Chapter 30

I looked around and realized we were in his room, and there was furniture in it. I turned slowly, “Is this the furniture Alona had me select for my room?” I went over and ran my hand over the plush royal blue chair and looked at the matching sofa.

“Yeah.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I didn’t see much sense in having it hauled to your room, then moved up here.” Despite his stance, the expression on his face was hesitant.

“Oh?” I wandered around the room, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible. Inside my heart was racing. The room was perfectly decorated. I stopped, unable to process when I spotted a portrait on the wall. It was my mother. With weak knees I went toward it. She was lovely, just as I remembered her before she was ill. Beneath the portrait was a decorative table and on it was my mother’s pendant, now strung on a delicate silver chair. I touched it.

“It’s okay if we keep my parents’ room, isn’t it?” He now stood behind me.

I nodded and inhaled a deep breath before turning. “Yes. I understand needing that connection to family.”

His soft gaze moved over my face. “I had them duplicate a painting your grandmother has of her.”

I blew out a breath, “grandmother.” I whispered.

“She’s still alive.” He said, watching me with care. “Once we get Arwan and end it, you can meet everyone.”

I nodded slowly, “I wouldn’t want to put them at risk seeing them any sooner.” I gave him a little smile, “until I came here, I never dreamt I’d be anything but alone.”

He touched my shoulders and looked down at me. “Me either.” He grimaced, “aside from too many annoying brothers.”

I smiled back at him, then glanced around. “so, does all this mean we’re shacking up together?”

His grin widened, “we are officially mated,” he shrugged, “and I’m not dying anytime soon.”

I nodded slowly as I pulled off my gloves. “Very true. It’s funny how finding out you’re not dying brings a new perspective.” I looked at my left hand and the pattern that wove its way up under my sleeve. I smirked at him. “The other night, we both passed out.”

He smirked, “Yeah, well, no sleep and miraculous healing was exhausting, and I had to—process.”

“You’re feeling refreshed now?”

He gave me a heated look. “Very refreshed.”

I looked back down at my hands. “I’ve never been able to be with a man without wearing gloves,” I gave him a brief look, “which makes most men not want to be with a woman wearing gloves.”

Quinton smirked, “I’m good with wearing nothing.”

“On my hands?”

He leaned down as he pulled me closer, “on all of you.” He grinned, “and I’m healthier than I’ve ever been, so we don't have to worry about your touching me slowly killing you.”

I ran my hands up his arms, feeling the warmth of his skin under my touch. “That's a plus.”

Leaning down, he kissed my mouth softly. I expected more, but he lifted his head again, his gaze holding mine. “What is it?”

“I'm waiting for one of my brothers to interrupt.”

I smirked, “you expect them to?”

“Always.”

“I'm sure they're busy right now or catching up on some much-needed sleep.”

“Maybe.”

“You could ignore them and kiss me. Really kiss me.” I watched as his eyes started to change color, it was the most sensual thing I’d ever seen in my life. It was just one more confirmation that told me this was where I was meant to be, and the supposed miraculous mix of my heritage was something I wasn't afraid of—for the first time in my life. I looked at him, really looked at him for a moment. Physical attributes were nice, there was no denying he was good looking, but for me, he was perfect. Perfect in that he wasn’t thirty years old and could understand the atrocities that I’d lived through in the changing times. He’d understand living through the many decades I had, how there were things you just knew after that much time. Fate knew this all along. Although she could have let me know a hundred or so years ago, rather than have me wallow in doubt and self-pity from year to year.

“What are you thinking?” His voice was rough.

“That I'm not afraid of who I am.” I played with the back of his hair, “I don't have to worry about others knowing either now.” I noted how he listened to every syllable I uttered. I'd never had that. “How after so many years alone, I'll never be alone again,” I smiled, “and I'm glad for it.” I inhaled slowly, tilting my head to the side. “I want lots of children, Quinton.” A dream I thought I’d pushed aside too many years ago.

His eyebrows went up, he leaned back and looked at me. “Define lots.” 

I smirked, “five at least, maybe six.” I shrugged.

The look of shock didn't fade on his face, “that is a lot.” He nodded slowly, “so when were you thinking of starting to build this horde?” He cocked one eyebrow at me, “I feel like I should remind you that we could live a thousand more years.”

I chuckled, “yes we could, I don't want to space hundreds of years between them. I want them all close to each other.”

Without releasing me, he looked around, “we're going to need a bigger room, or a whole floor of rooms.”

 “At least.” I whispered.

He looked down at me, so many emotions going through his eyes, none were fear or panic. “Okay, a horde it is.” he nodded slowly, “but I'd like to end Arwan's insanity and a least have six months with just you before our lives are overrun by loud, demanding...”

“Adorable children.” I finished for him. “Deal. After Arwan and a six-month honeymoon."

He grinned, “I can handle that.”

“It’s never going to happen at this rate, though.” I said with a sigh.

His expression became serious, “we’re going to get the bastard…”

“Not him.” I said trying not to smile.

“Then what?” He had such concern on his face it made my heart ache.

“We’ll never have the honeymoon or the horde of children if you don’t shut up and…” Quinton grasped me around the waist and lifted me up until our faces were level. I barely had time to notice his eyes were red before he attacked my mouth. Several heartbeats later, I caught up and was kissing him back with all the pent-up passion and loneliness I had.

He tore his mouth away. “We may kill each other with years of abstinence…” His mouth was on my neck as he started walking toward the bed.

“I’ll heal us.” I gasped as he bit into my neck. I sucked in a breath, “as many times as I have to.” I finished breathlessly.

When my legs hit the back of the bed, he gave me a gentle shove until I sat down. Kneeling in front of me, he undid my boots and pulled them from my feet. My socks were next. The whole time his red eyes held my own captive, and I was drowning in lust by the time he tossed my shirt over his shoulder. He made a deep sound in the back of this throat as he pushed me to lie back and undid my pants. My whole body was vibrating with when he finally pulled the denim past my feet. I raised up on my elbows and looked at him, still fully clothed. I licked my lips and slowly got up onto my knees on the bed. He pulled his shirt over his head, then reached to undo his belt. Too slow, was all I could think. “Faster.” I said in a husky voice I barely recognized. I was rewarded with a fanged grin as he kicked off his boots and stripped his body free of the rest of his clothes.

Quinton crawled up me in what felt like slow motion, his gaze never leaving my eyes. “We have the rest of our lives.” He said softly.

I swallowed, trying to find my voice. “Yes, but we have about thirty seconds before I burst into flames.”

We were face to face now, close enough I could now feel the heat from his body. “I’m not afraid to get burned.” He whispered as his mouth covered mine.

~

I watched him walk to the small refrigerator across the room. I sighed and closed my eyes for a second. Even after the nap, my whole body was still buzzing from some very vigorous loving. “I don’t know how you’re walking.” I grinned, “I feel like I’m floating.”

He chuckled as he opened it. “I need sustenance and something to drink.” He turned and the smile faded off his face. “Reagan?” His eyes were huge as he walked toward me, glancing to his left, then right?

I sat up, “what is it?”

He froze, a horrified look on his face. “How are you doing that?”

I pulled the sheet up and looked around, “doing what?”

He held his hands out from his body. “I can’t see you.” He said slowly.

I jolted and looked down at my body, I could see myself. “I—I…”

“Oh, thank the gods.” He rushed toward me and pulled me off the bed and hugged me tight. “What the hell was that?”

I was shaking, not understanding. “I don’t know.”

Sitting, he kept me in his lap. “Shit.” He said softly. “Kara said Bastian just appeared in front of her once.”

I looked at him, my eyes felt like they were bulging from the sockets. “What? I can be invisible?”

“You’ve never done it before?” His eyes held such concern for me.

I shook my head. “Not that I know of.”

Kissing me hard on the mouth, he shifted and got up. He lifted his shirt, then went over and picked up his pants. “Better get dressed.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and taped the screen. “I’m putting it on speaker.”

“This better be really important, brother.” Arius said.

“It is.” Quinton set the phone down on the table and started to pull his pants on.

“What’s happened?” That was Victor.

“I’ve been awakened from my wonderful slumber.” Chase mumbled.

“It’s Reagan.” Quinton did up his pants and tossed me my shirt.

“What wrong?” That was Autumn.

“She went invisible.” Quinton looked at me, his gaze moving the length of my body.

“What?” Leone sounded amused.

“Like Prince Bastian.” Kara said in a hushed tone.

“Yeah.” Quinton nodded and sat down to put on his socks and boots.

“I’d love to be invisible.” Crissy said.

“Has it ever happened before?” Troy asked in a serious tone.

“This is a game changer.” Paisley whispered.

Quinton shook his head. “No. I need Bastian here. Now.” He gave me a concerned look, “if she can’t control it, then we’ve got a problem.”

“I’ll reach out to him.” Victor was all business.

“I don’t even know what time it is.” Emil mumbled. “Where are we meeting?”

Quinton stood up and watched me put on my shoes. “Meeting room. Ten minutes.” He leaned over and tapped the phone then turned back to me.

I was completely shell-shocked. I stood up and I secured my porter around my wrist. “These have trackers in them?”

He nodded. “We’ll figure this out.” He held out his hand to me.

I took it, my own hand was shaking. “I hope so, or your brother is going to give me some lame nickname.”