Chapter 27 PLEASE HIDE
/Edlyn/
“Well I do not think you have a choice here other than to do that. You definitely know that. You are supposed to know that. You literally brag about being four centuries old, so common sense should be somewhere in your mental storage.” I opened my mouth to continue talking, ready to lecture him into behaving like a civilized supernatural for once, but I did not even get the chance because a knock suddenly hit my door so loud it echoed straight through my skull.
Then a voice followed.
“Edlyn are you alright. I heard you scream. I am coming in.”
My soul jumped. My heart tried to escape my body. And Luca looked like he just heard the funniest joke from the gods.
Great timing. Perfect timing. The kind of timing that could end two worlds at once.
The doorknob rattled violently.
I panicked and did the only thing my brain could process. I reached inside myself and grabbed the thread of my witch power. it shot through me like lightning and I locked the door from the inside without touching it. The metal clicked loudly on its own and the person outside froze.
Then I slowly turned to Luca.
He was now standing in the middle of my room, arms folded over his chest, looking absolutely unbothered, like a man who knew he was sexy enough to cause problems and confident enough to enjoy it. His monster aura rolled off him like a storm that was too proud of itself.
“Please hide,” I whispered. I was practically begging at this point and I could not even hide it.
Luca shook his head immediately.
“No. No freaking way I am hiding.”
My jaw almost detached.
“Please. Please hide. I am begging you. I do not want you both to meet yet. He does not even know what I am. And he definitely does not know you are my mate.”
He raised a brow at me, slow and dramatic like he practiced the expression in a mirror for centuries.
“I said no.”
I wanted to cry. I wanted to sleep. I wanted to rewind my entire life.
“Luca please.”
He stared at me for a heartbeat. Then for two. Then he leaned his head slightly to the side, his lips curling slowly like trouble was savoring itself.
“I may consider,” he said with a teasing drawl, “if you kiss me.”
My soul left my body. He fucking wanted a kiss… like what the fuck..?
“You what.”
Another knock slammed against the wood.
“Did you lock the door. Edlyn are you awake. Answer me I am worried.”
I whipped around to the door like it personally offended me. Then I faced Luca again.
“Are you serious right now. This is not the time for your vampire king nonsense. I said hide.”
“And I said kiss me.”
I gave him my deadest stare. He just smirked harder like he was about to enjoy my misery for dessert. The banging outside intensified and Nelson called again, louder this time.
“Edlyn. If you do not respond I will have to break this door to make sure you are alright.”
My world stopped breathing.
I turned back to Luca.
“Fine. Just one kiss. One. Kiss. Then you hide. And make sure he does not notice your presence or scent or shadow or anything because I swear if you cause a war in my room at night I will haunt you.”
Luca stepped toward me so fast I barely saw him move. I only saw the flicker of hunger in his eyes before his hand slid behind my neck. I tried to push a little distance but he did not care. He leaned down, so close that his breath brushed my lips.
“I want the kiss now,” he whispered.
I rolled my eyes and pecked him as quickly as I possibly could. A fast little touch of lips, the kind you give a friend so they shut up and go away. It lasted less than a second. It had zero heat. Zero spark. Zero anything.
At least that is what I thought.
Because Luca grabbed my waist and pulled me back before I could even blink. He kissed me again but this time it was deep. Intense. It hit me like a wave of molten heat. His lips moved with a confidence that made my knees threaten to collapse. His monster pushed against my senses and it took every ounce of willpower in me not to melt into him like a fool.
Moon squealed in my head. Vamp was losing her mind and practically clawing to take over. And I was stuck in between two hormones and a blood drinking soulmate who kissed like he wanted to ruin humanity.
Outside the door the banging got worse.
“I am serious Edlyn. If you do not speak right now I am breaking the door.”
I tore my mouth away from Luca with all the strength I had left. I slapped my hand over his chest to keep him from dragging me back in.
“Enough. Hide. Now.”
He was smiling like he just tasted the universe.
“That was barely a kiss but fine. I will hide. For now.”
He vanished. Literally vanished into the shadows near my wardrobe as if he dissolved into them. I could still feel him there because his scent clung to the air like warm spices and ancient forests. But I prayed Nelson’s senses would not pick anything up.
I took a deep breath and turned toward the door.
“Nelson I am okay,” I called quickly before he took down the damn wall. “Please do not break the door.”
The doorknob rattled again.
“Then open it.”
I swallowed and flicked my fingers in the air. My magic slid out reluctantly, unlocking the door.
Nelson stepped in immediately and the moment his eyes landed on me those golden flecks inside them brightened in relief. His chest rose and fell like he had been sprinting through the whole packhouse.
“You screamed,” he said. His voice cracked slightly. “I heard you scream.”
My brain panicked.
My heart panicked.
My vampire soulmate was hiding in the shadows of my wardrobe.
My wolf mate was standing in front of me, breathing hard, looking at me like I was the only thing holding his world together.
Everything in my life was a mess.
And I was right in the center.
“I had a nightmare,” I blurted before Nelson could ask anything else. “A really bad one. But I am okay now.”
Although it was true but am over the nightmare already. I was not okay. My heart was still beating like a drum line inside my ribs and my lips were still warm from Luca’s stupid kiss. And somewhere in the shadows he was still hiding, watching everything with that predator calm that made me want to panic and faint at the same time.
Nelson’s face softened immediately. All the sharpness in his eyes melted into this soft, warm concern that made my chest pinch. His expression made me feel a little better that he wasn’t asking why I suddenly locked the door or the sound of the door locking that he heard.
Without even asking, he stepped forward, closed the door behind him gently like I was made of glass, and headed straight for my bed.
Then, with zero shame and too much confidence, he sat down, lifted the blanket and tugged me into his arms as if it was the most normal thing in the supernatural world.
I barely had time to breathe.
One moment I was standing.
The next moment I was on the bed, my head pressed against his chest, his arms wrapped around me so tight I could barely move.
“Come here,” he whispered like I had already said yes.
His heartbeat was steady. Strong. Familiar in a way that settled my nerves and shook them at the same time.
His chin rested on top of my head as he pulled me even closer.
“You scared me. I thought something happened to you.”
Somewhere in the corner of the room I felt Luca’s aura spike for half a second. Jealousy rolled through the air like a warning, hot and sharp. I did not even dare look in that direction. I just buried my face into Nelson’s chest to hide the panic on mine.
“I am fine,” I whispered.
“I am here,” he murmured, tightening his hold even more like he wanted to fuse our souls together through sheer hug force.