A/N: Oh my word, I need to apologise. This is a really short one. Haaaaa, when I was breaking up the story into chapters I was not paying attention to the word count, I was just cutting it where it felt right! Sesan my little bees, I'll try to do better! Always love to hear your feedback! Thanks for reading! 

Catijan Language Key: No new words this chapter!

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Darius lifted me onto his back and we flew the short distance to our house. Darius left me inside while he placed protective barriers around the house.

I made some coffee while I waited for him to come back inside. I'm not ready to go to sleep and I'm sure Darius isn't done talking with me. I sat in the living room to wait for him. Kai and Tai were all over me, they must know I was hurt but it was nice to have them sitting around me. Tai jumped off the couch as Darius sat next to me wrapping his arm around my shoulder kissing my numb neck.

"Are you a little better now?" I asked as he nodded.

"I feel better having you here with the protection around the house." I sat my coffee mug down and wrapped my arms around his waist resting my head on his chest.

"I feel better here too." I sighed.

"Tomorrow I'm going to go through the forest to hunt those de'mujos. My brothers will be here in the morning. Meilyn will be coming too." He told me kissing the top of my head.

"I thought you weren't going to leave me alone?" I smiled.

"That's why I put the barriers around the house and why Meilyn will be coming to babysit you, sesti." He chuckled.

"Fair enough," I sighed, "why aren't the other dejainas coming?" I asked

"They don't really like to be around their husbands when they're fighting de'mujos. They're not healers so they don't really enjoy seeing their dejainos come back to them bruised and beat up. The other dejainas are water masters and air masters." He explained.

"Oh, that makes sense." I nodded as he ran his fingers through my hair.

"Darius."

"Hmm?"

"The de'mujos have giants and they're strong. They don't feel like the other ones." I said shuddered at the thought of that giant's touch.

"What do you mean?" He asked as I looked up at him.

"I don't know if you saw it, but when it touched me it drained me. I couldn't summon any of my powers." I explained as he frowned.

"So how did you call out to me and make your barriers disappear? That was a lot of power you used."

"That was Gaia. I was dying but she wouldn't let me go. She gave me some of her strength to call you."

"Gaia, lent you power? She was with you?" He asked as I nodded.

"Yeah she was with me before you came."

"What is your connection with Gaia?" He asked.

"I don't know, that's the first time she's ever lent me power."

"That's the first time she's ever lent anyone power, at least that's the first time I've ever heard of it. There's something odd about you, sesti." He said shaking his head.

"Do you think my birth parents are connected to Gaia?" I asked.

"Maybe, I don't know. We need to find your parents that's for sure."

"What if they're dead? I mean it would explain why they gave me away." I sighed as he kissed my forehead.

"Don't worry, litani, we'll figure you out. Whatever you are must be something serious if you need the Asarak Rotelinjo to be your dejaino." He said as I frowned.

"You don't think us being soulmates is just a crazy coincidence?" I asked as he chuckled shaking his head.

"No, I love you, Jazmine more than I can put into words, but there's always a reason for being connected to your dejaina. Most of the time it's because you have a twin soul, but I feel like this is something different. It's not exactly normal for an ancient to be a twin soul with a young Mercatija." He said shaking his head.

"Do you think I'm something dangerous? Maybe you're my dejaino to keep whatever power I have under control."

"You could never be dangerous, sesti. But I want to figure out this connection you have with Gaia it could lead us to your parents and your real family."

"True." I yawned feeling the weight of what happened wash over me again. Darius hasn't been in my life for a week yet and we've already been through de'mujo attacks. At least we're not bonded. I would've been so angry if I woke up and I was bonded to him. I don't want to bond out of necessity, like my sisters.

"I know, that's why I didn't do it, but you really were alive on your own." He sighed.

"This mind connection isn't going to go away is it?" I asked he just laughed.

"No, sesti, it's not. Usually the telepathy comes after you bond, but you decided to skip over that step and create a pretty strong mental bond between us. There's no breaking it now." He laughed.

"Well, there's really no turning back now, huh? I might as well accept my fate." I sighed.

"There was never any time to turn back, Jaz. I was going to let you have your fun and think there was a chance for you to get out of this, but you would've come to realize I'm not going anywhere." He smiled as I chuckled.

"Yeah, I kind of figured that. I thought about telling you that I won't ever bond with you but then Vienne reminded me of the whole de'mujo fate for you and as much as I don't want you in my life I would never be able to do that to you."

"Well, you are just too kind, dejaina." He laughed and I yawned again closing my eyes. This could be so easy if I just let myself go and allow him to be my rock. I have a feeling we are going to go through a lot if we're going to find my birth parents.

I'll always be here for you. You'll never have to worry about that. He said as he picked me up carrying me to our room. I was already asleep in his arms before my head hit the pillow.