“She wanted to,” Thaddeus answers behind him, making Ryland look over his shoulder at him. Thaddeus pulls his shirt off and steps into the shower. My eyes focus on his neck where I bit him. I reach my hand up, running my fingertips over it, and he shivers, his eyes darkening.
“How is that even possible? I am human,” I ask, confused.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re human; you only have to bite us to mark us because you are our mate. It wouldn’t have worked if you weren’t,” Thaddeus tells me, and he pulls my hand away from the mark kissing my knuckles.
Thaddeus’ hand drops to my hip as he pulls me against him. I can feel his emotions running a bit rampant and feel his hunger, but I am mostly more aware of him, which is hard to explain. Like I have a strange sense, an overwhelming sense of him. I felt him walk into the bathroom before I noticed him in the doorway. Like now, everything he does, even his emotions, feel more heightened.
Pushing my hair over my shoulder, I offer him my neck. Thaddeus smirks, leans forward, and runs his tongue over my neck, making me shiver before he sinks his fangs into me and makes me moan loudly. His bite is no longer painful; it actually arouses me, which makes me wonder if Orion’s will feel the same now.
I don’t have to wait long to find out because just as the thought crosses my mind, I see him step into the shower.
Thaddeus pulls his teeth from my neck, and I offer the other side to Orion. He kisses my shoulder, pulling me against him. His chest is against my back as he kisses my shoulder, and I feel the familiar fog slip over me again. Then, his teeth penetrate my skin. Orion drinks from me for a few seconds and pulls back. Thaddeus grabs the back of Orion’s neck and pulls him in for a passionate kiss. My stomach tightens and arousal floods me, seeing them kiss.
“God, she tastes good,” Orion says when Thaddeus lets his lips go.
I step under the water, rinsing the blood off of my neck. Thaddeus and Orion turn to wash themselves, and I hop out when Ryland does, grabbing a towel. Walking into the bedroom, Ryland hands me one of his shirts and one of my pairs of cotton shorts from the drawer. I slip them on and walk downstairs. Ryland follows me to the kitchen, and I grab the toaster, putting some bread in.
I can still hear the shower running upstairs, so I turn to face Ryland. “Ryland?” I ask, and he turns to look at me from making coffee. “Can we go to Leven on Monday?”
“Leven? Why?” he asks, stepping closer and gripping my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “Please tell me you didn’t make plans with Lana?” he asks, searching my face. I look away, and he pinches the bridge of his nose. “Don’t tell Thaddeus; if he finds out, he will make us leave,” Ryland says. I can tell he is annoyed with me.
“What did you say to her?” he asks, and I can tell he is trying to keep the anger from his voice.
“Just that it is halfway between here and where she is.”
Ryland sighs. “So, you didn’t tell her where we are?” I shake my head. “No, you won’t be going to Leven, and secondly, you can’t tell anyone where we are, understood? Thaddeus will make us move; and don’t bring this up with him, okay. It will piss him off, and I don’t want to see you get in trouble,” he says, kissing my forehead and hugging me close.
I just nod and wrap my arms around his waist, just as Thaddeus and Ryland walk in. “Are you planning on burning the house down?” Thaddeus asks, and I realize the toaster is smoking. I quickly pop the toast out and nearly burn my fingers as I try to pull it out and quickly toss the piece in the sink.
“Move, I will do it,” Thaddeus says, grabbing the other burning piece. “Sit. I will cook something for you,” Thaddeus adds, and I sit at the table and watch. Ryland comes over and puts a cup of coffee in front of me, giving me a wink as he sits down next to me.
Orion is helping Thaddeus. I take a sip of my coffee, trying to figure out how I will get to Leven now. I have no way of telling her I’m not going, so I have to figure out a way to get there without them finding out and get back without them catching me.
E
velyn
It is finally Monday.
Orion, Thaddeus, and Ryland left Sunday night to go God knows where and I didn’t even ask, knowing their absence gives me a gate to leave for a few hours. Thaddeus said they would be back Tuesday from wherever they are going.
Getting up early, I quickly get dressed and head to the garage. I manage to find Thaddeus’ car keys in his car. Like seriously, that’s just asking for it to be stolen. Not that anyone would find this place anyway; I only know which direction to drive. I rely on the fact that eventually, I will come across a sign indicating which way to go. I know, for a fact, Leven is halfway because we stopped there on the way here from his parents’ house for gas.
Getting in the car, I carefully reverse it out, groaning when I see the tire marks. I will have to rake the grass when I get home; I know they won’t miss that with their eagle eyes.
It takes me over an hour and a half to arrive at the first gas station and I put gas in the car. It takes me ten minutes to figure out how to pop the fuel cap, but eventually, I figure it out, fill up, and head to the park.
When I get there, I am early, and I can’t help but watch the time on my phone.
As soon as I spot April’s Volkswagen pull in, I walk over to her car and open Lana’s passenger door. Lana squeals excitedly, wrapping her arms around me, hugging me tight, and I hug her back.
April gets out. She looks tired, but smiles softly at me, which I think is odd considering her parting words the last time I spoke to her. She walks over, wraps an arm around my shoulder, and I figure she is just playing nice because Lana is present.
“I’m sorry about last time, Evelyn. I shouldn’t have said what I said. I am tired and haven’t been sleeping well. I know the fire wasn’t your fault,” she says, and I nod as Lana starts pulling me toward the swings.