Chapter 4 #2
“All good,” she said, sounding a little too chipper.
He wondered if she was picking up on both his and Raphael’s strange behavior.
“They’re exactly the same,” Miryam said. “Like, exactly. How is that possible? Not a single detail even a smidge off. And umm, did they move?”
“It’s supernatural,” Lola said, as if it made perfect sense.
“And yes, they do move. Don’t ask me why, because I have no clue.
The fact that they’re identical is what confirmed me as Callon’s mate.
I know it’s a lot. But, I can tell you I wouldn’t change it.
There is a choice. You don’t have to choose this life.
Nico can make you a null, which essentially means you’ll no longer have the magic that would make it possible for you to mate with a Damarian.
You can go back to your human life and forget any of this ever happened. ”
Morgan eased forward where she sat and rested her elbows on her knees. “So how’d you end up with him?” She nodded toward Callon, who was still staring at Lola. Though now, he was tracing her two toned skin on her neck with a finger. “And are they always so touchy?”
Lola’s grin turned a little sheepish. “Yes, to the second question. Maintaining boundaries is not one of his strong suits.”
“You’re mine,” Callon rumbled, as if that was explanation enough. And to their males, it was.
“As far as how I ended up with him,” Lola continued. “This is where it gets weird. Shortly after I met the strange guys in NNP, I started feeling like I was being watched. You know that feeling you get? The hairs on the back of your neck rising and that swirling in your gut?”
All three females nodded at the same time.
“Turns out I was being watched.” She turned her head to look at Callon.
“I was keeping you safe,” Callon justified.
“Let’s call it what it was,” she said, turning back to them with a smirk.
“He stalked me. Even still, I never felt like I was in danger. I really was more annoyed than anything. Finally, one night, when I was walking home, I just stopped, turned around, and told him to show himself. A minute later, this huge dude dropped from the air, landing much too gracefully for someone his size. And yeah, I thought I’d somehow landed in the middle of one of my books. ”
Miryam’s voice was a whisper, full of awe and nerves. “Were you scared?”
Lola nodded, honesty clear in her eyes. “Of course. I thought I was losing my mind. But Callon was persistent and had no plans of letting me walk away without me hearing him out. I was incredibly stupid because I let the giant walk me home, and then sat on the fire escape of my room and talked to him. He told me about mates, about this world, about what the tattoo meant. I was scared, but I was more intrigued, and my curiosity has always been a tad unhealthy. I agreed to spend more time with him. Aside from a brief moment of stupidity on his part, I fell for him and haven’t looked back. ”
“What was the brief moment of stupidity?” Akira asked.
Callon visibly winced as he pressed his face into Lola’s neck, as if he still felt shame from his actions. Nico had heard what the lion shifter had done, and Nico could understand why Callon reacted in such a way. He’d rejected her–though, thankfully, he came to his senses very quickly.
Lola entwined her fingers with her mate’s as her face softened. “Let’s just say he had a brief moment of cold feet when it came to having a mate.”
“Never again,” Callon said, loud enough for them to hear and with an intensity that was palpable, even through the phone. “I will never forgive myself for what I did.”
Lola nudged him. “I’ve forgiven you. And you’ve more than made up for it. Let it go, babe.”
Morgan’s own curiosity seemed to be slowly winning over her skepticism. “So you’re still with him? Even though he hurt you?”
Lola’s face glowed. “Yeah. Turns out, fate knows what it’s doing. He’s a pain, but he’s my pain. He treats me like a queen. Though he’s a little overbearing, bossy, possessive, and territorial to an unhealthy degree. It’s worth it.”
Miryam snorted. “Is that all?”
She shot her a grin. “There’s more, but we’re not close enough for those conversations yet.”
Nico chuckled. Callon certainly had his hands full with his female.
“You don’t have to trust these two right away,” Lola said, her voice growing serious again,“but you can trust this: as I said, they’ll give you a choice. That’s more than many have gotten in the past.”
Callon’s head turned away from his mate, his gold eyes looking at the females. “If Nico or Raphael screws up, you call me. My father, the prime of our kingdom, will help you. And I’m always up for a good fight.”
Morgan smirked, almost smiling. “Noted.”
Nico grinned, hand to his chest, feigning injury. “You all act like I’m the world’s most dangerous shaman.”
Raphael, who’d been quietly watching Miryam, finally spoke, his voice rich like velvet and a touch dark. “You are. Your unpredictability and defiance make you dangerous. But you’re also the only one I’d trust with this.” His eyes never strayed from her.
Miryam’s cheeks pinked, and Nico caught the way Raphael’s fingers flexed, as if he had to restrain himself from reaching out.
“That got intense fast,” Morgan said, clearing her throat. “So, we just have to decide if we want to take the mark of the beast, or go back to our lives?”
Lola grinned. “You’re funny. If you decide to stick around, you’re going to fit right in.
” Lola’s voice was warm as she continued.
“Just know, you’re not alone, girls. Not anymore.
If you need anything—advice, a safe place, or just a friend who gets it—call me.
And if you need to escape any stalkers who think twenty-four-seven surveillance is romantic, I got tricks. ”
“Thank you,” Akira said, her face serious. “To both of you.”
“I’m assuming you will be in touch,” Callon said, looking at Nico.
“I will,” he agreed. “I consider Roan a friend as well, even if he is a bit of a prick.”
“That’s being kind,” Lola grumbled. “But, I’ve no doubt he will do everything in his power to keep Maddie safe. So I’ll give him some grace for that alone.”
“Be on guard, shaman,” Callon tilted his head as his eyes narrowed. “We don’t know what kingdoms we can trust, or what shamans for that matter.”
“Noted.” Nico ended the call, leaving a silence heavy with hope and something like relief.
Morgan was first to break it, tone dry but not unkind. “Alright. Maybe you’re not all completely insufferable.”
Nico tipped his head down. “Careful, that almost sounded like a compliment.”
Akira’s lips twitched, her eyes finally letting him see a glimpse into her, past the leary image she’d held in place. “Don’t push your luck.”
He gave her a smile that was all promise, the urge to touch her a living thing beneath his skin. “You don’t have to decide now. But you have my word—whatever you choose, we’ll respect it.”
Raphael’s attention was all for Miryam now, posture shifting from relaxed to fiercely protective. “If you want to leave, I’ll take you myself. But if you stay, you’ll be under my protection.”
Miryam’s voice was steadier, her chin rising. “What if I choose to stay but have no mate? Is that a possibility?”
A slow, dangerous smile curved Raphael’s lips. “Then you will be free to be courted.”
Morgan groaned. “This whole situation is just a supernatural version of The Bachelor, isn’t it?”
“We’re better looking than any males on your television show,” Nico said, not an ounce of humility in his voice, because he knew it was true.
Akira chuckled, the sound light and real, and Nico’s heart stuttered in his chest. “And just as humble, too.”
For the first time since the chaos began, hope flickered. Fragile, but alive.
“Alright,” Morgan said, squaring her shoulders, a blue streak falling into her determined eyes.
She looked at the two other females and they seemed to understand the look.
Miryam and Akira nodded. “We’ll stay. We’ll do the whole tattoo thing.
But if one of you tries anything, I’m not above breaking a chair over someone’s head. ”
Nico bowed his head solemnly. “If anyone attempts to harm any of you, I will kill them.”
“Not before I have my fun,” Raphael added in a dark voice.
“Wow,” Miryam said, clapping her hands once. “That got intense really quick.”
Nico’s eyes turned to Akira, wanting to see her reactions to his and the incubus's words.
She met his gaze, steady and fierce. “We’ll see if you’re a man of your word, Nico.”
He let all his intent show, just for her.
“I intend to prove it. Every day.” As he continued to stare at her, Nico found himself begging the Creator that Akira wouldn’t have a tattoo and that somehow in the new order of things, she was able to see their world because she was like Maddie.
Then he would be able to pursue her, court her, and win her heart.
“Now that you’ve made a decision,” Raphael said, interrupting the moment. “We need to get one of the shifter tattoo artists to help you figure out your kingdoms, or if you even have one. And Nico and I need to find more evidence that Wolfgang was working with Azure.”
Nico pulled out his phone and sent a text to one of the tattooists he knew in Kingdom of Chaos and hoped he was in Las Vegas and not in one of their other territories.
“While we wait on him, you ladies will stay here under guard of someone we trust. You’re not prisoners,” he said, his tone sharp.
“It’s for your protection, and as soon as you have your marks, we will take you where you need to go. ”
All three of the females nodded and seemed to relax a little more.
Nico’s phone vibrated and he glanced at it. It was from Verion.
I’m here, but have two more clients. So won’t be available for another two hours.
Nico’s fingers flew across the screen as he responded. That will work. I’ll meet you at the back of your shop.
See you then.
“We’ve got two hours until Verion is available,” Nico said, pulling up another contact on his phone and sending a text. “That gives you and me time to do some hunting.” He glanced at Raphael.
A moment later there was a knock on the door. Nico walked over and looked through the peephole. Sable stood there, her eyes scanning back and forth in the hallway.
Nico pulled the door open, and she stepped inside.
She held up a cell phone. “It’s a burner. Should be safe to use for a few hours.”
“Thank you,” he told her.
Sable glanced at the females, her eyes fierce as she spoke.
“You can trust these males. Do what they say, and you’ll be fine.
Don’t be like the stupid females in movies who think they can save themselves.
” She turned on her heel and headed back out the door.
“I’ll stand guard out here. Corin is doing as you’ve asked.
Do your thing, Shaman, and bring Wolfgang and his traitorous mate to their knees.
” The door closed behind her with a small click.
“Well, she seems nice,” Miryam said, clearing her throat.
“You think everyone is nice,” Morgan sighed. “That’s what got you in this mess in the first place, remember?”
“That’s a story I need to hear,” Raphael told her, a slight smirk on his handsome face. Then he turned to Nico. “You ready?”
Nico nodded. “Let’s get what we need. Sable will keep you safe.” He held out the phone to Morgan, who seemed to be the leader of the group. “I’ve programmed my number and Raphael’s number in here. Only call or text if it’s an emergency.”
She nodded and all three females stood up as he and Raphael headed for the door.
“Thank you,” Akira said, her words coming out quickly.
He looked back at her, letting his eyes roam over her face, memorizing every line.
“For taking time to explain everything to us,” she continued. “You could have just locked us up here, not worried about how it would make us feel, even if you were keeping us safe.”
Raphael opened the door and stepped through it.
Nico followed. But before he closed it, he responded to her.
“You should have never been put in a situation to feel unsafe. Our people did that to you. The people I am responsible for took you and scared you. I will do everything I can to make it right.” Then, he shut the door before he said something more that might terrify her worse than being abducted.
Declaring his undying affection for her after only knowing her for an hour probably wouldn’t make her feel safe.
He’d have to show her and hope that she wasn’t an animus.
Nico didn’t know if he could stand the idea of her with another male.
Not that he had any right to feel that way.
“You want to talk about it?” Raphael asked him as they passed Sable and headed towards the stairs.
“Do you?” he challenged back, knowing what he’d seen when Raphael had looked at Miryam.
“Where do you think we should search first?” The incubus asked, instead of answering the question.
Nico laughed, a little wild and chaotic as he felt the thrill of the hunt rising in him. He could feel Las Vegas pulsing outside the walls. Since stepping foot into that room and laying eyes on Akira, the future cracked open—a little wild, a little perilous, and brimming with possibility.