My Summer Girl

Chapter Twenty-Five

Vera

Sin Pagar Renta – Xavi

The ground hugs meas I settle in its embrace. Each jade tendril of grass makes sure to welcome me, telling me it knows I’m unhappy. It’s the embodiment of life, vitality, and all it offers. Only asking for its necessary needs and offering me so much more in return.

Vines twine around me once more, nuzzling me, offering me the type of ease I want from others. It’s a protection from everything else, almost like a barrier between me and the outside world. It’s never felt too overwhelming or constricting, but instead a comfort I seek often.

Her name is Dulce.

The ground reminds me of the earlier communication. I know this now. Vex only confirmed it with their presence. I close my eyes, wanting more info, needing to know what has drawn my best friend to her, and this Saephyn too.

She’s seeking her mate. Vex.

Communicating with Solera, I imagine them. Purple, fierce, bags under their eyes from worries. They’re beautiful. Vex is more than I bargained for when sending Raevar off.

Images of Dulce’s body infiltrate my mind, Solera giving me what they’ve learned. The trees note her kindness, how sadness consumed her when she thought they hurt. The blades of grass offer me visuals of her thick thighs, the curves and dips of her hips and stomach. The soft belly she hides beneath Raevar’s clothing, and my mouth waters.

This is new.

Wanting something aside from work, a desire other than fixing boredom.

She’s perfect for our queen.

My body hums as her scent and taste penetrates me next. She tastes of wildflowers and raindrops. Honey and sweetness calm me as the nectar between her thighs that Raevar has tasted fills me. A vibration rushes through me like an electric shock but kinder, a tease instead of a full strike.

I want her.

She’s not mine and somehow, that’s just semantics. There’s something there that calls to me, the way Solera wants her for me too.

She’s ours.

A voice calls out for me, making the buzz slowly seep from my body. I’ve been slacking on preparations out of sadness, missing my friend who has been fucking Vex’s mate.

That should bother me, but for some reason it doesn’t. It feels right and whether that’s due to Raevar being my best friend or Dulce being enough for us all is unclear. I’ve never explored a relationship, let alone one with many. Something tells me that Dulce is meant to be ours.

It’s taken me until Vex showed up to realize how much I miss Raevar. He’s avoiding me, and my biggest worry isn’t just his well-being. It’s also that he might abandon me. We’ve been tied together since he saved my life as a child. We’re inseparable, and losing my best friend seems like misery waiting to happen.

Another knock rings out, interrupting my fixation. “Come in!” I finally holler, waiting as the vines slowly unwrap me. They’re sentient, able to live outside of me but also as a part of me if they so choose.

The door swings open, and standing there is Mira. “You going to lay there all day? Don’t you have a holiday to prep for?”

I roll my eyes, wanting nothing more than to vine my doors closed until Raevar is back with Dulce. Usually, it’s impossible to get me to take a break but this sudden sadness filling me keeps me staring at my ceiling.

As if my silence means to come closer, Mira walks inside, her booted feet tapping against the floor like knocks of doom.

“Ignoring me? I’ve never seen you hide in your room, let alone stop being a control freak for five seconds.” She stands above me, her stark black hair braided in an intricate design with lots of loops and ties. Unlike her normal gothic lumberjack attire, she’s wearing a leather jacket with studs everywhere paired with dark jeans.

“What do you want?” I grumble, closing my eyes to imagine Dulce. The imagery Solera offered is almost criminal. Sweet, sweet girl. A little kick to my calf has me growling. Literally, like a beast. “Fuck off.”

“As your second oldest friend who doesn’t want to fuck you, I’m not letting you wallow.”

“Fuck me?” The question slips out too quickly, my eyebrows so high I’m stuck in a state of confusion.

“Yeah, everyone on this green floating rock knows you and Raevar have... a thing.”

“We do not have a thing!” I respond, my words coming off really petulant and unbelievable, especially if I’m trying to convince her. I go into a sitting position with my arms crossed, my vines webbing outward like they’re knives, ready to fly if she makes me angrier. I’ve always been told that my passion is as hot as a dragon’s breath, and right now, I’m living within that adage. “Those rumors are false, and spreading them could result in your beheading.”

She scoffs, her feline eyes narrowing into slits. “Sure. But then who could annoy you?” She sticks out her tongue, then places her hands on her hips. She’s the sister I never asked for.

Annoyance thrums through me as I rub a palm down my face, wanting nothing more than to shoo her away. Raevar and I have never fucked. We’ve barely kissed, and that was simply two awkward teenagers experimenting. Does the thought of kissing Raevar, one of my best friends, make me cringe? No, but he’s my guard and most trusted person. He wouldn’t want me to encroach on our bond, right?

I shake my head and stand, heading for the bathroom. It would be nice to bake in a hot bath, with herbs and bubbles, soaking up the cosmos’ water. Avoiding everything Mira and Raevar and court-related responsibilities.

“Nuh-uh,” Mira tsks, her voice sharp and rude. “You’re not running away to your bath. We’re going to go out, prep what we can, and then you’ll have a soiree tonight. Give jobs to people, and eat every pie that every baker made in hopes you’ll serve them at the feast next week.”

Pouting, I stick out my bottom lip, hoping she’ll take pity on me. She won’t, it’s not her style. Mira’s right, I’ve never taken a day off and now we’re two days into this and I’m slacking because emotions I’ve never felt continue to haunt me.

“Get your ass dressed, you’ve got five minutes, or I’m spanking you and then telling everyone how you lost your virginity.”

“You wouldn’t!” I gasp, thinking of how I lost it to a girl who used a vegetable as a dildo—and it did not agree with me.

“Yes, I absolutely will! And maybe I’ll do a demonstration!” She wiggles her hand, gesturing wiggling a fake object.

“Go away!” I hiss, heading to my closet for some boots and maybe a knife. Who knows, she might get stabbed today.

A chuckle, cruel and bubbly, escapes Mira’s lips and travels all the way out of my room. She’s annoying as Hades, but I’ll never say she isn’t a true friend who forces me to be my very best self.

Last week, she begged me to take a break, and today she’s not allowing me to mope. She should definitely pick a bullying tactic, because this back and forth is confusing me.