My Summer Girl

Chapter Thirty-Three

Vera

Ojitos Lindos – Bad Bunny Bomba Estéreo

The shock that fillsme as she says those words has me near stumbling. Those six words play on repeat, making my body lose focus.

And I think you are too.

Me?

Overwhelmed with disbelief, I gasp, and my goblet slips from my grasp. Amidst the chaos of spilled contents and people’s surprised reactions, my attention is captivated by this charming peachy princess at my feet.

She comes in my castle with so much confidence and beauty, and she just says the words I haven’t allowed myself to wish for. Vex holds her waist at the same time Dulce grips Raev, as if he’s going to run away at the drop of a pin.

Maybe he will.Anger still resides under my ribcage at his betrayal and I think it has more to do with something else I refuse to acknowledge than it has to do with finding her.

She’s perfect.

I turn to my court, standing and peering at the spectacle that’s now occurring. I’ve never lost control. Ever. And today won’t be the first.

“Be seated,” I guide, attempting to appear composed. “The decision will be announced tomorrow morning, following the pie tasting.”

Someone out in the crowd stands. Squinting, I note that it’s Rhodie, a selkie from our Olivas bloodline. “We always decide night of... my queen.”

Their words weren’t rude, but rather inquisitive. I need to escape this room and by doing it, I’d be breaking tradition.

“You”re right,” I admit regretfully, taking a deep breath. I can’t just disappear, even if every inch of me begs to yell and let out my feelings, cry and just exist in all that overwhelms me. Out of nowhere, Dulce extends her hand toward me, gently cradling my jaw with utmost reverence. She leans over the table with purpose, and garners every ounce of my attention.

“It’s okay, we’re not going anywhere.” The trace of her skin sets me ablaze. My entire body scorching where our skin still touches. “Be the queen you need to be. We will wait.”

My eyes burn at her dedication to me. She’s only met me but it’s as if understanding and her have created a friendship before either of us have. I don’t even peer at the other two, because at this moment, it’s only her and I.

“Okay,” I promise, my voice barely a whisper, as she leans closer and kisses my forehead, releasing the softest sound.

“Come find me, Vera.”

“I will,” I nervously promise, unsure why it feels so effortless. My lips are so close to her throat. The urge to bite almost takes over and I have to close my eyes to truly separate myself from this dream fantasy that’s very much in view of a hundred people.

She grabs Raev and Vex, leading them to chairs at my table, and with the cutest and most flirtatious wink known to Solera, she sits in the chair next to me. The one Vex previously sat in. Then with a nod, she urges me to continue like I’m holding back.

She doesn’t have to be so loud.

Although the moment with Dulce and me was brief, the guards are still cleaning up the meinshine I accidentally dropped.

Ignoring the curious glances toward us, I adjust my posture, aiming for a dignified appearance.

“It’s time to feast!” The sound of my words resonates throughout the dining hall. Volunteers and farmers warmly welcome members in the room, offering slices of their pies and creating a lively atmosphere of conversation.

After the tasting, we narrowed our selection to just seven pies. Mónóg, chocolate-cinnamon, zuju, Solera berry, razzle-dazzle, apple, and a meinshine imbibed one. With over fifty to sample, we thought we’d burst from eating. They were so delicious, though. Whatever was left, we took to others, not letting any go to waste.

“What now?” Alessand leans in and whispers into my ear. Although there were still many people and energy in the dining hall, I no longer feel the need to stay there. It’s time for me to talk to Raev and discuss what has happened. Then maybe, maybe I can truly meet Dulce. When we’re not being gawked at by everyone, that is.

“I shall take my leave.”

Alessand nods, helping me out of my chair. Dulce looks at me expectantly but I just shake my head, hoping she understands. Her teeth bite into her lush bottom lip, like she’s holding back what she wants to say.

Pointedly, I turn to look at Raev who has avoided me all night. Throughout the meal, Dulce has comforted me by squeezing my thigh. Surprisingly, my vines refrain from attacking her, as they don”t perceive her as a threat, and although I typically avoid physical contact, her touch feels familiar and comforting.

“Up. My chambers.”

Despite my words, Raev shows no sign of acknowledgement, except for the sound of his chair scraping as he heads toward the stairs.

This will either be bad or absolutely the worst outcome. I’m not ready, nor am I excited.

Without a second glance at my other two companions, I head where Raev has rushed off too, knowing that while this conversation needs to happen, I also need to keep my temper low.

Bonds are a mystery to me, and the allure of Dulce’s call is beyond my comprehension. However, like a captivating siren by a serene lake, I find myself enthralled and unable to resist her pull.

Once I open my door, my eyes meet his forlorn form. Since we were children, growing and learning life together, there have only been a few situations that have led him to this expression.

His shoulders are sagged, his head hanging low, while his elbows rest on his pants. Sitting on the chair near my vanity, he seems so lost.

“Raev,” I whisper, suddenly losing all the fuel in my overheated engines. The gentleness of my voice makes him recoil, and I can tell he”s frightened. He’s shutting down and our conversation hasn’t yet begun.

My chest hammers with concern, actual sadness consumes me as I take a few steps closer. “Don’t.”

It’s one word, but it might as well have been a chasm of emptiness, two mirror cliffs with no way to the other side.

“What happened?”

Slowly, his head rises, and the brown eyes I’ve memorized the depths and ridges of each shade stare back at me with so much guilt. They’re red-rimmed, a color I didn’t know they could have. Wetness glosses them and all I want to do is hug him.

“Mi media naranja,” he breathes out, his hand rising to his chest. Palm flat, riddled with scars and wear holds his heart like it”s bleeding. “Lo siento.”

I know that one.

I’m sorry.

Taking another step, he turns to me. “No, no,” he urges, putting his hands out like I’m getting too close. We’ve never had this kind of distance. Not once. My heart physically throbs, like it reaches for him, unable to connect. He’s putting an invisible barrier between us and the thought physically stings.

Instead of listening, I meet him where he sits. Even when he’s sitting down, he is the same height as me, and I”m not even considered short. Unable to resist the urge to reconnect our skin, I trace his cheek with the back of my hand. The shudder that goes through him is only half as sad as the whimper that follows. Raev has always been this massive Orukna, a proud one, but no one has a gentler heart than him.

“What happened?” I ask once more, zero malice in my tone. It’s strange how a simple reconnection of flesh can soften my hardened exterior. He pushes into my outstretched hand, like he needs me to continue petting him.

I do.

My fingers trace the new scars on his cheek and the other on his head, nearly matching the one from times long lost.

He hums as I undo his braid, tracing his scalp and hair tendrils with kindness. We’ve always been close. We’re us. We’ve always been able to talk and cuddle, and be whatever we needed for one another.

“I missed you,” he rumbles, his voice soft but shaky, like he’s still overwhelmed with what he’s feeling.

“And I, you,” I admit, feeling this emotion clog in my throat. “You keep avoiding my question.” He tenses under me, but I don’t stop recalling each wound as my fingers dance over them.

“I went to Cinder,” he admits, and I recognize the name. “He told me about Vex.”

“I met them,” I say quickly.

He jerks his eyes to mine, a glint of something possessive and heated passes over his expression before he breaks contact. Just as I begin to ponder the significance of that look, he carries on.

“The club,” he corrects. “I snuck in by using Dulce as a port-path.”

The little gasp that escapes me concerns me more than I care to admit. He did kidnap her. Intentionally. My hands don’t stop their exploration, I couldn’t draw them away if I wanted to. My vines are even peeking out, touching and winding around his skin like they’re reacquainting themselves with a lost love.

“She was perfect,” he croaks, his jaw ticking as he holds his breath. His eyes gauge my reactions before continuing. “I saw her, and something drew me in. I wanted her for you...” he trails off clearing his throat as if the words hurt to let out. “For us.”

Us?

Just as I start to speak, he interrupts, unwilling to let me have a word. “She dances naked.” His voice is soft, almost reverent. “She twirled and moved, humming, and then when she went into the lake, she stayed under for so long that I almost thought I’d lost her. When she came back up for air, it was like everything was right in the world. She took my breath away.”

I swallow the sudden dryness of my throat and hum, thinking of her. She’s wildflowers and honey. Sweet and luscious. Peace.

“Then I followed her port to Vex’s. I watched her. She lost herself in these two performers, almost like she imagined herself in their stead. Nothing could push the desperate way her soul sang to mine.” His hands slide up my arms, encircling my elbows. “She called to me for a reason.” The need for him to reassure that solidifies something in me. “Then she decided to do this fancy viewing thing and when she began to undress, I couldn’t let her. She’s mi—ours.”

Grip not softening, his hands slide up my upper arms. While I’m not unused to his touch, this seems different, intentional. My heart hammers with fear, the kind that overtakes your every thought.

“Everything that’s mine is yours.” The words are direct. Sweat lines my palms, making them sticky as it sinks in. “She’s mine, mi media naranja. Which means she’s yours too. I want her for us.”

“Us?” I emphasize. This time the word comes out vocally and not just a rampant thought roaring in my lost mind. By now, his hands cup my shoulders, each thumb rubbing familiar circles. Tingles rest in my belly, a warmth pooling between my thighs, confusing me.

What is this?

I’ve never—

“She’s not the only one I want,” he boldly reveals, his eyes penetrating mine like he’s been waiting for this moment his whole life. Has he?

“Raev—” I argue, but am quickly stopped by one of his hands resting over my lips. It should anger me, feel rude to be interrupted, but the softness in his expression, like he needs me to be quiet so he can get it all out—keeps me from reacting.

“You’ve been mine since we were kids,” he states matter-of-factly. His hand resting above my mouth moves to my jaw, holding it as if it’s the most special part of any being. His other roams over my chest to where my heart resides. “I’ve loved you our entire lives,” he raggedly releases, the words holding him hostage somehow. “It didn’t start that way at first. If anything, it was just knowing you were my person. Everything about you made sense. We made sense.”

Tears well in my eyes. This isn’t how I imagined this going. I was supposed to yell and berate, and force him to beg for forgiveness.

This is too much.

“Dulce is ours,” he carries on, standing and forcing me back a step. His tall frame towers over me, yet I know out of us two, he’s the one who would be on his knees while I stand above. Dulce. The sweet summer girl I’ve never begged harder for than this last solstice. And Solera delivered.

Delivered me a mated girl.

Someone who isn’t mine.

“She’s Vex’s,” I argue, and he smiles like it’s a joke.

“Somehow, she’s theirs too. But she’s ours,” he growls, leaning down to my throat. “Can’t you feel it, mi media naranja? Can’t you taste the connection? She’s summer. She’s light. She’s our mate.”

“How?”

He nips at the flesh of my throat, causing me to shiver and jump away. Part of me enjoys the heat that emanates from him, but the other part that has spent the last two decades as his friend and confidant is scared of what would be ruined if my thoughts wandered there.

Then a thought occurs. Vex said Orukna males get markings... on their cocks. “Do you have markings?”

He tilts my head back and stares down at me with the darkest expression. “Want to see?” The tease is said so confidently that I can’t even hold in my laughter.

It’s quick and silly, but I giggle. “You did not just flirt with me.”

His forehead rests against my own, and the happiest of purrs rumbles through us. “I definitely did. Especially if you liked it.”

Slapping at his broad chest, I make an indignant sound, but don’t move away from our embrace. We’ve been apart for two weeks and it feels like so long.

“I do have markings,” he admits. His chest rises and falls against my palms, rapid and big as I peer up at him. “They came yesterday, and I did everything to avoid Dulce. Because if you wish it, I’ll let you have her. I’ll walk away. It might kill me to do so, but a sacrifice for mi reina is a sacrifice well given.”

My jaw drops at his words. How could anyone—let alone a mate—give up their other half? Unless... I shake my head, not allowing it to wander.

“Are they colored? The markings?” I almost wonder if they transform per bond, is that really where my mind is going?

His eyes narrow. “How did you—”

“What color?”

“Peach.”

I let out a sigh, thinking of her. There’s no part of me confused on what it means to have a soulmate. They’re rare. Almost unthinkable, but now I’m certain.

“When did they show up?”

“After we—” he starts and stops immediately, a redness darkens his cheeks and I’ve never quite seen him take on this shade before.

“After you fucked?” I ask nonchalantly. Fear lances over his face, like he’s scared I’ll hate him for it.

“I watched you both, with Vex.”

He blinks twice and then seems to bite the inside of his cheek. “Did they get angry?”

I shake my head. “I find them the most understanding of us all.”

He smiles, it’s small but it grows. Before he has a chance to lean in and kiss me, I subtly push him back.

“I’m not ready for all of this,” I gesture to him and myself. Then as if scared he’ll reach out again, I cover my mouth with three fingers, wanting to hide them. “Not while the solstice is only days away.”

“I understand,” he solemnly agrees, giving me space. “Can I go see her at least?” Jealousy creeps in, and I’m torn between whether it’s because he’s with her or because she’s stealing what little time I have with him. I just got him back and he’s already running from me to get back to her.

“Yeah.”

His eyes narrow once more, dissecting my face with little eye movements. “It’s hard being away from her. I’m not sure how to solidify the bond.”

“Your abuelita will know.” He pulls his shirt to his nose and wrinkles it after getting a whiff.

“I’ll shower, see Dulce, and then write my abuelita. She’ll be excited to see me do something other than be a guard.”

I shake my head with humor. “She loathes that you gave up marrying for your job.”

His eyes widens as it dawns on him. “Goodnight, mi reina.”

“Night, Raev. Don’t be a stranger.”

Without another word, he walks out my door, and my heart stutters with all the emotions I sucked inward.

What do I do now?