Chapter Thirteen #2
Lulu wasn’t big enough to do any real damage, but stumbling back, letting her body impact all of mine, was the perfect excuse to slip further from my brother.
And, while her arms wound around my torso, I found myself looking quickly from Bailey, who shrugged, to Traum who looked at my mate with a quizzical expression on his face.
“Lulu…what’s wrong?”
“I pushed you away, I’ve been running from this and now seeing you, it just all hit me,” her words were rushed, tumbling over one another as she sagged into my hold. “God, Zaldi, I almost messed everything up. All because I was too scared to talk to you about it.”
I laughed at that. “Welcome to the party, Lu. I’ve been terrified since the moment I first met you.”
Her head tilted up, tear-filled eyes watching me. “What?”
I smoothed her bangs away from her face, “Meeting the person you’re destined to share everything with is pretty intense.
Not to mention the pressure to be exactly what they need all the time.
” I sighed, “I’m sure if we were to go back, half of those dreams in college, I spent the entire time too scared to even respond to you. ”
She gave a watery chuckle, “You always seem so sure.”
“I’m older than you and grew up in a world where every individual seeks out the type of bond we share naturally.
” Her eyes lowered again and I could feel her anxiety rising back to the surface.
I rushed to explain, “But, just because something is good, doesn’t mean it doesn't work. That’s really what will set us apart from the others. ”
“And you want to do that with me? Every day…for as long as incubi live?”
I couldn’t stop the grin as it took over my face. “Absolutely.” Slowly, so that she could stop me at any point, I leaned in and pressed a kiss to her mouth. Her eyes fluttered shut, but I kept mine open, watching the way her face relaxed as the bond between us glowed, strengthened, soothed us.
Because we were more than a fated moment. We were real. And I would show her that. Hades, I wanted so badly to show her that.
As I pulled away, I glanced at my brother once more. Traum and Bailey were standing side by side at her desk, looking pointedly away from us. “Can I steal her for the rest of the day?”
“Sure, sure, you do what you need to,” Bailey said, fluttering a hand at us. Traum nodded too, his smile broad enough that I knew he’d be giving me shit later on. But I didn’t care. I knew what I needed to do.
“Lulu, can you pack an overnight bag?”
She blinked, “What? Why?”
“Because we’re going on a trip…to visit my family.”
Slowly, Lulu looked from me to Traum and back again. I chuckled, “Not Traum…my whole family.”
Her mouth made a perfect ‘O’. “In the Underworld? Can we even do that?”
I leaned in, bumping her nose with mine, “We sure can.”
She breathed into me, her body settling, the acrid scent of her fear drifting away. “I’m sure I could use one of those days off.”
I stepped back, interlacing our fingers. “Good. Let’s go get ready!”
Lulu’s jaw dropped, “Right now?”
I tugged her out and down the hall, back towards Main Street and her home.
The thought of her bedroom made my cock thicken as I ran an anxious hand through my dark hair.
I could not be thinking of that yet, not now.
When we were in the Underworld, where I could take her out far from the rest, where she could scream my name all she wanted without anyone hearing…
then, maybe, I could get back to this train of thoughts.
But first, we had to fucking pack.
My thumb raced over the obol in my ring, my mind immediately sending a brief message to the King of Dreams. “Lord Arafel, I am bringing my mate for a visit.”
There was no reply, not that I expected one. I just wanted to be sure that we didn’t arrive with a troop of reapers waiting to try to take her soul or something equally as decimating.
A few minutes later, I leaned against her door as Lulu put a few items of clothing into a slim backpack, her movements excited and jaunty. “It’s only one night, Lu.”
I earned a hard glare from that statement and then she reached up, selecting a part of lacy underwear that made my mouth actually water at the sight. “Oh, so I should put these back?”
My mind blanked, my cock aching at the thought of her in those, me putting them in my mouth and dragging them down her legs so I could push her back and feast on the sweetest place in the entire world.
“Fuck, Lu. Bring anything you want.” She grinned triumphantly, shoving them and another satiny looking pair of baby blues in the bag, zipping it up.
I was glad to know she had multiples, because I could smell how wet she already was, and there was no way I wasn’t going to steal those after I got my taste.
I growled a little as a door creaked elsewhere in the house. Lulu looked up, first at my growl, then at her phone as it vibrated on the nightstand. “My grandfather is coming.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but Lennon was already there, standing down the hall, his silvery hair glowing as the light from the midday poured in from the windows. Of course, a witch would choose a house with all this natural light.
“You haven’t left yet,” Lennon spoke, his voice breathy as if he’d just hurried over from the newspaper. I step away from the door, letting him see where his granddaughter was within.
She held up her phone, “Sorry I missed your text. I was just grabbing some stuff.”
“And you’ll be back tomorrow?”
I nodded and Lulu echoed the movement, “I have everything turned in for this week’s issue, minus the ETA work.”
My head jerked at the mention of ETA but held my tongue when she sent me a pleading look. Crossing my arms, I tried to appear relaxed.
Lennon gave me a hard look and then stepped past me into her room. Lulu didn’t seem phased and sat at the edge of her bed, the backpack on her knees. “I’m not going to be gone long, Grandpa.”
His throat worked, “I know, I just,” Lennon gave me another look over his shoulder, “This is moving so fast, and I spent years, so many years, trying to protect our family. It makes me feel like suddenly…” His hands moved in the air, frustration clear in every line of his face.
“Zaldi isn’t going to hurt me. And he can protect me in the Underworld.”
Lennon’s arms swung, a nervous gesture, I realized, to keep him from reaching out for his granddaughter. My heart panged. I imagine from his perspective, I was dragging her into a literal pit of snakes. I couldn’t blame him for being nervous for the granddaughter who had always been his to protect.
But, he had an ally now. Even if he wasn’t ready to hear that. I would sooner stab myself in the heart than allow any harm to come to Lulu.
“Lulu, I spent, Gods I’ve spent decades, more than you even know, trying to make sure that you and your grandmother are safe. From the Others, from the humans like me. I just wanted you to be safe so badly. And it was so hard.”
Lulu’s shoulder sagged, “I’m sorry Grandpa.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Lennon said, his voice stronger, “That’s not what this is.
I just want you to know that while I don’t want you to be mixed up in that world, in his world, it isn’t because you wouldn’t belong,” a long pause followed by a swallow, “It’s because I won’t.
And I can’t protect you from what I don’t know. ”
Lulu’s lip quivered, and honestly, I felt like mine might be in danger of a shake all its own.
Seeing this large, powerful personality bowed over at the idea that he wouldn’t be able to protect his granddaughter, hit me right in the chest. Maybe it was an echo of Lulu’s own tortured emotions, but I felt them either way.
I could repeat she was safe with me, but that took away from what he had done. What he’d always wanted for her.
“Lennon, I will protect her while she is with my family in the Underworld and then return her to your keeping upon our return,” I shuffled a little, “I could use your help adjusting, if you’re willing to give it.”
Lennon’s sharp eyes found mine, and slowly, a nod.
If he knew it was a concession, he didn’t say anything. And that nod meant something different to each of us. To Lennon it was understanding. To me it was acceptance. And to Lulu, it was freedom.
“Happy to do it,” Lennon said gruffly, knitting his hands together and stepping back past me once more. “Be safe.” Turning, and only for my eyes, he pointed straight at my chest. I smiled, noting a threat when I saw one. But, this male had nothing to fear.
My family would be thrilled to see my mate. And there would be nothing she had to fear from my Underworld.
I would make sure of it. When I looked back into the room Lulu was slipping her arms into her backpack. “Are you ready?” She asked me, excitement and a pang of her nerves twisting in my belly.
“I’m ready,” I answered simply, reaching out a hand to her. She took it instantly, stepping into my space and pressing her body against mine.
I took a deep breath. It was time to go home.