Chapter 96

Chapter 96
Jackie
She watched her mates from across the dining hall as they threw glances her way as they talked quietly but didn’t approach her. She frowned down at her plate, stabbing the eggs a little more aggressively than necessary.
“Stupid fucking dragons,” she mumbled to herself.
The doors opened and Lucy breezed in. She jumped to her feet to run over to her and grab her arm. She dragged Lucy back out of the hall to a room down the hall where she threw her hands up in frustration, making Lucy smirk as she leaned against the wall.
“You seem a little stressed out, Jackie. Are you missing being stalked?” she teased.
“Yes!” Jackie wailed. “They won’t even talk to me. I hate this so much. I want to leave.”
That made Lucy straighten up. “You want to leave? Why?”
“If I wanted to be ignored, I’d go to my mom’s house.” She sighed, starting to pace. “At first I thought it was too much. I never thought I would miss something I didn’t think I wanted,” she huffed.
“And now?”
“Now, I want to walk up to them and kiss them, slap them, and then kiss them again,” she said, agitatedly.
Lucy smirked at her. “So do it.”
She stopped pacing to stare at Lucy. “What? I can’t just walk up to them and kiss them.”
“Why not?”
“They’ll fight. Won’t they?”
Lucy’s face fell for a moment before she managed to school it into a smile. “They won’t, no. All they want is to be loved by you, even if they have to share,” she said softly. “Just enjoy the attention and make it known exactly what you want from the get-go.”
Jackie rushed over to Lucy to hug her. “I’m so sorry. Do you want me to punch Amerald next time I see him?”
She sniffled. “Will you?”
“Yes, without hesitation for you.”
Lucy squeezed her. “Thank you.”
Jackie let her go before linking their arms together to lead her back to the dining hall. She paused just outside the door.
“What if I’m not sure what I want?” she whispered.
“Then you tell them that. If you want to try it out, then tell them that. Whatever you want, tell them. Have a conversation. Just don’t put yourself in a position to have regrets.”
“I won’t. Thanks, Lucy.”
“No problem, Jackie.”
They walked into the dining hall and Jackie eyed Roselynn and Aiden Jr. for a moment before walking over to them with determined steps. She sat across the table from them and they fell silent. She crossed her arms over her chest.
“I know I didn’t do anything wrong to deserve the cold shoulder you’re giving me. It makes me want to leave. If it doesn’t change, I will leave.”
Rose leaned over the table. “Do you want to leave?”
“I don’t know what I want, but I know it’s not this and it isn’t what it was before when you two were constantly fighting for my attention.”
Aiden chuckled. “We were told to stay away from you. Are you saying you want us around again?”
“Yes! It’s the only thing I’m sure of.”
He smirked and Jackie found herself drawn towards him.
“Both of us? Or only one?”
She sat back in her chair, blushing. “I’ve never been with a woman before,” she admitted, making Rose’s jaw clench.
He glanced at his sister. “Are you going to reject her?”
“I… I…”
She jumped to her feet before pressing a timid kiss to Rose’s lips before running away. She cursed her stupidity as she raced toward her room with the intention of hiding for the rest of her life. She was so embarrassed. She didn’t know why she had kissed her instead of just saying that she wasn’t rejecting her. The look on Rose’s beautiful face had made her desperately want to make her feel better to the point of just reacting.
“Fuck! That was stupid,” she muttered.
“JACKIE! WAIT!” Aiden Junior called from behind her.
She ignored him as she kept moving towards her room. She rounded the corner and was reaching for the doorknob when she was spun around. Her heart pounded in her chest as she looked up into his eyes.
“Goddess, you’re fast for a human.”
She stiffened and yanked her arm away from him. “Well, us humans don’t appreciate the species slur. Go away.”
He laughed as he followed her into the room. “It’s not a slur, Jackie. It was a compliment. You’re fast.”
She rolled her eyes. “What do you want?”
“A kiss or is that too much to ask? You kissed Rose.”
She flushed as she turned to him to press a quick kiss to his lips before her eyes darted to the door. He grabbed her wrist as she took a step to the door.
“No. Stay.”
“Aiden, please, let me go.”
He let her go to back her up toward the door. “You’re going to have to accept us eventually, Jackie, and when you do, I promise you, you will always be satisfied. Just give in, beautiful. Let us worship you like you were made to be worshiped.”
A bag was put over her head and she lashed out, trying to rip it off her head. Words were muttered and her vision darkened until her body collapsed. She barely registered being caught as the same thought was repeated in her head.
‘They’re going to kill me.’
She snapped awake after a while, sitting up straight to look around wildly. Next to her, a drowsy Lucy was just waking up, too. They stared at each other for a moment before shakily getting to their feet. Hands reached out to wrap around her waist.
“Take it slow, Jackie. That bag had special crystals in it to make you sleepy.”
She glared at Rose over her shoulder. “Where am I? What happened? What’s going on?”
All the women from the gang stood around them, grinning like idiots. Amaris linked her arm through Lucy’s.
“We know you didn’t want a bachelorette party, but you’re getting one.”
“Mari, I-”
“No! Just thank us after,” she said as she turned Lucy toward the building they were in front of. Dragon’s Tail. Jackie eyed it curiously.
“What is this place?”
“It’s a bar. One that is dragon-owned, so it’s the best choice. Let’s go."