Princess Susanne Sawelli

James' POV

The weekend is a wild blur of laughing, sex, talking, being down at the beach and just enjoying each others company.

Celeste, I haven't felt so happy and free in my life.

Jessie and Sloan had spent a wild crazy night together which was rough enough to leave me sore yesterday. And Cody got the chance to be in the ocean spending this morning enjoying the waves until his growling stomach chased him out of the water.

I'm cleaning up the remnants of lunch, Cody sitting in the living room curled up with a book in his lap, engrossed into the novel.

While there's nothing I wish more than being able to stay here for forever and forget about everything else going on, I can't ignore the pack or whatever it is that's going on.

Besides, as much as I don't like to admit the idea of clear danger, I would rather be ahead of it than get caught off gaurd. And it seems my team agrees, my phone holding dozens of reported updates and messages when I finally turned it on. Though we avoided talking about it this morning, probably in vain hopes of being able to stay longer, it's time we finally get ready to head back home and back to reality.

I finish with wiping the counters down and cleaning the sink, putting everything away in the hopes that we won't have to touch the kitchen again.

I round the island and make my way towards the living room, sitting down on the other end of the couch Cody's curled up on, wrapping myself around him. I kiss his neck and shoulders quietly, worshipping my Mate as I wait for him to end the chapter and reach a stopping point. And about five minutes later he does, his bookmark sliding between the pages before he shuts the book and sighs.

"It's time to get ready to go home, huh?" He asks me, already knowing, and I nod before granting him a few more soothing kisses. "It's so peaceful here. But it was starting to get a little too quiet." He admits causing me to laugh as he twists in my arms, throwing his legs over mine as he uses my arm as a pillow.

"It is weird not to constantly be around other wolves." I agree, grateful he's not too upset about leaving.

We sit and talk for a little bit more before we get up and start to gather all of our belongings into the bedroom, checking under everything and checking again. There was once a tension between us, almost like a wall, one we were both scared to drop just in case we were asking for too much, but now there's nothing. Only the easy, electrifying connection that binds us Mark to Mark.

In less than an hour we're leaving the house and checking out online, packing up the car to make our way back to Vollmond.

I roll the windows down again as I turn onto Highland road, the main road that leads straight back to Vollmond. The view of the water is just as breathtaking as before and I can feel Cody's awe as he looks out at it, enraptured by it's beauty.

Like the way I am by his.

I reach my free hand over towards one of Cody's hand, grabbing it for his attention and to calm my own nerves as I share something I've been thinking over since we got here. "I've always hated being in my parents house, I usually ended up at Alex's or crashing at the Pack House. But I want us to start building the life we want. The life we need for ourselves and to help our pack. I want us to start planning a house so we can move in together." I tell Cody, my cheeks burning red along with my ears, unable to turn to look him in the eye.

"It would be lovely to have a home again. I would love to." He tells me softly, and the tears in his voice almost break me, I only squeeze his hand in response as I swallow thickly.

The emotions ease eventually and we're back to laughing and joking, especially when Cody starts to ask more about my friends, seeming more interested with the confirmation that he's sticking around.

"How did you and the Royals of Melamar become friends?? That does not seem like a likely match." He points and I grin, loving being able to share this story, Sloan of course peeking up from his thrilling slumber.

"That's a good point and you would be right. Even though Alex, Zee, Briana and I all went to school with all the Melamarians we didn't interact. We thought they were like every other Faeries and Art and Jasper had their own worries and assumptions. The only reason we ever talked was because of their cousin." I tell him, though Sloan is already ahead of me.

'Stupid cheating, bitch. I should have shanked her ass." He threatens and I try not to laugh, shaking my head at the suddenly violent wolf.

Though to be fair, this is in line with his usual response regarding Susanne.

"Cousin?" He questions in confusion. "I didn't realize they had a cousin."

'How dare you even utter her name. She shall be referred to as 'Her Bitchiness'.' He corrects me, disgust at my lack of competence towards the situation clearly an issue. I resist the urge to roll my eyes before explaining to Cody.

"Yes. Their mother, Queen Mother Arla has a younger sister, Princess Camille Sawelli. Her only daughters name is Princess Susie, though Sloan prefers to call her 'Her Bitchiness'." I tell him, making sure to add that last part before Sloan tries to attack me again.

"Why?" He laughs, cracking up, shaking him head though clearly not surprised, already used to Sloan's dramatics and antics.

"Well, back when we were about to turn seventeen, Sloan and I had only been on good terms for a year or so. So in order to show him I meant what I said about not forcing him out I signed him up for a Beauty Pageant he had really wanted but was too scared to admit. My father was out of town in Vilin on some business and wasn't supposed to be back until the following morning. Artemis wasn't in the competition but she and her entire family had shown up and sat in the front row. When it was time for the Crown & Gown portion, she broke my crown. She claimed it was an accident, but Sloan- I mean- we didn't believe that. Because of that and the points taken Sloan lost by two points to Susie. It was supposed to be Sloan's big debut, but all that happened is Susie winning the crown. And of course, to make matters worse, my father had decided to come home early and found out exactly why me and my mom weren't home. Needless to say Sloan was upset. Upset enough to force my out and hide away. It was Artemis and Jasper that found me. Artemis told me that she was sorry that I lost, and she said my crown was beautiful. Jasper blatantly said right there in the hallway that Susie was overcompensating for always coming in second best in their Aunts eyes. And after that I introduced them to Alex, naturally, who was also there and we've been thick as thieves since." I tell Cody, my grin wide and full of nostalgia and love for my eccentric compassionate friends that made me laugh after such a hard day.

"Wow, that's crazy. I'm assuming you still see her sometimes?" Cody asks and I shrug.

"Eh. Not really. Princess Lucille has a pretty tight grip on the Faeries, she's usually studying or doing other court matters. Though when I do see her, the only thing I'm allowed to do is ignore her. Apparently." I tell him, rolling my eyes for him to see causing Sloan to grumble though he can't hide the amused smile that kisses his lips.

"Yeah, that sounds about right." Cody says with a giggle.

"What about you? How did you end up with the younger brother of the High Lord of House of Earth?" I question and he laughs shaking his head and shrugging.

"Honestly I forgot that he is a Young Lord and most of the time he prefers it that way. We met when I had first started school, we took Advanced Nature at the same time. I've always had an interest in gardening and he was doing it for the easy A. He noticed the signs of my Autism and Adhd and would also make little flower fidgets or moss earmuffs to help with the noise and the anxiety that came with being overwhelmed. He understood what it was like to lose your parents, though he was younger than me and his brother lived. He said he knew he couldn't replace Casey, but he would try to honor her wish for me to stay safe and take care of, from one sibling to another. And he always has. That's why I was so happy for him to find Enza. He deserves it. He's like an older brother. I don't think I would have survived school without him." He tells me, and I gain a new perspective on the Earth Faerie and the friendship they have, now understanding the bond they hold.

"I get that. I think Alex would probably like to talk to you guys. I had my own issues, one I haven't found anyone that understands yet, but I always knew that I didn't quite get what it was that Alex felt or was going through. My parents were alive, and to me, it always seemed like it would be a relief if they died. And his sister didn't want to talk anymore. She had lost two parents and a life she could barely remember. Talking about it was too much. So he was forced to just keep it all in. I'm sure he would tell you more if you asked, but it was a tough time for him." I tell him, giving just a little bit of information about my Beta, and my closest friend. There's a moment of silence before Cody shakes his head, his fingers playing with my hand that still rests in his lap.

"Being with you had really made me realize how self absorbed I was in my pain and loss. I had no idea what was going on between you and your father. Or that Alex had even lost his parents. Or that he had a sister. Even before becoming friends, you guys are my Alpha and Beta and I couldn't even be bothered to know about you. About any of the pack. But after meeting Charlotte and Timari, I realize that's there was so many stories that I haven't heard and things I didn't know about my family that they could give me. It's been nice to slowly get to know them better, even after all these years. I don't know if that makes sense." Cody explained shaking his head in the end in doubt, but I stop him, reassuring him that I understand.

"That makes perfect sense."

"I want to talk to Alex like you said. Maybe Taylor would be okay with the three of us going out." He offers with a smile and I grant him one in return.

Suddenly my stomach clenches, a feeling of dread creeping up the back of my neck eerily. I try to shake it, but it won't go away, the feeling only made worse when Cody whispers:

"You feel that too, right?" He asks and I want to deny it, shaking my head in refusal, but I can't.

"Yes." I whisper back, the weight of the feeling almost suffocating. "Do you think- Do you think everyone is alright? Do you think it's really possible that Satan is going to come back?" I ask Cody, with just the two of us, the wind snatching our words away, keeping them from shattering the fragile hope we somehow seem to carry.

"I honestly don't know. I always regarded the Daemon Wars as ancient history but I recently met a Faerie-Angel Hybrid who was alive for the Peace Treat Signing, the start of the Daemon wars and the end of them. This all happened within the span of some peoples lifetime. So maybe it's not so impossible that someone again would find a way to start it all again." He tells me honestly, and I wish he didn't. I wish he would lie, but there's a certain truth to his words that I can't deny.

"You have a point. I'm worried. I've had a bad feeling since everything started that things are going to start happening, fast and soon. And I'm scared we won't be ready." I tell him, reminding myself that I'm not weak to admit it, especially not to Cody.

"I think we all are. Because if this is another Daemon war, we're fucked. The Supernatural Nations haven't worked together or even tolerated each other in the three hundred years since the last Daemon war. It would be a slaughter." Cody tells me, and I love and hate the way he makes a hard reality the easiest truth to swallow.

"So we either sit on our hands in denial and get killed, prepare ourselves and our egos and get killed or convinced Nightlies and Divine Children to work together and save our country?" I ask him, clarifying.

"Pretty much." He admits.

"We have better luck trying to sprout a halo." I retort not convinced, not out of denial but the fear that we won't be able to band together in time.

For whatever is heading our way.

"How about when we get home, we go up to your room and watch a movie and cuddle. We can relax and distract ourselves before we throw ourselves back into the fray." I suggest and Cody nods with a sigh of relief and a smile.

"Sounds good to me." He admits and I laugh and nod in agreement as I drive the last few minutes home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okayyyyy you guys the birthday and Marking Arc is complete. now back to the larger plot at hand. what do you guys think will happen next?

Thoughts?

Comments?

QOTD: Whats your favorite kind of pie?