Chapter 30
Lucie could feel the leftover tightness from her injury.
Even though her leg was healed, the muscles still needed to be stretched out.
Not that she could beat Jasper running anyway …
at least not in this form. She never made a sound, but her eyebrows might have furrowed a bit from the pain.
She wasn’t sure, but Jasper stopped abruptly and turned to face her with a frown.
“How bad is it, Lucie?” Jasper asked quietly.
“Not bad enough that I’d use it as an excuse for losing.”
He stepped closer, rested his forehead on hers, and sighed.
“Lucie, will you promise me something?” Jasper whispered, staring into her eyes, their foreheads still touching.
She looked into his serious, deep brown eyes as the wind played with his blonde hair, confused. “What is it?”
“No more secrets between us. I promise to always tell you everything from now on if you promise to tell me everything. I don’t want you thinking I’m not your best friend because Derrick is my cousin. You’re just as important to me.” He winked as his lips curled upward.
“You’ll tell me anything?”
“Yes. And if there is something I can’t say, I’ll tell you it’s something I’m not permitted to talk about. That way I’m never lying to you.”
“Likewise. That sounds reasonable. Okay … I promise.” Lucie smiled.
“I promise, too.” Jasper lifted his head and looked down at her. “Now that we got that out of the way … how does your leg really feel? The effects of the injection might still be affecting you.”
“Tricked.” Lucie laughed. She should have known better.
But still, it was a relief to know he would tell her the truth, and she trusted him to do so.
“It feels tight. Maybe a bit sore. It just needs to be worked out is all. The wound is healed but the muscles are stiff.” She could see the relief in his eyes, and a faint smile reached his lips.
“Okay, good.” Jasper draped his arm around her shoulder. “Let’s go raid the fridge.”
Lucie walked beside Jasper back to the house. They rummaged through the cabinets and fridge, making a little smorgasbord of food. Afterward, they headed to the couches and sat on the floor, cross-legged, in front of each other.
“Justice will fit in well with us. The four of us are going to always be best friends, and soon, you will officially be my family too,” Jasper said as he popped a grape into his mouth.
“It probably won’t always be the four of us, though.”
“You planning on getting pregnant right away?”
Lucie started coughing and quickly grabbed her cup, downing the water. She looked up to see Jasper smirking. “I was talking about you and Justice finding your mates.”
“Maybe Justice. The thing is that vampires don’t usually find their fated mates this early in their lives.
Look how long my dad had to wait. What happened in your case is rare, almost unheard of.
It’ll be a while for me, but I don’t mind.
I don’t need to settle down anytime soon …
or want to for that matter. I don’t live my life the same way as your mate has.
I enjoy the experiences. Most vampires do.
What if it takes you centuries to find your mate?
I can’t live like a monk until then. It’s like our unspoken thing.
Some of us even date and take on a companion, but it is common knowledge that we’re just passing the time until our mate shows up.
So yeah … it will be just the four of us for a while, or until Justice finds his mate. Or until you pop some puppies out.”
He looked up at the ceiling. “What do you think they’re talking about?”
“Knowing Aedan, he’s probably just giving him tips on how to ‘handle’ me. As if I am supposed to come with a manual.” Lucie rolled her eyes.
Jasper chuckled. “They’ll get along well. Aedan loves you and just wants you taken care of. He wants your happiness more than he wants his own. He’s a really good guy. He’ll make a great king.”
“I think so too. I hope he finds someone amazing to be by his side. I won’t accept anyone who isn’t. I’m stricter than he is. His mate will be amazing or I’ll beat the amazing into her.”
“You must be really relieved. I can’t imagine how you felt when you first met your mate and it wasn’t actually Derrick.”
She rolled her eyes. “I was so conflicted. I hated it. I hated that I would have to reject Ryan. I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t let our two species down.
” A faint smile reached her lips. “I was a mixture of so many feelings after our … talk,” she said, still maintaining a sense of vagueness in the details just as a precaution.
“But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t relieved.
It was like a huge weight was lifted off of me.
And for once, I was able to see happiness in my future. ”
“You always bury your feelings, Lucie. I don’t like it. Don’t put yourself second, even to your people. You deserve to seize your own happiness.” Jasper’s brown eyes fixed on Lucie’s. It worked out for her this time, but from now on, he wanted her to think about herself, too.
“Hmmm … I think the same should go for you,” Lucie said, raising a challenging eyebrow at him. “How often did you want to do or say something but didn’t because you were thinking about your sense of duty and not yourself?”
“Touché, Lucie. Touché. We will work on it together then.”
“Good. Now, ready for the challenge?” Lucie said as she grabbed the bowl of grapes. “First one to miss has to drink one of Aedan’s power juices.”
“Eww, sick. That stuff smells like the bottom of a troll’s foot,” Jasper said, scrunching his face up.
Lucie giggled. “I know. But he thinks it’s going to help make him stronger.” She rolled her eyes. “Well?”
“Hope you enjoy troll feet.” Jasper chuckled and grabbed a couple of grapes. “No unreasonable tosses either. You have to serve them up.”
“Alright, deal.”
“I’m glad we’re on the same page. I just needed to know that she is more important to you than your own life. Because if she isn’t, you don’t deserve her.” Aedan stood up from the chair he was sitting in.
“There is no life without her. I’d rather be dead if she didn’t exist.” Derrick’s amber eyes were fixed on Aedan’s. He was serious. Lucie came before everything.
“Lucie can be feisty, but she’s also really forgiving. Apologize quickly and often to save you from staying in trouble.” Aedan laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s what I do.”
“Thank you for the tip. I have a feeling I may need it.” Derrick laughed. “Of course, if we really are soulmates, then once the marking happens, that should save my butt.”
“I need a soulmate then. I think my mate will want to pull her hair out with me.” Aedan grinned widely. “Of course, after misunderstandings, there’s always makeup sex, but that’s my sister, and that topic is off-limits.”
Derrick chuckled. “I’m hoping the soulmate link will help us avoid misunderstandings in the future.”
“You sure you don’t want to just get the marking done now?”
“Not like this. Not after just recovering from the vervain injection. But I’m hoping to soon.
Either I’ll get the witch stuff sorted out now or I’ll arrange to leave for a couple of days.
I’m not sure how my venom will affect Lucie.
I want to be able to stay with her afterward.
You both have pureblood in your system but also aren’t exactly the same as me.
It’s weird, to be honest. You two are an anomaly.
Very interesting ones. It’s never happened before, from what my father has said. ”
“There is a lot that hasn’t happened before with my family. We just tend to roll with the crazy.” Aedan chuckled with a shrug. “I’ll have to see what Lucie wants, but I think we’ll head to the West Dragon Kingdom after the welcoming ceremony.”
“I’ll plan to come here and have your father open up a portal to visit. Hopefully we won’t have to be apart for long.”
“Derrick … I know you may be a bit anxious being away from Lucie after what happened. But I assure you that won’t happen again.
Between me, Jasper, and Justice, Lucie will be on lockdown.
She doesn’t know it, but I’ve already made some …
arrangements.” A wicked smile spread across his lips.
“Actually, she’s going to be really angry, but it’s her fault. ”
“Don’t tell me. I don’t want her thinking I had anything to do with whatever you have planned.” Derrick laughed and shook his head.
“Yeah, you don’t want this heat.” Aedan chuckled. “Come on, let’s get you back to Lucie.” He walked over to the office door and opened it. The moment the soundproof door opened, the sounds of laughter and shouting echoed into the room.
“CHEATER!” Lucie squealed.
“Sore loser!” Jasper smirked and rolled his shoulders arrogantly.
“You are such a cheater. No. Nuh-uh. That doesn’t count. That was gross.” Lucie squinted her eyes at Jasper and pouted. “You know, some people would consider that an indirect kiss.”
“You’ve drunk out of my water bottle before, so same thing,” Jasper said arrogantly.
“That is not the same thing and you know it! That is disgusting and not fair.” Lucie stood up and started chucking grapes at him.
“Hey! You’re going to have a mess to clean up.” Jasper chuckled as he dodged her assaults.
“Mind telling me what’s going on here?” Derrick asked as Aedan came down beside him.
“Didn’t you hear? He tried to give your mate an indirect kiss.” Aedan grinned wickedly toward Jasper, mischief flashing in his eyes.
Derrick’s eyes darkened, and he began walking slowly toward Jasper.
“Ryan, wait … I can see that look in your eyes.” Jasper chuckled nervously and took a retreating step backward.
“We had a game going where you had to catch the grape in your mouth that the other person threw. The loser had to drink one of Aedan’s stinky troll drinks.” Lucie placed her hand on Derrick’s arm, stopping him in his tracks.
“HEY!” Aedan objected.
“Sorry, Aedan … anyway, Jasper put one of the grapes in his mouth first before he tossed it to me. Obviously I wasn’t catching that in my mouth, and now he’s proclaiming himself the winner!” Lucie said in disgust.
Derrick pulled Lucie into his chest and glared at Jasper. “You wanted my mate to have YOUR spit in her mouth?”
“I knew she wouldn’t catch it. It was certain victory. And the only rule was to serve it up.” Jasper shrugged smugly.
“Yep, sorry Lucie, you lost,” Aedan said, clicking his tongue.
“Ugh, I’m getting ganged up on. I can see this is going to be a swell time being surrounded by a bunch of man-boys.”
“I’ll get your juice for you, Lucie.” Jasper trotted over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of green liquid.
“You know, Lucie, I can make him drink it instead,” Derrick said with a cruel grin.
“She knew the stakes.” Jasper said, holding the bottle out to Lucie.
Derrick snatched it from his hands and held it up to observe the liquid. Opening the lid, he immediately winced at the smell. He turned and looked at Aedan. “You drink this on purpose?”
“It’s my muscle-building juice. It’s not that bad.” Aedan shrugged, not knowing what the big deal was.
Derrick looked down at Lucie and winked at her. “My mate isn’t to drink this stuff, ever. And if I find out she has, it will be your neck, Jasper. But since a bet was made, I’ll drink it for her.”
“No no no, you don’t have to do that.” Lucie turned to stop him, but he’d already downed it.
“Yuck. What are you doing to yourself? This stuff is putrid.” Derrick coughed and held the bottle out. He tossed it to Jasper. “It’s your fault that something that vile is now poisoning my insides.”
Jasper grinned widely and tilted his head. “The crazy things you do for love.”
“I can’t believe you drank that.” Lucie bit her bottom lip and looked up at him like he was about to die.
“Like Jasper said … the things you do for love.” He smiled at her warmly and leaned forward to kiss her forehead. “There will be no ganging up on you, at least not as far as Jasper is concerned.” He flashed a quick glance at Jasper. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Lucie giggled. “It’s okay. They can try to gang up on me. But they will lose. They all know it.” She grinned widely. “I don’t always play fair.”
Derrick smiled at his little mate in adoration.
He’d had a lot of trials already in his life.
But leaving her today would easily be the toughest one yet.
The time away from her was going to be pure torture.
It already hurt just thinking about it. He would make the most of the time he had left with her today.