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Nessie looked at her in excitement.
“Are you sure?”
“I have the marks to prove it.”
"How many do you have, Macey?" Aunt Nessie asked, breaking through the emotion.
"Four. Earth, Fire, Wind and Lightning," she replied instantly, listing them in her head. She still found it odd she didn't have her own mark but figured that might just come last.
"And you definitely still have them all?"
Macey looked at Amber, who'd checked out her back earlier to describe what the new one looked like.
"Yes, they're all there," she replied in Macey's stead.
"And you've never had the other three?"
Macey shook her head.
"Then I think it's safe to say the four people whose marks you bear are safe. I do believe they'd fade if the person died."
Panic began to fill Macey at the thought. She hated the idea of any of them in danger and knowing that their marks would fade too was almost too much.
"But that means they're okay?" she asked hastily.
"I believe so. Though I can't speak for Ice or Air. I'm assuming you're Water?" Aunt Nessie leaned back, lost in thought.
"The guys seemed to think so, yes."
"Have you considered that you might not be?" Aunt Nessie asked, leaving everyone in stunned silence.
"Well, what else would I be?" Macey asked slowly. "I know for sure that Izban is ice, and I very much doubt I'm Air."
"Amber, dear," Nessie suddenly turned to the beithir. "Do you have any marks?"
The young woman shook her head. "No, but then, Izban and I haven't... we only just met."
"Wait, how did Macey get your mark then? Are you into women?" Nessie's eyes widened.
Macey snorted. "I didn't sleep with Amber. She tried to kill me."
Nessie seemed confused. "Why would she do that?"
"Long story. The same person who was holding me prisoner forced her to attack me. It wasn't her fault, really."
"But it gave you a mark?" Nessie asked, still frowning.
"Yes, it did. Amber says it's the same size as that of my men... I mean the other Wardens. It's as if there's no difference between her bond to me and theirs."
"Except that I don't want to jump you," Amber laughed. Suddenly, Macey regretted telling her about what she and the guys had been up to. It was a bit embarrassing now, come to think of it.
"No, I'm glad you don't. Three people are definitely enough for me."
Aunt Nessie tsked. "I don't know how you do it, girl. Your uncle was unbearable most of the time, and imagining three of him... no thanks."
Macey had never met her uncle, he had died before she was even born. A fishing accident involving a sharp hook and an ignorant human.
Nessie had been on her own for a long time, and secretly, Macey was sure that she enjoyed it. She could hang out with the local fishermen all day, have some fun with tourists and spend her money on whatever she wanted. Not that she hadn't done that when her husband was still alive, but at least now, there was nobody to explain herself to when she bought yet another Nessie plush animal. Her whole house was full of them; she loved the irony of Nessie buying tacky Nessies.
