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We landed back at the same estate where I last saw the council. Still wrapped up in his arms, I froze, wondering why we were here. I didn't move out of Nox's embrace even though I should have. It was... cozy.
"What are we doing back here?"
He was the first one to draw away, reaching for my hand and leading me out of view of the estate. "I want to show you something. More Lydent stuff," he said, giving my hand a light squeeze.
Not sure what else to do, I followed him until we reached a stone path that led into a clearing surrounded by trees. I hadn't realized how fuckin' big this place was compared to what it looked like from the outside.
The chilly breeze off the shoreline, that was somewhere around here although I couldn’t see it, swept across my skin causing a shiver to invade my body despite the trees’ added protection. In the middle of the clearing there was an unexpected structure. It looked like a stone gazebo with tall arches that soared above our heads surrounding a circular platform in the middle.
When we stopped a few paces away, I asked, "What is that?" I was amazed that there was something like this back here.
Nox tugged me forward, and we climbed the three steps led up to the platform and stood in the middle. On the other side, beyond the arches, you could catch a glimpse of the water twinkling from between the trees. My foot scuffed against a groove in the floor, drawing my attention downwards. The platform was made of a stone circle with deep grooves etched into a rope-looking design. They intertwined with one another leaving the center of the circle open.
Nox had yet to answer me, so I asked again, "What is this place?"
He pointed to each of the stone arches. "Three arches for protection, honor, and truth." He brought his hand down to the stone beneath us. "A never-ending symbol of eternity, unity, love and mates." He stood up and squeezed my hand, reminding me that he still held it. "This is where mates are bound together in what you would call marriage, but for us, it's a lot longer than 'until death do us part'."
I tensed and gave him a sharp glance. "Married? Why would you bring me here?"
His lips quirked. "I'm getting there. This is the ring of promise. The Mating ring. When you and your mates are in here, you stand in the circle. With each one you will promise that your lights are true to one another. If the mating is a true one, you will see a glow twisting and twirling all around you and your mate. It’s called the Light of Truth. After that, you will give tokens representing your love for each of your mates. Something meaningful that will forever be treasured. At the end, everyone claps and then..."—He wiggled his eyebrows—"you shim away to be alone."
I nudged his shoulder with mine. He didn't move, but the effect was the same. He laughed. "Come on, I'm just teasing you.”
I was curious. “Do you wish for a mate? Someone to go home to?”
He shook his head as hurt crossed his gaze. “I’m not sure I deserve that.”
“Why?” I questioned softly. “You’re young like me. There’s still time.”
He let out a big sigh and tipped his head back. “I’m older than you think.” His knowing gaze came back to me and my insides shivered.
“How old?”
“Twenty-five,” he said this like he was done with the conversation. “Anywhere else you'd like to go?"
My lips quirked upward. Go? I'd like to go home, call Hannah to see how she's doing, but I wasn't sure if that was the best thing at the moment, if they even let me.
"Not sure," I sighed, stepping off the stone. I was worried about being on it with him, not knowing if it could randomly do something or not. It was best to be safe, not that I wouldn't mind being attached to Nox. He had his own mates, and I didn't need to be attached to anyone at the moment. So, better safe than sorry.
I shifted back to face him and an ache erupted on the side of my head. I stopped and clutched it until the pain passed.
Nox's hand met my shoulder. "Hey, you okay?"
"My head hurt for a moment." I rubbed it until the ache eased then gave him a smile. "But it's gone now. Just a headache."
He became uneasy. "We can go visit the doc. Maybe he can-"
I placed a hand on his chest. "Nox. You can see into the future."
He nodded. "Slightly."
"Right. So, do you see anything that concerns me at this moment?"
He swallowed, shifting his gaze away from mine. "I- I can't see you like I could before the council locked up your light." He turned back, his expression concerned. "You're fuzzy right now."
***
I convinced him that all I needed was food. I had eaten very little this morning with him chowing down on my breakfast, and it was nearing lunchtime anyway. The cafeteria could be a new place for me to explore. Maybe find out where they were hiding the internet. I wanted my link to the fuckin' real world. I was crippled without it.
Nox shimmed us next to a building that others were moving in and out of. “Come on,” Nox whispered, sliding his hold from my shoulder to my hand, linking our fingers together.
It was like a fuckin’ romance novel the way I trailed beside him as warmth spread between us. I wasn’t sure if he was in on the whole bisexual thing or if he was just being nice, but either way, I liked it.
We went inside double doors, which Nox held open for me, and the clinking of utensils and conversation filled the air. People– No, Lydents. I'd have to think of them that way because they weren't human. Come to think of it, neither was I now. Anyway, I'd have to come back to that revelation later for when I could freak the fuck out.
Keep it the fuck together, Tracy.
Lydent men filled the cafeteria, not a single woman to be seen. So, when I strolled in with Nox, they noticed. Those that were eating at the tables turned their heads after a moment. Men who stood in line twisted to see what was creating the silence. And the walkers paused their strides to stare.
I leaned into Nox as he drew me over to the food counter. "I'm guessing there's not a lot of women here."
"Ignore them," he muttered as everyone watched our movement like a mouse eyeing an elephant, unsure if it would stomp on them or not.
"I am, but it's kind of fuckin' intimidating."
With us now in line for food, Nox snapped his fingers, and in the silence, it was loud. Everyone jumped into action and continued their tasks, but it wasn't without the occasional glance.
Nox grunted and grabbed a tray. The guy in front of us turned but stopped when Nox spoke. "Don't you dare."
The man halted mid-turn then loaded on the food... as did Nox, asking me every so often if I liked something. I smiled at the servers when they came out to refill what was low. It seemed like a few of them did this while we were in line.
When Nox had my plate full and his piled high, we ventured to an empty table and sat. I wondered if it was a Lydent thing to eat so much. Or was it just him because he was a giant guy? Then I noticed all the onlookers and got annoyed.
"Will they ever stop fuckin' looking?" By this time, the noise level had mostly gone back to normal, so I felt like I could talk without being under a microscope.
"Get used to it," he suggested, digging into a hamburger he’d gotten.
A little ruffled by what he’d said, I bumped him in the arm with my elbow when he went to take another bite of his food. A jostle later, he had mustard on his top lip.
He glared at me.
I ducked my head and picked up my sandwich, chuckling on the inside.
Totally fuckin' worth it.
After that, we both ate in comfortable silence until I noticed Naylor walking our way with his own plate of food. His eyes were set on me, lips pressed in determination. If I had to guess, I’d bet he had trouble figuring out my computer. I'd be pissed too if I was in his position. My computer was a bunch of randomness only I could figure out. Not only that, but things that were important were mislabeled and buried deep as dinosaur bones that archaeologists still hadn’t discovered. Then getting past my firewalls... That was pretty much his level of pissed right now.
He dropped his tray down across from us but so did a few other someones. Lydents I didn't know. It wasn't something hard to do (be someone I hadn’t met) since I was the new person here, but it was still interesting.
"Naylor," Nox growled, his gaze landing briefly on the other three who had joined us before going back to him. "What are you up to?"
Naylor gestured to his companions. "Guys, you want to introduce yourselves?"
The first guy gave a wave. “Neko Kendel.”
The next one gave Nox a run for being intimidating with one glance. “Dare Currington.”
The last one seemed more cheerful as he delivered me a panty-dropping grin, which made Nox grumble something not worth mentioning. “Miles Luxton, sweetheart.”
I shot Mr. Smooth a flirty grin. “Hey, your fly’s open.”
His head ducked downward and so did the eyes of everyone at the table.
I snickered and drawled, “I wondered if you all were into dicks.”
Five heads snapped up after peeking at Miles’ goods—which, I might add, were tucked neatly away behind the zipper—and scowled at me.
Mr. Smooth’s eyes narrowed at me in a glare. “My fly wasn’t open.”
I pointed to him with a french fry in hand. “That’s what I’d call an icebreaker. So, bring it.”
Nox said nothing, but his lips twitched, realizing I had called their bluff or whatever this introduction was for them. I wasn’t buying their nice act. They wanted something.
Naylor had enough sense to drop whatever game they were trying to play and spill what they wanted from me. “Who’s your contact?”
Nox snorted.
I tipped my head to the side. “You know, memories are like a delicate fuckin’ garden. Blooming with fuckin’ gorgeous flowers. Some that represent love, hope, and family, while others mean death and poison. It seems too many assholes have invaded my memories, stomping all over the flowers. My garden now stands barren. I’m sorry, I don't have the fuckin’ answer to your question.”
Naylor threw up his hands and cursed. Very unlike the cool and easy-going guy I had the privilege of being around earlier. He looked to Nox. “Fuck! Is she always this difficult?”
“‘She’ is right here, asshole,” I pointed out. “No need to be so hostile.”
Nox shrugged. "How am I supposed to know? I've known her a half a day longer than you have."
Dare slammed his hands down on the table, startling me. He leaned in, his eyes murky with anger. "Look, I don't know who pissed in your drink this morning, but Lydents help one another. We don't hang each other out to dry. You're one of us now, and we have a runaway that we think could be your contact. Either help us, or we'll have to place you in a cell until you change your mind."
The whole cafeteria quieted. Nox tensed, standing up and taking the same stance that Dare did with his hands planted on the table. "Don't threaten her."
"Can we all just save some light?" Miles joked, but I think he had the saying wrong.
"Look," Naylor eased, getting between them. "Let's not get into it here." Then he reached into his pocket and produced my phone, waving it in the air as a temptation. It was like chocolate, and I was the addict. "Why don't you look at this text from Bitch Ass and let us know if it's something we can go off of. That way you won't be giving anything away, technically."
My mouth went dry when I heard what he said, and my heart clenched in worry. I wanted to read that text more than anything. I wanted my phone.
I plucked up my glass of juice and took a sip then set it down. Nox backed away from Dare as they all seemed to recognize my shift in mood.
I cleared my throat and held out a hand. "I'll look at it."
Naylor hesitated to hand it over, but I needed it. Bad.
I perked up and focused all my attention on him. "You're the one who suggested it. Plus, Nox would have warned you if your deal would go south."
After a moment, he relented and passed it over. "She needs our help. Your source. You don't understand what could happen to her."
Only half listening to him, I took my phone from his hands and immediately looked at the screen that was still locked. When I swiped up, it showed the recent text on the locked screen.
Bitch Ass: Can’t wait any longer. I'm calling her.
Tears stung my eyes. Hannah. Damn. What was she thinking? And then I knew. She was trying to save herself. Just like I was now doing.
I peered up to find all their eyes on me.
"We tried to get into your phone, but it's locked out. Will you open it for us? Do you know what she means?"
Would I open it for them? No. Did I know what she meant in the message. Yes, but I couldn't do anything about it now. I had to protect her. They thought she was my contact. She wasn't. But what would they do if they ever found out who my contact was? Stick her in a jail cell like they had just threatened me with? I couldn’t let that happen.
The phone slipped. Landed into my cup of juice, spilling it all over the place. This was me protecting both of them.
My ears shut off the yelling and shouting as I shoved away from the table and ran out of there. They wanted something from me that I couldn't give.
Bursting through the doors that led to the outside, my vision cleared, and the noises of the outside invaded my senses. I ran along a path that led into the trees until I heard grunting and fighting. I slowed and edged past the trees where there was a clearing in front of the main lodge. Across from it was a training ground where Lydents were fighting. Cameron was there dressed in all black, fighting another person with light balls. He hadn’t seen me yet, but as I took a seat on a stone bench right next to the fighting area, he caught a glimpse of me.
His eyebrows rose just before he took the brunt of a white light blast, forcing him to fly through the air and fall a few feet away.
“Fuck.” I shot up ready to help him, but Nox showed up and held me back. “It’s training. He’s okay.”
“It’s fuckin’ messed up is what it is. What if he’s hurt? Bleeding internally?” I watched as Cameron got back into the fighting. “That was not a soft fall.”
He chuckled and had me sit back down. “Just watch. We’re not that easy to break.”
I watched Cameron sparring, using his magic with an ease that spoke of years of practice, and relaxed. “Are they mad?”
Nox’s lips twisted. “I wouldn’t call it mad. Furious is more like it. Why did you do it?”
“Because I had to.” Then I wondered... “How do Cameron’s glasses stay on? When fighting? And couldn't you fix his vision problem with your magic?”
He shifted his attention to his friend in the ring. “We’re not witches. Can't make everything go away or go the way we want, but we can do more than humans.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen what my freaky hand can do.” I waved it at him.
He didn’t look my way. “It’s not like that all the time. The lights we hold inside of us are good. They are a part of us. I'm not sure how it is with you, gaining your light from another and being human, but I'd liken it to a heart transplant. The donor can pass on traits, preferences, and emotions to the receiver that weren't there before.”
I sighed, looking at the bracelets on my wrist. I hadn’t noticed before, but the two of them had twisted together to become one. “But my light’s not good. I have a bad one.”
Nox bumped my shoulder. “Hey, Ivan was crazy, but he didn't like his brother. I suspected for a long time that Ivan was a pawn in Eric's master plan. That the royal bombing was not solely Ivan's doing. Not if he was being manipulated.”
My gaze shot to him. “Why do you feel that way? Wouldn't you know if Ivan was good or bad?” Still, he didn’t turn my way, and I continued, “I mean, with your gifts or instincts or whatever you call them, you would know, right?”
His mouth dipped downward. “Why do you think the light within you is not black as ember, but gray as a storm just starting to brew?”
I didn’t have an answer for him. I had no fuckin’ clue as to why the light within me was gray.
He shifted, slipping his hand into mine. “It's because there's still some good left. That's the part you need to hold on to. I can't see what has already happened. I can only see parts of the future, and even then it is ever-changing. But you, you’re cloudy.”
“You’ve said that before, but if I’m cloudy to you, then why weren't you panicking when you were notified that I was missing? That Naylor took me?”
Finally, he looked at me. “I might not be able to see you, but I could see his intentions. And I knew you were safe.”
I got real quiet. “Did you know what would happen back there?”
He gave a quick nod.
“Why didn’t you stop me?”
His gaze grew hard. “The look on your face. You needed saving.”
I grew curious. “Even though I sabotaged my phone?"
“We'll find out either way; it's only a matter of time.”
“So arrogant. And do you feel the need to save everyone?”
His eyes left mine and stared across to where Cameron was still sparing. “Sometimes.”