“Lex, don’t. I have something for you.” Lucie motioned for Derrick to give Alexa the bag. She watched as Alexa opened it and looked back at her curiously. “That is Ken’s shirt. I thought that way you could have his scent close to you.”
“Thank you so much, Lucie.” Alexa’s eyes watered as she clutched the bag close to her chest.
“He saved me for you, Lex. He cares, just so you know. I think it’s killing him to stay away from you, but he wants to keep you safe. He couldn’t stand seeing you suffer.” Lucie watched the tears trickle down Alexa’s face.
“What am I going to do with him?” Alexa smiled, shaking her head slowly before moving aside so Freja could kneel in front of Lucie.
Hunter placed his hand on Lucie’s while Freja rested her head on Lucie’s lap. Losing Lucie and then seeing her in this condition took a toll on both of them. It convinced them even more that they were doing the right thing keeping their children out of this battle with the witch. It revealed how easily they could lose them and there would be nothing they could do. The other covens hadn’t been able to make an antidote for whatever potion Beryl has created despite having a sample of blood from a wolf that was killed by it recently. They still hadn’t been able to figure out how to stop its effects.
“I’m okay. It’s okay.” Lucie was the one comforting her parents instead of them comforting her. She knew they must also be feeling like failures. What happened to her was awful, but it could have easily been worse. Much worse. And she decided she wouldn’t let it break her. She was going to be stronger because of it.
A loud commotion broke the quiet moment between the parents and their daughter.
“Brody!” Chelsie yelled. “I can’t believe you. Those weren’t for you! I made you your own. Those were for Lucie.” She growled as she chased Brody around the kitchen area.
“Aww, Chels, I didn’t know. Don’t be mad.” Brody dodged behind Xander, then tried to hide behind Reiya.
“Uh oh. Po panda strikes again.” Xander chuckled and leaned back into his chair. This had been a regular occurrence since Reiya first came to his kingdom. It felt like only yesterday, and yet it had been over two decades now.
“Chasen ate some too!” Brody immediately deflected some of the blame to his twin brother.
“Sure, only because you offered them to me. How was I to know they were specially baked?” Chasen smirked and leaned his head down into Jin’s neck.
Chelsie jumped at Brody, but he effortlessly grabbed her hand and twirled her back into his chest. He leaned his head down and quietly whispered something inaudible to her, making her cheeks turn red.
“Save the foreplay for the bedroom.” Brian chuckled as Raine covered her face, mortified over her parents.
“Hey whelp, just wait until you find your mate.” Brody winked at the young dragon.
“Maybe I’ll meet the lucky lady at this mating party coming up, if I’m fortunate. And if not … I wouldn’t mind tasting the other fruit available.” Brian shrugged with a sly grin.
“Oh, dragon fruit. I like it. Maybe I’ll join in on this party.” Mikah chuckled. “Just because I’m not taking a mate doesn’t mean I can’t sample the fruit.”
“Lucie got to sample your fruit. How was it, Luce?” Justice asked with a smirk.
“It was awful.” Lucie smiled, trying not to laugh.
“Hey! That wasn’t a kiss, and I said no judgment.” Mikah pouted.
“The only reason you’re still alive is because it wasn’t a kiss,” Jasper said with a snicker.
“Oh? Is that a challenge, fangs?” Mikah smirked, turning to Jasper.
“Fangs?” Jasper quirked a brow. “You’re a freaking werebear, and you’re calling me fangs?”
Lucie giggled and winced from the pain in her side. Not having your healing abilities was horrible.
“Hey, don’t make her laugh.” Derrick scolded as he doted over Lucie, gently brushing his fingers through her hair.
It was relaxing. It felt normal, and everything felt like it was okay. Lucie was surrounded by the people she loved the most in this world, and the normalcy was exactly what she needed.
“Hey Abe, what about you? Does that all work in spirit form? You want to join us on the prowl?” Justice asked, slapping the half-demon on the back and glancing at his pants pointedly.
Abe chuckled. “Yes. Everything still works in this form. But I think I’ll hold off on prowling. I think I’d rather be the prowled than the prowler.”
“Oh I like it. I want that too. I need a lady stalker,” Justice said with a laugh.
Alexa madeher way out of the room quietly, escaping to the balcony. She stared into the silence and leaped from the balcony. She silently fell to the ground, lifting herself with her ice and gently landing on her feet. White mist and sparkling crystals twinkled around her under the night sky. She walked to the garden that she always visited when she wanted to be alone. There, she stared out in the darkness.
