“How did you know?” I inquire of him. He was just freaking out about me being upset over him having a mark, then all of a sudden he’s confident I had a hidden mark matching his.
His radiant smile makes my heart skip a beat as he brushes some of my hair behind my ear. “I have to admit, I was panicking there for a minute, but when you started kissing me, a calmness settled upon my rampant thoughts. Once I was able to think clearly, I could tell the calmness was coming from you, and then I just knew. Like the Fates clicked everything into place. The way I feel about you, no other woman can make me feel this way. That meant you had to be my mate. It also helps that I noticed the bond connecting us.” He finishes off with a wink that sends my heart racing again.
“I guess you’re starting to learn all of my secrets,” I murmur. Our time’s running out, and yet I know there are so many important things left to talk about. Things I don’t want the others to know about yet.
I may have chosen to trust Derrick for now, but it doesn’t mean I’ll ever choose to give him my heart. Falling out of love with Marcellus is hard enough, but knowing I fell for his betrayal is even worse.
I. Will. Not. Fall. In. Love.
Marcus’ voice yells out again, “Fuck’s sake, let’s go!” Derrick and I share twin winces. I guess our time is up. We make quick work of getting dressed. Sadness washes over me that our happy little bubble of post-bonding is coming to such a quick pop.
Just before Derrick unzips the tent entrance, he turns to me and cups my face in his palm. “Hey, Precious, we have our whole lives to enjoy uninterrupted mornings together. There’s also plenty of time to keep talking through our travels today.” He places a quick kiss to my cheek and exits the tent. He immediately starts talking to Klaus, “Dude, what’s with the long sleeves? It’s hot as fuck out here.”
Klaus just replies with mumbled words, “Don’t worry about it, man.” Huh, I wonder what that’s all about. Derrick has a point, long sleeves are out of place here. Marcus distracts me from my thoughts as he lets his shoulder hit Derrick in a rough shove when he walks by him to get to me. When he reaches me, he grabs me by both shoulders roughly and moves me about, checking my body over.
The smell of peppermint wafts my senses, coming from Marcus. So weird, I could’ve sworn I remember him smelling like spearmint. I must just be mixing up my mints. “Fuck off, Marcellus!” I jerk myself from his hold and walk over to where Alex is pulling some food out of his bag. Marcus’ macho, top alpha attitude instantly grates on me.
Alex glances up from his task and lets out a laugh. “I haven’t heard you being called by your full name in forever.”
Marcus gives a puzzled frown before calling me out on knowing his full name. “Speaking of, which of you fuckers told her?” He gives a sharp glare at each one of his friends who all shake their heads.
“Are you really going to act like you don’t know how I know your name? You’re a real piece of work, Marcellus.” He stumbles back like my words were a strike to his face. Alex bursts out laughing. “Laugh it up, Alexander. Don’t think you escaped my notice for kissing a woman without her permission! Not to mention taking pictures of me when I was unconscious. Not cool. You know what, while I’m at it, you haven’t escaped my ire either, Nicholas! Trying to ditch me at a hospital because I’m nothing but trouble? You’re all on my shit list! Derrick is the only one who has been true to me. I think I need some space from the rest of you today.”
I glance at Derrick who has a mix of shock and a sly smirk graces his lips. Pretty sure it didn’t escape his notice that I’m trying to get us some privacy today. Alex is the first one who picks his jaw off the ground. “You just have stars in your eyes for Derrick because of the good dickin’ you got last night. Give me a few minutes of your time, and you’ll be singing my praises soon enough and forget about being mad at me.”
Ugh, how did I miss seeing this perverted side of him? Alex isdirty! Which is exactly the expression I give him, a dirty one, before giving a scoff and walking away from him. “Aw, don’t be like that, Sleeping Snow.” He tries to reach for my arm to stop my retreat, but I’m already turning around.
“No! Just... no.” I poke my finger into his chest before peering at the other guys around us so they know I’m talking to them all. “Just so you know, the princess names were either Snow White, or Sleeping Beauty. You all had them wrong. And for the record, both of those princesses were little twats who were so naïve it made my eyes roll back so far they got stuck for almost a decade. That’s a shitty nickname, and I won’t allow you to call me that anymore!”
I swear I didn’t wake up in such a feisty, irritated mood this morning. It’s probably the fact we got interrupted. “Ooo, someone put on her sassy pants this morning. It’s okay, that was just a placeholder nickname anyways, I know what your real nickname is now. Don’t worry, I got the message loud and clear.” He winks at me. I’m the one with sassy pants on?
“The suspense is killing me. What did you come up with?” I finally ask him.
The smirk plastered on his face shows he’s proud of himself for this one. “Obviously it’s Angel, because you aren’t so innocent.”Oh, gag me. At least it’s better than thatSleeping Snowbullshit. I give him an obvious eye roll and walk away into the woods, a chorus of laughter sounding from behind me.
Chapter 11
Derrick
Present
Irealized one thing from our conversation last night—she’s one of us, just based on the knowledge she has on our people. What I don’t know is how she’s been able to hide what she is. She just used the full first name for every one of my friends, and the question we are all left with is how does she know them? I’m the only one she didn’t call by my full name yet, and now the questions are all pilling up.
She was crafty in how she manipulated the guys into a corner, distancing them for much-needed space today. Our time this morning was cut short, and I know she can tell she won’t be able to get away with keeping me at a distance any longer. I won’t let her. She’s my mate. We sealed the bond last night. How the mark appeared after the deed, I’m not sure, but I’m willing to bet she knows the truth behind such a bizarre occurrence.
Our laughter dies off from her reaction to Alex calling her his not-so-innocent Angel, and each of us makes a move to follow her as she enters the tree line. She catches our movements and whirls around. “Stop right there. I need to use the bathroom in peace, and there’s no way I’m letting any of you see my lady bits, especially not Alex the perv.” She twirls back around and continues her escape.
Of course I don’t listen. I’ve seen her gorgeous “lady bits” and I’m not about to let her wander off on her own. Much to my amusement, Alex mumbles something at my back as I follow her path. When I catch up to her, I find her crouched down at the base of a tree. There, in front of her, is a knot filled with water. Damn, not this again.
“Precious, I thought we talked about this.” If I need to prod her for information, I will, but my hope is that she’ll give it to me without my insistence. I can’t wait for the time when she’ll trust me enough to open up without it being like pulling out teeth to get it.
She glances up with an expression clearly stating I’m an idiot. “I’m starting to get a clear impression that none of you know what this is,” she observes. My eyebrow raises in a clear display for her to continue. She isn’t wrong. Aside from the obvious, I don’t know what that is. Her soft voice continues on, “Our people have always had a close relationship with nature, and as a result, we have a connection with Fairies as well. The magic the Fates gave us can sometimes get low, and that’s where fairy water comes in. Drinking their water will restore our magic to a full level.
“Right now, my levels are dangerously low. Since I woke up, I’ve been pulling magic from you, Klaus, and Alex when we’ve been touching, as well as through nature naturally, but it hasn’t been enough. I’m exhausted, Derrick. I haven’t been myself. I need to top off my magic and figure out why it’s leaving me as quickly as I can gain more.” Now at the mention of it, I notice how tight her eyes are, and there’s a dullness to them where I would expect to see a sparkle.
“This right here is what we call a fairy pool. They’re located all throughout the world wherever trees are located, so there’s always a source close by if needed. I know you said the water appears dirty to you, but to me, it’s crystal clear with a blue sparkle to it. I think it’s somehow being shielded from you, but Derrick, I can’t keep going on being this drained.” Her eyes plead with me to understand, and to refrain from trying to stop her again.
Shit, trust is a two-way thing, and I need to show her some even though I think this is a really bad idea. “Okay, Precious. I trust you.” She gives me a weak smile in gratitude. Cupping her hand she scoops up some of the water and brings it up to her supple lips. I watch as they part, allowing the water to enter her mouth—the mouth I completely devoured last night; a mouth I can’t wait to press against mine again.
