CHAPTER EIGHT
miracles

Whilst Henrik was out for a run, I decided to mess around in the kitchen. Cooking wasn't exactly a talent of mine, however I really enjoyed attempting recipes that I found online. My meals never look as good as the picture but Henrik stoically eats them anyway. Elijah joined me in the kitchen whilst I was putting a lasagne in the oven.

I closed the oven door and straighted as Elijah came to stand beside me. It made me realise just how tall Elijah was in comparison to me. I was above average height for a woman and yet he still managed to tower over me. Looking up at him through my eyelashes, I watched as he placed two wine glasses on the countertop.

"Do you like red wine?" he asked, pouring a glass for himself.

"I'm not sure," I answered with a shrug of my shoulder, "I've never had it before."

Usually when I told people that I didn't drink, they made assumptions. They presumed that I was a recovering alcoholic or that I had trauma relating to drunk people. The truth was that it simply did not interest me. I was not against the idea of drinking, it was just something that did not appeal to me.

"What do you usually drink then?" He inquired.

"Tea, mostly."

"How very British of you." Elijah responded with a lazy smirk, "Would you like to try some wine?"

"I'll give it a go."

Elijah looked amused as he poured another glass and handed it to me. I took a careful sip, finding I actually didn't mind the taste.

"This particular bottle is from a Spanish villa I owned during the 1940s. I bottled it myself. I've been waiting for a special occasion to open it." Elijah explained as I took another sip.

"It's really nice," I told him honestly, "What is the occasion?"

"Finding you."

I could stop the small smile that appeared at his words and looked down shyly. I was still entirely confused and overwhelmed about the whole situation but Elijah was slowly making my worries disappear. I didn't fully trust him yet (and I doubted I would for a very long time) but I felt comfortable in his presence and greatly enjoyed his company.

"Aren't you feeling overwhelmed?" I asked him, "I mean, you found out about me and your brother on the same day!"

"I feel shocked for certain, but who am I to question two miracles?"

***

Elijah and I sat together on the sofa in the living room, discussing his life whilst we waited for the lasagne to be ready. A lot of it I'd already known thanks to Henrik but it was interesting to hear it all from a different perspective.

"So you're like a thousand years old?" I laughed, the glass of wine I had consumed earlier giving me confidence. Elijah nodded at my statement and I sent him a disbelieving look, "How on earth are you not terribly bored by now?"

"Well, I've had my fair share of enemies through the years that have kept me occupied." he summerised and my eyes widened.

"You have enemies? Goodness, I feel like I'm in a movie!" I said, subconsciously sliding closer to him on the sofa.

"Everyone has enemies, the only varying factor is the length said enemy is willing to go."

I let his words sink in before another question popped to mind.

"Did you personally know any prominent historical figures?" I asked with excitement. I absolutely love history and I was currently talking to a walking history book.

"I have known many great men and women. Unfortunately, history fails to record most of them." Elijah replied with a far away look. "So to answer your question, yes, I have known many prominent figures but unfortunately the world no longer recalls their names."

"That is rather sad." I said with a frown and Elijah smiled softly.

"Enough about me, I'd like to know more about you."

"I'm afraid I'm terribly boring in comparison to you. The most notable person I've ever met is Henrik." I grinned.

"Being interesting is not measured by who you know but who you are."

"Well, aren't you full of inspirational quotes?" I said under my breath and Elijah let out a laugh, "Um, well my name is Morgana, as you already know. I grew up in the foster system, which wasn't a lot of fun but I once befriended a stray cat that lived in the alleyway near one of the houses I stayed at, which was pretty cool I guess."

"You like cats then?" Elijah asked.

I nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah, I love them. I spend way too much time watching cat videos on my phone. I love dogs too but I like how you have to earn a cat's trust and respect."

"Do you have a cat?"

"No, Henrik and I always spoke of getting one but we never really got a chance." I said sadly before asking, "Does it bother you that Henrik has known me the longest?"

"I will admit, I feel slightly irritated that Henrik got the opportunity to spend so much time alone with you but I'm mostly glad that he was there to protect you when I could not." Elijah replied after a moment of thought and I saw the honesty in his eyes.

"He never told me that we were mates." I said, still feeling extremely bitter about it, "We've always been just friends."

"He told me that neither of you were in the emotional position for a relationship and that he did not wish for you to accept the mate bond before you were ready." Elijah explained and I frowned.

"Accept the mate bond? What does that mean?" I asked curiously, "Do you mean like acknowledging it exists and being okay with it?"

"No." Elijah said with an amusement smile, "It means consummating the bond, forever linking you and your mate."

"And by consummate you mean..." I trailed off, my face turning red. I was saved from continuing the conversation when the door opened and Henrik walked in, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead as he panted. "Henrik!" I said with a little too much enthusiasm.

Henrik raised his eyebrows at me with a grin before facing his brother.

"Why is Morgana the same shade as a tomato?"