Chapter 40
Vesper
Ireluctantly got out of bed and made my way downstairs. It was the best rest I'd had in ages, and waking up to Oryx's tongue as a pussy alarm and Veylor's mouth teasing my nipples was more than enough to get me energized.
Poor Veylor was harder than stone and hadn’t gotten off yet. If I waited much longer for him to come, then his balls just might fall off.
I smiled at the thought. No, I think I was done torturing him. Even I wasn’t that cruel. Perhaps next time. Maybe.
As of right now though, my lady bits were sore so I needed ice to shove up my vagina because if things kept going the way they were, I was going to need to heal and fast.
I opened the icebox and stuck my head inside, looking for the ice tray when I heard giggles coming from behind me. I frowned and turned to see two of the nosy maids and Benedict silently jumping up and down in glee.
It’s like a freaking middle school in this house.
I bumped the door closed with my hip and folded my arms across my chest. The three of them stood there with their cheeks flushed crimson, lips pressed together like they might burst if they didn't speak soon.
I waved my hand for them to be out with it.
“You did the dirty with Veylor!” Josephine pointed at me with glee.
Pyrrah squealed. “With Oryx, at the same time!”
Benedict seized both women by the shoulders, his eyes wide with excitement. "It's finally happening! The ice witch has a heart!"
“—Hey!”
"I've never heard of a fated mate trio!" Josephine exclaimed, and they all pranced around in a circle like they were playing Ring Around the Rosie.
I frowned and stepped forward, putting my arm on Benedict to stop the nonsense. I had heard this term, fated mates, before and with the chaos in this house, I had completely forgotten about it. “What do you mean fated mates?”
Was this the fated mates from the romance books I’ve read?
I’ve read my fair share of crazy romance stories and if it is what I’m thinking of then, my heart just might explode.
The group paused their dance, exchanging glances. Josephine and Pyrrah clasped each other's hands and dashed into the dim corridors, leaving Benedict alone.
He sighed dramatically and pinched his nose.
“Damn them.”
I kept my grip strong on Benedict so he wouldn’t escape me either. “Explain.”
Benedict looked down the hallway and shut the door to the kitchen, and led me to the pantry. It was large, dark and filled to the brim with food, not that I had time to look. Benedict took me to the far corner and leaned in close.
“Lord Veylor will have my vessel if I tell you this.”
I crossed my arms and raised my eyebrow. “I won’t tell him. I’ll say I read it somewhere in his library.”
Or Oryx will read my mind, and will end up telling him, anyway. Highly doubt Veylor would kill him anyway.
Benedict shook his head. "You won't come across this in his library. This is the kind of talk exchanged among the lower classes. I was born into the lower classes and worked my way up to become the management of this home. I am what they call, a big deal.”
I tried to hide my smile, but failed miserably.
"From a young age, the lower class is educated about their destined, fated mates, the other halves of their souls they are meant to discover.
As individuals, we are incomplete until we find this other part.
There's an undeniable connection, an irresistible pull.
Regardless of who they are, once you make contact, your body will always recognize them, and your heart will be forever imprinted with their essence.
The lower class is instilled with this knowledge, so the adults recognize the signs and pass them on to their children. However, the higher classes—"
“They don’t teach it,” I interrupted. “Because of social status, power.”
Benedict nodded. “You are bright, my lady.”
“Aren’t Oryx and Veylor mates then?” My heart was sinking into my stomach. Was I just their plaything then? If they were mates, where did I fit all into this?
Benedict rubbed his chin.
“I believe they are mates, however.” He raised his finger in the air.
“Their connection was never truly strong. It was like part of it was missing. I saw the way they looked at each other. They cared for each other deeply, it just took Veylor time to accept the pairing. But now…” Benedict wiggled his eyebrows.
“It's like a spark has ignited. He wants you both, he is breaking down emotional walls. Can’t you see?”
I backed away. “To be honest, no.”
Benedict tapped his chin. “Of course not, you weren’t there.
Being human, all of you not knowing about the fated mates, you wouldn’t.
You have to trust me, my lady. The three of you, I can see it.
I’ve seen Veylor happy with Oryx but the light in his eyes when he looks at the both of you is brighter. ”
I rubbed my forehead and leaned up against the shelving.
“How does it work when Veylor’s soul has been destroyed to make himself a lich?
How can he have a connection with Oryx or me?
According to fated mates, it has to do with souls, according to,…
” I cringed, “fiction literature I’ve read. You need a soul for this to work?”
Benedict rubbed his chin. “This has troubled me. My hypothesis is that a portion of his soul is still in his heart. Which means even just a tiny part of his soul is powerful enough to hold on to that bond. I am no magik welder or even an expert, but soul bonding, fated mates is powerful. The nameless gods would want to make those who deserve their souls to be completed…be in fact completed.”
I tilted my head. “His heart?”
Benedict hummed. “The question is, where is his heart? It must be close for him to feel both Oryx and you.”
My back straightened. The nights where I have laid on Oryx’s chest and heard the strange beating of his heart…
Just as I was about to reveal my theory to Benedict, a high-pitched yowl cut through the air. Something orange and furry plummeted from above, crashing onto my shoulders. The impact knocked me flat on my back, and George let out a pained mewl against my collarbone.
“George?” I pick him up to check for injuries but he just continues to meow incessantly like he’s sick. It's a terrible whine that makes chills run up my skin in disgust.
Benedict stared down at the cat. “How did that feline get in here? I hope I didn’t lock him in here last night by accident.”
The cat hissed then whines again and curls up under my neck. I stand and the door to the pantry bursts open, Veylor is panting and Oryx’s menacing body is towering over him. The shadow makes the pantry even darker and for some reason it has me smiling, not Benedict however.
He might have peed his pants again.
“What is going on here?” Veylor shouts, and George yowls again.
I stepped forward and petted George. “George fell on me when Benedict was showing me where he kept some snacks for the kitty.” I looked back at Benedict who was nodding excessively.
Veylor stared at Benedict and reached his hand out to pet George. George allowed it and a purr escaped him. “Let’s check out this animal then. I heard he followed you from the other realm. He must have an emotional attachment to you to follow you all the way here.”
Oryx growled, and George’s hair stiffened. “Don’t like it. Vesper is my pet.”
I snorted and shook my head. “That’s right. I’m your pet. George is just a friend.”
Oryx huffed in annoyance and Veylor led us out of the pantry with another leery look at Benedict.
“This creature is strange.” Oryx poked at George as Veylor took his time to examine him.
George didn’t mind Oryx anymore. I’m not sure if it is because over the past day he has watched Oryx and he didn’t seem to care about his appearance or it was because I showed no signs of being afraid.
Oryx wasn’t bloodthirsty anymore, he was sex thirsty.
“Its body moves strangely. He is like a liquid, and yet he is solid.”
George’s body stretched and the lower half of his body fell off the table. George didn’t care when he was being petted by both Veylor and Oryx. In fact he was in full-blown purr mode and acted as if nothing was wrong with him.
Weird.
Veylor sighed and stepped away from the metal table. “He seems perfectly fine now. Felines are known for being dramatic.”
George let out what I thought was a scoffing noise and stood up on all fours. He stretched and jumped off the table, his pouch wagging too and fro before looking at us one more time as he left the room.
Diet, he needs to go on a diet.
“He does not need a diet,” Oryx said. “I like him fat. It makes him…cute.”
I giggled. “Did you just call the cat cute?”
He hummed. “Yes, cute. Is this not the right word for it?”
“It is, it's just funny to hear you say it.”
Oryx tongue lengthened and licked up my neck. "I can find things cute despite what I look like.” He rubbed his hands up and down his muscular torso.
Crap, I forgot the ice for my vagina.
Oryx’s ears lifted. “Why do you need ice in your…”
Veylor cleared his throat, bringing the attention back to the matter at hand. "Regardless of George’s weight and ice… the fact that George followed you here is unsettling. We must keep an eye on him."
I nodded in agreement. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t cause any trouble.”
Veylor stepped toward me. “I find it strange that George has just now revealed himself after you have been here for so long.”
“What do you mean, do you think it’s not really George?”
Veylor pursed his lips. “I wouldn’t say that. I couldn’t find anything strange, no magik on his body as I examined him but that doesn’t mean anything. There are plenty of magik concealing concoctions that could hide things.”
I sighed and leaned into Oryx. “So that means we know nothing. He acts like George, though. Same gated walk, clumsy and falling off of things.”
Oryx growled. “What I am more concerned about is why you were in the pantry with Benedict.”
I pouted and leaned my head back to look up at Oryx. “You can look into my mind, you know?”
Oryx tilted his head and snarled. “Bastard told her.”
Veylor gritted his teeth, those sexy fangs descended and he slammed his fist on the table.
Do not think about those sexy fangs sinking into your skin.
“Told her about?”
“—Mates.” I interrupted. “That we are all mates.”