Chapter 6
six
CLEMENTINE
When I’d gathered my emotions enough to feel like I could get through a few more rounds of questioning, I pasted a smile on my face and headed out.
He fell into step beside me as we passed through the throne room.
“I’ll choose my mate today, to get out of your hair,” I said, my gaze fixed straight ahead.
Getting out of the fae realm would help me regain control of my mind and attitude again, which were both obviously necessary.
“You can’t. Bonding with someone before we’ve tested whether you can feed on them safely during an eclipse isn’t an option. I haven’t figured out how to stop the eclipses yet. And I’m not going to be the one to cut the vines between a mated fae pair if he’s violent when the lust hits him.”
I grimaced. “I imagine cutting the vines is frowned upon.”
“Very much so.”
“Alright. Do we know when the next eclipse will be?”
“No, but these days, we rarely make it more than a week or two in the realm without another eclipse beginning.”
“Which is only a day or two Earthside?”
“Correct.”
“Well, my sisters will survive a day or two without me. I’m sure they’d give it at least a week before declaring war, and that would be…”
“More than a month. We can definitely get you mated before then.”
“Good.”
It didn’t sound good, or feel good, but I’d just have to fake it until I made it. My mom would understand.
“So should I pick one of the guys, or…”
“I don’t know which of them will manage to stay in control while you feed, so choosing would be pointless. Just get to know all three of them so you can pick between them on the off chance that more than one of them can resist losing their minds to your magic.”
“Guess that’s what happens when you’re poisonous.”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
I nodded, pushing my hand through the top of my hair again and letting out a slow breath. “So there’s Austin, Paul, and Rocky. And they’re all willing.”
“Yes. You’ll have to try with Orvin and Steve if the first three can’t handle it. I know you don’t want to mate with them, but they may be your only options.”
My eyes stung a little, threatening to get watery again, but I blinked rapidly until the water subsided. “Okay.”
“You’ll live in my room until you’re mated,” he added. “Too many people know I have an unmated siren here. It’s not safe for you.”
“After the way we woke up today, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“It’s the only way I can be sure you’re safe, and you’re not dying on my watch.”
“Fine. I need my own bed, though.”
“I’ll have someone bring one in and see if we have anything that can function like a canopy. Technology doesn’t work here, so the typical vampire ones won’t function.”
“Thank you.”
We passed the kitchen, and walked into a comfortable sitting room that smelled like cleaning supplies. I looked around at the elegant furniture and plush rugs, and couldn’t help but feel at home there.
It was pretty, and cozy too.
How could you do better than that?
Kai sat down in the corner of the room with one of the journals I’d seen on his bookshelf. I wanted to ask him about it, but a guy I didn’t recognize was already sitting down on one of the couches, with a spot beside him that was probably for me. He was tan, with curly black hair, and a set of glasses perched on his nose that were a total turn-on.
Paul and Austin seemed to have left. I knew the guys had things to do on Earth, so I assumed they’d gone back to handle some of them while I got to know the third guy, who I assumed was Rocky.
He introduced himself, and sure enough, I was right.
He was stiffer than the other two guys when it came to my questions, but he did answer them, and I didn’t find any red flags.
Even though it probably shouldn’t have, it seemed like a good sign that Kai’s closest companions were men that I liked. Maybe things would work out after all.
My notepad was full of information about Rocky when Kai told me we were calling it a night. I held it to my chest as we walked back, my mind moving quickly.
Rocky would be a decent mate. I didn’t feel a lot of chemistry with him, but between my magic and his vines, we could make it work. Hopefully.
When we got to Kai’s bedroom and found both a mattress and a wooden coffin lid inside the room, I sighed. “That’s the best we can do?”
“Apparently.”
“It’s not going to be comfortable.”
“You can always climb in bed with me.”
My cheeks warmed.
That wasn’t happening again.
So, I made my way back to the bed and did my best to get comfortable.
It was better than nothing.
And far better than being killed by a giant spider in the jungle, which seemed to be my only alternative. So, I decided that I loved the wooden coffin lid.