Chapter 52 – Wave
It was hard to believe, but Wave actually had a normal week. No one tried to attack her. Nothing catastrophic happened. She went to her classes. Spent time with her friends watching movies at the mansion like they used to do in their dorm.
Even the tight scrutiny over her health eased up to the point that Ilijas just checked on her once a day. They probably constantly checked with Jarred about how she felt to him, but Wave could live with that.
She still wasn’t cleared for training, but Marc managed to find a way to spend time with her every day regardless. Wave expected her mate or Claimed to have an opinion about that, but both just ignored her pointed glances or the times Marc reached out to touch her hand or rub her feet.
Damn, he gave a mean foot rub. It was hard to keep her walls up when the man made her see stars just by running his thumb over her arches over and over and over again.
And now they were going to a party together. What could possibly go wrong?
They were flying on Sinister’s plane again.
Marc had already planned to borrow it and Wave was just an extra passenger Sinister portaled inside once everything was set.
No one knew she was going. Even the crew seemed surprised, but they didn’t ask questions when Sinister told them to add plus one to their plans.
“Call me if you need a quick way out,” he said before stepping back.
“I don’t think he even realizes how much he’s flexing with that statement.” Marc chuckled. “Zahir could move himself that far, but Sinister honestly can get you out.”
“Got him on speed dial,” Wave said. They got settled and Wave closed her eyes. It felt like a long blink, and then Marc was gently shaking her shoulder.
“We’ve landed, sparkle. Are you sure you are up to this?”
“Of course I am,” Wave said through a yawn. “Just give me a second to get changed and we’ll go.”
“The car is already waiting. You need help with any zippers?”
“I have no idea what Chrissy packed for me, so I guess we’ll see.”
Marc groaned at that. “Please tell me you’re wearing underwear.”
“Wouldn’t you like to know that?” Wave snarked.
“I would, sparkle, very much so,” Marc shot back.
“Why? You’ve seen me naked. Most recently, in a shower.”
“You mean the shower where I was supposed to help wash you and ended up holding you up when your Claimed went down on you? That shower?”
“I don’t remember hearing any complaints.”
“I still have blue balls from it!”
“Poor baby.”
“You better get dressed before I call for Irishen and beg for permission to spank your ass.”
Wave couldn’t help the giggle. “You wouldn’t. You are too big of a softie to actually spank me.”
“I could hold you down and eat you out until you beg to come.”
Now she flushed because while Marc really wasn’t the spanking type, he absolutely loved restraining her and making her beg.
“We broke up,” she reminded him.
“Biggest mistake of my life,” he immediately replied.
“I’m your fake girlfriend just for tonight.”
“Sparkle, I need you to hear me when I say this.” Marc was suddenly serious.
“There’s nothing fake about the way I feel about you.
” He held his hands up when she stiffened.
“I’m not saying this to pressure you, but to make it clear that every time I refer to you as my girlfriend tonight, I pray that one day it’ll be true. ”
That stirred emotions in her that she wasn’t ready to face. Not now and especially not without her mate and Claimed. She didn’t need anyone else, but when she looked deep into Marc’s eyes, she had to work really hard to convince herself that she didn’t want him.
“I better get ready.”
“I’ll wait here. Call me if you need help.”
With that, Wave gathered her things and headed to the bedroom to change. She didn’t want Marc. She didn’t. Not even a little bit.
Now, if she repeated that lie a thousand times, it might start to sound believable.
Wave stepped through the front door and this time the welcome was totally different from their last visit. Hatty rushed over and folded Wave into a hug, like she was a long-lost daughter returning home.
“Wayla! I’m so happy you could come to our little party,” she gushed. “And your dress!” she exclaimed. “You must tell me who designed it.”
Wave waited for the woman to let go and took a step back.
The dress, admittedly, was a dream come true.
Wave had no idea what the slightly shimmering material was made of, but it felt like a summer breeze against her skin and fell to her knees in voluminous layers that weighed barely anything.
And it was blue. Well, blue was a simple way to describe the interlocking gradients that reminded her of a shaft of light penetrating through deep water.
Plus, pockets. She couldn’t forget the pockets.
Not that Marc didn’t look just as good in his suit, even if he had skipped the tie and opened three top buttons. Maybe he was trying to taunt her to bite his neck. His shirt was also blue and the slacks made his ass look biteable too.
She was thinking way too much about biting different parts of him. But the damn battle mage looked edible. Even the way his shoulders filled the suit jacket made her mouth water, since she was used to seeing him in a T-shirt. Or without one.
Hatty made a noise and pulled Wave back to the moment from her daydream. Nightmares. She really needed to say something and focus on anything else.
“Thank you for inviting me,” she replied politely, then a genuine smile spread over her face when she spotted Tanner hanging back. “Tanner!” She brushed past Hatty and headed over to the boy. Before she could hug him, Tanner executed a very polite and precise bow.
“Lady Stormwell, welcome to my home.”
Wave couldn’t hold in her grin as she curtsied back. “Thank you for your welcome, Sir Ulriche.” Then she stepped forward and simply hugged him. Marc had made his way over and looked at the two of them with narrowed eyes. Both Wave and Tanner adapted equally innocent poses and expressions.
“What?” Wave asked.
“You know etiquette,” Marc said accusingly. Wave looked at him, confused.
“Of course I do.”
It was Tanner who laughed. “I knew from the moment you walked through that door that you were a lady, Wayla.”
Wave shifted her attention back to him and smiled widely. “And you played along so well. The high society should be on their toes once you are released to the wild, my good sir.”
“Tanner, you should have told me,” Hatty interrupted them. She pushed closer and took Wave’s arm. “I do apologize for any offense. Tanner is still young, but he knows he should have informed me—”
Her sentence got cut short when Wave pulled her arm free with a sharp yank. She liked Tanner and was willing to play civil for Marc’s sake, but this woman had no right to manhandle her.
“Excuse me, but I need to say my greetings to Lord Ulriche,” she said and turned back to Tanner. “Could you please escort me to him?”
“I can take you—”
“Maman, please,” Tanner moaned. He seemed to know well all the social niceties his mother was breaking.
“I can escort Lady Stormwell to Father’s study.
Maybe you could check that the dinner is on track?
We don’t want to keep her ladyship waiting.
” The boy tried to be diplomatic, but Hatty’s cheeks flared.
“Tanner, this is not the time—”
“Mrs. Ulriche,” Wave cut in and let her aura unfurl a little. Just a little, but that was enough to make Hatty stagger several steps back. While her husband was powerful, she wasn’t. Tanner stood steady on his feet and Marc finally decided to step in. He offered Wave his arm and turned to Tanner.
“Father is in his study?”
“Yes,” Tanner hurried to assure him.
“Then I will escort Lady Stormwell there.” Before anyone had time to protest, he looped Wave’s hand over his arm and began walking toward the staircase.
He led her to the second floor and down a hallway.
Their steps were muted by a thick carpet and portraits hung on the wall.
Marc slowed his stride when he noticed Wave looking at them.
“Ulriche mages,” Marc said. “Only the head of the families, of course.”
“There are almost as many women here as men,” Wave commented as she counted.
“Yes, well. My family is a lot of things, but it has never discriminated based on gender. If you are powerful enough to squash everyone else, you’ll get your picture on the wall.”
“Sounds… well, like most families in power, to be honest,” Wave said.
“Yours too?”
Wave rolled her eyes. “Oh yes.”
“Did you really want to see my father, or…”
“Yes, I actually did. Unless you’d rather I didn’t?”
“No, I don’t mind.” Marc stopped by a door and rapped at it. “Father?”
“Come in, Marc.”
He opened the door and stepped through. Wave followed and took in the massive office filled with books. The magical energy wafting from them made her head spin for a second. Unlike at the library, it was very organized here.
“Good evening, Lady Stormwell,” Mr. Ulriche said and stood up when he saw her. He gave her a small bow and Wave returned the gesture. Then she smiled.
“Nice office.”
“Thank you. It’s been in the family for generations. The books do pile up after a while.”
“I can see that. Neatly organized, though.”
“I do my best to know where everything is. Makes staying on top of things easier,” Mr. Ulriche replied.
“It certainly does. Nothing more annoying than hunting for a book that someone has misplaced.”
Mr. Ulriche frowned slightly at that and tapped at his chin. “There are spells for that kind of thing.”
“Really? Hard to come by?”
He shook his head. “Not if you know who to ask.”
Marc cleared his throat. “This is why you wanted to see my father? To talk about books?” He looked a bit bewildered.
“Where are my manners?” Mr. Ulriche immediately said. “Please sit.” He indicated the chairs across his desk, but Wave shook her head.