“This is why I ignore people… because the UNIVERSE proves me right. The watches needed that tool. How did I get out of the car? Well… burning to death was not on my to do list today Rolfin. You all seem to discount that I have a will to live.”
“I’m WITH my Xander and he WANTS to be with me. I lived for the hope of him and me… you really think I’m going to let you take him from me? No… that’s not going to happen. I will fight anyone and anything I have to… to keep him. He’s mine… and we are together… and WOE to anyone who thinks they can stand between me and this life I now have.”
Sierra snorted, “I mean, that’s true. I feel it should be obvious too.” Abigail offered, “Totally obvious. Our Luna will go scary mean and evil on people who try and it’s fair.” Wesley agreed, “Definitely fair.” I waved my arms, “SEE, ROFLIN?!”
I paused then added, “Also, what kind of self-respecting Demon uses a match to light a car on fire? You can THROW fire. It’s just insulting. That’s what it is. You were INSULTING me. You didn’t think I was WORTHY to use your Demon fire on. Well… the jokes on your disrespectful self.” Xander pulled me back against him.
Rolfin said, “Dirsha take your rejection back, please.” I gasped, “Did he just ignore me and everything I said?” Sierra answered, “He did.” UGH! Freya said, “I am deeply offended.” Dirsha snorted, “Are you high? You just attacked K after she helped me. You tried to kill a Conners mate, and it’s even one who helped me!”
“I literally couldn’t want to have less to do with you. I was leaning towards rejecting you anyway. You’ve put me through too much. I’ll say this though; I’m glad you’re not with my sister. She’d have let you mark her and with what they will do to you, that would kill her.”
“Thanks to TJ here, my pain was minimal. They didn’t even have to bring me here. They could’ve just let me deal with the pain of your death. I was the fool who didn’t reject you sooner. These are good people. Only your idiotic family would dare cross the Conners and the Cambridge's.”
Rolfin cried, “We didn’t know K was mated.” Hastein asked, “Do I look like I give a single fuck that you didn’t know?” Rolfin whimpered. I answered, “Since he’s not good at answering people… I will. Nope. You do not look like you give a single one.”
Hastein smiled at me, “Thank you.” Kingsley escaped his grasp and came over and gave me a hug. Valentina shimmered back in and winked at me. I said, “Thank you, Julian. For uhhh secret stuff.” He nodded.
Tristan linked, “No, no more secret stuff.” I replied, “He got the presents we bought… well… he definitely conjured new ones…. but it’s secret present stuff… for Christmas.” Tristannodded and relaxed, then clearly linked my family the answer because they also calmed down.
I told Kingsley, “Julian saved our presents.” Kingsley laughed, “Thank God since H isn’t going to let me out of his sight. I thought I’d have to print off a picture of his present and order it.” I agreed, “He definitely isn’t. I could…” Kingsley replied, “I know you could.” Look at my tables… that’s what I was going to say. Kingsley winked at me. Ok… I guess we weren’t talking about those.
Charles said, “It’s always a good time around you, my dear.” I teased, “Aren’t you glad you stopped by?” Charles said, “I am.” I turned to Sierra saying, “I told you that it had been too quiet.” Sierra sighed, “I told you not to borrow trouble.”
I gasped, “This isn’t MY fault. The crazy deities that be… that’s who is to blame. One simple task. Christmas shopping with the girls. That’s it. That’s all we wanted. Shopping and then out to eat. I can’t go out to girls night, and I can’t go shopping with my friends. It’s just so freaking ridiculous!”
Kingsley rubbed my back. Honestly, I was more upset for her than myself. At least Angelique got a normal experience. Kingsley didn’t normally celebrate the holidays. I didn’t want anything to change her enthusiasm for them. Why couldn’t we just have a normal time?
Charles said, “I’ve told you before my dear, you are extraordinary. You can’t expect a normal existence out of that.” Xander stiffened. Kingsley bit her lip urging, “Why don’t we get out of here? Let’s get back to the Conners house. Mel and I will shower, and calmer heads will prevail.” I muttered, “I need coffee.” Mason, Hendrick, Sierra, and Val yelled, “NO!” I rolled my eyes at them.
Tristan linked me, “I’ll get you a small shot of coffee once you come down from the shower.” I smiled at him, and he winkedat me. Hastein walked over to us. I grabbed onto Kingsley and Xander popped us to our room.
My husband told me, “I’ll be right back. I’ll pop them to H’s room here.” I wondered if I said I knew exactly where it was… if anyone would freak out. Freya snorted, “I think everyone is having enough of a night.” Fair. They popped out.
Freya linked, “Let’s go for a bath, I’m a little tired out. Taking your pain was intense.” I felt guilty for that. Freya sighed, “Don’t you dare feel bad. I didn’t give you a choice. I’m not weak, just a little tired. I’d rather soak than stand. So would you.” My wolf was right.
I poured some bubble bath in and turned the water on. A cranberry vodka appeared next to the bathtub. Haley linked me, “I know you want coffee, but I think you need a damn drink too.” I replied, “Thank you, Haley.” My mother in law answered, “Of course.”
I got into the tub as it filled, closed my eyes, and took a sip of my drink. Xander popped to me and splashed the water everywhere. I laughed, opening my eyes. Xander was blushing. My mate said, “I thought you were in the shower.”
My husband sat down behind me, and I settled into him. I explained, “Freya and I made the executive decision that a bath would be nice.” Xander held onto me tightly. I told him, “I’m sorry. I don’t have any practice with our bond to control my pain from you.”
“Then I was trying not to die… so I couldn’t really focus on it. T linked me… and I was trying to explain but I was mentally doing math… and things were about to get hot… literally… not like… you know what I mean… because fire is hot.”
Xander said, “I don’t care about that. I tried to get to you and couldn’t. It was terrifying. I don’t understand why I couldn’t.” I said, “We must have crossed into an area that they’d warded youall out of just in case. They got lucky… but that’s mostly because I am INCREDIBLY unlucky.”
Xander replied, “I got a hold of your pain, and I don’t want you to control that.” I asked, “Would you control yours from me?” Xander answered, “With the amount of pain you were in, could I? No. No one could. You’d probably be an exception to that honestly. You are to everything else.”
I told him, “I don’t want you in pain because of me.” Xander reasoned, “I feel the same way. I’m sorry I was an ass about your friend.” He was still growling when he was saying friend. “I still don't know if I like him because he wants you. Charles will be here tomorrow though, but not tonight. He went with Arthur somewhere.”
I snorted, “Is that how we are going about people who want to have sex with the other? Because while I disagree Charles is in that group for me… that is a dangerous precedent to set… Since there are a lot of women who want you.”
“You know that, right? Even in this pack. I’ve seen the way they look at me and you. They respect that I’m your mate…they don’t like me though, and they look at you with sadness and longing… because they want what’s mine… and I’m not nice about people trying to take you from me.”
Xander said, “I don’t think….” I cut him off, “I do. I’ve only ever wanted you, and I never thought I’d get it. I’m more than willing to nuclear on everyone… if that’s the precedent. Charles is a mentor who helped me. He brought a little normalcy into my life, but he was never more than that.”
Xander argued, “He would’ve been much more if you were open to it.” I asked, “What do you mean?” Xander said, “Mel, Charles has mentored few people in his VERY long life. Do you know where all those people are now?” I really didn’t.
I admitted, “I didn’t ask for a list of who he’d helped before.” Xander said, “Charles has turned every single one of thosepeople he’s taken under his wing. He’d have turned you too and probably still would.” I said, “I don’t know if he could. That’s probably a Dylan question.”
