Marabella
The following day I wake up to Kyan moving. My head slides off his arm as he sits up. I cover my mouth with my hand as I yawn. “Morning,” I mumble, wanting to go back to sleep, but Kyan buries his face in my neck, inhaling my scent. He rubs his stubble across my cheek and neck, irritating and tickling my skin.
“Kye, stop it,” I tell him. The man growls at me. He seems overly affectionate, which is alarming when I realize it isn’t him but Kaif, as he pulls his face back and looks down at me. He pecks my lips, nipping at them.
“Does Kyan know you have control, Kaif?” he growls but nods his head, nipping at my chin and neck. “Kaif,” he huffs and stops, and I feel him shudder, and Kyan is suddenly peering down at me with a seductive smile playing on his lips. His dark red eyes are watching me curiously. Leaning down, he bumps his nose against mine.
“He wouldn’t have done anything,” Kyan tells me. His fingers grip my chin, and he chuckles and presses his lips against mine. His leg moves between my knees, pushing them further apart when I notice I have no clothes on. I pull away from him and lift the blanket, looking down and my eyes widen, and Kyan chuckles.
“Now that was Kaif, he may have undressed you, you know you sleep like the dead,” he laughs. Kyan presses between my legs. The fabric of his shorts brushes against me as he settles between my legs.
“Kyan?” I ask, wanting to make sure Kaif isn’t forcing him to be like this. It is so unlike Kyan that I am beginning to worry.
“That would be my name,” Kyan chuckles.
“You just seem different,” I admit.
He hums in agreement, nipping at my skin. “I wasn’t going to sleep with you, if that’s what you are worried about,” he whispers.
“I wasn’t worried, but it makes me feel so much better knowing you don’t want to sleep with me,” I deadpan, a little hurt at his words.
“I worry how Kaif will react. We should wait for Jonah to get back,” he says. My brows furrow at his words and his eyes flicker to Kaif for a split second.
“I know this isn’t how you pictured what being with your mate to be like Ella, but you need to know I am trying. Or willing to try, but we should wait for Jonah. Then, you can mark him, and it will be fine. If Kaif loses control, not that, I think he will. But if he did, Jonah will be here to stop him,” Kyan states.
“You want me to mark Jonah?”
“Well, no, I didn’t at first, but Kaif saw to that, didn’t he. But he is also supposed to be yours,” he sighs. “And Jonah is like a brother to me. Just don’t think I will suddenly turn bisexual because that won’t happen,” he laughs.
“Why did Kaif mark him?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Mostly to piss me off, but also because he knew if I didn’t mark you that Jonah would eventually, it was his way of making sure we are tied to you, he knew I wouldn’t be able to resist the bond while feeling how Jonah feels about you.”
“So that is the only reason you changed your mind?” I ask him. His words make me worry that none of this is his choice.
“No, I changed my mind because even though I was an asshole to you, you still stuck up for me. Even when you shouldn’t have, it made me realize maybe you could handle Kaif if you could forgive me after that.” He admits. “I also hated how your family treated you. They were quick to jump on Eziah’s side, and it was only out of fear. I know your parents love you, Marabella. They just aren’t sure of how to help you.”
“I don’t need help,” I tell him.
“I know, but you need someone that doesn’t fear you,” Kyan insists.
“Like Kaif?”
“Like both of us, I know you wouldn’t hurt anyone intentionally; I have also never feared you. I know you; Jonah also doesn’t fear you.” I nod. “People fear what they don’t understand. Yes, you have dark magic, strong magic, Ella. It’s dark, but you aren’t. Magic is only dark when the beholder intends it to be, or when control is lost, you just need to learn control.”
“Somehow, I don’t see it that way. I only have to touch someone, and they drop dead,” I mutter.
“Yes, because you’re in flight mode all the time, it is a fear mechanism. You don’t fear yourself when you are with Jonah and I.” He offers me a slight smile.
“Maybe because I don’t care if I kill you both,” I snicker.
Kyan raises an eyebrow at my words. “Maybe because we have never shown fear of you, Jonah has hated your gloves as much as I have. Lucas also doesn’t fear you.”
“But he fears you, though,” I add.
Kyan shrugs. “Only because he knows what Kaif is capable of.”
“Seems more than that, though, Kye. I have seen the way he looks at you sometimes.”
“Lucas knows a lot. My father prepared him to take me when I was a kid. In a way, I think he was always preparing Lucas. He just didn’t know why,” Kyan explains.
“What do you mean?”
“Lucas changed after you found out I was your mate. I think my father warned him about something. I have asked, but he never admits what it is, says he won’t jeopardize our bond, even when I insisted I would never keep you.” He shrugs.
“So, it has something to do with me?”
“I don’t think so. Honestly, I am not sure,” I sigh. As if things aren’t hard enough. Now I can add worrying about Lucas to the list.
“So when are we going to try to contain my abnormal gifts, curses, whatever they are? When Jonah comes back?” I ask.
“I’m not sure when he will be back. I do know he hasn’t found Rose, though,” Kyan mutters.
“He messaged?”
“No, I can feel his worry,” Kyan answers.
“Maybe we should help him?” I suggest.
“Jonah doesn’t want that. He knows you marked me, and I think he is hoping I will hurry up and mark you, if he isn’t here,” Kyan chuckles.
“So he isn’t bothered?”
“No, he is quite happy about you marking me, just worried about his sister, so come on, we should get dressed and go to the observatory,” Kyan says, pushing off his arms to get up.