Chapter 38 #2
I’ve no claim to her, and yet her words are a sharp slap.
She may not be mine, but I’m pretty sure I’m hers.
“But I feel like I know you.” The words slam through my gritted teeth as they tumble out of my mouth with a mind of their own.
“Like I always have.” In truth, I feel like I know her soul and that she knows mine.
How do you tell that to someone you barely know?
“I’m aware that sounds absolutely insane. ”
“It does.” She raises an eyebrow, her movements slow with agitation. “You don’t get a say in who I date or what I do. Just because you and Kian brought me here doesn’t mean you can control my life. You’re royalty, not gods.”
“That’s not what I’m saying.” I breathe deep, keeping my voice calm. This moment seems important. “I can’t put it in words, but I feel responsible for you.”
“That’s patronizing.” She huffs, throwing her hands up in frustration.
“This is coming out all wrong,” I whisper. “I have all these feelings about this that I can’t decipher. It’s like you came into my life and something shifted into place. You feel it too, right? This thing between us?”
Her eyes flash with the tiniest spark of recognition, and she leans in closer to me.
“When you walk into a room, the air shifts, tugging us together. You call to me. A huntress entrapping my every thought. And then seeing you with that trumped-up fucking house cat,” I growl.
“Logically, I know it’s not my place. But it feels like my place.
You feel like my place. Right here.” I pound my fist to my chest. Maybe this is too much, I’m coming on too strong, too soon.
I quickly add, “I’m not good with words.
” I go to step back, give her more space to breathe, but she reaches out, stopping my retreat by grabbing my biceps with her elegant hands.
She studies where her hands lie on my arms with a somewhat distracted look of amusement on her face.
She meets my eyes as she slowly drags her hands across my pecs to rest them over my heart, which I’m fairly certain is going to burst out of my chest with the forcefulness of its beating.
The slide of her fingertips sends sparks dancing in its wake.
“I feel tongue-tied,” I manage to say quietly, and her eyes dip to my lips.
“Then show me.” She matches my volume as if these confessions can only be whispered. She teases her pouty bottom lip with her teeth, and I’m done for. I wrap my hand around the back of her neck and lean down, ready to give in to this undeniable pull to taste her lips with mine.
I stop a breath away from her mouth. “This. This is what I mean.” Her tongue darts out and wets her lips.
“We may not have known each other long, but I still know you. Your heartbeat is a melody I can single out in a room of a thousand others. Your scent sang to me before I even met you.” I’m completely captivated by the colors and patterns of her hazel eyes.
“Your taste is a ballad on my tongue even though my lips have never met your skin.”
She pushes up on her toes and crashes her lips into mine.
Colors explode behind my eyes. Her scent has a sound like the tinkling of a crystal bell, and her taste is the moving colors of an oil spill.
My senses mix and become indistinguishable.
A symphony, playing a waltz as her tongue dances with mine.
I feel something at my center, a faint piece of me I never noticed.
Like a limb, reaching out to her, begging for her to reach back.
This part of me wants to fold into her, become part of her.
She draws me in, demands I bend to her. Get on my knees for her. Worship her. Wear a collar for her.
We break our kiss, breathing heavily, our foreheads pressed together. “Fuck,” I exhale.
“Fuck is right,” she says. “And you are as good with words as you are with your lips.” Her full cheeks are flushed pink. “Which is to say very, very good.” As if on cue, music from the ballroom swells.
“Fuck, I-I’m sorry, this thing is starting.
We have to go. But I want us to talk. Can we talk?
” I close my eyes and breathe deeply until I feel her nod and let out a strangled sigh.
“Okay. Okay,” I choke out. “I’ll find you right after the ceremony.
” I finally step away. Her beautiful face is lit with emotion.
I reach a hand out to her. “Back to the ballroom?”
She scrunches her nose in that cute way I’ve learned means she is concentrating on something. “People will see us coming in together.”
“So?”
Is she worried about being seen with me? Concerned about what Michi will think?
She takes my hand and squeezes it once before dropping it.
“You go. I need a minute.” She gives me a tight smile.
I don’t like the idea of leaving her alone.
But if she wants to be alone, I can respect that, even if it’s because she doesn’t want people to see us slinking out of hidden places together.
“Okay. I’ll see you as soon as the ceremony ends.” I give her an eager smile before rushing back to the dais.
I arrive just in time for Kian to give me a suspicious “Where the hell have you been” once-over. I brush down my jacket. All the conscious work I put into not wrinkling my tux slipped away in a moment of utter bliss.
The ceremony is a swirl of colors and noises that barely register, taking on a dreamlike quality, echoing far away.
I can’t see Lena, she’s hidden somewhere out of view, but I can feel her here.
That phantom limb-like feeling still alive after our kiss.
Kian gives opening remarks, and then there is a song from a group of sirens.
The current sitting regent, Arlo Lupin of Transformare, and I engage in an official passing of the ceremonial torch.
The Challenge Epoch is called into session and so my Epoch begins.
For the next 233 days, challenges can be brought to my throne.
I focus on Callum’s beautiful face in front.
What do I tell them? The crushing reality hits me hard.
I have no more of a future with Lena than I do with Cal.
It’s for different reasons, but the problem remains the same.
But that kiss and the connection the three of us share are too rare to let some legal BS stand in the way.
After I talk with Lena, I’m going to find Cal and figure that out, because there has got to be something we can do.
The three of us, we belong together. It’s as clear to me as the champagne glass thrust into my hand by Dylan the Event Planner.
I’m not sure how, or when, or what we will have to go through to get there, but as sure as the sun will rise, Cal, Lena, and I are meant to be together. This is a self-evident truth.
The only thing standing between me and continuing my conversation with Lena is the announcement of this year’s charity beneficiary.
We raise a ton of money during these types of events.
Every Samhain, the institute throws a party, and for the next few years, it will also include an Epoch ceremony.
Michi and Katri walk on stage. Of fucking course, the Gatti and Astor families chair the committee. Let’s get this over with.
“It’s with great pride that we announce this year’s beneficiary for the Samhain fundraiser,” Katri begins.
“In celebration of Prince Bardawulf’s Challenge Epoch, we chose a cause dear to his heart.
” They did? “The Magica Mercy Foundation funds the collection of magica raised in the human world and financially supports their attendance at magica institutions.” The Mercy Foundation is what helps support scholarships for magicae we bring in on collections, so I suppose that makes sense.
Still, I wish they’d run it by me. I might have suggested Shifters’ Shield Society instead.
Katri continues, “Magica Mercy funds a special scholarship for half-human magica who were raised in the human world. These unfortunate, disadvantaged creatures are raised without the resources and education necessary to thrive in our realm. This scholarship helps fund tuition, and our new initiative provides them with a mentor from a prominent house to support their integration into magica society. ”
I can’t see Katri’s expression, but I recognize that sugar-sweet voice she has put on. I know her and Boden are friends, but I always found the girl grating.
“This cause is especially important to Michi, isn’t that right?
” She looks at the lion shifter. “As Michi has been our pilot mentor this year, spending not only his required community service hours, but putting in additional charity work to help our newest, half-human magica adjust to life here at the institute.” She passes the mic to Michi as a sick feeling takes root in my stomach.
“That’s right,” Michi responds with a smug smile. “Helping ignorant magicae has never been more important than during this time of transition. We must all be vigilant in our charity to teach them the ways of our realm.”
Katri leans into the mic over Michi’s shoulder. “Michi has been doing his part so well people have even commented that they thought they were dating.” Her crystal laugh has a malicious tone to it.
What’s going on?
Michi tuts and gives a smarmy used-car salesman laugh. “So sweet, but I only have eyes for shifters. Magicae of all insignia, please give a warm round of applause to our first ever mentee in the Connecting Lost Magicae program sponsored by Magica Mercy Foundation: Vladlena Solis.”
Wait, what the fuck?
For a moment, the crowd is dead silent, the only noise a soft gasp that escapes through Lena’s lips. A spotlight singles Lena out in the center of the room. Her shocked expression mirrors my own.
“Come up here, Vladlena.” Michi laughs as a slow trickle of applause begins around the room. “She’s really so shy.”
Has Michi been fucking with her?
My body twitches with the need to jump between Lena and the rest of the room.
He’s been taking advantage of my girl. I stifle the growl that threatens to rip from my throat.
With my blood boiling, I feel the wolf inside me lift his head, ready to defend what’s ours.
My canines elongate of their own volition.
Down boy. I breathe deep, this isn’t the time or place to shift.
I move, signaling to Dylan to start the music. This ceremony’s over, and I have to go to Lena. Kian’s already at the front of the stage, grabbing the mic from Michi’s hands. “That’s alright. Thank you to the Charity Committee. I think it’s time we get the party started. Please enjoy!”
He turns off the mic and ushers the students off the stage. I step forward to go after Lena, but Kian forcefully grabs my arm, tilting his head, indicating the back room. I’m ready to kick some kitty-cat ass.