Chapter 19
Stuck With Me
M y mind is still reeling as we turn into the passageway that lends to two huge ornate doors. Bradan pulls over and cuts the engine. I swing my leg over and step off the bike.
I’m getting a whole lot better at dismounting the thing. Removing the helmet, I hand it over to Bradan. He takes it while keeping his gaze on me.
“You all right?” he asks.
“I think so. That’s a lot to digest,” I admit.
“My powers will never bring you harm. If anything, my strength will benefit you always.”
“Benefit me?”
“Yes, baby girl. Come, I will show you.”
I follow him to the double doors and watch in awe as a bright-orange glow emits from him before waves of heat begin to pulse off his frame. He holds out his hand and the doors pop open with a hiss. Slowly, they swing open.
Bradan takes my hand and leads me in. Sconces begin to light with fire as we enter. We walk down a long hall, the sounds of our footfalls bouncing off the walls and echoing back to us. After I don’t know how long the hall opens into a larger room. It almost looks like a ballroom or something.
In the center of the room, there’s the same crest that’s over the fireplace in his room—a sword through a crown that has flames rising out of the crown and a chain draped over the sword and crown. I’ve noticed the same design on his shoulder with the chain flowing down his arm. I look around in awe, feeling so tiny in the space.
“You have questions,” he states. It’s not a question.
“Yeah, why so many piercings? Is it because it’s toxic to you guys, so you need it in small increments?”
He laughs and shakes his head. “That’s smart of you to think that way, but no. Each piercing locks down a level of power. The more we have, the more powerful we are. Without them, the stronger the signal would be to find us,” he replies.
“Whoa. Bray, your penis alone has about nine. Are you fucking kidding me? How am I your mate?” I say in shock.
“You and I are equals. You just haven’t awoken your potential yet. In all honesty, the way the ancients explained it to me, you all are more powerful than we are because of your ability to balance us out.”
“Balance you out?”
“Yes, when the time is right, you will take on my power and keep it balanced. You will be able to use my strength as if it were your own.”
I can only shake my head in disbelief. One day, my life was so normal and boring. In all truth, I was struggling with my existence. Now, he’s telling me I will someday have the power of a demigod to use as my own.
“What else would you like to know?” he says as if he’s amused by my reaction.
“You said you have to lock your powers away so you can’t be found. Found by who? Can they harm you?”
“My brothers and I have one true weakness. It’s called blessed iron. That’s what all my piercings are made of.
“If blessed iron were to pierce our hearts, it would allow for a fatal blow. It debilitates our powers long enough to make us vulnerable. A blade through the heart can also cause us pain and leave permanent damage,” he explains.
“Have any of you ever been in that type of danger?”
“You’ve noticed Kendrick is gray. That was a result of someone trying to run him through.”
“Oh no, is he all right? Is the damage permanent?”
“He is fine. Once the iron leaves our body, we begin to heal. That shit ruined all that thick dark hair he used to have, but that was so long ago we’ve all gotten used to the gray,” he says.
“Okay, so let me get this straight. You wear the same type of metal that can kill you to lock your powers in. And there are people who know this iron exists, so you guys keep it hidden from them?”
“Something like that.”
“Okay, so what did you want to show me? This place?”
“I wanted you to see my great hall, but I really wanted you to see my true form for yourself.”
“True form? Oh God, you’re not going to transform into one of those horn-faced guys,” I breathe.
“No,” he laughs deeply.
“Go stand in the middle of the crest,” he orders.
Nervously, I moved to stand in the middle of the room. I rub my hands on my jeans as I lick my lips and nod for him to show me whatever it is he wants me to see. He gives me a smile and folds his arms across his chest.
“ Ben kral?m ,” he rumbles.
I watch in awe as his piercing disappears, but that’s not the part that sends me stumbling back. The ground shakes and a figure rises up behind Bradan. It looks like a holographic version of him. Both the figure and Bradan have a crown on their head and flames surround the crown.
The figure has a cocky smile, just like Bradan’s. Its arms are folded across its chest in the same exact manner, making me think this projection is an extension of him.
“Very good, little one. He is. This is the avatar form of myself. A manifestation of my powers,” Bradan says to my thoughts.
“What was that you said before he appeared?” I say in almost a whisper.
Bradan moves toward me slowly. When he stops in front of me, he places his hand over my heart. I look up into his eyes and furrow my brows.
“You will know the words for yourself one day. When your heart is ready, they will fall from your lips. For they aren’t words that can be spoken without knowing in your heart that they are true,” he says.
“Oh,” I say, not able to think of anything else.
“I want to show you one more thing,” he says as he strokes my cheek.
I nod and bite my lip. I don’t know how much more information I can handle at this point, but we’re here. I might as well let him get it all out.
He drops his hand from my face, then lifts both hands and claps them together in a prayer-like gesture. The avatar does the same thing from the place he’s been standing in.
Suddenly, smaller versions of the avatar appear. They are taller than Bradan but not as tall as the avatar figure. They look like soldiers made of flames. They all line up in front of the avatar facing me and Bradan.
Bradan steps away from me and the soldier homes in on me. I stumble back a bit and trip over my own feet. The fire soldiers step forward as if to catch me, each stretching out an arm.
I right myself and they straighten, dropping their outstretched arms. I can feel their focus on me. They place a hand over their hearts and drop to one knee, then bow their heads to me. I don’t know what to do, so I just stare.
Bradan moves behind me and wraps his arms around me. He kisses the top of my head, then moves his lips near my ear. A shiver runs through me.
“They are here to protect you. They will fight for you and shield you if ever needed. They are nothing for you to fear.”
I swallow hard. It begins to dawn on me how warm the room has become and how stifling the air is. Bradan gives a deep laugh.
“Maybe you have seen enough for now.”
As quickly as the avatar and soldiers appeared, they all disappear. I wipe the sweat from my forehead and try to process the last hour of my life.
“Now for our first date,” Bradan croons in my ear.
“A date, here?”
“Yes, here,” he says against my lips as he laughs at me. “You still haven’t grasped that I have the power to make something out of nothing. Some things I don’t even think you realize happen because of me. It’s second nature to me, so I’m not making any overly obvious gestures to make you aware.”
“You seem to be very amused by this fact, but are you sure I don’t notice?” I toss back.
He turns me in his hold and stares into my eyes wordlessly. I stare back defiantly. I’m not saying I always know when he uses magic, but I catch on sometimes.
I smirk as his entire appearance changes before my eyes. His hair is now in a topknot. The black T-shirt he was wearing under his cut is now replaced with a crisp white dress shirt with the top four buttons left open, showing off a peek of his broad, tanned chest. His cut is still in place, but as I glance down, I find he’s now in black dress slacks with shiny black dress boots.
He is always a handsome man, but he’s smoldering hot like this. The fact that he’s done this for me makes my heart race. I lick my lips as I give him another once-over.
“Would you like to see yourself? I, for one, am quite pleased, little one.”
“Huh?”
He takes my hand and spins me around. My mouth falls open as we stand before a mirror surrounded by flames. As I stare at our reflection, I don’t recognize the woman staring back at me.
“What’s with the crop tops with my tits always hanging out the bottom?” I tease.
This is the second time he’s dressed me in a top like this. If I lift my arms or breathe too hard, the undersides and swell of my boobs would show. Thank goodness they’re not huge.
Bradan places a palm on my belly and glides his hand up until his thumb rests right under one of my breasts. He then brushes his thumb back and forth against my flesh.
“You’re so fucking sexy, my little angel. Any man who looks at you can see it, but the real turn-on for me is that they can look, but they wouldn’t dare to touch what’s mine. Yet, I get to do this any time I want,” he says the last part as he slips his hand beneath the top to pinch my nipple.
I moan as he begins to roll the peak between his fingers. I roll my head to the side as he dips to suck my skin into his mouth as he watches our reflection in the mirror.
“And this tiny-ass skirt?” I pant.
He licks the spot he was just sucking before he nips my flesh. We look so hot together. I inhale and savor his scent as it surrounds me.
“You will find out its purpose later,” he murmurs as he grabs hold of my ass.
I’m amused by his choice of outfit for me. The heeled combat boots are cute. They come up midcalf and give me a little height, not much.
The flaming mirror vanishes. As it does, I blink and look around the room. My focus is drawn by the transformed space.
“Okay, you’ve totally made your point,” I say as I take it all in.
I had no idea he did all this while changing our clothes for this date. My lips tremble a bit. This place looks so romantic it takes my breath away.
Bradan
I transformed the space into the most romantic date I could think of. Roses surround the room. Wisteria hangs from the forty-foot-high ceiling.
A firepit sits on one side of the room, with two chairs waiting before it. There’s a bucket of ice with beers chilling inside. I will thank Ardan later for making that happen for me. The perks of having a twin the opposite of me.
A single mind link and he answered my request without so much as asking where I am or what I’m up to. I’d do anything to make this special for Taylor. It doesn’t stop with the waiting firepit and s’mores.
All of that is for after dinner. I also have a table set for two with dinner and champagne. Music is playing to set the mood.
On the other side of the room, I’ve set up a target with a bull’s-eye. After dinner and dessert, I will teach her how to throw fire axes for fun.
“Bray, this is so awesome,” she says breathlessly.
“Come, let me feed you.”
She turns to look up at me. “Dance with me first?”
“If that’s what you want.”
She nods and the music changes. I don’t know the tune. She looks me in the eyes and smiles.
“It’s ‘Stuck with U’ by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber. It reminds me of you,” she says through our link.
I take her hand and place it on my chest, placing my other hand on her waist. We begin to sway and my heart melts for this little being. This isn’t something I do often, but for her, I’d dance and create romantic dates every night to see this smile on her face.
I think of Cole and have half a mind to head back to the clubhouse to handle him myself. Just the thought of anyone trying to hurt her makes me see red. I knew the mate bond would cause me to be attracted to her, but I didn’t know I would fall for her this fast.
“What are you thinking about? You’re blocking me out and growling,” Taylor says, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Nothing.”
“Did that lie taste as bitter as it looks?”
I give her a smile and tug her in closer. I love that the more comfortable she gets with me, the more her sarcasm comes through. It’s been happening a lot more often over the last week.
“Don’t worry about my thoughts.”
She places her head against me and continues to allow me to guide her around. My earlier thoughts are forgotten. She’s here in my arms and I’m never letting her go. She’s right; she is stuck with me.