Chapter 12 #2
The cyborg doctor comes into view and stands with the warlock, propping his hands on his hips as a wrinkle of a frown forms between his eyebrows.
“What happened? When we left, Lila was happily reading in her space. She promised she wouldn’t go anywhere or do anything.”
Xavier chuckles. “Well, you know our little mate. She can’t help but get up to no good. When I returned, she was in Echo’s nest.”
Link’s frown clears, and his mouth purses in understanding. “Oh.”
“Yup. She smelled like she likes that pretty kitty very much and had just told this one to go fuck himself.”
“But why did he try to kill her?” Link’s confusion is not hard to hear.
“She accidently used her whisperer powers, and when I got her out of the pit, he was furiously trying to jack himself off.” I feel my cheeks heat with anger again, and my growl gets louder. “He was not happy. He thinks Lila is trying to steal his mate and control him.”
“I can see how being controlled would annoy him, but omegas control who they pick as mates. If Echo wants Lila, Maxsim doesn’t really have much of a say. Unfreeze him so we can have a calm and rational conversation,” Link requests, waving at me.
Xavier scoffs, “Good luck,” but does as he asks, and I feel my body return to my control.
“Stop doing that,” I snarl at the warlock who doesn’t look perturbed.
“Stop being a dick, and I won’t have to,” he counters.
Link huffs and places himself between us. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Grow up, both of you. Maxsim, what is your problem with Lila?” he demands.
“She’s going to break Echo’s heart when she rejects him.” My words are growly because I can’t get my worry under control.
“What makes you think she will?” Link is calm and rational, and I feel my own anger seep away.
“Yeah, from the smell of that nest, I think Lila feels very favorable toward your mate. You also didn’t notice Echo’s shoulder. He’s proudly wearing Lila’s attraction mark now.”
I feel like I’ve been stabbed in the chest. I know it’s always been a possibility that he would want other cats to join our clan, but for him to make the decision without consulting me and for it to be a non-cat is hurtful.
What’s worse is it’s a whisperer. I know my mother is thrilled at their reappearance, but everything I know about them is bad.
They can seduce anyone they want and then control them, making them a slave to their every whim.
“She’s an abomination. She should be put down.” My jealousy knows no bounds, and I can’t stop the words from rolling out of my mouth.
Instead of fury, which should be their reaction, they exchange a look before looking at me with sympathy in their eyes.
“Are you sure that’s how you really feel?” Link asks, and Xavier shakes his head.
“No, it’s not, I can tell. He’s conflicted.”
I throw up my hands in agitation and start to pace back and forth. “Fuck, everything I’ve been taught tells me I should kill her. Look what she did to me, she’s dangerous.”
“But what’s the other part saying?” Link presses, waiting for my reply as I pace back and forth, not wanting to admit how I feel.
“I want to lick her all over with my tongue before knotting her.” I sigh. There it is, the root of the problem. I feel disloyal to Echo, but when her omega side is stronger, it’s all I can do to stop myself from finding her and demanding she present for me.
“And you deal with that by lashing out and being an asshole to her.” Link’s conclusion is sound.
“You didn’t really get a choice, and for that, I’m sorry.
Lila has already told you she won’t hold you to tradition, despite your mother demanding it, but if you gave her and yourself a chance, you may find it won’t be as horrible as you expect. Lila is kind, loving, and sweet.”
“Not to mention fun, sassy, and sarcastic,” the warlock adds, smiling. “But no one will love you as hard as she will.”
“Think about it, and just try to have a normal conversation with her. Start as friends and see where it goes. Rejoin her and Echo in the nest, have a nap with them, and see where it all takes you.”
“Here. If you take this back to her, it will win you some huge brownie points.” Saxon’s voice has me turning to find both him and Caspian standing there, and he’s holding out a tub of ice cream.
They must have arrived while I was pacing, and I didn’t notice.
“Lila sent us for this, but we’re not stupid.
We know she needed some alone time. We will stay here and have a drink, and you can make up for whatever it is you did. ”
“Good idea, Saxon.” Xavier grabs his shoulder and gives it a familiar squeeze.
“This does not bother any of you? Me, Echo, and your mate?” Even I can hear the doubt in my voice. All four of them shake their heads.
“No, Lila is special. She has enough love to go around, and it would be cruel of us to deny her when her new whisperer abilities very obviously want you both, even if she’s in denial,” Caspian tells me.
“But if you threaten her, upset her, or anything else, I will pop your head off your shoulders and use it in my juggling act.” His last words come out as an undeniable warning, and I can’t blame him.
I’d feel the same way if someone upset Echo.
Fuck! I reel at that thought. I’m upsetting Echo. God, I’m an idiot. I reach out and take the ice cream. “I will fix this,” I promise them.
“Good, that’s all we can ask.” Link nods at Xavier. “Send him back.”
“Remember, we will kill you if you upset either of them,” is Xavier’s last words before my body dissolves and I make my way back to Skarr.