“Are you okay? You’ve been spaced since Lucien told you what the town thinks. I don’t want to leave you alone—.”
He pulled me into a hug, startling me into silence as I felt a sort of desperation in his hug. He almost seemed like he didn’t want to let go of me, but eventually did after a while. When I tilted my head to look up at him, I noticed his cheeks were wet from tears.
I opened my mouth to say something, but he just turned around and went back to his show without another word. The sudden display of emotion from my mostly stoic father made me nervous, but I was forced to push it away as I went outside.
Lucien was there, leaning against the post outside, moonlight giving his hair a more ethereal appearance. The air rushed out of my lungs at the sight of his beauty.
Was this man really my mate?
“Let’s go,” I sighed heavily before reaching my arms out to him. He looked at them before looking at me. “I’m not walking so you can carry me.”
“Demanding, aren’t we?” he teased with a step in my direction.
I dropped my arms to cross them over my chest, brow raised. “I guess I can drive my truck then and waste that gas.” Leaving him no time to respond, I began walking to my car with purpose. I made it all of three steps in its direction before two arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me off the ground. I began giggling as Lucien's breath tickled my neck and his arms tightened around me.
“You little minx,” he growled playfully.
“What happened to fighting urges?” I questioned in a matching tone.
His lips brushed my neck, eliciting a soft gasp from me. He inhaled my scent before placing a gentle kiss there. “I’m still holding back, but fighting destiny is exhausting. Now that we know you have shadow blood, I won’t have to be as careful with you.”
“Does that mean you won’t be as cold towards me when fighting these urges?” I inquired, twisting in his arms so we were facing each other. His honey eyes beheld mine, softening at my question. He reached his hand to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing over it gently.
“It was a momentary lapse in judgment. I didn’t grow up in a household that reflected mates in a good light.” He paused, struggling. I didn’t say anything letting him open at his own pace. “My parents were forced into a marriage and after birthing my sister and I. My father found his mate. He showered her with such affection that it drove my mother to take her own life.”
His voice broke ever so slightly at the end. I could tell he loved his mother dearly and the pain of her disappearance from his life was still there. I covered the hand cupping my face, squeezing it softly. His lips curved slightly and he continued.
“The day we put her ashes in the vault, I swore I would never fall in love and even consulted a seer for help. Then, you came along and were everything I despised. An outspoken mundane who was not of my world. I watched you to find something to make me hate you. I needed to because I would leave this place. But I could find nothing to hate. You are perfect. Even with your stubbornness and outspoken nature, you are everything I’d secretly hoped you’d be.”
“You really do have a way with words, don’t you?” I chuckled to mask my flustered state. “I’m in trouble if that’s going to be an ongoing thing.”
“Perhaps I’d like that,” he mused. He used the hand holding my face to pull it closer to his, causing our lips to meet. I smiled against his, relishing the tingling feeling of them on mine.
He had become a drug to me that I was fully content with never quitting. I enjoyed the moments like this, but a part of me was curious how he would be without having to hold himself back. The thought made my cheeks warm with the heat of arousal he ignited within me. Without breaking the kiss, Lucien swept me up and sped off to Agatha’s.
Chapter Thirteen
Melinda
The others had been asleep when we got to Agatha’s and to keep his urges at bay, Lucien took the room with Ambrose and left me to wake Isadora to room with her. She had been half asleep when she agreed to it. So it came as no surprise to me when I woke up to her staring at me in both confusion and surprise.
“Good morning, Isadora,” I greeted with a yawn.
“When did you get in last night? Why did you sleep over? Did you and Lucien, you know—.” She created a circle with one hand and inserted the finger of her opposite hand into it.
Realizing what she was insinuating, I smacked her hand away.
I made sure to lower my voice before I spoke, not sure which vampires had awoken. “No, we did not.”
“Lucien said there was a slight argument. What happened?”
“Oh, you know, regular father daughter things,” I sighed before slipping out of the bed. “Why didn’t you tell me my mom was a witch? How do you know about Shadowhaven? You know, normal stuff.”
Isadora blinked with a shake of her head, processing the information I gave her. When it finally did register, I was already searching through her collection of pants for something to jog in. I hadn’t gone for a proper run in a week and I was starting to feel restless despite the excitement in town and the occasional jog. Her hands were firm, but gentle as she spun me around and hovered over me.
“You’ll have to excuse my language, but what thefuckare you talking about? Your mom was a witch? Suddenly your dad knows about Shadowhaven? When did this happen? I thought my biggest issue was being killed in this town, but now mundanes beyond hunters know of our existence?” She fired off each statement one after the other with increased panic.
I placed my hands on her shoulders just as firmly as she had grabbed mine, hoping to calm her. “Deep breaths, in and out.” I guided her while doing it myself. She mirrored me until the panic wasn’t as prevalent in her features. Once she was calm, I explained all the events of last night.
