Chapter 6 #2
“That’s up to you. Since we’re not doing anything scandalous, you can leave it open.
” Bayu also removed his shoes and lay down on the bed, close to the edge.
He turned his head toward Carleigh, and she patted the bed between them.
“Over here, please.” Bayu did as she asked, and Carleigh rested her head on the pillow and wrapped her arm around his waist. It took a few minutes, but he slid his arm under her head so he was hugging her.
Carleigh hummed in contentment. Then his tiger purred, and Carleigh smiled to herself.
Instead of filling the silence with more talk, Carleigh remained quiet. She was all talked out.
Bayu softly inhaled her skin. “I’m scared.”
“About what happened to your father? Or what it means to be Nuhuala?”
“Both. I also have no idea what will happen with my mother and sister. My father had plenty of money. He shared quite a bit with me when he sent me on my way. It’s how I was able to take care of myself at a young age.
Unless whoever killed him somehow gained access to his account, my mother should have enough to live comfortably, but I don’t know if she and Kiki are safe.
Will they need to move? If so, will they be able to come with us back to Georgia?
Or will they remain in Asia because being near me also puts them in danger? ”
Carleigh didn’t have the answers to any of those questions.
“Whatever happens, we will face this together. If they need to move, I have plenty of room in my house for all of us. If they need money? I have plenty of that too. If it isn’t safe for us to return to Atlanta for some reason, we’ll go hide out in West Virginia with Sebastian and Dakota for the time being.
We have options. You can focus on becoming the Nuhuala, and I’ll help take care of your family. ”
“Are you sure that’s what you want? You’ve told me stories of the trials other couples had in the beginning, but—”
Carleigh pressed her fingertips to his lips.
“I’m sure. It’s what mates do. What family does.
And it isn’t just me who will be there for you.
My Clan is the absolute best about taking care of one another.
Anything we need, my parents, my sister, my cousins, everyone will pitch in whether it’s a place to stay or guarding our backs.
No matter what it is, we aren’t alone in this. ”
Bayu nodded, and Carleigh removed her fingers, sliding her arm back over his hip.
“Tell me about your house.”
Carleigh didn’t mind the change of subject.
“It’s quite large. My dad built it long before he met my mom, but it was his sanctuary.
He spent most of his time at what he called the lab, looking after the Clan via computers, so when he came home, he wanted to be surrounded with things that were solely his.
He wanted a mate and a bunch of kids eventually, so he built a large house hoping to fill it with family.
His style was different than my mom’s, so when they were mated, she decorated some of it to reflect her preferences.
Juniper and I were little when they changed the garden area.
It had been filled with statues and topiaries.
Fancy stuff. June and I loved the water, so Dad had a swimming pool built.
He kept the statues, just transferred them to a different part of the property.
They took those with them when they moved, thank the gods.
“The front yard is what I consider a lawn. It’s well-manicured, every blade of grass uniform in height.
” Carleigh snorted. “I ordered the gardener to plant clover. I can’t wait to see all those little white flowers buzzing with bees.
What do I need with grass that serves no purpose but to look at it and waste tons of water keeping it pristine?
Anyway, the house itself is modern, unlike a lot of my cousins’ homes.
It has six bedrooms, all upstairs. Downstairs includes a living room, family room, office, eat-in kitchen, dining room, and a massive library.
Oh, and the walls in the master bedroom?
They’re soundproof. Dad didn’t take into consideration how loud Gargoyles were when having sex when the house was built.
My uncle Rafael designed it, but at the time, he wasn’t mated either, so that was updated after June and I came along. ”
Carleigh scooted closer. “I think you’ll like the kitchen. My mom loves to cook, so Dad updated the appliances every time new and improved ones came out. Not that I’m asking you to do all the cooking.”
“I too love to cook. I find it relaxing. I am also interested in the library. I spend most of my free time reading. I do enjoy a good movie every now and then, but there is something about getting lost in a book.”
“I like reading when I have the time, which is rare lately. H3 is so busy, and there are four of us tackling all the jobs. I don’t know how my dad did it alone for so long.”
Carleigh realized Bayu had once again convinced her to do all the talking.
“Tell me about your family and about living on Anjailang Island.” The plane hit some turbulence, and Bayu sat up while his tiger growled.
Carleigh rose up to her elbow, and when Bayu ran his hands down his face, she sat up with him and rubbed his back. “Are you okay?”
Bayu kept his eyes averted when he responded. “Turbulence has never bothered Tiger before, but he’s agitated. Could you ask him if he’s okay?”
Carleigh waited for her beast to check in with his. She found it cute he referred to it as Tiger like that was his name.
Tiger feels funny, as though something is tugging at him.
Carleigh relayed the message, and Bayu pressed his hand over his heart.
“Do you want to go back to the cabin to sit?” Bayu nodded and slid his legs over the side of the bed to stand.
He held his hand out for Carleigh, and they padded back to the leather sofa, leaving their shoes behind. “Tell me what you need.”
Bayu glanced around. “Maybe we could watch a movie?”
“On it.” Carleigh jumped to her feet and retrieved the remote from the overhead storage bin at the front of the cabin.
She had helped set up the movie screen when Connor bought the jet.
“What are you in the mood for?” She pushed a button, the screen rolled down from the ceiling in front of where Silas was seated.
He stood and moved farther back, taking a different chair, and facing the front of the plane.
Bayu brushed his hands down his pants. “What are my choices?”
“Pretty much anything you can think of. The box I hooked up has thousands of movies and series on it.” Carleigh pointed the remote toward the screen, and the menu populated.
Bayu placed his hand on Carleigh’s arm. “Why don’t you choose? Please.”
Carleigh was used to watching movies with her cousins.
Their tastes were as eclectic as each being.
Some liked action. Some rom-coms. Cailin loved horror just as much as she loved musicals.
They all agreed on the fantasy trilogy about the little hobbit on a huge quest. It was one of her favorites, so she chose the first one in the series. “This okay?”
“It’s perfect.”
“Silas?”
“Definitely. I have the books on my e-reader, but the movie adaptations are wonderfully done.”
“Good, but let’s sit in the recliners so we can kick back.
” Carleigh and Bayu moved to the seats, and once they were situated, she hit play.
Celeste came out of the cockpit, and within a few minutes, they all had bowls of buttery popcorn and drinks.
Instead of heading back to sit with Cruz, she joined them for the movie.
They stopped after the second one to eat supper, then they watched the third.
As the evening progressed, Bayu’s mood sank lower.
Carleigh’s Goyle kept in touch with Tiger, who was getting antsier.
That could’ve been the reason for Bayu’s unease.
Either that or they were getting closer to Kuching, and he was nervous to see his family.
Cruz stopped off in Japan to refuel, then they were back in the air.
Celeste spelled him so he could eat and use the restroom, but other than that, the male remained behind the controls.
Carleigh sat for long hours at a time, so she understood how he was able to do it.
Since they were traveling across the globe, their nighttime was daytime, so Carleigh closed all the shades.
The lights in the cabin were already off.
Carleigh asked if Bayu wanted to sleep on the bed or remain in the recliners for the rest of the trip.
“I’m afraid I’ll disturb your sleep if we go to the bedroom.
You can sleep in there without me if you’d like. I won’t be offended.”
“If you’re staying out here, then so am I.
These chairs are comfortable.” Carleigh did go pee and brush her teeth before settling in.
Bayu followed suit, and when he returned, he sat and pulled the thick blanket they’d been using over both of them.
Silas had reclined his own seat, but every now and then, he’d glance over at Bayu, frowning.
Carleigh didn’t know if the male had special abilities, but he at least could feel Bayu’s mood dimming.
Carleigh closed her eyes but kept her focus on her mate.
For the rest of the flight, things only got worse.