Chapter Sixteen
Lulu
I was way too young to have a baby. Which meant Zaldi better put that sweet little succubus girl down as soon as possible. Because I could literally feel my freaking ovaries perking up.
“Down girls,” I hissed at them as he paced back and forth across the room.
“What did you say?” Zaldi said, casting a worried look in my direction. When I only shrugged and shook my head, his face changed. “Rifa will be back shortly. I hope it wasn’t a hassle.”
“Her?” I shook my head again, “No, she’s perfect.”
Zaldi moved over, leaning down and brushing his mouth against mine. I let the kiss sweep pleasure down my nervous system, my skin prickling as my whole being craved more. “You, my mate, are perfect.”
I sat back, watching him curiously, “Your mate.”
Zaldi sat back, resuming his track around the room with Jamai in tow. “Yes.”
“You’re so sure.”
“I am,” Zaldi’s dark eyes found mine, “You are too, I can see it in your face.”
My throat closed, my head growing light as I tried to make a joke, pressing a laugh from my chest. Zaldi beat me to it, letting out a deep laugh, his face full of joy.
“Calm down, little one. I know our ways are different from yours. All I require is knowing that you feel it too. Even if it takes you a little longer to say the words out loud. I understand that.”
I finally choked, coughing into my fist, “You–I mean–what?”
Zaldi only grinned as a swift knock sounded on the door. “I’ve got you, sweet dream, don’t worry.”
A moment later, Rija entered. If she noticed there was something making my eyes water, or my throat tight, she didn’t say anything. She simply picked up Jamai, patted Zaldi on the face and gave a little wave on her way out.
The house was eerily quiet now as we stared at each other.
Because, was it really that simple? This world, this future, this male.
Could it really be that easy? Because God, I wanted it.
I wanted it all so badly. But, he was right, knowing that this was the future I wanted for myself and actually voicing it out loud, it was very different.
Because what if I said it, what if I claimed this future for myself, and then lost it.
What if I wasn’t enough to keep hold of it.
Zaldi was so sure. Maybe it was the demon in him, but this wasn’t how it usually worked for humans. I must’ve been staring off into the distance, because suddenly Zaldi was pressing against my back, a hand on my elbow guiding me up until he turned me into his arms.
“Shhh,” he whispered, “It’s alright.”
My arms knitted around his neck, feeling the silken brush of hair that had escaped its tie. He was so good, down deep to his very core, he had meant what he said. All of it. And, even if I couldn’t give him everything just yet, I could give him this.”
“I’m crazy about you too. About all of this. And I know that I’ve never felt anything like it,” my voice was barely audible, “I just...I’m scared.”
His clawed fingers traced the lines of my ribs, swaying slightly in the middle of his family’s kitchen. For a long time there was only quiet and his hands on me. Which was probably why I could feel my body slowly relaxing into his hold.
I pressed my face against his chest, “Why are you so calm about all of this?”
Zaldi hummed, “Tonight allow me to introduce you to Sallum.”
“What’s a Sallum?” I rubbed my nose against the skin that I’d exposed there. How was it possible for another creature to smell this divine.
Zaldi chuckled, hands sinking into my hair and forcing me to look up at him, “He is a very good male. Only a few years older than me, really, but the best kind of friend. He and his mate danced around each other for a long time, each too unsure to make the commitment to one another. Once they did, their son was born shortly after.”
“Something tells me it wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine though.”
Zaldi’s face was drawn, tight. “His mate was killed, she was trapped between worlds, held by a lack of magic until her body finally gave up.”
“Oh my God, that’s awful.”
“It was. Sallum held her for days, pouring his own energy into her, begging her to return. But, she never did.”
I swiped at the tear that slipped free from my eyes, “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because, I refuse to wait to love you,” his voice was so full of conviction I actually gasped, “Yes, I said it. I love you now, and I will keep on loving you while you decide to love me. Because there is no more waiting left in me.”
I swallowed, “That was a great speech.” My lips twitched, my heart pounding, the words I knew were true burning on my tongue. And yet, nothing came out. Finally, I licked my lips, “Thank you for loving me.”
Zaldi’s mouth stole my last words. And for a moment, I let his kiss carry me away.
***
Zaldi
I felt lighter than I had in years. In fact, I couldn’t remember the last time I walked through my village and didn’t feel like everyone in the world was watching.
Well, they might be watching me still, but if the rumor mill was working as hard as it usually did, everyone here knew that this beautiful creature on my arm was my mate.
My fated mate.
It didn’t matter that we hadn’t crossed that final threshold-that she didn’t wear my bite. She would, someday, if I had anything to say about it. But just the fact that in the insanity of this world, we had found each other. That was enough.
“I feel like everyone is staring,” Lulu said, as if echoing my earlier statement.
“They are.”
She shrunk back, pressing against my side, “Z, why are they staring?”
I hummed in the back of my throat, secretly loving the way her body was plastered to mine. “Because you’re stunning.”
Lulu groaned, “Stop playing with me.”
I chuckled, “I’m not playing. Until Lord Arafel’s soul was returned to him, the magic here had dimmed.
Fated matches were very, very rare. Now that magic is returning to the underworld, there is hope.
And seeing you, maybe even seeing me, is reminding those who haven’t found a match that there still might be hope. ”
Lulu relaxed, “Oh, I guess that’s not so bad.”
We walked along in comfortable silence for a few steps, then unable to stop grinning, I leaned close, “Plus, you smell like a combination of sex and babies. I’m sure they are all very confused.”
Lulu squeaked, her hands going to her now dark cheeks. “I am never going to be able to come back to this place.”
I laughed, curling low to press a kiss to the crown of her dark curls, “I’m just glad you want to.”
Together we made it over to the center of the village, where the largest building, a gathering place stood.
Nicknamed the Core, it was used for a variety of needs, the immense dome shape open at the front.
Once inside, the Core was divided into one large room at the base of the building, and a variety of small rooms all around the edges.
“This place is huge,” Lulu said, her head on a swivel as we passed through the large front entryway, immediately taking a turn to head towards my grandmother‘s office.
I knew she would be here and honestly, I need to ask her opinion of something before I let this go any further.
I should’ve asked my brother, Albtraum, but I wasn’t interested in having that conversation with him.
Grandmother may not be active chieftess any longer, but she still was the head of our family.
That wouldn’t change, even as Albtraum took on more and more of the responsibilities of the head of the Incubi in the Underworld.
I didn’t doubt that he’d tell me the truth, but I wasn’t sure he would have the same bedside manner that Grandmother would offer. And I needed that, probably even more than Lulu did.
“What exactly are we doing here?” Lulu asked me as we swept into the familiar space.
My grandmother, hearing the end of Lulu's statement, immediately stood up and swept her hands wide, obviously asking for a hug.
Lulu flinched back at first, seeming to hesitate at the open affection the woman offered, but probably thinking of her own grandmother, stepped forward, embracing with a smile on her face.
“Oh, I’ll bet that I can answer that,” Grandmother said solemnly, after releasing Lulu and moving back to a small round table that took up much of the room.
With a grunt, my Grandmother lowered herself to one of the colorful cushions that surrounded the table.
She gestured for us to join as she spoke again.
“My grandson, he's a worrier. I’m assuming that he wants to know whether or not we can figure out a way to keep you two together, even if Lord Arafel calls him back to the Underworld. "
I’d been guiding Lulu to the floor at the same small table, so I could feel the moment those words landed and every muscle in her body went tight. “Is that a possibility?” Lulu looked up at me as I loomed over her, “That he might not let you go back with me?”
I looked at my grandmother, then Lulu, chose my words carefully.
I didn’t want to pressure anyone, but I needed her to know–to understand what was on the line.
“This is the longest that I’ve ever been in the Living World.
Traum received special permission when he bonded with Bailey.
He is able to come and go as he pleases, given that he continues to relay information to Lord Arafel.
But my role, it is…more heavily based in numbers, reports, information. And I am, well, I’m unbonded.”
I watched Lulu’s throat work. “Oh.”
“I would never want to rush you, but I want to be prepared.”
“That’s where I come in,” Grandmother said, her sharp eyes taking us both in. “You have witch blood, don’t you?”
Lulu nodded, just once. “My Gigi.”
Grandmother looked at me, “That helps.” She directed her attention back to Lulu. “And you are happily residing in Salus Glen?”
Lulu’s face changed, growing serious and thoughtful. “I’m happy where my family is–and where Zaldi is.” My entire being hummed with that simple confession.
“Down boy,” Grandmother said, humor in her voice as my obvious pleasure over that statement filled the small room, “You’re powering the whole Core at this point.”
My mate blinked, surprised, “You–wait what?” She pointed around us, “Your pleasure, it feeds this place?” She looked at Grandmother.
“Zaldi has tried to explain this, about how the magic that surrounds the Incubi is based on absorbing and receiving pleasure. But, why would my words give him that same pleasure?”
Grandmother sat back, eyeing Lulu with interest. “Because you are his mate, regardless of status. Everything you do brings him pleasure. But, to be completely frank, this one has always been an oddball. I’m fairly certain he powered everyone in the village for a week after you graduated from your schooling. ”
She settled in, avoiding my eyes as I glared daggers at my grandmother.
“Most Incubi feed on the power that we receive walking through dreams, combing the world for fantasy and lust and love. But, between one another, it is more detailed than that. Sure, a pair of mates sneaking away for a heated moment gives power back to the people, but so does the feeling of joy that Antheia felt when meeting her first niece. Bonds are power, just not as obvious as the ones fueled by lust and love. Which is probably good, because this one,” she pointed at me, “Is a horrible dream-walker.”
I groaned as Lulu giggled. “I thought he did just fine.”
Grandmother leaned in to pat her hand, “How nice of you.”
“Grandmother!” I scolded with mock horror. “Try to be civil.”
“I’m always civil, Zaldi, but I’m also always honest,” Grandmother’s smile slowly faded from her face, “What I’m trying to say is that while your previous occupation was that of someone reporting to Lord Arafel on all those things you love so much, numbers and such, that your future may look very different.
Your brother and I will fight for whatever role you’d like.
But, I need to know if you always feel the way this human feels. ”
My chest hummed with warmth as I threaded my fingers into Lulu’s, “I’m hers.”
“And you want to stay in the living world?”
“I want to stay with her,” I said easily, looking at Lulu as the words filled the space between us. “I feel like I could belong there, with their coffees and their crazy drivers. Maybe I already do.”
Lulu’s eyes were tear-filled as she tightened her hold on me. After a moment that I felt in every inch of my soul, Lulu shook her head.
“How can we make sure that we are able to stay together?”
I could've answered this one for her, but I hadn’t. She knew me, but I wanted her to feel like the information was coming from a source we could both know was honest. Grandmother, apparently, found no need to sugar coat any of her thoughts.
“Well, human, it sounds like you need to bond with my grandson,” she looked at Lulu shrewdly, “And soon.”
I felt that word straight down my spine.
“Grandmother….”
She shrugged, “There’s always other ways, Zaldi, but the surest way is the most obvious.
And, while you won’t say it, I will….an unrequited mate bond will not only hurt the other member, but it will inevitably leave them unable to function without their mate.
Even if the relationship is merely the crumbs of a bond.
At the end of the day, you are in charge of your future, Lulu.
But, you are also in charge of his. Do what feels right. ”
Lulu gulped, the sound like the sounding of a gong in the silence between us.
“Lulu,” I whispered, reaching for her. But, before I could stop her, she was up and running, the door of the office swinging wide as she bolted through.
Fuck. I glared at my grandmother.
“What?” she said innocently.