Chapter 26
Hadrian
I can remember my grandmother once telling me that there was nothing in the world like the first moments after a mating bond snaps into place. She was right, of course, because as I stroke Bluebell’s hair and stare into those beautiful blue eyes, I can’t fathom not having this.
A heartbeat? That sound I’ve obsessed over my entire life? I produce it on my own now, and it’s synced in time with hers. Only ever hers.
It’s not like I doubted she was mine, once I started allowing myself to consider it. But this? It’s a whole different level of knowing. It’s surety in the most astounding of ways. Every cell in my body exists to be near her, to be part of her, to create life with her.
To love.
Bluebell smiles at me, her fingertips skating up my jawline to my horn. As she plays with the base, heat sears through me like flame.
More? How can I possibly be ready for more? I’ve never come so much as the last quarter hour.
“Mate,” she says, her voice throaty and sounding well used. “I’m not ready to leave this nest, not at all.” She rubs at her chest. “But we’re gonna miss the entire dance if we don’t head downstairs. You okay with that?”
I know why she’s asking, because I can feel how torn she is in her heart. She’s on the organizing committee, and she’s debating how to tell me she feels compelled to be present despite what we just did. I get it, because I get her so very deeply.
“We need to put in an appearance.” I roll her onto her side. “Even if it’s just for a little while.”
She smiles. “Guess you’re basically a mind reader now, huh?”
I smile. “Something like that. But so are you, little mate.”
Her smile overtakes her face. “It’s such a non-human thing that’s gonna take some time to get used to.”
I chuckle. “Wait until we tell your family, and I can love you in the open. I’m gonna be all over you all the time.”
“Good,” she huffs. “The more I think about it, the more irritated I am that we put our own feelings aside just because of Jasper. Like…how dumb?”
“It’s more than that,” I offer. “I mean, it’s that, of course, but it’s a deep respect for all of our friendships.
It’s a worry about losing something that’s been so steady and constant.
I get it, and I was worried too, even though the rational part of my brain wants to say fuck it, he’ll deal.
” A laugh burbles from me, although it’s wry.
“He’ll deal tomorrow, so we’re almost there. ”
She rolls off me with an adorable grumble. “Don’t remind me. I need to stock up on tequila for both our places, because we’re gonna need it after he finds out.”
We’ve hashed this topic out so much that I can’t find anything to add, so I watch in silence as she pulls her clothing back on.
She’s covered in cum, and we probably both need a shower, but I love that she doesn’t bother to hide the evidence of what we just did.
There’s something supremely satisfying about that.
Half an hour later, I’m anything but satisfied.
Bluebell flits from group to group, checking on monsters and doing an all-around bang-up job as part of the committee.
I’ve already busied myself for a half hour checking on Petra and Iggy.
They’re having a great time playing chase in the pumpkin maze with Iggy’s mom.
Me? I’m drowning in our combined emotions and desperate to lavish affection and adoration on her. We just completed the bond; I want to stand up on a stage and shout it out to all of Main Street.
She can feel it too, blue eyes flicking to me as she stands with Lemon and Oz.
Her breath hitches, and I feel that too, even from across the street.
Leaving her friends, she picks her way through the crowd to rejoin me, rubbing at her chest. Long blue hair covers the swollen spot on her neck where I bit her.
“Hay—I—let’s get outta here,” she whispers. “Surely this is enough showing my face, right? I need you.”
“Fuck yes,” I growl out, reaching for her hand just as Jasper and Jack appear from the crowd. For the first time in the years I’ve known him, Jasper looks…harried. Black brows are bunched together, his mouth dropping open when he sees Bluebell.
“Bloob, thank fuck I found you. I’ve comm’d you three times!” He lifts both arms in exasperation as she spins to face him.
Jack glances from Jasper to me to Bluebell and back again. My tail starts lashing of its own accord at the inherent demand in Jasper’s tone. In the brand-new bond, concern and irritation swirl from Bluebell to me.
Jasper huffs out an irritated sound. “Did you get my stuff done yet? I don’t have any more time today. I’ve been prepping all morning, and I didn’t even eat lunch.”
Bluebell’s mouth drops open. “No, I haven’t done your shit yet, Jasper. I literally just walked out of a meeting thirty minutes ago. I didn’t eat breakfast or lunch, and I’ve only had one coffee. Your shit is gonna have to wait an hour or two, but I’ll get it done la—”
“No!” he snaps. “I was counting on you, Bluebell. I can’t tackle this shit today, and you—”
“Will get it done after I have a damn drink,” she says reasonably.
The bond swirls with anger, although I can see she’s trying to temper his response. Balling my fists, I resist the urge to push him away from her. My mating bond throbs, my need to protect making me see red.
Moving my hands to Jasper’s chest, I urge him to look at me. “I’ll help her as soon as she has a moment to decompress.”
He shoves my hand away. “No, dude. I need to be able to count on her. This is what she does for our business. This is her part in it and—”
“I’m not technically on the Tucker Greens payroll,” she says with more bite in her tone.
“I help you so you don’t have to, but you don’t pay me, and it has to come after my other responsibilities.
That’s always been true. But I’ll get it done later, like I said.
” Her voice is full of clear warning, dark blue brows furrowed in anger.
“Let me grab you a drink,” I offer, hoping to defuse the situation before I start yelling. I don’t like the way Jasper’s looking expectantly at her, like he might launch into an even more ridiculous tirade. “Or we can head back to Tucker ranch and help you in your final—”
“Dude,” Jasper snaps. “Stop, alright? Today of all days, just stop.”
Frustration rises in me, and I ball my fists.
Today of all fucking days? The day I claimed my mate and kept it a fucking secret to protect his mental wellbeing?
I think fucking not. I’m done protecting Jasper Tucker, third-level mastery test be damned.
“I don’t want to start arguing right here,” I say in the coolest tone I can muster, “but you need to step away from this and focus on your test tomorrow. Bluebell and I will help you later, but her schedule does not revolve around you.”
Jasper turns to me with a fierce look, stepping into my space despite me standing a full head taller. “Whose fucking side are you on, Hadrian?” He slaps both hands to my chest and shoves.
I see his move coming a mile away, so I lean in, and when he pushes, I don’t move an inch. “Step away, Jasper,” I snarl.
Jack grabs Jasper’s forearm and tugs, but Jasper’s mouth drops open. “Or what, asshole?”
“Stop acting like a petulant child,” I hiss. “You’re a grown-ass man, and you need to start acting like it. I don’t care how big of a day tomorrow is for you, you’re being a godsdamned jackass.”
The bond coils tight in my chest, apprehension taking over both our irritation.
His eyes spring wide, mouth dropping open. Just as quickly, fury overtakes his features, and he cocks back, ready to hit me.
I duck him easily, but his momentum carries him forward, and he crashes against me, then falls to my left. He swung too hard, and the force takes him all the way toward Bluebell. I grab and hang on to his shirt, but he lands on her right arm, knocking the mead all over her neck and chest.
Roaring, I yank him up off the ground and thrust my face into his. “Calm down,” I snap, even though we’re drawing a crowd. I’m barely maintaining control of what’s now rage at how he’s treating my mate.
“Put him down, Alk!” Bluebell shouts, but I’m too fucking hyped.
“She promised to help!” Jasper struggles, clawing against my hands and forearms.
“It’s not gonna be right now though, so are you gonna walk away?” I snap as I set him down.
He glares at me but turns. At the last second, I realize he’s not fucking done, not by a long shot. Flaring my wings wide, I lift my hands and stop him as he swings a second time.
“Leave her alone!” I roar, lifting my daggerlike wingtips up and above us in an attack position.
Bluebell gasps, and Jasper’s eyes go wide. I drop my wings carefully at my back as he looks at me in shock.
“Dude, fuck…I…why do you even care? This is between her and me.”
Swinging my left wing around her, I pull her to my side and tuck her against me as red overtakes my vision.
Not only is he being a general asshole, but he’s expecting too much, causing a scene and hurting her feelings.
He’s taking advantage, and I’m here to make sure no one takes advantage of her ever again.
The mating bite throbs so hard, I’m about to drop to both knees.
“Leave my godsdamned mate alone,” I snarl. “Or you and I will have problems despite our friendship.”
Bluebell swivels her gaze up to mine, and Jasper and Jack look at each other, then back at me. All three look shocked. Surprise tears along our bond.
“Your what?” Jasper gasps. “You’re fucking kidding me right now. She can’t be your mate. She's my sister. She’s practically your sister. We grew up together, Hadrian. What the fuck are you talking about?!”
He’s shouting now, and any moment, Bryony or Merit or both are liable to start snapping photographs of this altercation.
Bluebell scratches at her mating bite. Jasper’s eyes drop to her hand. Then his eyes spring wide. He grabs her hand and yanks it away from her neck.
“Just focus on tomorrow, Jasper,” Bluebell says cautiously, even as he scans the obvious indentations. “We don’t have to talk about this now.”
“Come on, Jazzy.” Jack pulls Jasper away from us. His eyes are as wide as Jasper’s as he stares at the swollen spot where I claimed her.
“Are you fucking kidding me, dude?” Jasper shouts. “You’re my best friend! How could you?!”
“Because we want to,” I say simply. “Because we’re fated, Jasper, and nobody, not even you, can come between that kind of connection. We’d have told you sooner if we weren’t worried about you being a complete fucking asshole like you’re being right now!”
Bluebell gasps again and takes a step away from me. “Hadrian, stop, please.”
This is getting so, so, so out of hand. I turn to Bluebell with an imploring look. “We were trying to give him space, baby, but—”
“No,” Jasper barks. “Absolutely not. Dude, this can’t be. You fucking bit my sister?”
Bluebell reaches for him, but the moment she rests her hands on his shoulders, he yanks out of her grip, glaring at her.
“We were gonna tell you after your test,” she says softly. “This doesn’t change anything, Jazzy. I’m still your sister, and he’s still—”
“I don’t want to hear this.” Jasper turns and pushes through the crowd.
She calls out after him, but he doesn’t stop. Mouth dropped open, she looks up at me with tears in her eyes. “You had to tell him right now? We knew this is how he’d react, Hay.” She throws both hands on her head, spinning away from me. “Fuuuuuuck.”
Our bond snaps around her utter desolation and fear.
“Bluebell,” I implore, pulling her toward me. “Please. I—”
“I need a minute,” she snaps, eyes wide as she backs away from me and Jack. “Just give me a second to process this, okay?”
“I’ll take Jasper home,” Jack says cautiously. Green eyes flick between us, his expression carefully neutral. “See you guys—well, I’m not sure when.”
She turns and runs toward the Buxom Bodice, disappearing inside without a backward glance.
“Fuck!” I shout into the sky, beyond frustrated.
“This ain’t great timing, friend,” Jack says quietly.
Snarling, I look between him and the Bodice. I fucked up by telling him that way after she and I were on the same page about it.
Shiiiiiiit. What if she can’t forgive me?