My Summer Girl

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Dulce

Let The World Burn – Chris Grey

“I’m fine. He’s beingdramatic.”

I wake to an exasperated Vera, her arms folded over her chest while she sits on the lounger. Standing above her with a glass of water is Vex. They’re holding it out to her and she’s acting like she’s being burdened with it.

Raev sits next to her with a stern expression, almost like he’s been telling Vex how Vera never drinks water.

That’s something a Dom just doesn’t let slide. Dehydration.

“Even beings connected to gods need water, Verano,” they chastise, their eyebrow up. Oh, so I’m not the only brat here. “No, you’re not,” Vex teases, turning their gaze to me. “You need to drink water too.”

“Yes, Sir,” I say with a mock salute. I’m enjoying not being the only one forced to choke down the flavorless sustenance that’s meant for plants and not Cupids. I’m more of a margarita girlie, or even an anything-but-water type of monster.

“Later, your arse is mine,” they threaten, narrowing their eyes on me.

“Isn’t it always... Sir?” I taunt, and then saunter to the sink in all my naked glory. Today feels different, lighter. Almost like with the air clear between us all, we’re free.

The feeling of the hit stings far before the sound and reality clicks that my ass has been slapped. I let out a shrill sound and turn to see Vex and Raev standing where they were and Vera’s hand on my right cheek.

“You did not,” I hiss, but the humor is there.

She waggles her eyebrows. “Vex gave me the go ahead, and is teaching me their ways of brat taming.”

“Brat taming, my—”

“Finish those words, little dove. I dare you,” they threaten, sauntering towards us. I grumble and pout, but they lay a kiss on my forehead and then tilt my chin. “I’ve been a little lax.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” I hum, turning around to grab some water for myself.

“The summer is nearing its end,” Vex states. It’s stiff. I’ve been avoiding this conversation. Because what else do I need to do? I saw my siblings. Do I really need to go back?

Yes.

Shut up, brain.

You asked...

Shaking the annoying thoughts pushing through my mind, I let out a sigh. “It is.”

“What will you do?” Ver asks. Her voice is so small. Twisting so I can see the faces of the three people I’ve fallen for without question, my stomach churns at their forlorn expressions.

“She’ll stay here, of course,” Raev answers, his lips pinched. When he strays a look at Vex, he realizes that staying here without closure isn’t an option.

Before I can make any decisions and reassure my mates, Alessand comes barreling through the door. His normally chill expression and composure is shot. Eyes massive and dilated, along with a heavy chest, is all that meets me. Immediately, Raev is on the defensive, and Vex isn’t too far behind.

“Alessand,” Vera says. “We do not burst into any room. Especially not one where my mate is disrobed.”

He hasn’t glanced at me, my body shielded by them all, but it doesn’t stop the fact that he barged in without a single warning.

“There’s no time,” he rushes out, pulling on his hair. “Pollination. It’s here.”

Ver peers down at her arms. The flowers are fully bloomed, the ones on her thorns and crown wide and bright yellow.

“Fuck, this can’t be happening,” Vera hisses. Alessand is smart enough to turn away at the expression she shares with us.

Fear.

It’s tangible, real. It’s something she’s fought for so long and now that she’s accepted us all as her mates, her body is ready.

Ready for a baby.

Ready for us.

“Go, Alessand. We’ll be in the fields shortly.”

“They—” Alessand pauses and briefly twists to look at us. “They’ve already started. Apparently as the sun rose, the blooms exploded. There’s pollen spores everywhere.”

“That’s not how this is supposed to go.” Ver sighs, her face filled with disappointment. “It’s okay. It’s the first one in ages. Let them have at it.”

Alessand nods and rushes off. To find his partner or someone to lose himself with, I’m unsure. Either way, his panicked running would make me laugh if the room didn’t feel so stifled with tension.

“We need to go out there,” she mumbles, her words so quiet.

“Are you ready for that?” Raev asks, his eyes darkening. “They can’t force you. You’re the queen.”

“Which is why it’s in the laws. We are required to be there.”

“How does this go?” I ask, thinking of what Solera showed me.

“Basically an orgy, if what Dottie told me is accurate,” Vex says, their expression filled with both concern and excitement.

Ver eyes them, then nods. “Yeah, the fields in which the solenas grow is where everyone goes to fuck.”

“It’s a fertile event. It’s meant to bring life, new beginnings, and pleasure. A lot of pleasure,” Raev explains.

My heart hammers. “So, about my ‘fuck it’ list?”

They turn to me—Vex with amusement, Raev with heat, and Ver with a “really?” expression. But when she smiles, I just know she’s on board.