Hunter and the other two men walked a short ways down the corridor where Levi was standing with Derrick. An ear-piercing scream ripped down the hall, making them jerk their heads toward the painful cries. Derrick began to sprint toward the desperate sounds of his mate, only to land against a concrete chest.
“Nice try.” Xander chuckled and gripped him roughly as Derrick shoved him back angrily.
“What are you doing?! Let me go! She needs me. That’s Lucie!” Derrick grabbed his chest as he felt the wave of a strong, burning sensation flow over him. What was this pain from? “She’s hurting. Let me go to her.” He growled angrily, setting his fiery gaze on the dragon king.
“You are either very brave or very foolish to be challenging me like this.” Xander chuckled.
“Is he not burning you, child?” Grandpa Sage looked at Xander’s hands on Derrick. Xander had a very strong aura that not many could get near. The Chain family was excluded from this.
“No, he isn’t burning me.” Derrick shook his head angrily and turned his gaze toward Hunter. “What are you doing? Why are you keeping me from her?”
Hunter squeezed his hands into fists, his silver eyes flashing back at Derrick. “Because we need to talk.” He looked over at Xander, who spun Derrick around and forcefully led him down the hall until they entered a room at the far end. With a strong push, Xander sent him inside. Derrick spun around to see the four men with very intense gazes set on him.
“Are you messing around on our Lucie?” Xander growled angrily.
“Don’t bother lying to us. That will only make your death more painful,” Levi said with an icy stare.
“What are you talking about?” Derrick looked between the two men and then shifted his gaze to Hunter. “You know how I feel about her, right? She’s my soulmate.”
“Was there someone else before Lucie? Did you just not mention it to her so you didn’t hurt her? Or were you planning on having two women?” Hunter growled lowly.
“There is no one but Lucie. I’ve loved her since before she was my mate. It’s only ever been her. What is this about?” Derrick was getting frustrated. Lucie’s pain-filled cries had him panicking. What was wrong with her? He needed to be by her side now, comforting her. Instead, he was being asked ridiculous questions.
“He’s telling the truth,” the Great Sage said with a smile.
“I’ll go get Jasper. Let’s see if we can get to the bottom of this.” Xander quickly left. Hopefully it was all just a misunderstanding.
Rough.Hard. Hot. This was not at all how kissing Derrick felt like. Mikah held Lucie’s head firmly so she couldn’t move as his lips stayed glued to hers. She could feel the deadly tangle of energy in her slowly split apart, and he removed himself from her lips. She looked up at his contorted face. He looked to be in immeasurable pain. Wet beads formed on his forehead as he tried to control his breathing.
“Mikah, are you alright?” Alexa asked, worried.
He nodded his head and closed his eyes.
“Jasper, can you come with me?” Xander peeked his head in and motioned for the vampire to follow him quickly.
Lucie watched them curiously for a moment before the pain inside her distracted her again. It wasn’t as strong but it still hurt.
“Eww, I have Mikah cooties now,” Lucie teased meekly as she turned her head into his chest, burrowing into him to ease her pain.
“Sorry, Lucie.” Mikah opened his eyes and smiled weakly. “It was the fastest way for me to connect to your energy. I was able to separate it for now.” He looked up at Lita with a frown. “It’s weird. My connection with Lucie should feel different, but it doesn’t. I can connect to her easily.”
“Justice, how is your connection with Alexa?” Lita turned and looked at her grandson.
“I didn’t know there was supposed to be a difference, but …” He looked between Alexa and Lucie. “As far as feeling them goes, there isn’t one for me either. But protectiveness is different. I’mmore protective of Lucie. I’m protective of Alexa too, but Lucie edges it out.”
“Yes, same.” Mikah nodded his head in agreement. He looked down at Lucie, whose head was still resting on his chest. He reached down and smoothed some of her hair back. “But I do feel like she’s my responsibility as well.”
“It was one kiss, Mikah. You don’t have to take responsibility for her over that,” Aedan teased.
“Hey, that wasn’t a kiss!” Mikah looked down at Lucie. “And you better not be judging that as if it was one, because I can do better.”
Lucie chuckled quietly. “No judgment.”
The faintest of scents hit her nostrils. Her eyes snapped open and she forced herself upward, ignoring the pain. She looked around the room, her brows furrowed. She could feel a tug inside her chest. “Derrick is here.” Her eyes darted across the room and saw no one looked shocked. She started putting the pieces together. Her father was gone, along with Xander, Levi and Grandpa Sage. And Xander had just come and taken Jasper.
“Your father is speaking with him now,” Freja said.
“If he’s messing around on my granddaughter, maybe I should be down there teaching him a lesson,” Asher growled as Lita placed her hand on his arm.
