I lay on top of Tobias, not able to move my limbs. I feel heavy, my entire body starts to tingle. Tobias’ warm fingers run up my spine, making me shiver.
I wonder if I would always feel this way with them, wonder if they would eventually get bored with me. I don’t know if it is my own feelings or that of the bond making me doubt whether or not I’m good enough for them.
“What’s wrong?” Asks Tobias.
I look up at him, propping my chin on the center of his chest. “Nothing is wrong.”
“I know something is wrong. I can feel your emotions have shifted.” I look at him quizzically. “The bond has kicked in already for me and Theo. We could feel everything from the moment we marked you.”
“Will I be able to feel both of you?” I ask, curious. Now, I need to try to get better control of my emotions. I don’t want them to be able to read me like an open book.
“I’m not sure how long it will take. For shifters and vampires it’s instant, but you’re human so the bond may take a bit to kick in. You will notice when it does, you will feel drawn to us, and be able to feel what we feel.”
Theo walks back in the room and lays on the bed next to Tobias. His hand moves to my cheek before resting his hand on Tobias’s chest. I like the way they are with each other; I don’t find it weird or strange. To me, it is normal and makes my heart swell with happiness.
“What are you talking about?”
“Just the mate bond.”
“Ah.” Theo searches my face for a second. It’s a bit strange to watch his eyes glaze over like this. It’s as if he’s looking straight through me.
“Don’t think like that.”
I try to make sense of what he says until I realize what the words mean. “You can read my thoughts.” The thought horrifies me, it’s an invasion of privacy.
“Don’t be mad, he only wanted to know what was bothering you,” Tobias says.
“So, you can do it too?” I gasp.
“No, just Theo. Vampire trick. I can feel what you feel but can’t read your thoughts. Theo can do both.” Tobias shrugs, as if it’s no big deal.
I look towards Theo. “It bothers you that much?” He asks.
“I like to keep my thoughts private.”
“I will try not to do it.” I don’t believe him, but let it go. I wonder what else he has overheard in my mind. Tobias rolls me to the side between them before standing and grabbing some shorts, Theo looks up as well, towards the window and Tobias quickly runs down the stairs leaving us.
“Where is he going?” I ask, looking towards the window. I’m not sure what they can hear or see but I can only see the darkness of the night before I hear tires on the dirt driveway.
“We have visitors, get dressed.” Theo whispers, quickly pecking my cheek.
“Who?” I ask. Who would stop by so late at night?
“My parents.”
My heart skips a beat, nervousness kicks in. It wasn’t so long ago that I did a runner from these very people. What a great fucking first impression that was, they probably think I am unhinged. Maybe I am, now that I think of it, what normal person would be involved in their world? One thing I do know is his parents don’t accept me, that much is clear from what I overheard the last time.
I quickly grab the first thing I lay my hands on. A pair of leggings and an oversized sweater. My nervousness is making me sweat already. Theo runs downstairs to Tobias to greet them. I don’t realize how badly my hands are shaking until I grab the banister. My hand is trembling, and my palms are sweaty, sticking to the lacquered wood as I descend. I stop halfway when I hear angry voices talking in the living room. I hear glass break and Theo’s father’s voice rise, I stop and listen.
“I won’t give you any more time, the month is nearly up. If anyone finds out about her, we will have the council breathing down our neck, especially after the little stunt you pulled with Tom.”
I hear Theo growl lowly at the mention of Tom’s name.
“Don’t you start, boy. I warned you both to keep her here until she decided. You think what you did went unnoticed? For fuck’s sake, I can’t believe the pair of you. I thought you had more brains than to take a weak human as a mate. Not only is it forbidden but no one will accept her how she is.”
“Who we choose as our mate shouldn’t even be anyone’s business but ours,” Tobias yells.
“Anyone but a human, Tobias. You’re giving our family a bad name. She is fucking human. Either fix it or I will, and you won’t like the consequences if I have to.”
I hear furniture crashing. I race down the stairs in panic, worried about Theo and Tobias. Theo has his father by the throat, pressed against the fireplace, the couch lying on its side, which Theo must have pushed out of the way when he grabbed him. His fangs bared at his throat.
“Nobody fucking touches her. I don’t give a fuck if you’re family. Threaten her again and I will fucking end you,” he spits at his father.
“Please, Theo, settle down. Let’s be rational here.” His mother tries to calm him, her hand on his arm.
No one notices me standing there, watching the entire thing play out, but one thing I won’t be seen as by this stubborn man is weak. I square my shoulders and walk further into the room. Theo lets go of his father as soon as he sees me, his father straightening out his suit jacket before turning and glaring at me. Like seriously, who wears a suit this late at night, or is it early morning, time has escaped me.