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Jase sighed loudly. It was the one question he hadn’t wanted Willow to ask.
“Yes. From what we learned from Vampire, not only do you have to have intercourse with this form but our monster shape too,” he said, not wanting to frighten her.
“What the hell?” Willow exclaimed, springing to her feet.
“Vampire took his mate in his human-shifted side. But to actually bond with her, he had to be inside his mate for a few seconds as Vampire.”
“Hold on. Why do you have human shifter shapes? You’ve not explained that!”
“Let me tell you another story,” Jase said and patted the sand.
Willow offered a suspicious look but sat down. Jase had her full attention as he described what had happened two hundred years ago.
Chapter Eleven.
Willow
Damn, that was a lot to assimilate. It had been heart-wrenching listening to him talk about his family and how they had been hunted. Several times, Willow had forced herself to swallow a lump in her throat and fight back tears. Jase was correct in what he said. The God’s Warriors had been innocent of any crime.
Jase had broken off and sat beside her, waiting for her reaction. Willow could sense him watching her intently but refused to be pushed into giving an answer or saying anything. Jase owed her this time to collect her thoughts.
It was no wonder he despised her race. The Sins that had invaded their bodies had been human in their making. Humans then freed the Sins, which attacked them. Then, humankind hunted them down and tortured them. And amongst all that mess, it appeared her kind had subdued other races who’d already existed on this planet before humans were created. What a shit show, Willow acknowledged.
She could and did feel shame for her race’s actions. She’d always despaired at the general laziness and lack of consideration people showed towards their environment. But hearing this slayed her. Willow had never considered humankind bad, but looking at things from Jase’s point of view, they were evil incarnate.
How did she balance the hope in her heart against the knowledge that Jase had just given her? She’d always believed that the human race might realise the damage they were doing and come down harder on those who committed the pollution crimes. But now, seeing it from Jase’s perspective, Willow understood Jase had forsaken hope long ago.
Willow felt some of her natural positivity and buoyancy fading as she gazed out at the calm waves. She was at one with the ocean, which was strange, but she accepted it was partly because of the bond she’d found with Jase. Willow now thought it was her place to defend the sea, the oceans, and its denizens.
The ability she gained from the mate bond that had formed with Jase had given her a deeper understanding of the water. With that came the experience of what the creatures felt and thought who lived in here. No respect for humankind resided in the inhabitants of the seas and oceans.
Humans freely polluted their water. How could Willow stop that? They were now her responsibility as much as they ever were Poseidon’s.
“Willow?” Jase asked, questioning her silence.
“I am thinking. Jase, there is so much to absorb and understand, and I’m not sure where to start,” Willow replied.
“Can I help?” Jase offered.
“No. This is something only I can reconcile. But I apologise, Jace. On behalf of my race, I am truly sorry for the crimes they have committed against you and your family.”
“Willow, I may hate humans. Not you. I don’t see a love match forming between us like Vladimir and his soulmate. But we can tolerate each other and work together to make the world a better place.”
Willow nodded her head.
She continued to stare at the calm ocean.
Somewhere out there was her court, innocent creatures who swam and played and loved in the sea, only for humans to come along and dump toxic waste and rubbish. And whatever else they wanted into the waters. Yet, they had welcomed her with love in their hearts and open fins.
Willow knew that humankind wouldn’t be so forgiving. A sigh left her lips. She wished to know so much more, and she wasn’t sure where to begin.
“I am sorry, Jase. There is just so much information. I don’t know how to start to even assimilate it,” Willow finally announced.
“What now?” Jase asked.
“I need time to think.”
“Trust me?” Jase said, getting to his feet and reaching down with a hand.
