Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Derek
This week had been amazing. I’d even started to learn more about my magic, which was way easier than I’d thought it would be.
Our magic was connected to our thoughts, so all I had to do for most of it, was to think about what I wanted to happen, and it happened.
Glamour was the easiest magic to learn, in my case.
Remi and Juno had been over every day, and even if they had no idea about my broken magical core or that Aiden existed, they seemed to know I needed their presence.
Nolen was amazing, but with Remi and Juno here too, I had a brother and another friend to help bring my mood up.
I didn’t even feel awkward or… different, like I usually did when I socialized back home.
I still felt guilty over bailing on Amber, who was such a kind soul.
I hoped she did well on the assignment and wasn’t too mad at me.
With us leaving early tomorrow morning, I had asked Nolen if we could have a date night at home, which he agreed to easily.
We had taken some time outside of our little borrowed home to explore the world, often with Remi and Juno.
I loved being here and seeing Remi explore their world with me was something I cherished, too.
Hopefully, I’d get to do it with Aiden one day.
I’d turned down the rulers’ offer of having my memories back, they’d suggested that maybe remembering Aiden would help me convince him to come with us, but I doubted he would remember me, since they knew he’d lost his memories too, from what they saw in my father’s memories, anyway.
I didn’t want to remember until I knew he was alive, because even with just the knowledge of him, it was hard to imagine living life without him forever.
If I remembered and he had died…. Nope, not going to think about it.
“So,” Nolen said, joining me on the couch. “What do you want us to cook for dinner?”
Remi and Juno had just left for the day, and I had a craving for Chicken Parma, one of my favorite meals cooked by Nolen, so really, choosing what to cook came easy.
“Chicken Parma, and I want us to make something bubbly to drink with it.”
He chuckled as he sat down next to me, his hand resting on my thigh. “Juno’s drinks inspired you?”
I nodded with a serious expression. “They’re addictive. I want to try out some for ourselves and surprise him with our versions of them.”
“Deal. But remember, we might be gone for a while.”
He didn’t have to remind me, I hated leaving now that Remi and I had grown so close, but knowing Aiden was out there…
“I’m looking forward to seeing Aiden, but I’ll miss Juno and Remi while we’re gone,” I said instead.
Nolen had already called his parents and informed them of Aiden and our upcoming trip to get him.
They missed Nolen and desperately wanted to meet me, but I wasn’t ready for a real conversation with them yet, so I had promised Nolen we could do that when we returned and things with Aiden had calmed down.
I followed Nolen into the kitchen, deciding that I might be the best help to him if I just collected what he needed to cook, so I got a chopping board and a knife first to cut the chicken.
Neither of us spoke as we moved around each other, him doing the cooking and me helping where I could without being in the way.
“You okay?” he asked, eyeing me with his concerned look.
I shrugged. “It’s just weird.”
“What is?”
“Everything? I feel like my life has turned around so fast and I still can’t truly believe it.
” Or felt like I deserved it. But if I’d said that, I knew what Nolen would’ve said, that I deserved the world, that he was the lucky one getting a mate like me.
Sometimes, I simply felt less than, and it would take years for me to change my self-view. I knew as much.
“It has. I can see why you’d feel unsettled by it. But promise to talk to me if you need to. I know I could never even begin to imagine everything you’re going through, with your father and with Aiden, but I promise I’ll do my best to listen and comfort you whenever you need it.”
I melted where I stood. How could he be so damn perfect?
“I love you,” I said, finally saying the words I’d felt ever since we met. I knew Mates loved each other instantly, but for me and where I grew up, love came gradually, so it felt wrong saying it too soon, but now? Now he had to know.
He smiled, the cheese forgotten, and soon his arms came around me, holding me tight.
“Whatever happens tomorrow, just remember that I love you, too.”
How was I supposed to fall asleep?! Our bed was amazingly comfortable, I had my mate next to me, and still, all I could think about was Aiden.
I was both nervous and excited about tomorrow.
At one point I considered asking Nolen if we could have sex, but it would only be because I wanted a distraction and not because I was in the mood.
To be honest with myself, I hadn’t felt the need or want for sex since we mated.
Maybe that would change once Aiden was with us and I’d healed more.
It didn’t seem to be on Nolen’s mind either, or maybe I just couldn’t feel arousal through his emotions?
Nolen’s raspy voice startled me from my wandering thoughts. “What are you thinking about?”
Better to just be honest. “I was wondering if we could feel arousal through each other’s emotions or not.”
I turned to look at him and found him blinking sleepily at me. “Huh?”
I laughed. “Never mind. I guess I’m too wired to sleep.”
“Want me to help?” he asked, and it sounded like an innocent offer, which meant it likely wasn’t sex.
“Please.”
He wrapped me in his arms, and before I could protest that that wouldn’t help, I fell asleep.