by Jen Stevens
Remy refused to allow me to rent a home downtown when I brought it up with him.
“I’ve got a mansion with tons of empty rooms,” he had said when I mentioned it, exuding a new confidence that I hadn’t seen in him yet during our short time together.
I attributed it to the fact that his father was finally unable to abuse and mistreat him daily anymore. Once we discovered that Julia’s mother and the Housekeeper, Marta, was his father’s Counter, she was immediately fired from her position and she and Julia were removed from the grounds. There was no use for her to be so close now that her Quarter had lost his gifts, anyway. He allowed his parents to keep their room, but Rowan was forced to hand over the keys to his study and every piece of information he had on the Quarters and the coven.
I was hesitant to take our relationship to that level at first but realized what a ridiculous thought that was when I reminisced on our past two months together. Nothing about us was traditional. It only made sense for us to stay together when there were so many unknown threats still looming in the shadows of Beacon Grove.
When I finally confessed to Blaire that the screams and moans in the hotel were too much for me to bear, she released a loud cackle and made me wait in mortified silence as she caught her breath before explaining, “Those are Mom’s clients. You were hearing the raw and excruciating realities of labor. I understand why that would freak you out, though.”
It made sense that all along, the only thing that allowed me to discover my connection to Remy were the sounds of women escaping the physical realm to collect their child from the spirit world and bring them back to her. It was the purest, most self-sacrificing form of love there was. Once I learned the truth, I was able to laugh right along with Blaire at my ignorance and self-consciousness over simply asking them from the beginning.
“Let’s go home.” His whispered breath sent tingles running down my spine after I did one last check around Blaire’s room. With hundreds of promises to be back as soon as possible, Blaire released me from her embrace and sent me off.
The inside of the Wildes home looked similar to the dark, bland style I’d seen in Remy’s room. The space lacked any personality, and while the windows were open and the fresh ocean breeze was wafting through the air, it all felt dark and suffocating. I didn’t have much time to dwell on the state of my new home before Remy’s hand was wrapping mine up into his and tugging me over to a large sitting room.
“It’s yours now. Do whatever you want with it,” his deep voice mumbled into my neck after he pulled me down onto the stiff, velvet couch with him, somehow giving voice to my concerns as if I had said them aloud.
I cast a nervous glance around the room, positive there would be a set of staff eyes watching us, or one of his parents would meander down from their living quarters. I didn’t end up finding anyone, but the fears remained in the back of my mind as his lips trailed along my jawline, pausing at my ear lobe to lightly nibble and send a wave of goosebumps over my entire body. Long fingers made their way to the hem of my black sweater and slowly tugged it up over my head, exposing me to the open air.
This was the first time we'd been together without the weight of the world hanging on us. No life-altering revelations, no crazed staff members, no Quarters standing on the threshold of life and death. Just us taking this exhilarating step into our future as a couple.
My reservations and self-consciousness melted away with every stride of his tongue down my bare neck and shoulders. My hands fumbled around his waistband until they freed the button of his jeans and allowed me access to his full erection. Remy shifted just enough for me to wrap my whole hand around it and pull it out. A quiet groan left his lips and he leaned back, slowly inching his hand into the waistband of my leggings to return the favor.
Our intimate bliss was short-lived, though. Just as soon as I began working my hands up and down his shaft, the doorbell rang. I paused, wide eyes staring into his for guidance. The doorbell sounded again and the intruder on our intimate moment rapped against the hardwood impatiently. Remy released a loud, frustrated growl and stood from the couch to button his jeans. He helped me back into my shirt, muttering under his breath about someone else coming to answer it.
When he swung the door open, we were met with Rhyse, Lux, and Enzo’s wide-eyed, teasing stares.
“We need to talk,” Lux greeted with a restrained breath, ignoring the snickers from the two men standing behind him.
Remy led us all into the kitchen, brushing off their requests to have a Quarter-only meeting, which only made me feel even more out of place in the enormous space that was now supposed to be mine.
“She’s my Counter. She knows everything we do,” he stubbornly explained to them as he reached into the fridge to grab bottled water for each of us.
I kept my gaze cast downward, barely able to meet any of their eyes through my embarrassment.
“Fine,” Lux relented on a sigh, ignoring the huffs of disapproval from Rhyse and Enzo.
“I’ve finally managed to override the redaction spell on the Book of Shadows.”
Remy raised his brows impatiently and circled his hand into the air in a motion that said, “Get on with it.”
Lux nodded and slowly inhaled a deep breath when Rhyse stepped forward and blurted, “There’s a fifth Quarter.”
The muscles in Remy's arms tensed as he completely ceased movement. Rhyse and Enzo returned his stunned expression with bewildered smiles while Lux just nodded his head in confirmation.
“As it turns out, the spirit portion of the star marked on the Book of Shadows is a completely separate element than the rest of ours. Whoever possesses that gift has access to all of our elements combined and can control each one with ease.”
His icy blue eyes watched unsurprisingly as we took in this new information and considered what it meant for them.
“Who possesses that gift?” Remy wondered and the rest of them shrugged in response.
“Honestly, it could be anyone,” Lux admitted. Where Rhyse and Enzo were practically bouncing with excitement, he appeared more irritated than anything.
My hand flew to my mouth as the realization dawned in me. Every odd and confusing encounter came rushing back to me in tiny, fleeting memories as my new revelation grew legs and ran wild in my mind.
I knew exactly who it was.
About Jen
Jen Stevens was born and raised in Michigan, where she enjoys the weather of all four seasons in a single day. After obtaining her Bachelor's degree, she quickly realized the corporate world wasn't for her and instead took on the daunting role as her daughter's snack maid. Reading has been an obsession for a long as she could remember, while writing has always been an escape. Jen could quote The Office word-for-word and proudly refers to herself as a romance junkie. She could live off anything made of sugar and has recently obtained the title of Lady. Most of all, she loves connecting with readers!
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