Chapter 21 – Farrah
It took three weeks for Locheran and I to fully solidify the bond, mostly because we only allowed ourselves to have spicy time on weekends. Locheran didn’t want me to miss out on any days at work.
So on the weekends, we fucked... a lot.
It’s been exhausting, but satisfying, and I’ve never been happier.
Aside from spending time with Locheran getting to know each other, we’ve also been meeting with the task force trying to track down my family. There haven’t been many updates. It appears my father has gone into hiding.
Or he’s preparing for a big attack.
Now it’s Tuesday and Shakespeare week for my students. My excitement to discuss my favorite literary figure overpowers the uncertainty that hangs over my head.
I teach three, two-hour long classes that meet twice a week. Mondays and Wednesdays at eight a.m. and one p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays at eight a.m. I use the rest of Tuesdays and Thursdays for office hours and grading assignments.
I have an hour left at the office before heading home to Locheran’s apartment.
My new home. My old apartment lease was taken over by a supe friend of Millie’s, the former vampire queen, who I haven’t officially met yet.
I’ve heard of her because of my family. They made sure I knew all the names of many powerful supernatural beings in the United States.
I don’t regret moving in with Locheran. My apartment was great, but his is luxurious.
The view of the Empire State Building alone is worth it.
The place needs some decorations and color, but I’ve yet to unpack some of my things to hang up on the walls and place on shelves around the two-bedroom space.
“Why is it so… boring in here?” I asked one morning while eating breakfast.
He scoffed. “Rude.”
“Seriously, why haven’t you decorated?"
He shrugged. “I’m not here a lot, and I have no sense of decor.”
Such a male answer.
When I asked how much the rent cost, Locheran said he owns the apartment.
Apparently, Xander owns a lot of the units in the building, too, either for his soldiers to live in and be near him, or for guests who need a place to sleep when visiting.
Locheran bought his apartment at the same time Xander made all his investments, which was shortly after the building was built.
My phone vibrates on my desk, pulling me from my thoughts.
Loch
You thinking about me?
Me
No, why?
Loch
Don’t lie. I can feel you thinking about me
How? I know the bond is magical and whatever, but him knowing I’m thinking about him is just… creepy.
But I kinda love it.
Me
I was thinking about how to decorate your apartment
Loch
Our apartment
Me
You bought it. It’s yours
Loch
And next week I’ll get your name added to the purchase agreement
I start typing my argument, but another text comes through.
Loch
Don’t fight me on this. You’re my mate. What’s mine is yours
Me
It’s too soon to do that. We’re not even married
Not that we need to get married. We don’t
Dammit. I’m all flustered now.
Me
I’m just saying that’s a big move to make, and we still barely know each other
Loch
I’ll marry you tonight if you say the word
I send him an eye roll emoji.
Loch
Fine. We’ll get married tomorrow
Me
Let’s start with decorating OUR apartment first. Okay?
He replies with a hand heart emoji and something about a thousand-year-old gargoyle sending emojis makes me laugh out loud.
Me
Why are you awake, anyway? The sun is still up.
Loch
Can’t sleep when you’re not here
He sends a sad face emoji, and I laugh again, smiling at my phone like a teenager with a crush.
“So happy living your normal, boring life, I see,” a familiar voice says, making my head jerk up.
My brother, Dean, walks through the door and my heart kicks into overdrive.
He narrows his eyes.
“What the fuck did you do to your hair?”
“Dean,” I say, patting the blonde braid. “What are you doing here?”
I try to keep my voice even, despite my worry. One thing I didn’t consider… that I failed to bring up with the monsters… will my family be able to sense Locheran on me now that I’m his mate?
“I came to visit my sister. Aren't I allowed to worry about her being in a big, scary city all by herself?”
I purse my lips, refusing to respond to his snide comments. He’s always been like this, snarky when I’m around. Snapping at me for no reason. All because I refuse to join them.
Well, I guess he’s about to get what he wants.
“I’m… fine. I love it here.”
My phone vibrates with a call. Locheran. He’s worried. He can feel my fear.
It’s not so much fear, but I am anxious about messing this up.
I pick up the phone and text him a mouse emoji—the signal that my family has found me—and that I’ll call him in a minute.
When discussing how I would approach my family in a believable way, I suggested letting them come to me.
Ever since moving to New York City, I made sure to hide where I worked or lived.
I’ve been so careful too, but for the past few weeks, I’ve left little clues for them, like posting pictures on my socials of the neighborhood near the college, my favorite restaurants in the area where I order lunch from, the park across the street from the college where I like to sit and read.
All they had to do was find these locations and stake out the neighborhood schools until spotting me leaving or arriving.
Locheran wanted to hire bodyguards for me too, like Evangeline, but I refused. My family would spot them immediately. Or they’d sense them nearby.
As much as Locheran hated to agree with me, he backed down. I was surprised he didn’t do it anyway, but I haven’t felt any supernatural being around today.
“Dad wants to meet with you.”
I frown. “Why?”
“You’re his daughter.”
“Who he hates.”
“He doesn’t hate you, Fare Bear. He’s just disappointed.”
I don’t let the words get to me. Despite them not being in my life, no kid wants to hear that they’re a disappointment.
All I wanted was to be loved and accepted by them.
I never wanted to be cast out, because I truly believed if they let me into their lives, I could have changed their world view.
I could have convinced them to stop with the violence and death.
A foolish belief, but one I refused to let go of.
“Well, I’m sorry, but I’m busy. I’ve got class and—”
“Too fucking bad. Dinner. Friday night. I’ll text you the time and location.”
“So, I don’t get a choice?"
“You know you don’t.”
He turns and leaves, and I frown at the now empty space at the door.
He’s right. If my father wants something, he’ll do everything in his power to get it. Just like he won’t give up trying to capture and kill Vara for her golden wings. Or a gargoyle for their horns. He wants to meet with me, and he won’t leave me alone until I agree.
I pick up my phone and find Locheran’s number. His apprehension is near suffocating.
“What happened?” He asks the moment he answers my call.
“It’s fine. I’m fine.”
“What. Happened?”
I stand and walk to the door, peering out to make sure Dean isn’t lingering and close it. I sit back at my desk and speak in hushed words.
“My brother showed up and said my father wants to have dinner Friday night. He didn’t tell me the time or place. They’re paranoid like that.”
Locheran lets out a long stream of breath into the phone. He’s frustrated and worried if I’m to understand these emotions he’s sending through the bond.
“We need to tell Xander,” I say.
“I’ll do that now. He’ll want to call an emergency meeting.” He huffs into the phone. “I’m sending a shifter to the school to escort you home.”
With that, he hangs up, refusing to let me argue with him about needing a bodyguard.
I lean my elbows on the desk and rub my temples. I might have an idea about how we can use the meeting to our advantage. They’re not going to believe me if I suddenly agree to join. And my original idea of simply telling them I helped a human who I saw get attacked was a weak one.
I need something more convincing.
One thing’s for sure… Locheran’s not going to like this idea.
“No. Absolutely not," Locheran says, pacing the living room in Xander’s penthouse.
I sit in a comfy oversized chair and sigh at my mate’s reaction to the plan.
“They have to believe me, Locheran.”
“I’m not sending you to one of Vara’s clubs. Do you know what kind of supes go to her clubs?” He turns to Vara who sits on the couch between her two mates. “No offense.”
She smirks and lifts a clawed paw. “No offense taken, but to be fair, only a handful of my clubs are for sex craved, blood hungry monsters.”
Layla elbows her in the side. “Not helping.”
“Exactly. I’m not letting my mate get drooled on by horny monsters!” Locheran is yelling now.
“Let me?” I scoff.
“Mouse, you know what I mean,” he says, softening his voice.
Still… his frustration is stressing me out, and I get nauseous when I stress out.
I’m trying not to puke in front of everyone.
“Loch, I don’t care which club we go to.
Any will work,” I explain… again, because my mate refuses to agree to the plan.
“I want to show up at dinner with a video from a supernatural nightclub. We can stage some horrific shit going down. A human sacrifice or a feeding. Then maybe, just maybe, my father will believe that I want to join them. I can lead them to a dummy location where you all swoop in to capture them.”
“Something could go wrong. A supe could grab her—”
“We’ll make sure everyone’s in on it," Vara says. “It’s not a bad idea.”
“Do you have another idea in mind?” Xander asks Locheran.
The gargoyle king stands with his arms crossed at the edge of the living space where it begins to merge with the kitchen. Evangeline is next to him; her tiny hands wrapped around the bulging muscles of his upper arm.
Locheran pauses and runs his fingers through his loose hair. He typically has it braided behind his back or at the top of his head in sexy man bun. I love when he has it down around his shoulders. He’s so sexy.
His head snaps up at my thoughts, raising a brow in warning.
Right. I’m around a lot of supes. Can’t get turned on without everyone knowing.
“I just need time,” Locheran says, arms lifting and falling in defeat.
“The dinner is in three days,” I say, standing to join my mate by his side. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and kisses my temple. “We’re out of time. We have to record the video by Thursday. Tomorrow night would be even better.”
“We’ll all be there to make sure she’s safe. We’ll invite Millie and Teddy too. Only supes we can trust,” Thorne says, rubbing his large hand over Vara’s muscular thigh. Vara’s paws rest on his equally muscular thigh while the other claims Layla’s soft thigh.
They’re all so beautiful.
“See,” I say, nodding to the trio while trying to reassure my mate. “I won’t be in any danger because it’ll all be an act. Actually, it sounds kinda fun.” I turn to Vara. “Tell me more about your clubs. Are they really sex clubs or…?”
Locheran growls and tugs me closer to his side.
“What?”
“There won’t be any sex happening.”
“Maybe I want…”
My words trail off. So much for reassuring my mate. But honestly, the idea of him fucking me while others watch has me getting hot and bothered.
“Okay!” Evangeline says, clearly seeing me turn red.
“Oh,” Layla says with an adorable giggle. “Maybe, we should go.”
Aaaaaandddd I’m turning even redder because every supe in this room can smell my excitement.
Locheran’s hold on me tightens, almost enough to hurt, but his possessiveness turns me on even more.
The sphinx, vampire, and beefy gargoyle stand from the couch. They’re all smiling, amused at the situation.
Or maybe they’re thrilled to have something to tease Locheran about now that he’s the last of the friend group to find a mate.
“Let’s plan to meet at my club on Bowery an hour after sunset tomorrow,” Vara says, leading her mates out of the living room. She pauses in front of us and places a paw on my shoulder. “I’ll reach out to supes I know to help. Maybe you can put on a show for us after.”
Her eyes jerk to Locheran at his growl.
“Calm down, Lochy Poo. Let the girl have some fun. Even if that means getting fucked by you in front of a crowd.”
With that, she heads toward the door. Layla and Thorne follow close behind. They nod as they pass, stifling their smiles and laughter.
“Well,” Evangeline says with a clap. “Learned some things about my bestie tonight.”
Locheran groans, and I peel myself away from his side.
“Why are you fighting this, Loch?” Evangeline chuckles. “You told me you love this shit.”
“Oh,” I say, and Locheran turns his head to me. “You’ve fucked in public before? In front of a crowd?”
His eyes widen before he regards Evangeline with a narrowed stare. She holds up her hands in innocence.
“It’s okay when it’s a hookup but not for your mate?” I mount my hands on my hips as if that will amplify my point.
“Should we leave?” I hear Xander ask Evangeline.
“No, this is fun,” she says, not even trying to whisper.
“I just… I want you all to myself,” Locheran whines.
I pull him over to the wall of windows in the living room. Not that it will help. Xander and Evangeline will still be able to hear us.
“I told you I felt comfortable with you,” I say. He nods. “My sex life has been boring until I met you. I’ve never done anything exciting. A sex club sounds terrifying but exhilarating. Let me have this one thing.”
He studies my face. As if this is a test. As if he’s waiting for me to say, ‘just kidding.’
I’m not. I want this. I want everyone to see how well my mate can fuck me. I want them to see that I belong to him and only him.
I send the thoughts to Locheran, and he lets out a long stream of breath.
“Okay.” He tugs me to his chest, giving me a kiss on my forehead. “But not tomorrow night. We’ll know everyone there, and I don’t want to see their faces while coming inside you. We’ll go another night when everyone’s a stranger. That’ll make it more exciting anyway.”
I let out a little squeal and clap. I even jump a little.
When we return to the kitchen area, Xander and Evangeline are suspiciously standing there as if they didn’t just hear everything.
Evangeline snorts and glances at her husband. “I can’t believe our best friends just completed a sex deal in our living room.”
“Okay,” Locheran says. “We’re leaving.”
He takes my arm and drags me toward the door.
“We’re going to go home and have lots of sex,” I add.
At that, Locheran scoops me into his arms bridal style and nearly runs to the elevator.