25. Maya
Maya
Ididn’t have time to be nervous before Marco led me to the table and sat me on his knee, my smile serene as he ran a hand up and down my bare back.
“Who is this, Marco?” a dark, almost clinical voice asked. The man it belonged to was handsome, but there was a distinct coldness to him that made me uncomfortable.
“This is my flight’s mate, Maya,” he responded coolly as Henry took a seat next to us. I wondered where Atlas was?
“Your mate?” another man responded sharply. This man had pale blonde hair and orange skin, which was very unique-looking.
“So I guess no more playtime then?” a husky female voice asked.
I froze, because I somehow knew exactly what she was insinuating.
Instead of getting worked up, I simply leaned into Marco and met her pale gray eyes with a small smile.
I didn’t even realize Marco was letting out a threatening rumble until Henry spoke.
“Councilwoman Anna,” Henry clipped, “you know as well as everyone here that Marco hasn’t touched you. Ever. If you’re going to be problematic, I would suggest you remember this is our private property and you’re here at our pleasure.”
Another man chuckled as she snarled and stood up, walking off. Now her? I may consider her a bitch. Their past may have been a mystery to me, but I knew Marco, and I trusted him. With everything.
“I’m sorry about that, honey,” he murmured.
“Could’ve been worse,” Henry noted.
“What type of shifter are you?” the cold man asked.
I sat up and looked at Marco, his hand smoothing over my neck possessively. His eyes warmed, and he nodded, letting me know it was ok for me to answer.
“I’m a phoenix.”
Someone dropped their fork.
“Prove it,” the man with bright hair and orange skin snarled.
“I died yesterday morning, and now I’m here. I don’t need to prove any more to you. If you don’t want to believe me, that’s your own prerogative.”
“I’m going to go get a drink,” the smiling, relaxed man said. “Good choice, boys.” His caramel hair shifted in the wind, and for an older man, he really was handsome. He tossed me a wink and walked off.
That left us with Orangey and Meanie.
“You understand how rare that is?” the cold man snapped. “If she is, then she needs to be introduced to other flights…”
“Absolutely fucking not,” Marco said in a savage snarl, his arms tightening around me. “Is that understood, Councilman? My mate is not going anywhere fucking near another flight.”
“Why would I want to visit other flights?” I asked. Henry watched me with amusement and hooded eyes, the look momentarily distracting me.
“You have to see if they are truly your mates,” the orange-skinned man explained.
“I know they are,” I said firmly before smiling. “Plus, Marco already bit me, and I bit him. So he’s mine.”
“You marked her?!” the cold one demanded.
“I marked him first,” I admitted in a relaxed tone before looking around at the others staring at us. “Also, we have other guests, so maybe we don’t need to yell? It’s sort of rude.”
The cold one narrowed his eyes at me and stood up, stalking off. Hmm. My friendship skills may be lacking. Henry chuckled and kissed my hand, and Marco nibbled on my neck as orangey spoke.
“You know she still has to be formally introduced to all the ruling flights because you’re a councilman.” He smirked. “Even as a formality.”
“I have no issue with them meeting her after she is marked by my flight,” Marco responded.
Croy sat down where caramel hair had been and smiled at me. Then his face turned dark as he took in the cold man. “Why does my mate look upset, Larry?”
Ew. That name.
Larry’s eyes widened. “She’s mated to a wolf as well? You can’t do that. If she truly is a phoenix…”
“Leave,” Henry bit out. “Get out of here. Now.”
Croy was producing an actual growl, and my center warmed at his defense over us.
“This isn’t over,” Larry bit out. “Lucas may be proud of your antics, but Edmund agrees with me. You still have to answer to the Council, Marco, despite being on it.”
Then he was gone.
“I don’t think they like me,” I noted. Instead of finding that worrisome, I actually found it a bit amusing. I felt a surge of energy running under my skin from the post-orgasmic high I was riding. That wasn’t even including the confidence I felt in knowing how my mates felt about me.
“Good,” Marco grumbled. “Fucking assholes.”
“You swear a lot.” I grinned as the man’s ears turned pink and he narrowed his eyes at me.
Before he could respond, the music began and I was up and out of my seat, Croy following.
Now, I had never been to a performance, but I knew what looked cool. They looked cool. Ledger was holding a guitar, standing at the back of the stage along with three other people I didn’t know. Anani stood at the microphone and winked at me.
He gave a short introduction that had the crowd cheering. I pushed towards the center of the stage, gaining a new appreciation for how many people were here. Croy lifted me up and sat me on his right shoulder so that I could keep my legs crossed, and his hands kept me securely fixed.
Then the twins made my night.
“This show is for our beautiful mate, Maya.” Anani’s voice was smooth, and I smiled as people turned back to see me. I grinned as their music started up, knowing I was in for something special as Anani started singing and Ledger started playing.
When I woke up the next morning, I was in bed with Marco and Henry. The first had his chest against my back, head buried in my neck, and Henry had his arms looped around my waist with his head resting on my chest. I hummed softly and stretched, feeling both of them shift awake.
I shivered as they both hardened against me.
“Morning,” Marco drawled, his teeth biting down softly on my neck and causing me to nearly moan.
Henry looked up at me from where his lips rested on my neck. “You smell so damn sweet, Maya.”
I was about to say something, but the door swung open and a very sleepy Croy spoke. “You need to get down here, now. Security is barely holding back the media at the gates.”
“The hell?” Henry muttered and stood up, all of us following to look out the windows.
“Why?” I whispered.
“You,” Marco said, his voice filled with frustration at the situation.
“Me? They weren’t this bad when we first got here.”
“Apparently it got out that the police are looking for you back in Washington,” Croy grumbled.
“What?” Henry said, incredulous.
Croy walked over to the large television, and I watched as the surface lit up with a network called CNN.
My picture, along with pictures of Atlas and Marco, popped up.
“Police have not disclosed if this is a case of attempting to flee, or if the socialites didn’t consider that they would be associated with the deaths of Jed Mara and Tina Lucas.
“It is important to note that the woman, Maya, is a high school student at…”
I stopped listening, and Henry shook his head. “We disposed of the bodies and everything.”
“What bodies?” Croy bit out.
“I was locked in a church basement and only arrived here about a week ago. My mother, Tina, and her boyfriend, Jed, beat me until I died. The boys showed up and killed them, I was reborn, and now we’re here,” I explained simply, distracted by what was going on outside.
“They’re saying they got the information from one of the co-owners of the rental house.”
“So one of his lackeys,” Marco snarled.
Croy was still staring at me with really wide eyes. I squeezed his hand, and he simply muttered a curse before pulling me close and burying his nose in my hair.
They were always doing that. I hoped my hair smelled good.
“We need to get back,” I murmured.
Marco was already on the phone, and Henry called for Atlas. The man showed up looking aggravated, but he pressed a kiss to my forehead before they started to talk about things I wasn’t well versed in. Croy even joined in, so I decided to do something productive in the meantime.
I got into the shower, humming softly as I washed off all the sand and everything else from last night before wrapping a robe securely around myself.
I’d never used hair products before, and now that I did, I didn’t think I’d be able to go without again.
My long brown hair hung to my waist, and I rubbed vanilla lip gloss on before walking to my closet and picking out a comfortable outfit.
I chose a pair of black high-waisted pants and a cropped sweater in forest green, pairing it with these shoes called ‘ballet flats.’ I wasn’t positive where my bag was to pack up, but I would probably just leave some of the stuff here anyway. I hoped we came back.
This had oddly been exactly what I needed.
“Where are you going?” Marco asked as I headed downstairs, passing him.
“I’m going to ask them to leave us alone.”
Henry looked at me in alarm, but Marco just grinned, looking surprised by my answer. “Bad idea, honey. Trust me. They’re vicious animals.”
“Marco, you’re a dragon. They can’t be much more vicious than that.” I smirked.
He shook his head. “Come on, through the garage. We’re going to head out as it is.”
“But the twins…”
“Are ready to go,” Ledger said on a yawn.
We all walked into the garage, Croy suddenly stopping. “I have an idea.”
Marco sighed. “I already know what you’re going to say.”
“What?” I perked up.
Marco cupped my jaw and searched my eyes. “They’re going to expect you to be in this car, so I want you to go in Croy’s to the airport. Is that okay?”
“Sure.” I grinned. “Croy is cool.”
Sai scowled. “Kitten, you have literally never used that word before, and now you’re using it on Croy?”
“Because I’m cool.” Croy winked.
“If she is at all injured,” Marco said to Croy, “I fucking mean even a papercut…”
“Marco,” Croy growled. “She’s perfectly fine. I have no paper in my car, and on top of that, I haven’t stayed alive as long as I have by being reckless.”
Both twins gave me searing kisses, and Marco pressed one on my temple. Atlas approached and brushed his nose against mine. “Stay safe. Call me if you have any issues.”
I nodded. I didn’t keep up with my phone too well, but somehow I knew Croy would have it.
Sai approached, grabbing my hips and tugging me forward so he could invade my mouth with a possessive kiss, which had me shivering. Henry muttered a curse before pulling me into a hug, kissing my neck and speaking quietly. “You and I are having alone time later.”
“Oh? Why?” I asked.
Croy chuckled, coming up behind me and looking at Henry over my shoulder. “Yes, Henry. Why?”
Henry nipped at my skin and caused my breathing to heighten.
Croy ‘tsked’ and pulled me over to his sleek little car, opening the door for me and making sure I was buckled.
Instantly, I began playing with buttons and the low purr was overrun by music.
I smiled at the guitar that reminded me so much of Ledger.
“You like Led Zeppelin?” Croy asked, sliding in effortlessly.
“Sure?” I raised a brow.
He tilted his head, looking over me with interest, and pulled out of the garage.
The gates opened, security keeping the camera people and trucks from blocking our path.
I think it worked because everyone was craning their head to see the black SUV about twenty feet behind us, our sleek car sliding past with ease.
I finally sat up fully once we were driving down the street. “If the cops are looking for me, why haven’t they showed up?”
“They already contacted Marco. Human law enforcement is causing issues with the media, but the supernatural contingent in Washington has it mostly handled. Even the FBI office around there is run by supes. We just need to get you back there. You said those two tried to kill you?”
“They did kill me,” I corrected.
He looked over at me and frowned. “Sugar, I don’t understand how I didn’t know you were out there. Even with being locked in a basement…”
“I’m not sure,” I admitted, realizing he was probably talking about the connection I felt to him and my dragons as mates—I think I would know where any of them were now, even if we weren’t together.
“I mean, until twelve days ago, I didn’t know what the ‘outside’ world consisted of, let alone supernatural species and mates. ”
He frowned. “Twelve days ago?That would explain the dream I had.”
“What dream?”
He tilted his head, “It was about a woman—I’m thinking it was you. Happened around that timeframe. I wonder what wards they had on the church you were in.”
“Wards?”
“Yes, to keep you in, no doubt,” he sighed. “Humans, after all this time, are as primitive and scared as before.” His tone went distant and thoughtful for a moment.
“How old are you, Croy?”
His eyes flashed dark. “You sure you want to know that, Maya?”
I grinned at how my name sounded on his lips. “Yeah, I do.”
“Two hundred twenty-four,” he stated softly.
“Holy crap! That’s really cool.”
“It’s something,” he mumbled.
“No, really.” I grasped his hand on the center console. “It’s really neat.”
It was! I bet he had a lot of interesting things that had happened to him. Honestly, I was taking advantage of everyone else’s life experiences to make up for my lack of them.
He smiled and kissed my hand as he continued to drive, my body content and relaxed.
It was only as we neared the airport that I worried about how we were going to get onto the plane. There were people everywhere.