Chapter 24 – Farrah
I’m jolted from sleep by the sound of a text message alert.
My body aches as I attempt to move to the side table to check who it is. Muscles I can’t remember ever using sing with pain. Pain from getting railed by my mate.
Once the sleep clears from my head, my heart drops to my stomach. The only text I’m anticipating is from my brother.
His name appears on the screen. I hesitate to open the message.
My eyes fall to Locheran. He appears so peaceful and gentle right now despite being a large monster with fangs and claws.
His arm is splayed over his head. His wings tucked to his back, which I still can’t understand how he’s comfortable sleeping on them.
His navy-blue hair is down and fans across the pillow and over his shoulders.
His fangs peek out from his partially opened mouth.
I drag my eyes down to his muscled chest and stomach. The sheets have fallen to his waist, and I admire his smooth purple skin. I love skimming my hand over the tiny hairs, marveling the feel of marble despite lacking the hardness.
I lean down to place a kiss just above his belly button. He stirs, mumbling ‘mate’ before falling back into a deep sleep.
I crawl out of bed and head to the kitchen. Potato emerges from his cat tower, meowing for food. Once he’s chomping down, I start a pot of coffee.
It’s three in the afternoon. Hours from sunset.
This isn’t good.
When I finally open my brother’s text, my fear explodes to reality.
Dean
5 p.m.
Before the monsters of the night wake up.
We worried this would happen. That my father would want to meet before the gargoyles and vampires could be there to protect me.
But we have a backup plan.
I fire off a text to Vara and Rory. The two supes who can withstand the sun’s rays. They’re also in charge of gathering more monsters who can join us during daylight.
Technically, Millie, Teddy, Layla, and Thorne can withstand the sun’s rays. It’s something that changed within their bodies upon completing mating bonds with their mates and only happens when a vampire is involved. But the sun still weakens them so we decided they should wait until night to help.
Once the coffee is brewed, I pour myself a cup and make a quick breakfast of cereal.
I’m putting off waking Locheran Because I know he’ll try to convince me to call off the dinner. And when I’ll refuse, he’ll try to stop me from going.
He might succeed because I’m scared. Because the plan to deceive my family and help the monsters win is happening.
It’s the only way.
Imade the poor decision not to wake Locheran and left a note instead. I lock up the apartment, then head up one floor to Xander and Evangeline’s penthouse.
Xander is just waking up when I arrive. Like Locheran’s place, the UV-blocking shades are down, protecting the gargoyle from temporarily turning to stone.
The king looks behind me as I enter the living room where Evangeline sits with her mother.
“Where is your mate?” he asks, and I glance away.
Though I know he can hear my anxious heart and see my cheeks turn red.
“He’s asleep. I couldn’t wake him.”
“Farrah,” Evangeline warns.
“I know, but he’ll do everything in his power to stop me from going. You know how much he hated this backup plan.”
Xander frowns and turns to Evangeline. The two have a silent conversation, likely speaking through their own fated mate bond.
“He’s going to be furious,” Xander says with a sigh. “But you make a good point. We’ll back you up on this decision.”
He could still wake up within the next thirty minutes before I leave. I have no idea where I’m supposed to meet for dinner yet. My brother just said to head to Brooklyn on the F or B train when I asked.
Once Vara and Rory arrive, Evangeline’s mother gets to work. It takes about fifteen minutes for her to implement shields to protect my thoughts. She also added one to mask my connection to Locheran.
Having a witch casting a spell on you is a wild experience.
She held my hands and closed her eyes, then chanted words I didn’t understand.
My skin prickled with energy, and I’m not sure if that was because of my monster hunter abilities or the actual spell being implemented.
Either way, the magic rests heavily on my body.
I just hope my family doesn’t sense it. Mira assured me they wouldn’t.
Now that I’m—hopefully—protected, I head out with Vara and Rorik escorting me. The sphinx is masked as a gorgeous blonde woman, tall and curvy who could be mistaken for one of those supermodels that grace covers in sports magazines. Rorik doesn’t need to be masked, but he’s just as handsome.
Mira also provided them with shields that will hide their monster side from my family.
It’s a hot summer day, and the train is crowded. A lot of people are dressed for the beach with oversized bags that I assume holds towels and sunscreen and whatever else they’ll need for a day in the sun.
We’re squeezed in, and Vara places her hand on my shoulder while Rorik’s rests on my lower back. Both protective as they scan the people around us.
Standing next to these two beautiful beings has me feeling self-conscious. I don’t doubt I’m pretty, but I’m not on Vara’s or Rorik’s level of beauty.
Rorik lets out a little laugh, and I turn my head to him. He’s tall. Slightly taller than Locheran, so I tilt up my chin.
“Sorry, I wasn’t trying to intrude. Your thoughts are extremely loud right now. I assume because you’re nervous.”
My face heats, trying to remember if I’d been thinking about anything private between me and Locheran.
Rory places his hand on my forearm.
“You weren’t, but I wanted to say that no one in this subway car is thinking anything unsavory towards you.”
“What are they thinking?” I ask, my disbelief making my voice small.
“What humans always think about: How much they hate their jobs. What they’re having for dinner. Their pets. Sex. Sex with you. With me. With Vara. With all three of us.”
“Oh,” I whisper, attempting to push down my excitement.
Supernaturals being able to smell that excitement is both embarrassing and enticing.
But now’s not the time or place.
Before I can do, or say, something stupid in front of the two beautiful supes, my phone buzzes with a text.
Dean. He sent an address.
“Coney Island?” Vara says, looking over my shoulder. “That’s Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs.”
Rorik must give Vara a look.
“What? They’re good. I go every year to get one. Top it with chili and cheese and—”
Rorik clears his throat, and Vara stops talking but mumbles ‘just sayin’ before she pulls out her phone.
She fires off a few texts, letting teams know to get in place.
When we reach the Coney Island subway stop, everyone rushes to the door. It’s a madhouse. Impatient and excited people push at each other and in the chaos, Vara’s hold on my wrist slips.
Rorik gets pushed from behind me, and even though he has supernatural strength and speed, he refrains from using it to avoid any nearby humans seeing it.
The crowd keeps moving me further on the platform, people bumping into me as I try to stop and search for the two supes. I finally spot them over a sea of heads. They’re not that far away, but before I can squeeze through to reach them, I’m snatched from behind.
“What the hell? Let me go!” I squirm in the person’s hold, trying to turn around to see who’s dragging me away.
“Calm down, Fare Bear.”
Dean.
I try to fight him but he’s stronger than me. My energy plummets. I’m oddly tired. Too tired.
Then I feel it. The burn of pain on my wrist underneath his fingers.
“What did you do to me?”
“Did you think you could trick us?” He seethes. “I injected you with something that hides you from those monsters escorting you.”
What the fuck?
Whatever it is, the urge to fight fades the further we walk away from the subway station. And once we reach a van on the street, I can barely keep my eyes open.
I’m pushed inside, landing on the cold metal floor hard enough that it’ll surely cause bruises.
I pass out by the time we’re driving away.