Until Mercy Ridge, nobody but Bell gave a shit about me. Yet here are these complete strangers trying to assure me that everything is going to be okay, offering their homes up if I need a place to hide out, and showering me with welcome gifts.
It’s overwhelming, and honestly, a little uncomfortable. But… in a good way. I can’t remember a time when I showed up to a new foster home and they wereexcitedto have me. It seems way too good to be true, so naturally, I don’t trust it.
But I’d be lying if I said their enthusiasm didn’t affect me, however misguided.
This may not be my forever home, but things don’t have to be permanent to be good. If foster care has taught me anything, it’s that I can enjoy the good things for as long as they last, and that’s okay.
Nothing lasts forever, but good memories can make the hard times a little easier to bear.
Seeing people clap Bellamy on the shoulder and congratulating him, treating him with the respect he deserves, hits me hard, and I squirm. Hethriveshere, surrounded by his family. People defer to him, and when he speaks? They really listen.
Who am I to tear him away from his home?
We might be fated mates… but what does that mean if Fate is pulling us in different directions?
* Role Playing Game. Think Dungeons and Dragons. Where you put yourself into a character’s shoes and play a game as if you WERE that character, typically in a fantasy setting.
Chapter 6
Ever
Afew of the women beside us at the bench table titter, pushing more food our way. I swear, their plan is to make sure we’re too stuffed to escape. “Tell us the part when you realized she was your fated mate again,” one pleads, sighing dreamily and resting her chin on her fist.
Bell sighs in faux annoyance, thumb stroking languidly over my side, but he doesn’t miss a beat. “Stole the demon’s powers and broke his leg, grabbed Ever, and used his shadow walking abilities to jump off the cliff. And when she cursed me out, I looked back and saw her mark emblazoned on my skin and it only confirmed what I’ve known for years; Ever was always meant to be mine.”
A collective swoon has me rolling my eyes, but I can’t help but smile. Bell islivingfor regaling his journey to Mercy Ridge, finding me, and returning home mated and victorious. It’d be annoying if his face didn’t light up every time he talks about how proud he is to wear my mark, and how thrilled he is that he doesn’t have to hide me from them anymore.
But I see the shadow in his eyes every time he mentions Arson, Ledger, and Myles in his stories. How he chooseshis words carefully to correct the assumption that we were kidnapped or at the mercy of other mysts, before escaping.
Honestly, I’m surprised. Bellamyhatedthe guys when he first met them. Yet he’s done nothing but paint them in a good light when he shares his stories to his family and friends.
“They really didn’t hurt you?” one girl asks me, brow furrowed in confusion. “Even though they tricked you into bonding with them? They didn’t force you to cement the bonds?”
My stomach flips. “No, definitely not. They’d sooner cut off their own hands than hurt me. And they didn’ttrick meinto anything.” She doesn’t look convinced, so I press, “Ledger even jumped in front of another myst to protectBell,and honestly, he was kind of a dick to them at first. They’ve got to be losing their minds that we’re missing.”
She purses her lips, unconvinced. “They let the two of you walk off alone in a town riddled with mysts. That doesn’t sound like they cared about your safety at all.”
“I was overwhelmed. Iwanteda moment alone,” I defend.
She gives me a sympathetic look. “You’re right, the fact that they let you two go off alone shows they care about what you want. But they clearly didn’t care enough about yoursafety; that’s a good mate’s number one priority. You’re a mimic, Ever. Your mates should protect you over all else, but they failed you.” Tucking a lock of her pale pink hair behind her ear, she chirps, “Don’t worry, though! There are plenty of single people here that wouldkillto be a part of your bond group. And they understand the responsibility that protecting a mimic entails better than anyone.”
I’m torn between wanting to defend them, storm off, and punch her in the tit.
She doesn’t have a damn clue what my relationship with the guys is like. Hell, what theoutside worldis like beyond stories.Who is she to say the guys failed? My safety isn’t even their responsibility; it’s mine.
Just as I open my mouth to tell her off, Bellamy swivels his fingers and a stream of water crashes into her face, leaving her sputtering indignantly. “Oops,” he deadpans.
“Oops?” she snaps, angrily swiping water off her face as her cheeks turn pinker than her hair. “Seriously, Bellamy? You aren't even going toapologize!?”
My mate shrugs his shoulder, languidly stroking his thumb along my rib cage. “Why would I apologize? I'm not sorry for anything other than not stepping in sooner. Don’t you see how insulting your rant was? I’m not sure what your end goal was by talking shit about our bondmates, but maybe this’ll remind you to take a second and think before you spout off in the future.”
She huffs, shooting him with a furious glare, but then her temper fizzles out and she gives me a remorseful, sheepish look. “He… has a point. I shouldn't have phrased it like that. I really did mean well, and I still stand by what I said; it doesn't sound like they were concerned enough about your safety. But I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. I'm sorry. Everyone the retrieval team brings here are rescued from bad situations and I'm pre-mad on their behalf and get too fired up and speak without thinking sometimes.”
Wringing out her hair over her shoulder, she sighs. “I made a really shitty first impression, I know, but I swear, I’m not usually a bitch. Just angry about what people have suffered and extra defensive of the newbies. Can we… start over, maybe?”
My annoyance subsides, heart clenching. Isn’t that really all we can hope for from people? That they admit when they fuck up and try to do better in the future?
“Yeah.” I swallow, stretching out a hand in offering. “I think I’d like that.”
