A/N: I really enjoyed writing this chapter. I just really love Jazmine and Darius' chemistry. There's a lot of Catijan phrases in this one, so I've left some of the translations in the text to make it a little easier. I've also left out some of the common terms on the language key that have been in the last three chapters, otherwise this list is going to get far to big in each chapter! Feel free to leave me some love and feedback in the comments! 

Catijan Language key:

Ciet [See- eht]- Peace

Evela me [Eh-vay-lah may] - my love

Dutaj mi shesa'de [Doo-tahzh mee shay-sah'deh] - my duty is to protect you.

Nev'o fenao litatu ven mi [Nehv' oh fen-ay-oh lee-tah-too vehn mee] Never be afraid to share your heart with me.

Seta no edike [Say-tah no eh-dee-kay] it's not your fault

Evela'tu ma'sun lefo [Eh-vay-lah-too mah'soon leh-foh] I love you more than life

Bonus soundtrack:

Girls Like You - Brooklyn Duo (Darius' Confession)

At Last, Sunrise - Maree Docia (Jazmine's Confession)

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I choked on my spit, snatching my hand out of his and backing away from him. He built this gorgeous house for me? Why? How would he know I'd want a house in Italy? When did he build it? What the hell is going on?!

That only means bonding can't be too far away and then there's children and having a settled life. Oh God, Oh God, the chains are coming down. I hear Darius' rumble of laughter, probably at the freaked out scared to death look on my face. He took my hand again kissing it softly.

"Relax sesti. We're still courting. I'm not going to bind you to me yet. I built this place for you a long time ago." He smiled.

"Come on, let me show you around." He said as I let him lead me down the hall.

"How long ago did you build this?" I asked looking at all the immaculate paintings on the walls of faraway landscapes as he showed the library and office where I can write. It had a desk facing the windows and a place for me to sit outside to find inspiration like I often do. He really thought of everything.

"I built this ten years ago." He said as I followed him up a spiral pine staircase that went through the indoor-outdoor garden where birds could come and go freely. I slid my hand over the pine and my eyes grew wide. He carved this wood himself.

"When, when did you know I was your Dejaina?" I asked as we walked through set of bedrooms. There are enough rooms for both our families to fit comfortably.

"Do you remember the first time we met?" He asked looking back at me.

"When I was five?! No way." I said as we went up a few stairs and stopped in front of a cherry wood door. It had beautiful intricate flowers and birds carved into it. I touched my hand to the door feeling the energy in the wood. He made this too.

"Oh yes. I knew the moment you climbed into my lap." He smiled opening the door and my heart stopped.

This is our room.

There is a large wooden four poster bed with green ivy vines curling around the canopy. There is a balcony off our bedroom that overlooked the grassy fields beyond the village. I slowly walked in the room and realized he never sleeps here. Nothing has been touched or moved. Everything smells new.

There is a large vanity on the far side of the bed next to the walk in closet. I stepped up a few stairs to the look inside the bathroom and I'm floored by the Jacuzzi tub with candleholders circling it and the enormous stand up shower.

I closed the door and turned back to the bed. I touched the vines around the bed and ran my fingers across the plush cream comforter and felt tears in my eyes.

Why? Why would he do something like this? He did this before he even knew who I was and he got everything so right. This is not how I expected him to be. Where is his pushy egotistical side? Why do I feel like I'm not going to be able to keep my guard up with him? And I don't want to. I sat hard on the bed, putting my head in my hands and cried.

"What's the matter? You don't like it?" He asked sitting next to me. I let out a choked laugh wiping my tears.

"You're not supposed to be like this." I said through my tears.

"Like what?" He asked taking my chin in his hand turning my face to look at him.

"Perfect." I mumbled as he chuckled wiping my tears.

"I'm not perfect, sesti. I've done a lot of things that would shame Gaia." He said as I shook my head.

"But you're not...ugh!" I said frustrated pushing away from him as I stood pacing back and forth.

"I'm not supposed to feel like this! I don't want this and I don't want you! I don't want you!" I yelled feeling myself beginning to run away from him.

He must have sensed my distress because he quickly caught me in his arms before I made a beeline for the door. He's holding me so tight yet so gentle that I let go of the sob I've been trying to suppress.

"Shh, Jazy, relax, everything's alright. I don't understand why you're so afraid to have a dejaino? I'm not going to hurt you, the only reason I exist is to protect you." He said kissing my hair as I cried into his chest. He isn't supposed to be this perfect. I pushed away from him looking into his eyes.

"I don't want to lose myself, I don't need you to protect me. I don't need a dejaino." I said frustrated that I'm beginning to feel something for him already.

"Jazmine, you won't lose yourself, I'm not going to change you or control you. I will never force you to do anything or change who you are. I'm here to be your partner in life and I just want to keep you happy because I owe that to you." He said and I frowned.

"How can you owe me anything? I hardly know you." I scoffed pushing completely out of his arms and crossing my arms in front of my chest. I don't know him; I shouldn't be feeling this way. I shouldn't want to tell him all of my secrets. He sighed his arms falling to his side.

"You have no idea what you mean to me. I owe you my life because you breathed life back into mine. I have seen so much death, I've fought in so many wars that I forgot what it felt like to be happy, to feel joy. Then I met you, a five year old child." He smiled, shaking his head looking down at his hands.

"When you climbed into my lap I could breathe again. You took centuries of pain away and made me feel joy again. And I knew I was yours." He said looking up at me and my heart stuttered at the truth swirling in his grey orbs.

"I know me being the Asarak Rotelinjo scares you, but I won't do anything to harm you. I've waited centuries to find you. I've loved you for a very long time, Jazmine. Nothing would make me happier than to be by your side for the rest of my life." My lip trembled at his admission. My heart tingled and I felt as if a door slowly opened inside of it.

"I don't know what to say." I whispered tears spilling down my cheeks.

"You don't have to say anything. Just promise me you won't run away from me." He smiled slowly reaching out to wipe my tears and I sighed.

"I thought I would be a lot older when my dejaino found me, not twenty two. I'm so young and the seriousness of all of this scares the shit out of me." I said as he chuckled.

"I know it does and I know you're very young to have met your dejaino already but there's a reason Gaia wanted us to meet now I just haven't figured it out yet." He sighed taking my hands.

"Please know that I won't bind you to me unless you are ready or in the unfortunate event that you are dying and the only way to save you is to bind you to me. I'm not in any rush to go any further than courting." He said and a small smile spread across my face.

"Seriously? You're an ancient kue and you're mentally ok with us just courting?" I asked raising my eyebrow.

"Like I said, I've waited centuries for you; I'm capable of handling this." He smiled and without thinking, I leaned up on my toes and kissed his cheek, surprising us both.

"Thank you," I blushed, "I promise I won't run from you." I smiled and my heart nearly stopped at the dazzling smile that lit up his face.

"Well this is a good start, how about that dinner?" He chuckled kissing my forehead.

I feel so weird and so safe in his presence now. I let him lead me downstairs back to the kitchen and I can't help seeing him in a different light than before.

What the hell? I thought, rubbing my chest, that damn tingle is aching to let him in, but I'm still uneasy about it. He can still turn on me. He can still be the overprotective, possessive dejaino of my nightmares.

Maybe this is his way of tricking me. Well, at least my mind hasn't fallen for his sincerity yet. But my heart feels like it's fucking yearning for him. This is ridiculous.

And he's over there grinning from ear to ear chopping up some vegetables, looking far too happy about it.

"Why are you grinning like that?" I asked as he let out a chuckle looking up at me.

"I'm just watching your mind go to work. This is really bothering you isn't it? We just had a revelation upstairs and you're still freaking out." He said shaking his head.

"Well yeah, I just didn't expect you to be this way." I sighed as he beamed and my heart pounded in my chest at the sight. He really needs to stop smiling like that. Where's his permanent scowl gone?

"I'm sure I'll continue to grow on you." He smiled turning around to put the chicken and eggplant parmigiana in the oven..

"Much to my annoyance, I'm sure you will. This bonding and life partner stuff is weird." I grumbled.

It really doesn't help that Darius is painfully handsome. His dark rugged features are otherworldly and sometimes it's not just my heart that tingles for him.

"As odd as it is that we're meeting when you're so young, I can imagine this 'bonding and life partner stuff' is going to get even weirder." He said turning around to continue fixing the salad.

I felt my cheeks burning, realising I have been staring at his ass and now my eyes are firmly planted on the slight bulge in his crotch. I shook my head to wipe my thoughts clean.

Get ahold of yourself, Jazmine.

"I do wonder why Gaia decided to ruin my life so early." I smirked hoping he didn't notice where my eyes have been.

"Ah, one day you won't think of us meeting as your life being ruined, sesti. I'm sure Gaia has her reasons, but she did warn me about you." He said his eyes flickering to mine a small grin on his lips.

"I know, she's such a traitor." I grumbled while he laughed.

"I think she just worries about you." He said in all seriousness and my heart clenched.

"Why would she be worried about me?"

"I'm not sure, but you're a very powerful Mercatijan at such a young age, you'd be a natural target for de'mujos. It must be why I'm your dejaino." Darius is the strongest kue of the Mercatija and the reason he is nicknamed Asarak Rotelinjo is because he is a merciless killer.

Legends say the de'mujos wars were won because he killed over half of the them on his own. They say he is so murderous because he's so close to becoming one himself and he kills them as if to erase their essence from the earth.

I don't think I'm considerably stronger than anyone else I mean I did gain my powers at a young age but not to warrant the Asarak as my dejaino. And why would Gaia talk to - wait...

"Gaia still speaks to you?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm an ancient. I was still around when we were all very close with Gaia, but the strange thing is why you can still speak to Gaia."

"I don't know," I shrugged, "I've always been able to."

"And you're not an ancient?" He asked as I laughed.

"I'm pretty sure I would know if I was idome."

Dinner is delicious. I'm very impressed that he can cook and he is very good at it. I thought it was pretty thoughtful he made a vegetarian dish knowing I'm an Earth master and it takes a lot for me to eat another animal.

After dinner we sat outside and waited for the fireworks to begin. Darius made a fire in the sand stone pit. I wrapped up in a blanket as he sat next to me sliding his arm around my waist, moving closer to me. I blushed, I hate how easy it is for me to feel comfortable in his arms now.

"So why do you like fireworks so much?" He asked kissing my ear.

"I like the sound, the smell, and they're so pretty."

"The smell?" He frowned.

"Yeah that sulfur smell, I love it." I laughed.

"You're kind of strange...." He said as I looked up at him and smiled.

"Yep and I'm your dejaina." I sang.

"It sounds so good when you say it." He grinned kissing my head and my cheeks puffed in a blush.

It does sound good to say that I'm his.

We stayed outside drinking hot cocoa, watching the fireworks and talking well after the fireworks were over.

He told me about some of his childhood memories and the more he talked about himself the more he seemed normal and not so ancient. The ancients always seemed so God-like or otherworldly to me. He was actually a pretty mischievous little boy.

As we learned more about each other, I began to feel like him being my dejaino isn't some kind of big mistake. We actually have a lot in common. He loves reading and is actually a big fan of my books which I think is weird since all of my novels are teen chick lit.

He's also an artist; he painted all the amazing pictures in the house. I can't help chuckling at the thought of the Mercatijan's deadliest warrior, painting beautiful landscapes and flowers.

"Well I had to do something with myself after the de'mujo wars ended. Painting is good therapy." He shrugged as twin flags of red burned on his cheeks.

"I didn't say anything," I laughed, "I think any form of creative expression is amazing. I think it's wonderful that you paint."

"Thank you, litani." He smiled kissing my hand, his eyes filling with a playful gleam.

"Can I ask you about one of your books?" He asked and I cocked an eyebrow up at him.

"Um, sure." I shrugged. It's not unusual for fans to ask me questions but what could he possibly want to know about a teenage romance?

"In the Shedu Crusade novels, what made you come up with a character like Aramis? And why the hell did you end it that way?" He asked and I blushed my eyes growing wide.

No one asks me about those books. That was my first and only series I wrote that wasn't for my typical audience. It was a very dark and heart wrenching story.

I wrote it when I first felt him.

Aramis was a God of war who was bound to the Goddess of light, Esmine. Everything about Aramis' is Darius. His looks, his personality, his demeanor, everything. And everything about Esmine is me.

Before the two were destined to meet an evil sorcerer kidnapped and enslaved Esmine. The entire series Aramis fights through endless battles, searching for his soul mate. He finally defeats the sorcerer, but instead of my usual happily ever after conclusions, I ended the story just as Aramis opens the door to her cell.

My agents begged me to change the ending, but I refused. It was meant to be read the way it was. Luckily, I had so much clout from my previous bestsellers that they agreed to publish it. And it bombed. My fans hated it, but I stuck by it. It's how I needed the story to be told.

Oh God, I blushed covering my face with my hands. I did not expect him to ask me about the Shedu Crusades.

"I can't believe you read that." I groaned.

"It's my favorite." He shrugged.

"Of course it is," I sighed, "I ended it that way because it doesn't have an ending at this point in time." I said and my heart tingled at his bright smile and the way his grey eyes turned silver in excitement.

"So there's a chance you'll give it a proper ending?" He asked and I laughed nodding my head.

"Yes, I'll give it the ending it deserves someday." He grinned taking my chin in his fingers.

"Now tell me who Aramis is. I know Esmine is you, but I want to know who was in your mind when you wrote that story." He said and my heart thumped in my chest at the deadly possessive look in his deep grey orbs.

There's his possessive side I've been waiting to see. I smirked, if he's my dejaino, he should know who Aramis is. I think it's fine time I mess with this kue a bit.

"Who do you think it is?" I asked.

"It better be me." He growled and I bit my cheeks to keep from laughing at his enraged glare. It's so funny and strangely adorable to see him so worked up.

"And what will you do if it's not you?" I asked calmly, keeping a straight face. His eyes darkened nearly turning black, his grip tightened on my chin as he stared into my eyes.

He sighed, shaking his head, his eyes light and playful again.

"You delight in trying to drive me crazy, litani." He grumbled, letting go of my chin and I let out the laugh I was holding in.

"I'm sorry, you just looked so serious. You should know who Aramis is." I laughed wiping my tears. He smiled bringing my hand to his lips.

"I do, but I want to hear you say it." He said and I sighed shaking my head.

"Aramis is you, Darius." My heart thumped in my chest at the way his smile spread across his lips, his small dimples dipping on his cheeks. His eyes were so light under his dark eyelashes. He is so...beautiful.

"Thank you, evela me," he grinned, "is that why you ended the story like that? Because we never met?" I nodded and he frowned.

"When did you really know I was your dejaino?" He asked and I looked away from him clenching my eyes shut. That wasn't a good time in my life. It was after Draina and Isabella were attacked and they bonded with Paul and Madden.

"Hey," he whispered turning my face to look at him, "don't be afraid to tell me, Jazmine." He said and I pushed out of his arms, sliding away from him. I wrapped my arms around myself, digging my nails into my sides. He is trying to break down my walls. I don't want to open up to him but I need to. I rubbed a hand over my chest, the tingling won't stop.

"Jazmine..." Darius cooed reaching for me but I held my hand up to stop him.

"Just give me a minute." I sighed running my hands through my hair.

Fuck, I can't keep my guard up with him. I looked at him searching his eyes for something, anything to stop me from opening my heart to him.

But there is nothing. His eyes are so open, filled with concern and love.

I sat back on the couch staring at the stars twinkling in the sky. I can't look at him with that look in his eyes, I'll lose my nerve.

"Draina and Isabella used to be a violin duo called the Elements. They were unbelievable." I smiled remembering all the concerts we went to.

"I was always so proud of them. We all used to play together but when Draina and Isabella played together, their music could bring the Heavens to Earth. It was magical."

"I remember them, they were incredible." He said, I smiled looking at him and quickly looked away. Nope, his eyes are still too much.

"Draina and Isabella had a concert series in New York, eight years ago and I had to go to my first publishing deal in London at the same time. So Vienne and Shane stayed behind with them while my parents came to London with me." I sighed clenching my eyes shut.

"I begged my parents and my agents to reschedule the meeting. I didn't want to miss their opening night. I needed to be there. I should've been there." I clenched my fists, an angry tear rolling down my cheek.

"They wouldn't listen to me, they kept telling me we'd be there for the rest of the series and my publishing deal was far more important. Why would they listen to a teenager? My priorities were seemed skewed to them, but they weren't." I said shaking my head angrily.

"Draina and Isabella didn't get to finish their opening night. The theatre was attacked by a hoard of newly bitten de'mujos. They almost died and they would've if Paul and Madden hadn't been in the audience that night." My lip trembled the crushing guilt I felt for not being there coming back to me. I've never forgiven myself for what happened to them.

"Paul and Madden had to bind my sisters to them to keep them alive so my father and I could heal them. It never should've happened. I should've been there, I was powerful enough to protect them." I said ignoring the tears freely rolling down my cheeks.

"I was so angry at my parents for making me go to London, I was angry at Paul and Madden for taking my sisters' choice away from them and I was angry at myself for letting it happen." I cried angrily wiping my tears.

"My parents started to get really paranoid about de'mujos after that. We didn't stay in one place for too long. They made me erase myself from everything, I couldn't do book signings, I couldn't talk to my fans anymore. They made my agents and publishers sign a privacy contract, no one was to know my name, where I was and contact was strictly on burner phones."

"They were protecting me as if I was the one who was attacked. They wouldn't let me go anywhere for a very long time. And no one would tell me why. I felt trapped and I started to fall into a deep depression." I sighed and felt Darius wipe my tears with his knuckle and I let him, but still refused to look at him. I took a deep breath, clearing my throat.

"I-I wouldn't leave my room, I stopped eating, I stopped writing, I stopped taking care of myself. Gaia tried to talk to me, but I couldn't hear her. I just wanted to waste away. I wanted to die."

"Then the dreams started." I said my lip trembling again, my heart tingling in my chest remembering the first time I saw his face again. I took another deep breath to stop the sob building in my chest.

"I thought I was hallucinating at first, because every time I closed my eyes, I saw a man in the middle of a battlefield, slain de'mujos strewn all around him."

"He had this, obsidian hair, he was dressed in black leather armor, and his face and hands were always covered in the blood of his enemies. His eyes were so dark and they held so much anger and sadness. He was like me, angry, broken and alone." I said biting my lip to stop it from trembling. He gently took my hand and I didn't pull away, the feel of his thumb caressing my palm gave me courage to keep going.

"I'd watch him fight through endless waves of de'mujos, he would rip through them mercilessly as if he were looking for something and if he just killed one more he would find what he was searching for and finally know peace."

"The more visions I saw of him, the more I could feel in my soul that this warrior, the Asarak Rotelinjo, was looking for me."

"Once I realised he was my dejaino, I felt like I could breathe again. I remember picking up a pen and a piece of paper and started writing."

"I started eating again, started bathing again, and I wrote for months needing to tell the story. The words flowed from every part of me and I couldn't stop. When it was finally finished, I put my pen down and I cried for days. I cried for my sisters, I cried because I blamed myself for everything that happened to them and I cried for you."

"As much as I needed our connection to pull me out of the darkness and how much I knew you needed to find me, I still didn't want you to." I said choking on a sob and pushing it down again. Darius slowly slid his arm around my waist, sliding closer to me.

"I was going to bury that story and never let it see the light of day. But I couldn't, it needed to be seen. You needed to read it, it was meant for you." I cried choking back the sob threatening to burst from my chest.

He gently touched his fingers to my chin turning my head to him. My heart thudded in my chest at the overwhelming warmth and love in his watery eyes.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you, litani," he whispered, "but I'm glad you wrote that book. I felt you in every page." He said wiping the fresh tears rolling down my cheek.

"It's why I started looking for you." He whispered and my lip began to tremble again.

Gaia wasn't the traitor, it was me.

I let out the sob I was holding in and cried against his chest. I held his shirt in my fists as I cried. I've been calling out to him all this time.

Darius held me tight fisting his hand in my hair as I shook and cried against him. The rush of emotions I've been holding in crashing over me in a deep wave.

I thought I dealt with these emotions a long time ago, but the guilt for my sisters and the feel of our bond crashed into me all at once.

I don't want this. I don't want to share my heart with anyone. I don't need him to protect me. But why did I call him to me? I tried to push out of his arms but he held me tight, refusing to let go.

"Ciet, litani. Seta no edike." He cooed against my head stroking my hair softly.

"You don't need to keep blaming yourself for what happened to your sisters." He said kissing my head and I let out another sob. I can feel the tingle of our hearts easing my pain.

"I don't want this." I sobbed.

"Dutaj mi shesa'de. Nev'o fenao litatu ven mi." My duty is to protect you. Never be afraid to share your heart with me. He whispered and I cried even harder.

"I'm yours now, Jazmine. I'll always be here for you. Evela'tu ma'sun lefo." I love you more than life. He whispered into my hair. I cried and shook in his arms, he is going to rip down all of my carefully built up walls and creep right into my heart.

Darius held me tight whispering to me in Catijan to calm my tumultuous heart. He whispered promises of love and protection. I sighed, letting the sound of his warm husky voice calm my heart and lull me into a dreamless sleep.