My Summer Girl

Chapter Eighteen

Vex

Heat Waves – Glass Animals

Violent shakes rackmy hands as I open the letter that was sent within fifteen minutes of sending hers. She’s quick, I’ll give her that. Doesn’t stop the nervous restlessness that comes with not knowing if Dulce is okay.

Unease is my only bedmate now. I can’t imagine what she must be feeling knowing that one of her members of court is possibly a bad person.

Dear Vex,

I understand missing your mate must come at a woeful cost, and for that, I apologize. I’ve been seeking my hand, Raevar, who’s been gone for a while.

Yes, Raevar is the hand to the queen, my most trusted confidant. While this information must come at some shock to you, it’s with my protection that I must say he couldn’t have been aware of your connection to whomever he took.

There must be a misunderstanding at foot. I sent him to find me my mate, and if he’s somehow taken yours, that is on both him and I to remedy.

I’d like to extend an invitation to you to come to Solera so we can discuss this sensitive issue further and not have any ill will. I do hope you can forgive him—if he did in fact kidnap your mate—and that you can celebrate solstice here. It’s a huge family tradition, and it’s something we strive to do well.

Raevar has been gone for some time, and I worry he’s maybe hurt and, therefore, your mate could be as well.

Please let me know and I can send a port-path your way.

With regards,

Verano

Two things hit me at once. Relief and dread. She has to be right. We only sealed the bond a day prior and there hadn’t been an announcement, let alone a ceremony. Under all magical rites, she’s only my mate by Saephyn law, not across realms.

Under any other circumstances, she’d just look like any pretty person—and she is, my precious, precious dove.

I send a letter to Pyro, Val, and even to Dionysius and Xó. Wanting everyone to be on the same page. Di and Dulce didn’t part on the best of terms before she left, and knowing that might just put more strain on their bond.

A snap brings me face to face with a very angry and very pregnant Xóchitl. I’ve only met her twice, and both times were at weddings. Her husband stands behind her, an exhausted scowl on his face.

He seems so tired, and with the child sleeping in his arms, it makes perfect sense why.

“?Qué hiciste?” She holds the letter in her clutched palm—fear, concern, and absolute anger written across her face. Her lip is pulled back in a near snarl along with the most scrunched expression she’s ever directed at me.

“Nothing, I didn’t do anything. Someone took her a week ago,” I answer woefully, knowing I should’ve told her immediately. Holding her stomach, she lets out the meanest sounding hiss known to man.

“My sister has been gone a week and you didn’t think to reach out sooner?” Arson approaches her, kissing her cheek and rubbing a soothing palm across her back.

“Don’t stress, Joyful. You know it’s hard on the babe.”

She turns to him and scowls, but her eyebrows are drawn in and a tear slips down her cheek. Before he can wipe it away, three more pops sound.

Dionysius arrives first, a fuming Val behind her. Pyro clenches his teeth as he walks behind his husband.

“Una juntada? Claro que sí,” Val grumbles, rolling his eyes long and hard. Yet, behind his sarcasm, his face reflects one of fury with a sprinkle of nervousness. “Pyro mentioned there was something that happened a week ago, and yet I’m now just learning the ‘what.’”

“?Neta?” Di turns to her brother. “She’s my twin!” she roars, her face one of murderous intent.

“I’m sorry I didn’t notify you all sooner,” I breathe out, rubbing my chest. The wound from Dulce’s bite healed within the day, but I reach for it, soothing it as much as I can.

Being off-realm before we did the bonding ceremony and strengthened it made it basically useless in seeking her out.

“This is unacceptable,” Di growls, taking the reins. “She’s been gone for days prior to this, and while I wanted to give her space, I’m not okay now.”

Xó wraps her arm around her sister’s shoulder, offering a semblance of comfort. Di can’t hide the flinch in her response and Val isn’t one for affection, so he just taps his foot. “Ya estás,” she whispers to both of her siblings. It makes me flinch. This is on me, not her, and she’s still trying to soothe the ache.

“She disappeared during a scene,” I softly mutter, knowing what will happen next. Before Val can take a swing, his husband clasps his arms and holds them behind his back.

“They didn’t know what to do,” Pyro consoles Val, leaving a brief kiss on his jaw. “They sought answers before wanting to worry everyone. For all they knew, she planned this disappearing act.”

While I didn’t and still don’t believe that for even a second, I can understand why he used the excuse to placate his husband.

“Well, where is she?” Di heatedly huffs, hands on her hips and strain marring her forehead. She sidesteps her sibling, pointing a finger at my chest. “If you had anything—”

“Enough!” Arson grumbles, cutting the air with his glare. He looks down at Rómán and walks toward me. Rómán is red like his dad, his hair curly like his mom’s and nearly a black shade of red. He’s a little cherub with dimples already like Dulce and Xó. Already, he has them wrapped around his little finger. “If you wake him, you have to deal with him. And he’s grumpy as Hades.”

They all soften, seeing the baby boy in Arson’s arms, suckling the air as if he’s feeding. Xó’s face is the most drastic in change when she leans forward and inhales him. Like he has some magical baby scent to calm her down.

“She’s in Solera,” I explain. Pyro and Arson both balk, their faces scrutinizing.

“Interesting that you mention that,” Pyro bites out. “Our baby brother has an Orukna connection—like I tried telling you—and he’s from there.”

I narrow my eyes, wondering if, somehow, this all ties together. I wouldn’t put it past the troublesome Cinder Santana to cause a stir for whatever wild plot he has going.

“So, your dodgy brother is probably part of this,” I mock, anger rising within me again. “He’s just taking the piss with me?”

Pyro runs a hand through his hair, the bags under his eyes very apparent. “Probably. He’s been acting weird the last two years.”

“What does that even mean?” Di huffs, turning to her brother’s mate.

Pyro shrugs but Arson’s jaw tics as he closes his eyes. “Cin seems to do chaotic things for his own benefit. It wouldn’t surprise me if he gave this Orukna Dulce in trade for something.”

Everyone looks to Pyro now with the same animosity they just offered me. He closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. There’s no doubt he’ll have Val to talk down later when they’re gone.

“Is she safe?”

As I’m about to answer, another letter pops up, but this one has a trinket. One that tells me it’s a port-path. “Hate to cut this short,” I half-arse a joking tone, “but I’m off to see my mate.”

Several gasps and bellows of “Mate?!” ring out before fading as I disappear into the port and to Solera.