Chapter 42
ARIANNA
“Where the fuck have you been, Hitch?” Mekhi yells at me from the living room.
He is dressed in the brightest pink sweatsuit I’ve ever seen, he has yellow sunglasses on the top of his head, and he is holding a large green ‘tini.
With one hand on his hip, he taps his toe in anger as his eyes keep shifting from Gaelan to me.
I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing when he obviously checks out Gaelan.
I open my mouth to speak, but he holds a finger up.
“Oh, I’m not finished yet, sexy lady.” He shakes his head slowly, then takes a long, slow sip of his drink.
“Over three weeks you’ve been gone for, then you come back covered in tattoos and what?
Expect me to not yell at you?” He pouts, moving his head from side to side with sass, and then looks at Gaelan.
“You’re not in trouble, hot stuff, you’re too pretty for that!
” he blows Gaelan a kiss. I gasp, my eyes shoot to Gaelan as he laughs.
I narrow my eyes. Ignoring Mekhi, I had thought we had been gone for days, not weeks!
“What does he mean by over three weeks? It’s been a few days!” Outrage is clear in my voice.
Gaelan takes my hand and kisses the back. “Time moves differently where we were; up here, you were gone for just over three weeks.” He tries to soothe my anger.
“And you’re only telling me this now?” My voice rises in anger.
He steps back, looking sorry. Mekhi shakes his head. “Well, I’m not going to forgive you that easily.” he turns and presses play on the TV again, and Dog the Bounty Hunter starts to play. I huff a breath. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think to. We had so much going on, my Rose. It was the last thing on my mind.”
“Um, I bet it was.” I hear Mekhi. I whirl around to face him and glare. He grins, slowly sips his drink, and winks at Gaelan.
Appalled, my head snaps to look at Gaelan, who is grinning at Mekhi.
Frustration bubbles in my chest as I look between the two of them.
I narrow my eyes. “Stop flirting with my mate!” The words burst from my lips in anger.
My power pulses along my skin like fire, burning all the way to the possessive part of my heart.
Mekhi gasps and steps back. “What the fuck is up with your eyes?”
Gaelan places a hand on my shoulder and whispers, “Easy, my Rose, no one is taking me from you, I am yours as you are mine.” His chest heaves, his eyes glowing bright. His pupils are blown wide with lust. My whole body shivers, and a tightness builds in my core, making me clench my thighs together.
I can feel how much this is turning Gaelan on; it’s like an echo of my own wants and needs. Our desires coat my skin, making me almost forget why we’re here.
I can feel all of him.
Inhaling a few times, I try to calm my anger; my whole body is alive with awareness. Being mates feels much stronger than I imagined.
My eyes flutter closed. I slow my breathing down. Mekhi would never take Gaelan from me. He is my ride or die, always.
I pull my powers in check, extinguishing the burn in my soul. Slowly, I look at Mekhi, his face still a picture of shock and horror. “I’m sorry, Mekhi, this is so new to me,” I say regretfully. “I have so much to tell you. Will you let me explain?”
Mekhi squints. “Fine, but only if you make me brownies.
I laugh; Gaelan shakes his head in amusement and winks at me before lowering to kiss me. “I am going to my place to sort out some things. I will be back later.” He kisses me again, then looks over at Mekhi. “Don’t be too hard on her; it was my fault.”
Mekhi sips his drink again, his voice now playful and teasing, “I will try not to be, can’t promise though.”
“Be naked and in your room when I get back.” Stunned hearing Gaelan in my head, my eyes flicker to him. He gives me a devilish grin as he shimmers out.
What fuck was that? Can he mind-read like Drake? Oh god, I hope not.
Turning back to Mekhi, he stares at me for a few more seconds before rushing me with a hug.
I sigh happily and hug him back just as tight.
“Hitch, I have missed you. It’s not the same without you here,” he says, his voice filled with so much emotion I almost burst into tears.
I hate that I was gone for that long. I think since we met, we have only spent a couple of weeks apart; even then, we spoke every day.
“I’m sorry, my phone didn’t work at Gaelan’s. I tried to call a couple of times.” I lean back and look toward the kitchen. “Where is Lucy?”
Mekhi exhales hard. “Angel face is on another date, with some guy. No idea who he is.” Mekhi shrugs before he takes my hand and leans me back into the kitchen.
“Does he stay over?” I ask, 'I’ve missed so much being away for a few weeks. Is Lucy dating again?' I wonder if she got back with Justin.
“Nope, she always comes home and rushes into her room, as normal.” He answers, handing me my apron. “Enough about Lucy, what is up with you, Hitch? You look different.”
I laugh and then pull up the sleeves of the hoodie I’m wearing to show Mekhi the scroll writing on my arm. “You know the book we were looking for? I found it!”
Over the next couple of hours, I make brownies and tell Mekhi about the book, my new markings, and what Gaelan means to me. Mekhi listened to most of it, his mouth agape in shock.
When we first started talking, I had no idea how he would take all of this. I think he'll be okay. He will just need time.
“Can you get us the winning lotto ticket?” Mekhi questions excitedly, he had been asking me what my new powers can do.
“They don’t work like that, Mekhi. I’m meant to be some huge protector of the world. That’s what I’ve been told anyway. I don’t think cheating is part of that.”
He turns to me with a grin. “It could be.”
I’ve missed him.
“But in all seriousness, Hitch. Are you okay? Not in any trouble?” he reaches for my hand, concerned etched on his face.
I shake my head. “No trouble, just need to learn about this book and spells more. Gaelan is going to help me. I hope you don’t mind,” I wince at my following words, “but he is going to be moving in.”
Mekhi looks gobsmacked for a second, then a slow, devilish smile creeps over his face. “Mr. Baby Blues—Mr. Hot Stuff—is going to be living with us?”
I nod. I figured he might not mind, after what we went through with Lucy, but I had to make sure.
Mekhi sucks in a breath, “Not even a little bit mad, but FYI. If I see him naked, I’m looking.” he makes a chef kiss action before lifting his drink and downing it.
A pinch of possessiveness runs over my body, making my hands fist at my sides. Emotion at such an intense level is something I will have to watch. I love my bestie, so I know I would never harm him, but anyone else? Right now, I would rip their hearts out.
I look away to calm myself for a moment, taking some slow and steady breaths. Gaelan would never go there with Mekhi, plus Mekhi is only joking around. But it still makes me a little mad, so slowly I reach for the jug of ‘tini and pour myself another.
“You’re back?” I look up when I hear Lucy’s slightly raised voice; she is standing in the doorway, looking shocked with tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Luce?” My voice is laced with excitement as I'm overjoyed to see my other best friend. I missed her so much. She rushes over and crushes me to the couch with a hug, crying softly.
“Where have you been? Mekhi and I have been so worried.” Her voice is muffled in my hoodie. She moves to sit on the couch next to me, her blue eyes burning into mine. I smile softly at her.
“Gaelan took me to his place and well… time moves differently in the underworld,” I answer.
She takes my hand and then Mekhi’s, squeezing us both. “Is Gaelan here?”
“No, but he will be back later. I can’t wait for you to meet him.”
She nods her head slowly. Lucy is going to be nervous, but I know she will get on well with him after they meet.
Lucy logs the markings that cover my face and neck, her eyes then narrow slightly. “Ari? Did you get tattoos?”
“These are my book markings,” I say softly.
“You found the book?” she bursts out, her eyes darting from me to the doorway in excitement. “We can tell that daemon guy—”
I shake my head. “He can’t have it, Lucy—we can’t tell him.” The words punch out of my mouth, a different kind of possession hits me, one that makes the markings burn hot over my skin. They flash gold, lighting the room a little.
“Why not?” she snaps.
“It’s mine, Lucy, mine alone. He won’t be able to use it without me.
” I snap back, and an unsettling feeling falls in the pit of my stomach like a rock.
I look at her before I stand up. “I need another drink.” I walk into the kitchen, not looking back at either of them.
If Lucy wants to talk more, we can do it in here; this conversation is better away from Mekhi.
The yellow-eyed demon scared him enough at Aunt May’s.
“Get me another drink, Hitch. This conversation is enough to turn me into a drunk,” he shouts from the living room. He laughs, but I can hear the nerves in his voice. I know deep down, no matter how much he pretends he is okay, he’s not. He hates all of this.
Lucy gets up and follows me into the kitchen.
“Ari, we have to give him the book. He asked for it,” she begs me.
“Lucy. I’m not giving that daemon the book; you don’t understand the power it has.
No one can have it.” My voice echoes loudly around the kitchen; I shudder as the need to protect my book, to run to it and hide it, hits me like a lead balloon.
The possessive need to keep the book to myself hits me harder than it did the day I got it.
The powers from the book are still a mystery to me, but I do know that if they fall into the wrong hands, they will come for me.
They will try to make me use it; I refuse to let any more people get hurt.
“Why? It’s not like you need it!” she snaps at me for the second time tonight, the tone of her voice is something I’ve never heard come out of her mouth,
I take a deep breath to try to calm myself, but it still comes out harshly. “How do you know what I need?”
Lucy looks startled at my outburst; she gasps in surprise. “Your eyes glow?” Her words come out shocked.
“Yeah, when I’m pissed off!” Annoyance thick in my voice, I snatch the cocktail mixer and pour myself another drink. The alcohol seems to be taking longer to kick in right now. I wish I were shit-faced drunk.
We fall into an uncomfortable silence. Lucy marches over to the counter to get herself a drink, avoiding eye contact with me. We have never fallen out like this. What has gotten into her?
Lucy sips her drink, her eyes shifting to the stairs and back to me a few times as if she is waiting for someone to walk down them.
Pulling in a hard breath, I exhale. Lucy and I have been as close to each other as Mekhi and I have been.
“I’m sorry I’ve not been around. When Gaelan and I move back in—”
“He is moving in?” she asks, a little taken aback.
“Yes, if you are okay with him too?”
Lucy shrugs. “I’ve not met him yet, but I’m happy for you.”
She doesn’t sound happy, but I keep that to myself and hand her a brownie. “He is coming here later tonight so I can introduce you both. Maybe we could get breakfast in the morning?”
She takes the brownie, takes a bite, and speaks around chewing. “Yes… Breakfast would be nice. I’m going back out tonight.”
“You are?” I ask her now, wondering if she is upset with me for not letting her meet Gaelan before he moves in. “Luce?” I continue, “I’m sorry, Gaelan and I are mated. It all happened so fast, but it’s perfect, he is perfect.”
She smiles at me. “I’m sorry for being a downer, I just don’t want anything to happen to you, I love you too much.”
“You’re still my best friend, Lucy; you always will be, no matter what, okay?
” I say, looking into her eyes. She still looks so sad.
I wish I could make the light she has always had in her eyes shine bright again.
“I know, and you will always be mine; no man can get in the way of that, no matter how hot they are.”
“Are you really going out?” I ask her to wish she would stay in and chill with Mekhi and me.
“I just came home to get a few things, but I will be back for breakfast,” she says, kissing my cheek.
“Bitchies! Time for cocktail hours!” Mekhi screams excitedly from the doorway.
Lucy offers me her best, ‘I’m faking this until I make it smile,’ she says, walking over to Mekhi. ‘I’m not staying, but save me a cocktail.’ She kisses Mekhi on the cheek, then runs up the stairs.
“Where is she in a hurry to?” Mekhi asks me, swaying as he walks over to me.
I shrug. “I’ve no idea, I think I pissed her off.”
Mekhi stands next to me and bumps his shoulder into mine.
“She has been mad about something for days now. I thought it was cause your ass wasn’t here and we had to work extra.
Now I have no clue.” He picks up my glass, then clinks his glass with mine.
“But I say it's drinking time until your fine man comes home.”