by LeeSha McCoy
I turn to face my sister and growl. ‘I ain't interested in seeing you right now,’ I spit as I turn away from her. I run into the woods instead, to lick my damned wounds.
***
I get back to mine just as the sun rises. The rage inside me has calmed to a simmer now, but I'm still vexed as fuck. I wish I never opened this can of fucking worms. This shit ain't gonna work. It ain't fair that my mate is in another fucking world with no way to contact her.
Hell, I can't even hunt her down to find out what's wrong.
The fuck did I do?
Princess or not, I know for a fact she ain’t that busy. She told me so.
After a shower, I lie in bed and stare at the ceiling. I know it ain't her fault because she doesn't know I'm her mate, but shit. She's fucking hurting me right now. Don't she feel the desire to see me too? To come back here and get to know me like I wanna get to know her?
Don’t she feel anything…?
***
I wake up in a worse mood than I fell asleep in. This hollow feeling is bullshit. I dunno how my dad did it. I can't even talk to him about it either, and I hate it. ‘cause I know for a fact he’d tell me exactly what I need to hear right now.
He always does.
After a cold shower and some more obsessing, I go downstairs to find something to eat and find my ex sister sitting at my kitchen table.
“Mah, don’t be like that.”
I clench my jaw as I head for the fridge. She’s lucky I don’t fight her ass. “What do you want?”
“Karrisee’s asked to visit again. I said I'd ask you.”
I snap my head her way. “The fuck you asking me questions you already know the answer to? I been waiting to see her. Ells.”
“Calm down—”
“Calm down? Are you fucking serious? Do you—”
“Mah… Think about what this is teaching you. Think about the bigger picture here.”
I take a second to think. The bigger picture? What, that my so-called mate’s happy to ghost me for weeks at a time?
She rolls her eyes.
“What? I ain't getting it.”
“You can't control everything, baby bro, and maybe consider that Karrisee’s got shit going on, too?”
“What’s wrong with her? Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. Damn.”
“Aight.”
Her eyes swirl as she stands, but they soon settle. “Before I go, I wanna say how well you did last night.”
I scoff. “Thanks.”
“I’m serious, Mah. I’ve been waiting to see you kick her ass.”
So have I.
“You put on quite the show. All the holds have been talking about it, and so have mom and dad.”
Oh, fuck. “I don’t need that—”
“Don’t worry. I’ve told them you’re fine and that it was just a part of your training, and I’ve told the boys to give you a few days, too. You will have to call mom and dad, though.”
“Aight. I’ll do it later.”
“Good. You also need to work on your self-control a little more.”
Now I sigh. “I’m trying.”
“Well, try harder. This shit is serious. You have to be able to control yourself in all ways. Not just your temper, but everything.”
I frown. “I’m not gonna hurt her. Shit, what do you take me for?”
“I know you wouldn’t physically, but you’re a werewolf and she’s a vampire. Think.”
She’s fucking lost me again.
“Y’know, if you lose control, and I mean as in, ‘release bane’, you’ll kill her.”
My stomach drops. “Are you fucking serious? I can’t even mark my mate?”
She shakes her head. “Nope, at least not yet. Control, Mah. I mean it. You need to work on that shit.”
Fuck me.
“I did warn you this wasn’t gonna be easy, but I know what you’re capable of, and so do you, so put the work in.”
“I will.” I’d never forgive myself if I killed my mate. Just the thought of it makes my heart feel like it’s breaking.
Definitely need to work on that, ‘cause I’m desperate to kiss those juicy lips of hers.
“Good. Now get dressed and call mom and dad. I'll drop Karrisee off after.”
“Before you go, could you leave some more fruits here and a bottle of whiskey that she can drink?”
“I’ll make sure you have everything you need for when she arrives.”
Then she disappears, and I dwell on what she's said.
This is all kinds of fucked up…
Twenty-Six
Karrisee
“How is he?” I ask Ariella. She’s perched on the edge of my bed while I get dressed. I’ve tied my hair up this time, lost the tiara, and opted for a more fitted yellow gown.
“You can ask him when you get there.”
I tighten the dress around my hips and stomach. Then I breathe. That didn’t sound good.
‘He's probably upset it's taken so long for you to visit him again. You saw how disappointed he looked when Ariella showed up to bring us back. He looked almost as disappointed as we felt.’
‘Ugh, I know. I’ll explain.’ Or at least I’ll try to without coming across as mentally unstable. He seems so calm, so steady, like he has all his shit together. He definitely doesn’t appear to be unsure about who he is or where he’s going, so I don’t want to put him off by confessing my current self-love, getting to know myself journey to him.
‘I think you’re overthinking it. He feels good to me, so perhaps not group him in with all those fuckboys you’ve previously messed around with.’
‘I’m not.’
‘And you forget he’s a werewolf, not a vampire. Those texts in Mirada clearly stated how loyal those wares are over the ones they love.’
‘He doesn’t love us, though.’
‘How do you know?’
‘We’ve met once. Stop getting carried away with yourself.’
‘I wish you would. Loosen up, for fuck’s sake.’
I roll my eyes as I turn to face Ariella, but what Malika said plays on my mind. “What made you introduce Amarey and I?”
Her eyes narrow. “I thought you’d be a good match, that’s all.”
“I see… But what about his mate?”
“Karrisee…” She gets up to stand in front of me. “Can you stop worrying?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologise, just live in the moment. Aura told you that.”
“I know. I am trying.”
I push the doubts from my mind. Maybe I do need to loosen up. She wouldn’t have introduced us for nothing, and she has said everything happens for a reason a million times. Maybe this is the time to go with the flow and be open, just like everyone’s told me to.
“Alright. I’m ready to go.”
“Good.” She’s quiet for a moment. “Karrisee, I know it's hard, but really do try to be yourself with Amarey. Werewolves are much different than vampires, just like Malika said. Have an open mind.”
‘See, even she’s said it.’
‘Alright. Stop going on at me.’ “I will.”
“Alright then, off you go.”
I frown. “What? You aren't coming with—” I shiver as I pass over to the world and arrive in Amarey's living room. He's sitting on the couch wearing dark pants and a white shirt, appearing deep in thought, and I instantly feel my nerves disappear to be replaced with… relief?
He sighs deeply and then quickly lifts his head to look at me, his eyes lightening immediately.
I wonder if he feels the same as I do when I’m with him.
“Karrisee. Malika.”
Malika immediately starts gushing. ‘I really love how he always acknowledges me.’
So do I… “Hello, Amarey.”
His gaze wanders over my body as he gets up to approach me, and I shiver again for different reasons. He gets more attractive every time we see him.
‘I agree.’
“What t
ook you so long to visit?” he asks, the tone in his voice telling me he's upset.
I remember what Ariella said and sigh. “Truthfully, I was afraid.”
Malika squeals in delight. ‘Well done.’
He frowns down at me. “Afraid?”
“Yes.” I look down, but he lifts my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.
His eyes darken all over again. “Why?”
“Because…” It dawns on me that his eyes confess his emotions. Wow… “Your eyes are so beautiful. The way they change colour.”
He smiles softly. “So are yours, but I didn’t ask you what you thought of my eyes.”
I blush from his compliment, but then I swallow. Hard. “I've made many mistakes in my life when it comes to men. I'm not trying to make another one.”
He nods, seeming to understand, then he drops his hand. “You're here now, though.”
“I am.”
“Hungry?”
I shake my head. “No.” Thoughts of tasting his blood consume me, and I take a quick glance at his neck before looking away. Don't think of that… “Not hungry.”
Malika snorts. ‘Say that again and you might convince yourself.’
‘Hush.’
“Alright, well, what would you like to do?”
I shrug. “I don’t mind.”
His eyes flicker past me. “I thought we could watch a film.”
“A film?”
“Yeah. On the television.”
“Sure.” I only saw a little of a show when I came last week, and I’m intrigued to see more.
He switches it on, then hands me the remote. “Up, down, left, right. This central button will select which one you want. It will also tell you what it's about.”
“You're letting me choose?”
“Uh-huh.”
He guides me to sit on the couch, then disappears to the kitchen before returning with a tray filled with a bowl of fruits, glasses, a bottle of blood, a bowl of small white things, Hennessey, and a bottle of Caroian whiskey. Then, after resting them down on the coffee table, he watches me scroll through the shows on screen.
His gaze makes my pulse race, but I try my best to ignore it. I’ve never had a man focus on me like he does. His attention is intense, but in a good way, because it reassures me he likes me as much as I like him.
At least physically.
I smile when I find a vampire show called Twilight, but although it intrigues me, I keep searching, until I get to a film called Dirty Dancing. It’s about dancing and a good girl turning bad.
‘Sounds interesting,’ Malika agrees.
“Do you know this one?” I ask Amarey, turning to face him.
He takes a quick glance at the TV and chuckles. “Yeah.”
I tilt my head. “Why are you laughing?”
“Because it's the ultimate chick flick.”
“Chick flick?”
“Yeah, a girly film.”
“Oh…” Maybe not. I hand him the remote. “Why don't you pick.”
His smile falls as he pushes it back towards me. “No. Press play.”
“Alright.” I press the middle button to start it before resting it carefully on the table. I hope this film isn’t going to bore him. Maybe I should have chosen the vampire one…
“Drink?” he asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Please.” It might calm me down a bit.
He pours the blood in half-way, then begins to top it up with the whiskey. “Tell me when to stop.”
I wait until it’s almost full. “Now. Thank you.”
He pours himself a drink with the Hennessey, then takes a long sip.
“What's that?” I ask, pointing to the white things in the bowl.
“Popcorn.”
“Is it nice?”
He nods. “Yeah. You can get it in different flavours. This one’s butter, but you can get caramel, cheese, chocolate, all sorts.”
He loses me a little, but I nod like I've understood before turning my attention to the TV. I wonder what it’s like to eat all those things he does. If I knew they wouldn’t make me sick or kill me, I’d love to try some. It smells good.
‘So did what he ate the other day,’ Malika says.
She’s not wrong.
I sit back a little as the show begins, but I’m extra aware of his eyes boring into me. I’d love to know what he thinks of us.
‘Well, he may not have a pire, but I promise you, I can sense him as if he has. This man really likes us.’
I smile as a blush creeps over my skin. ‘I hope he does.’
Twenty-Seven
Amarey
The movie ends and then I experience the most painful silence ever.
My dick’s hurting like a muthafucka, too. Sitting beside Karrisee watching Patrick Swayze dancing like that with Baby was fucking torture. And to make matters worse, as much as I loved how engrossed she was in the film, I saw how she shifted in her seat when they were dancing half naked, so I know she felt it, too.
I wonder when she last had sex…
I immediately push that thought away. I hope she ain’t since she met me.
I’ve watched that film before, thank fuck, ‘cause it meant I could spend most of it watching her. She’s more beautiful to me the longer I spend with her, inside and out. She’s intriguing in a hella sexy way, and I’m hoping after she confessed what she did to me when she got here today, she opens up to me more.
I’m trying to show her as much as this world as I’m allowed, ‘cause the way she studies every new thing she sees is straight up mesmerising.
“I’m glad he came back.”
Thank fuck she's said something. “Yeah, me too.”
“It would’ve all been for nothing otherwise.”
“Not really.”
She turns sideways to face me. “How?”
“‘Cause if they hadn’t met, she never would’ve been forced out of her shell, would she? And he wouldn’t have found someone to stand up for him how she did.”
She blinks, as if a lightbulb moment’s gone off in her head. “That's true.”
I nod.
She smiles. “I’m glad Johnny got that Robbie back, too. We would’ve done the same thing. Not so kindly, though.”
That all the way grabs my interest. “Oh, yeah? What would you have done?”
“Crushed his heart, or maybe cut him.”
My eyes widen at that confession. “Cut him?”
“Yeah, with our sword.” She waves her hand, but then she frowns. “I forgot I don’t have magic here, but maybe, if you get to visit me in the kratius, I could show you.”
“I’d love to see it. Maybe you could show me how you use it, too.”
Her smile widens. “Malika said, definitely.”
“Tell her I’m looking forward to it.”
I’m wondering when I’m gonna meet Malika properly. I need to get her more comfortable around me somehow…
“Can you dance?” she asks.
I shake my head. “Not like them. Can you?”
“A little.”
“Really?”
She laughs. “I am a Princess. It's something we all learn. That’s one thing most legends about princesses are right about.”
I feign hurt. “Well, excuse me.”
She laughs harder and then suddenly rests her glass down. “I can teach you a few steps, if you'd like?” She holds her breath, and I wonder if she's nervous to ask me.
Shit, she shouldn't be scared of me saying no to much of anything. “I'd love to.” No way am I passing up an opportunity to get my hands on that body. Naked or clothed. That dress she’s wearing is even tighter than the last one, and I approve the fuck out of it.
I get up and after offering her my hand, I lead her into the space between the TV and the coffee table.
She looks up at me and smiles. “Watch my eyes.”
I laugh hard as hell. “Alright.”
“But it really will help you to follow my lead.”
“Got it.”
She looks around. “Do you have the music?”
Shit. “Yeah. I forgot that part.”
I slip my phone from my pocket and open Spotify to find the soundtrack, then I let her pick the song she wants. I hear the beginnings of Big Girls Don’t Cry and Love Man, but she finally settles on Be My Baby.
“I liked this one.” She hands me the phone back, and I slip it back into my pocket. “Ready?”
“Yeah.”
She holds one of my hands up in hers, then rests my other on her waist before planting her free one firmly on my shoulder.
There might be fabric between me and that hip, but in my mind, it doesn’t feel like it. She has curves for days.
“One step to me first, then one step back,” she says, redirecting my attention to her eyes.
“Alright.”
She nods, so I take that as my cue to take my first step, and I do, all the way praying I don't stand on her feet.
I don’t
“Back two now,” she says softly, keeping her eyes locked with mine. “Then we're going to make a square. Starting to your right.”
We complete a few cycles of that, then she gets me to change the number of steps every so often, while I try my hardest not to fuck up. I want her to know I’m interested in her life, too, and I am. I might not have been to her world yet, but I’m dying to, even if it’s just to see her in her environment.
She smiles. “You’re a natural.”
“That means a lot, coming from a Princess.”
She blushes, but she keeps eye-contact with me. The entire time she never looks away, but I can't either. I feel more lost in her with each passing second. I wish she never had to leave.
Once the song ends, she brings us to a perfect finish.
“So, how'd I do?”
“Amazingly.”
“Want me to show you how most of us humans dance now days?”
I can see that’s intrigued her. “I'd love to.”
“I'll have to hold you a little closer.”
Her eyes flicker with something, and even the red brightens. “That's fine.”
I play In My Maserati by Okakira, and after slipping my phone back into my pocket, I watch her reaction to the song. I know she doesn’t know music like this, but I'm hoping she likes it.