Chapter Fifteen
After we’d returned to the lodge, I headed to the suitcase to find something comfortable to wear. My body had flushed with embarrassment when I found the selection of garments Ryls had packed for me to sleep in. Things I didn’t remember buying and wondered why she thought I’d be needing them.
I’d finally selected one that seemed to have the most fabric and headed into the bathroom to try it on. To my surprise, when I’d slipped it over my head, I discovered the fabric was sheer and gauzy.
My skin had turned a brighter shade of red than Ryls’ hair, as I stared at my reflection. Every inch of my skin was visible beneath the fabric. It covered my butt—barely. If I bent forward even the slightest bit, my entire backside would be exposed.
Somehow the garment screamed “screw me” louder than if I were wearing nothing.
I couldn’t wear this.
Reaching for the hem, I prepared to pull it over my head. I hesitated at the soft knock on the door.
“Yes?” I asked.
“I know you plan to take it off, so I just wanted to see you in it first.” The door wasn’t locked, so he could have just come in, but he’d asked, sensing I was uncomfortable.
It was that display of respect for my feelings that had me releasing the hem. So what if I looked like I was begging my mate to take me to bed? There was no shame in him knowing that, or in purposefully trying to arouse him.
Taking a deep breath, I’d opened the door and watched in delight as Jazriel did a double take.
“Hades,” he hissed, devouring my body with his eyes.
Emboldened by his reaction, I pushed him backward onto the bed and crawled over him. His pupils dilated, and his breathing was rough.
My hand slid along his length, and my excitement grew when his entire body shivered. It had been a while since I felt powerful and in control, and I’d forgotten how much I liked it.
It was time to do something else I wanted, and explore every part of his body… with my mouth.
“So why didn’tyou tell me you could read minds?” Jazriel asked.
We were lying on the bed with my head resting on his chest and my leg tossed over his.
I laughed. “Because you were having too much fun being nosey, and then I found it hilarious when I realized I could send you mental images and you had to pretend not to be affected.”
“That’s mean.” Jazriel tickled my ribs. “Have you been able to read my thoughts from the beginning?”
“No. In Cucalas, I can hear the thoughts of many people, but many of my powers seem to be out of my reach here on Earth,” I admitted. “It was after we completed the bond that I could hear you if I focused. I can also block thoughts, but I find that harder to do with you. Maybe it’s the mate bond?”
“What other abilities do you have?” Jazriel asked, brushing his fingers up and down my bare arm.
“I’m going to keep that as a surprise. We don’t want you to get bored with me,” I teased. “Besides, now that you’ve boosted my energy levels, I have to test my abilities. I’m not even sure what I am capable of now.”
We fell into companionable silence, until Jazriel asked, “When this is all over, where do you hope to be?”
“I honestly don’t know. All that matters is that balance is restored, and I’m with you.”
Jazriel kissed my lips. “I’ll take that.”
I plucked up the courage to tell him what had been weighing on my heart all afternoon. “Jazriel? I think the animal attacks aren’t random.”
His hand stilled. “What do you mean?”
“It’s possible that Azurea is manipulating them.” I rubbed my eyes. “If she can kill me before I stabilize the veil or before I trap her, she would be free to do as she pleases without worrying about me.”
“Do you think she has enough power to do that?” His voice had lost its playfulness.
“Maybe. I’m the only one who was strong enough to beat her.”
“Even if she is behind the attacks, what would she hope to achieve? You will just regenerate,” Jazriel pointed out.
“But if she takes me out enough times in a row, I could be weakened to the point my magic is too weak to allow me to regenerate. Or she might be planning to try and possess my body.”
“Who wants to possess your body?” August’s deep voice asked.
I sat up, pressing my hand to my chest, and stared at the man leaning in the open balcony doorway. “August!”
How long had he been there? How much had he heard?
“I was just saying I thought the moose wanted to take me out.” Even to my ears, it sounded ridiculous.
“Or animals just don’t like you?” August suggested, raising an eyebrow.
“It’s a shame we can’t ask the moose.” Jazriel twirled a lock of my blue hair around his finger. “Did he give you his name, by chance?”
“Of course not!” I wrinkled my nose at his silliness.
Jazriel nodded sadly. “It makes sense that he’d want to remain anonymoose.”
I groaned and August moved to sit in the chair as though too exhausted by Jazriel’s nonsense to keep standing.
“Animals don’t put out hits on humans or paranormals.” August leaned back in his seat, spreading his legs and folding his arms behind his head.
My temperature spiked, and my mouth dried.
Are you imagining yourself in his lap, riding his cock like you did mine last night?
I hadn’t been, but now that Jazriel put the thought in my head, I was finding it hard to think of anything else.
That man has it bad for you, little flame. Imagine how’d he react to you dropping to your knees between his legs?—
“Animals can be controlled with magic, though.” I tried to refocus on my conversation.
“So you think he was moose-guided by dark magic?” Jazriel’s dead-pan delivery almost made me laugh at the lame pun.
“What? You didn’t find that amoosing?”
“Enough!” Grabbing a throw pillow from the bed, I straddled his chest and pressed it against his face, pretending to smother him.
Under the pillow, Jazriel promised to behave, so I lifted it, eyeing him with suspicion.
“Maybe you didn’t think it was funny because you moosed the punchline?”
“What is wrong with you?” I smothered him with the pillow again.
Jazriel’s muffled cackling got to me, and I started to laugh too.
When I pulled the pillow away, the emotions in his eyes hit me like a punch to the gut. He was doing his best to be there for me. Using the idiotic humor to distract August from asking questions I didn’t want to answer, to distract me from my anxieties over Azurea, and to ease my hurt over August’s continued denial of our bond.
He was trying to be my everything.
I leaned forward until our noses nearly touched, and rested my palms on either side of his face. His chuckles died away as he searched my face for the cause of my tears.
Then I whispered three little words into his mind. I love you.
Jazriel’s reaction caught me off guard. He placed a soft kiss on my lips, then rolled to his side and tucked me against his chest.
“If you two are going to nap, I’m going to go find food for Iolani.” August stood and walked toward the adjoining door.
“Thank you, August,” I called.
The hard man simply nodded and closed the door behind him.
“Are you okay? I didn’t mean to upset you.” I brushed my fingers through Jazriel’s hair.
“I’m beyond perfect, beautiful mate. I just need time to process this, and I want to do it while holding you.” Jazriel’s voice was deeper than I’d ever heard.
Content in his arms, and a little sleepy from yet another regeneration in a matter of days, it wasn’t long before I fell asleep.
The afternoon was spent lounging.I felt lazy, but Jazriel reminded me the success of our plan depended on me being at my peak. Secretly, I think the men were just trying to keep me in the room so I wouldn’t get attacked by birds or mauled by wolves.
August disappeared and reappeared throughout the afternoon, bringing various trays of snacks and dishes. I didn’t miss the way he watched which items I reached for first, and which I avoided. He was trying to learn my likes and dislikes, which made no sense if he was leaving me.
More than once, I’d caught his gaze drifting over my body when he thought I wasn’t looking, and I hoped he would act on the undisguised desire that burned in his eyes. The closest I’d come was when he’d joined Jazriel and me on the bed for a nap. I’d been hoping for a repeat of our first night together, but Jazriel seemed to be waiting for August to make the first move, and in the end, I’d fallen asleep.
I finally managed to call Ryls. After assuring her I was safe and everything was going fine, she immediately focused on another topic.
“Sooo… did you and August do it?” She giggled like we were teenagers at risk of being caught by our mothers.
Which was ridiculous. I didn’t even have a mother.
“No. Wait! What do you know about August?” I demanded, glancing over my shoulder and half expecting to see him standing on the balcony and eavesdropping again.
“I know the world’s grumpiest catbird is following you around like you’re the cat’s meow.” Her playful banter sent a pang through me and I realized I missed her.
“Between us, August doesn’t want to be mates.”
Loud boos and foot stomping came through the phone.
“Um, yeah. The guys are here. But don’t worry, they won’t tell anyone.” She must have covered the phone’s speaker, because the next thing she said was muffled. “Because if you do, I swear y’all will be jerkin’ your own gherkins for a month!”
“What does jerking your gherkin mean?” I asked, then twisted around to check on Jazriel, who made a sound like he’d inhaled a sneeze.
“You know! Hand to gland combat? Bopping the boloney? Holding the sausage hostage? Lubing the tube? Playing one-handed baseball? Playing tug of war with the cyclops? Pole dancing? Roughing up the suspect? Shake and steak? Wax on, whack off? Blow your own horn?”
Roars of laughter drowned out the rest of what she was saying, and I turned to Jazriel, hoping he’d been listening to my thoughts and could tell me what she was talking about.
“You don’t know?” he wheezed, his face turning a mottled shade of red.
“If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking you,” I hissed.
Jazriel burst into laughter.
“Who’s with you?” Ryls asked, her side of the call going instantly quiet.
I smiled as I watched Jazriel wipe tears from his eyes and shake his head over the joke I hadn’t understood.
“My mate,” I answered softly.
“YOUR MATE? You have a mate?!” Ryls squealed, nearly breaking my eardrum. “Like did the deed and completed the claim kind of mate?”
“Yes.” I felt like I was glowing from the happiness bubbling in my chest.
“And? Who is he? What is he? What’s his name? Where’d you meet? How do you feel?” Ryls asked eagerly.
“He’s a pegasus who was being held by a group of men who were ex-employees at one of the labs. They took off with him when the lab was destroyed so they could take the research in other directions.”
“Hey, give that back!” Ryls yelped.
“In a minute.” Xerxes must have taken the phone from her, because his voice came loud and clear through the phone. “Iolani, are you absolutely sure he’s a pegasus?”
I snorted. “Well, since I’ve spent hours riding him, yes, I’m sure.”
“That’s my girl!” Ryls shouted in the background. “Save a human, ride a pegasus!”
I blushed, belatedly realizing I’d made a poor word choice.
Your word choice was perfect, Jazrielassured me.
“So you’ve seen his pegasus form?” Xerxes pressed.
I scowled at the phone. “Yes, I have, and I’m wearing his hoofprint mark.”
There was silence on the phone, and for a moment, I thought I’d been disconnected.
“Iolani, what is his name?” Xerxes voice was low, urgent.
Jazriel materialized at my side and gently took the phone from my hand and clicked the speaker button. “Hello, Xerxes Drakon. You know who I am.”
“Jazriel Jouvellac,” Xerxes whispered.
“Yes. Iolani has told me of the kindness you’ve shown her on behalf of your mate. You have nothing to fear from me as long as my mate considers you a friend.” Jazriel spoke in a laid-back drawl, but there was an undercurrent of a threat beneath it.
I knew August had shown fear of Jazriel and distrust of pegasus in general, but I definitely felt like I was missing something.
“That is appreciated.” For the first time since I’d known him, Xerxes sounded unsure. “What is Iolani to you?”
“She’s the beat of my heart.” Jazriel’s hand cupped my face. “And the best thing in my life.”
“You love her?” Xerxes’s disbelief was palpable even over the phone.
“Yes.” Jazriel answered without hesitation. Then his trademark grin lit his face. “She proposed to me, so we’re getting married.”
A strangled sound came from the other side of the phone, and Jazriel smirked. I tried to read his thoughts, but they were shielded.
“You know what she has to do, right? And who she is?” Xerxes prodded.
“Yes, and I will lend my power however I can.” Jazriel’s fingers brushed through my hair.
For a species that didn’t like to be petted, it sure seemed like his love language was physical touch.
Xerxes sighed. “Is there anything I should know?”
“I’m back and I just want to be left alone. But you can spread this warning: if anyone harms my Iolani, everyone on Earth will feel my wrath. And believe me, I’ve spent the last few decades coming up with really unique ways of making that happen. I’m willing to let the past remain in the past, but all bets are off the moment anyone lays a finger on my mate.”
“Understood. I will make sure everyone knows.” Xerxes handed the phone back to Ryls.
“What have you gotten yourself into, Lani?” she whispered as though our paranormal mates listening in on our conversation wouldn’t be able to hear her.
My answer was easy. “Happiness.”
We talked for several more minutes about the names in the notebook and August’s stubbornness. I thanked her for sending Thom with the suitcase.
“No problem. If you need anything else, let us know. And the moment you’re ready for my help, I’ll be there,” she promised.
“Ryls, take care of yourself, and the baby birdcat you’re growing. If your mates don’t spoil you, tell me, and I’ll kick their butts for you,” I teased.
“And I’ll come along,” Jazriel offered, his eyes glinting with dark mischief.
“Will do, Lani.” Ryls laughed. “And thanks, Jazriel. Judging by my mates’ pale faces, they are going to let me do whatever I want just to keep you away. No offense.”
Jazriel leaned toward the phone. “I consider it a compliment, and I look forward to meeting the phoenix who brought my mate to this world. I am in your debt.”
We finished our goodbyes, and I powered off the phone.
I moved to straddle his lap. Picking up his hand, I pressed my cheek against his palm. “Are you going to explain what that was about?”
“One day. I’m not adding to your stress.” Jazriel gave me a tender smile. “Just know that I will never hurt you.”
“I know you won’t.” Dropping his hand, I kissed his cheek, then his nose, before brushing my lips against his mouth. “And Xerxes?”
“Xerxes is a good man. Our history was something he inherited, not something he caused. You can stop worrying about Ryls.”
“Why is he scared of you?” I asked, then moaned when his hands slid under the nightie to touch my bare skin.
“Because I’m dangerous.” He carried me to the bed, lowering me to my back on the mattress, and moved his body over mine. “Just by being alive and free, I’m a threat.”
“I’m selfish.” He pressed his lips to the hollow at the base of my throat.
“I’m jealous.” His lips moved to place a kiss between my breasts.
“I always keep my promises… and threats.” He sucked my nipple through the sheer fabric.
My eyes were crossing, and I writhed beneath him.
“And there is only one being on this earth that could challenge me and win.”
“Oh? Who?” I panted, torn between wanting to know more, but also wanting him to shut up and keep his magical mouth on my skin.
“You.” His fingers slipped between my thighs without warning, and I jerked off the bed. “Anything you ask of me, I will do. I’ll give you the stars if you ask it. Just keep me.”
“Jazriel Jouvellac, you belong to me.” Sinking my fingers into his hair, I made him look me in the eye. “And I never give up what is mine.”