My Summer Girl

Chapter Forty-Six

Vex

Training Season – Dua Lipa

He’s troubled.

Not only over the sensations floating through the bond that don’t quite make sense. They’re fuzzy, like more unsettled and unclear than I’m used to, but also the result of meeting with his grandmother.

Through the bond, it’s as if Vera’s baser instincts are taking over and the control she’s always wrapped herself in has been removed.

I remember Dottie very well, but not of the pollination they’ve lacked for a long time. It makes me believe it’s something like that.

In all the years I’ve been alive, there are so many creatures and monsters alike. What this reminds me of are omegas and their designations, along with alphas and their predestination for mating and heats.

It’s not the same, of course. With how Vera mentioned flowers and the pollen they offer creating an almost-aphrodisiac and fertility, it makes me believe that perhaps that’s what’s happening.

It wouldn’t be so odd for her to not see what’s right in front of her face. A lot of us do this. When we laid in the fields waiting for our mates to return to us, the flowers sprouted, and a huge part of me thinks it has something to do with Dulce.

Our mate seems to have a magical touch... One that might just fix the problem this realm has been having. Cupid touch or not, she seems like the key.

The horses whinny as we arrive at the cottage deep in the trees. It’s one floor, but massive. Outside are trinkets—shiny, laden in the grass like an invitation for something, or someone, specific.

“They’re for the blackbirds,” Raev answers my unspoken curiosities. His smile is tilted and charming, and I know it’ll be easy to fall for this Orukna someday.

He hops off the horse with the grace of a charro, all swift with elegant movements, as if this is his natural state.

Raev’s steps are certain as he walks the pathway to the entrance in a specific pattern that seems intentional. Out of respect and uncertainty, I follow the path, memorizing each crack he avoids and tracing the almost star-like pattern he goes in.

Much like the castle in Solera, this is something tree-like too. Huge vines protect the walls, as if it’s encasing it in safety. It’s beautiful. I wonder how I’ve been able to stay away from Solera for so long.

This place has always held a significance I’ve never been able to quite explain. Yet, being here now, I can see that it’s the sunshine, the energy, and the way it feels like home.

“Abue!” Raev hollers, his voice louder and softer at the same time. His accent is thicker, almost like the emotional connection to his family makes it so.

“Amorcito?” The sound of an older person’s voice sounds out somewhere in the cottage. It’s loud, but also aged and tired.

“Sí, soy yo, Abue,”

My heart softens as I listen to their exchange, loving how he falls into his language so easily without switching for me.

“Pásele, pásele,” she ushers out, telling him to come in from the other room, not realizing I’m with him.

She rounds the corner, shorter than I expected, wearing an apron around her waist. Her hair is braided and longer than I’ve ever seen someone of this height. Her smile to Raev is bright and heartwarming. When her gaze meets mine, shock paints her features before her grin widens and is kind and welcoming.

“This is Vex,” Raevar hurries the words out.

“I’m Rosa,” she introduces, her voice so warm like a hug.

Her eyebrow raises at Raev. I’m sure to explain why we’re both here. However, she doesn’t get a chance to speak before he’s rushing out more words. “They’re one of my mates.”

“?Enserio?” Both her eyes and mouth widen, and I’d chuckle, but she looks near passing out from his admission. From what it seems, mates aren’t common in Oruknas. Doesn’t help that the sickness of this realm took out many magical beings.

“I have a mate. Three actually.”

Rosa’s hand clasps her chest. “No mames? ?Qué quieres decir?”

“Abue!” Raevar exclaims, his shock and humor mixing. She shrugs and laughs at him. “Es tu pareja? No me digas,” she whispers, pressing a palm to her lips. “?De verdad?”

“Sí, es verdad,” Raev says with a smile and he’s grinning from ear to ear. He’s so at ease here and charming.

“No manches,” she murmurs, her eyes scanning over me. Her accent is thick, and her eyes are full of glee, yet concern.

“I don’t know how to solidify the bond,” Raev shamefully admits. She turns to him, her eyes twinkling. “I-I don’t know what to do.” He runs a hand through his loose strands, almost nervously as he adds the last bit. It’s not easy to admit when you’re unaware of something that makes you who you are.

She switches to English so I can understand fully. “You’ll bite them.”

“That’s something I understand well,” I joke, and Raev’s cheeks redden.

“I’ve already shared blood with Vex,” Raev sheepishly offers, hiding his face and fidgeting. It’s actually charming how shy he is about this.

She clucks her tongue and places a hand on her hip while leaning against the wall. “You must bite them. That’s the important part. Your tusks are what bond you to them. They hold the magic.”

Smiling at the exchange, her gaze goes back to me. “And are you taking care of m’hijo?”

“Todos los días de mi vida,” I respond to her in kind, wanting to show my respect while also proving that for my dove and poppet, I’ll learn as much of their language as I can.

“Good, he’s my sweet boy. He deserves all the love Solera will offer him.”

I nod, thinking of how he’ll be loved forever, by us all, and he’ll never know what it’s like to be lonely again. Not if I have any say in it.

She turns and goes into the kitchen, the smell making my mouth water. She’s roasting tomatoes and boiling something in the pot over the stove. I’m unsure of what it is, but there’s no doubt that even without needing food consumption, I’ll be trying it if she allows it.

“I’m sorry. She comes on strong,” Raev whispers against the shell of my ear.

Shivering at the contact, my lips twitch with humor. He doesn’t realize this is nothing compared to how Dulce’s siblings are and when he meets them, he’s going to be like, “My abuelita isn’t even bad.”

“She loves you, and I love that she does.”

His face softens as he peers at me and then they roam down to my mouth. Something warm stirs in my chest. Not arousal, no, but a tingling similar to charm.

“Go ahead, poppet. Take your fill.”

His eyes sparkle with mischief like he’s about to risk it all to kiss me, but when Rosa smacks him on his arse with a wooden spoon, he squawks, rubbing the spot.

“?Ay!” he shouts, frowning at her.

“There will be no kissing in front of me,” she teases, but there’s a lot of joy in her brown eyes.

“You didn’t have to hit me,” he grumbles, saying something under his breath.

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” he hurries to reply, backing up a few steps. “I’ll clean the dishes.” It takes everything in me not to chuckle at the exchange, especially when Rosa waves her wooden spoon at him.

“That’s right.”