual. Jerath finds it amazing that some of the girls in their village aren’t put off by his arrogance and general meanness.

He watches the people as they go about their daily chores. It’s something he won’t be part of anymore, and the feeling is bittersweet. He needs to get back to Meren. It gets harder each day to be without him, but Eladir has been Jerath’s home for eighteen years. He’s going to miss it.

“Are you ready, Jerath?” Torek appears silently at his side. “My men are all packed and waiting at the far end of the village.”

“Yes.” Jerath has one last look around and takes a deep breath. “I just need to say my good-byes.”

Torek smiles. “Join us when you’re done.” He pats Jerath on the shoulder and leaves.

They’re all waiting for him outside his home, and he grins as Serim rushes up and jumps into his arms. “I’m going to miss you so much, Jerath!”

He swings her around and makes her squeal before setting her back down on the ground. “I expect to see you all soon. It’s only four days’ travel, and Serim knows the way now.”

“We’ll come and see you after the Choosing,” she replies, and steps back to let Mahli come in for a hug.

“I’m so happy for you, Jerath.” He can hear the waver in her voice and he squeezes her tight. “Meren’s lucky to have you.” She lets him go and studiously stares at the ground while she wipes her eyes. Next it’s Serim’s mother, Kinis, and then finally Helan.

“I’m so very proud of you, Jerath.” She cups his cheek and catches his tears with her thumb. “I know your father would have been too.”

Jerath pulls her into his arms and buries his head in her hair. “I love you.” He feels her breath hitch, and she whispers that she loves him too and that he’d better take care of himself or she’ll be having words with the chief.

Jerath laughs through his tears and steps back enough to lay a soft kiss on her forehead.

“They’re waiting for me.” He gestures behind him in the general direction of Torek and the others. He gives the girls one last hug, nearly having to peel Serim and Mahli off him, then turns to leave Eladir for good this time.

He waves until he can’t see them anymore.

Torek greets him with a small smile but doesn’t speak and Jerath’s grateful for the silence. He doesn’t feel like talking yet.

They walk out into the surrounding forest, and Jerath falters as he feels a surge of love through the bond. Meren will have sensed his pain and no doubt realizes that Jerath is leaving today. He rubs at his chest as the warmth spreads through him and he can finally breathe more easily. Jerath feels the weight lift from his shoulders. He’s going back to his mate, and despite all the hurt of leaving everyone behind, he knows with all his heart that this is
right
.

He looks up to see Torek is waiting for him while the others move on ahead. Jerath walks up beside him and offers a small smile. “Come on,” he says, and gives Torek a gentle nudge with his shoulder. “Let’s go home.”