Chapter Twenty-Six
I should have told them how I felt. Gage had bared his soul to me, and I sensed a similar openness in the others, though unspoken. They loved me, and I loved them. It should have been perfect. Magical. But it wasn't. And that's why I didn't tell them. It would just make things worse when I left.
So, although we became lovers and fell into a new routine that included a lot of sex, there was tension between us. They were waiting for me to trust them and fall in love. They were so certain that I was their mate. And I was so certain that I wasn't. Which meant that they were waiting for something that would never happen.
But I didn't want our time together to be tainted by the future. As a foster kid, I had learned to live in the present and clutch whatever happiness I could find there. So, I clutched. I submerged myself in them, wrapping myself in their affection even when we weren't making love. Which wasn't often.
Without nine-to-five jobs, the hounds could stay in bed all day if they wanted to. And we wanted to. A lot. We slept together in my bed, usually after falling into an exhausted heap. I often woke sprawled across them, and as soon as I moved, they would reach for me and it would start all over again. It became a continuous hedonistic loop of lovemaking, eating, bathing, and more lovemaking. And I never got tired or sore. But that was the only magic I experienced.
Finally, we got sick of ordering delivery and eating Gage's pancakes. Oh, and nachos. I offered to cook, but they growled at the suggestion. They wanted to see to all of my needs, and I loved them wanting to. So, we went out for breakfast.
Gage drove us into town in his suburban. We went to our favorite breakfast spot and got a booth along the wall. I sat beside Garret.
“Good morning,” the server said. “Can I get you all something to drink?”
I was about to order coffee when I noticed how quiet it was. I looked at the men. The men were looking at our server. Really looking. With a frown, I followed their stares. She was lovely, but nothing to make a man stare like that, much less my men. The hounds never looked at another woman like they were looking at our server. Those sorts of stares were reserved for me. I scowled at her, wondering what it was about her that would make them break their only-stare-at-Indie rule.
She had long blond hair, blue eyes, and a curvy physique. Kinda like me but more robust. Taller and thicker. I cleared my throat. The server smiled. The men kept staring.
“Uh, I'll have coffee, please,” I said. “Garret?” I nudged him.
“Huh?” He glanced at me, then back at the woman. “What's your name?”
The server smiled, but it was a little unsure. “I'm Beth.”
“Short for Elizabeth?” Gage asked.
I looked from Beth to Gage, and it hit me. My time was up. This was her. She had found them. Maybe it was the similarity between us that had confused them. I looked like their mate, but I wasn't her. Beth was the one.
I made a broken sound and slid out of the bench. “Sorry. Excuse me,” I said as I pushed past the server.
The clincher? No one stopped me. No one even asked what was wrong. They let me go. I went to the restroom and splashed cold water on my face. My heart was racing while simultaneously sinking. What could I do? I loved them. But love didn't seem to matter when magic was involved. Their love had vanished with one look at their mate.
I wanted them to have their mate. I wanted them to be happy. But I wanted their mate to be me! I didn't want them happy with Beth, the Amazon version of me. I would go out there and fight for them. That's what I'd do.
I strode out of the bathroom determined to win my men despite that stupid magic spell.
And I found them leaning in around Beth, who was sitting in my place! She had taken my seat! The fucking waitress! I gaped at them. They didn't even notice me. I stood there for several minutes and they never so much as glanced my way. Nor did that bitch Beth get up. Her enchantment mirrored theirs; she leaned over to touch Gage while pressing shoulders with Garret.
The fight left me. All strength did.
You'll never be abandoned again, Gage's voice echoed in my mind.
But I told Gage not to make me that promise. I made him take it back. Because I knew he would break it.
I turned and walked out of the restaurant. And I kept walking. Random things went through my mind. Things like how I needed to get my things from their house. My car was there. I couldn't drive home without my car. And it was time for me to go home. I had nowhere else to go.
“Indie?”
I looked up. “Jake?”
“Hey, honey. Uh, I'm not stalking you. I swear. I'll leave.” He started to walk past me.
“No, it's okay,” I said. Then I did something horrible. I cried.
“Indie!” Jake pulled me into his arms. “What the fuck? Oh, God. They hurt you, didn't they? Those fucking demons hurt you! I'm going to kill them. I don't care what it takes, I'm going to help Silas destroy the hellhounds!”
“They found their mate,” I said. “And it's not me.”
Jake went still. “Oh. Oh, I see.” He stepped back. “You're disappointed, not injured.”
“I'm sorry. This isn't your problem.”
“No, it's fine. I understand. I pushed you away, and you needed someone. I'm sorry that you had no one to turn to besides a bunch of demons.”
I sighed and started to walk away.
“Oh, no you don't, little girl,” Jake growled and grabbed my wrist.
I spun to look at him, but it wasn't him any longer. “Michael,” I said.
“You're coming with me.”
“No, I'm not!” I opened my mouth to scream, but then something shivered through me.
Jake flinched, blinked, and scowled. I tried to say something, but my mouth wouldn't obey my commands.
Because I've got you now, Michael said inside my head. Don't worry. I don't like possessing women. This is just to get you back to the house quietly. And then, Indigo Darling, I'm never letting you leave.
Why are you doing this? I demanded in my mind. You don't need me.
No, but Jake does. He's falling apart without you, and I enjoy having him as my host. He's easy to manipulate and handsome too. So, you're going to come back with us, and you're going to play the doting girlfriend. If you try to deny him again, I will possess you. I can do terrible things to your mind while I'm here, Indigo. I can crush it, turn you into a vegetable. Or I can show you your deepest fears. Don't push me.
Don't do this. I just want to go home. Please.
If Jake tires of you, you can go. Until then, you're going to keep my host happy. And if you don't, I will fucking destroy you. Are we clear?
Yes.
Good girl.
Fuck you.
Michael laughed as he piloted my body to Jake's new truck and put me in the passenger seat. I was terrified, but that terror was nothing compared to the heartache I felt over losing the three men that I loved. Yup, even possessed by a terrifying, body-jumping ghost, all I could think about was the hounds. And the heartbreaking confirmation that I wasn't their mate. When you feel that broken, a threat like Michael's barely registers. What would it matter if he turned me into a vegetable? Fuck, it might be a relief.