Sour Souls The Morningstar Series Book 6
Sour Souls Chapter 26

I could f*****g kill Ahkari and Bianca for assuming my mate is just some f**k. Now Emilia has doubts in her head. I hate that. She should never doubt how important she is to me. all. It's... hot. Really hot.

Thankfully, I think I managed to clear her thoughts over it. All I had to do was promise to make her c*m. I think my mate is more sexually awakened than she realizes. I know it's the mate bond pushing us together, but Emilia is so open about it. She isn't ashamed at "You know how to do womens hair? My hair?" My mate asked.

"Nope. Never tried a day in my life." I admitted.

Emilia giggled, and I smiled at the sound.

Honestly, I saw how sad Emilia looked in the mirror. She stared at the small bag of makeup, and the one hair tie she found. The way she looked at everything.. I could tell that she has no idea what to do. I felt too bad. If Emilia doesn't know how to handle her wild hair, then we will figure it out together.

"Well, you can't brush it. It'll frizz out, and look even crazier." She told me.

"Maybe we should leave it down the way it is." I offered.

Emilia scoffed at me. It's not that I don't want to help her. I just do really love her wild hair. It's even more untamed than Kee's. It's like fire in the wind.

"I am not leaving it down like this. I look crazy. I look like I just rolled out of bed." She said.

"And everyone will know that you just rolled out of my bed, so what does it matter?" I asked.

Emilia gave me a bored look through the mirror.

"Okay, fine. Let's just try a ponytail for now. Maybe after breakfast you can hang out with Kee for a little while. She has hair kind of like yours. Maybe she can help you figure out how to tame it. If you must that is." I said. Emilia giggle lighting up my entire world.

"You really like my hair like this?" She asked.

I nodded.

"Well, maybe I can learn how to tame just a little then." She said.

I smiled, and pulled her hair up with my fingers. I wrapped the hair tie around my mates hair. Emilia fixed it up a little before deeming herself fit.

I went to my closet to dress. I pulled on a new pair of boxers. Then I grabbed a pair of jeans, and a black T-shirt. I walked out of my closet to see Emilia laying on our now made bed. She frowned at me.

"We have got to get you some color." She said.

"I like black." I said.

"Of course you do." Emilia grumbled.

"Are you ready?" I asked her. "You can say no. I can tell them it's too much. We can do this-"

"Stop." Emilia said interrupting me. "I already told you that I'm excited. Plus, Jaja and Si will get upset if we don't show." She said.

I gave her a small smile. Those two already love her. It's clear. Mostly because Jaja hates everyone except her mothers, and me. Yet, she followed Emilia, a complete stranger, around the apartment. Helped her make breakfast, and ate it. Jaja already loves her aunt. Silas just loves anything his sister loves.

"Well, are you coming?"

**************

"Mom, Dad! We're here!" I called out as we entered through the front door.

Emilia chose to be barefoot, but I kicked my boots off at the front door. I pulled my mate through the house to the kitchen. The only one here is Atreus.

"They're all in the dinning room." He said, and then sipped his coffee.

"What's wrong with you this morning?" I asked him.

Tre looks tired. Which seems to be his usual lately. He's becoming more of a grump a*s these days. Just like me.

"I can't be tired?" He snapped.

"You can be tired without the attitude." Emilia stated making me snort.

"And who the fuck are you?" Tre asked her.

"Emi, Ares mate." She said.

Still with that fucking nickname.

Just call her it. Rex said annoyed.

No. Not until she tells me to. I replied.

Tre smirked at my mate making me growl.

"I'm Atreus, but you can call me Tre. I've heard a bit about you. Kee is my twin." He told her.

"Really? You guys don't look alike." Emilia said.

Which is sort of true. You can tell that we are all related, but Kee has more of our fathers features. That dark hair, and dark aura. While Tre has golden blonde hair shaved at the sides, with a small bun on the top. Just like the rest of the blonde haired goons here. He also has light green eyes, unlike Kee's glowing darker ones. Tre also has more of a warming aura.

"Yep. I'm cuter." Tre said.

"Yeah right." Came a voice from behind us.

I groaned.

Emilia turned around to face Vessa. Vessa, the adopted Morningstar. She has her clear blue, and black eye on Tre. Poor girl has the worlds biggest crush on him.

"You saying I'm not cuter?" Tre asked her.

"That's exactly what I'm saying." She replied snarkily.

Then Vessa looked at Emilia.

"I'm Vessa, I was adopted into the fam. Nice to meet ya. Wanna go stuff our faces, and watch Amory yell at everyone?" She asked.

"Uhh, sure." Emilia said.

Vessa grabbed my mate from me, and drug her into the dinning room. I watched Tre watch them leave the room. When he looked back at me, I raised a brow at him. "Fuck off." He grumbled before walking in the opposite direction.

That was strange.

We should ask him about it. Rex said.

Right now? I asked.

"No."

I turned to see Kee.

"Don't. He's just struggling." She told me.

"With what?" I asked.

Kee blinked at me for a moment.

"Atreus is struggling because he is a good brother, but a terrible mate." She said.

"Mate?" I asked.

Kee sighed. "Come one, let's go before Alessio starts hitting on your mate." She said.

"Ha ha, but she isn't really my type." Alessio said from the corner of the room.

"How long have you been standing there you creep?" I asked.

Alessio shrugged. Ever since awakening his darkness he's been different. Almost like a calm before a storm. He's tall now. As tall as me at 6'6. Now he has one dark blue eye, and one light green, unlike two blue eyes like before. "I thought everyone was your type, like Azai." Kee said.

Alessio scoffed. "First of all, I only like women. Tried the man thing, it's not for me." He said.

"Ew." Kee said.

"I like my women with more meat on their bones. I like em thick with two c's. With curves that I can bury-"

"Okay." I said interrupting him. "I do not want to hear the rest of it. Get in that room, and introduce yourself to my mate." I ordered.

"Kay. I'll bring her a steaming cup of coffee." He said before diappearing.

"That little fucking creep. You didn't even sense him?" I asked Kee.

"Nope. Ever since he awakened it, I don't even hear his thoughts anymore. It's like his darkness is invisiblity, or something." She said.

"Kee, I need to ask you a favor." I said.

"Yes, I will hang out with your mate after breakfast. I'll teach her anything she wants to know." She said.

"Don't teach her how to wear makeup." I said.

"Why?" My sister asked me.

"Because I don't want her to cover up her freckles." I said.

Kee raised a brow at me.

"Well, Imma teach her anything she wants to know bro. So, if she starts wearing makeup, you might have to just tell her how much you like her freckles." Kee teased.

I rolled my eyes, and walked to the dinning room. Whatever. If I have to admit how much I love those freckles to my mate, I will. Even if she teases me over it after.

We would do anything for our mate. Rex said.

Yes we will. I agreed.

I walked through the double doors to take in the chaos. My nieces and nephews are running around screaming and yelling. I scanned the table until my eyes landed on my mate.

Emilia is sitting to the left of my dad, who is at the head of the table. Mom is across from her, probably talking her ear off. Vessa is sitting beside Mom. And Epperly is sitting next to Emilia. Thank the Goddess. At least I know my mate is probably feeling at ease. Although, I don't see a plate of food in front of her.

Grunting, I walked to the buffet set up on the other side of the room. I piled up three full plates with food. Then I walked over to the table where my mate is. I set the plates down in front of her. "Up." I ordered.

Emilia looked up at me, and frowned. We stared each other down. Then my mate raised a brow at me.

"Emilia."

"Ares."

I sighed in frustration. "Get up. Please." I gritted out.

"Okay." Emilia said cheerfully, and stood up.

I sat down in her chair, and pulled her into my lap.

"We are sharing all three plates. Don't hesitate. I can get us more." I told her.

"Okay." Emilia said, and then dug in.

I looked up to see my mom smirking at me.

I ignored her.

"Uhm, Ares." My mate leaned back, and whispered.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Uhm.." Emilia trailed off as she grabbed her mug of coffee. "This stuff is disgusting. Can I have something else to drink?" She asked in a whisper.

"My coffee not good enough for you Emi?" Alessio asked from a few chairs down.

"It tastes as bitter as your brothers attitude." Emilia told him.

There were multiple bursts of laughter.

"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. Fuckers." I said annoyed.

"Ares. Language. There are kids present." Mom scolded me.

"Moooom. Uncle Ares said fuckers." Gatlin taddled to Tia.

"Dad says f**k all the time." Gensis said.

Vessa snorted.

"What do you want to drink? I can make your coffee sweeter, or I can get you juice, water.. Whatever you want." I asked Emilia.

"Wow, why don't you just offer to squeeze some fresh oranges for her." Vessa teased.

I growled at her.

"You can make my coffee sweeter?" Emilia asked ignoring Vessa.

I gave Emilia a confused look.

"Come on. Let's go to the kitchen. We can try a few things out." I said.

Emilia, and I walked to the kitchen. I started pouring things into her coffee, making her try them, and then adding other things. Until she figured out how she likes it.

"Much better." Emilia said after I added a little bit of sugar, and some creamer.

"How are you feeling? Not overwhelmed?" I asked.

"I was starting to feel really nervous, but then Epperly came to sit next to me. I see what you mean about her. It's like, just being close her is like being wrapped in a hug. Still not as good as having you around makes me feel, but it did relax me." She said. I smiled as I reached up to cup her cheek.

"Good. And how about everyone else?" I asked her.

"Well, Ambrose seems just as sweet as his mate. Tate is such a little gentleman." She said. "Acaisia is extremely different than Ahkari, but in a good way. Bou is very cute with how attentive he is with his mate." That's true. Bou is whipped for Acaisia. It's ridiculous.

"Belle and Robby are just as sweet as you said they would be." Emilia continued. "Vessa is hilarious. I didn't even know you had an adopted sibling." She said.

"Vessa is special. She was the only survivor when they found Kee." I said.

"Oh." Emilia said.

"Don't dwell love. Tell me what thought of everyone else." I urged her back to more positive things.

"Well, I haven't met your twin yet, or Amory. Apparently they will be here shortly though." She said. "Alessio.. Well, he seems like he likes trouble."

I snorted at that.

"And Axton.. Well, I see that the grumpiness runs in the family." She said.

I rolled my eyes at Emilia making her laugh.

"Your parents are lovely though. Your dad is kind of scary at first, but he actually is.. pretty nomral. And your mother, ugh, she's so sweet." She said.

Emilia looked up into my eyes.

"What was it like growing up like that?" She asked seriously.

"Like what?" I asked.

Emilia furrowed her brow. Almost like she wasn't sure how to answer. Which confused me.

"Loved I guess." She said.

My heart broke. I swear if her parents weren't already dead, I would kill them myself. My mate has been through so much. She has never known love. And here I've been my whole life wishing I wouldn't meet her yet. I pressed my forhead to hers.

"I wasted so much time wishing I would never meet you. I was stupid. I'm so sorry that I didn't make it to you sooner. But I promise that you will only ever know love for the rest of eternity." I told her.

"Promise?" Emilia whispered.

"I promise." I said.

"Awwwh, that's so sweet."

Oh no, that's Mo's voice.

"I didn't even know you knew how to be sweet brother."

That is Azai.

I looked up at my two siblings, and frowned.

"Guess ruining the moment runs in the family too." Emilia grumbled.

"Hi, I'm Amory. I'm the youngest." Mo introduced herself. "You look different than in my vision." She said.

"Mo." I scolded.

"You had more meat on your bones. And rounder cheeks." Mo said.

"Amory." I scolded again.

"Must not have happened yet." Mo said.

I rolled my eyes.

"What vision did you even have of my mate?" I asked her.

Mo turned to me. "It was nothing bad. Just a flash of the two of you announcing something." She said.

Please not a pregnancy.

"I hope it wasn't announcing a pregnancy." Emilia said echoing my thoughts.

"You don't want kids?" Mo asked.

"Well.. Not yet. Eventually.. maybe.." Emilia answered.

"Good, because that wasn't what it was." Mo said before walking off to the dinning room.

"Well, hello there! I'm Azai, Ares better half." Azai introduced himself to my mate.

I rolled my eyes.

"These are my mates Ozzy, and Olive." Azai introduced them.

"Very nice to meet you.. uh.." Ozzy trailed off.

"You can call me Emi." My mate said.

I growled. Shit, I didn't mean to do that out loud. Emilia raised a brow at me, but I just looked away.

"Emi, welcome to the family." Olive said. "I think you've met our kids already too. They've been here since last night." She said with a laugh.

"It's nice to meet all of you." Emilia said with a smile.

"You can tell us if it's too much. We'd understand." Azai told her.

Emilia laughed, and shook her head.

"No, I mean, it is a lot. I hope I remember everyone's names, but.. Uhm, it's nice. Really nice. I don't think I've ever been in a room filled with so much love before." She said.

I wrapped my arms around Emilia from behind, and pulled her against me. I kissed the top of her head, and she relaxed into me. I smiled down at my beautiful mate as I shoved my nose in her hair. When I looked back up, everyone is staring at us with amusement. "What?" I bit out.

"Nothing. Just.. I didn't know you knew how to smile." Olive said making Emilia snort.

"He's kind of a grump ass right?" My mate asked making the three laugh.

"Alright." I said.

"We should go eat." Ozzy said.

"Actually, can I have a word with you Olive?" I asked.

Azai narrowed his eyes at me as he looked me up and down.

"Why?" He asked.

I gave my twin a bored look.

"Don't worry. Emilia is going to stay too. You f*****g werido." I said.

"That doesn't answer my question." Azai said.

"Azai, relax. Get me a plate. I'll be right in there." Olive said.

Ozzy grabbed Azai's hand, and pulled him into the dinning room. The two girls turned their heads to me. Olive crossed her arms.

"What's up?" She asked.

"Emilia-"

"Emilia?" Olive interrupted me to ask.

"I told him he had to call me by my full name because he left me in the dungeon after replaceing me." Emilia said casually.

Olive whipped her head to my mate.

"Dungeon?" She asked.

My mate nodded.

"As I was saying." I interrupted. "Emilia, Olive is the doctor here. She takes care of anything, and everything. With very little help." I said. "Olive, my mate has been through a lot. I want to ask if you would mind helping her get better. She is very malnourished still, but we've been working on it. If there is anything extra you could do I would appreciate it." I said.

"Did you give her some of your blood?" Olive asked.

"Emilia isn't a Vampire." I said.

Olive rolled her eyes. "You are her mate. Try it. Bet you it'll help." She said.

"Okay fine, but that isn't all." I said.

"It isn't?" Emilia asked.

"Emilia didn't finish high school. She wants to be an ultrasound technician. I am going to talk to Tia about helping Emilia at least get her GED, but-"

"I can totally teach her everything she needs to know!" Olive interrupted me.

Olive looked at my mate, and grabbed her hands excitedly.

"You can take online classes to get your Doctorate, but can do actual hands on things here. I can teach you everything. I could totally use the help. I can even teach you the basics of nursing so that you can help out with other things. Oh my Goddess! This is perfect!"

Olive said.

Emilia looked from Olive to me. I smiled down at her. Then she turned back to Olive.

"Really?" Emilia asked.

Olive nodded her head enthusiastically.

"Come on, we can talk about it over food."