Chapter 27

“She’s coming around.” Mitz said.

I opened my eyes to see everyone I knew in Alterealm standing around the bed. It’s a good thing the bed, and the room were large. I frowned, remembering things. “Crissy. They were going after her—is she all right?”

Crissy bounced across the bed and flopped down, hugging me.

“Guess so.” I looked to Daxx and gave her a ‘help me’ look.

Victor moved over and peeled his crying woman off me. “I am eternally grateful to you.” He inclined his head to me as he straightened up with Crissy held close in his arms.

I turned to look at Troy. “Did we do it? Did we get them all?”

He nodded. “We did it. But Willis Hubert and Nelson Bosworth got away.” He inhaled deeply, then gave me a look, I wasn’t sure what it meant. “We captured many and freed several more women.”

“They won’t be able to use the palace again.” Bethany added.

I dropped my head back on the pillow. “We’ll find him.”

“Let’s give them some privacy.” Mitz pushed between Quinton and Rafael. She gave me one of her sweet motherly smiles. “I’m going to stay for a few moments if that’s all right?”

I smiled back at her. “Sure.” I had no idea what was going on. I touched my ribs, they felt good. Then recalling that blade, I touched my other side. Must not have been as serious as I’d thought. I pushed up until I was sitting. I actually felt great.

Everyone was backing away and leaving. I couldn’t figure out why they had such odd looks on their faces.

Michael stood at the end of the bed. His arms crossed over his chest.

“I’ll turn some lights on.” Mitz said softly.

“How much do you remember?” Michael asked, hesitant.

I puffed up my cheeks and blew out a breath. “It’s still mostly fog.” I closed my eyes. “The fat guy told the other one to get their seer, so I dove for Crissy and shoved her out of the way.” I touched my side again, “then he tossed that scary-ass blade and got me.” I shook my head and opened my eyes. Michael stood there with his hands behind his back like he was standing guard or something. “You brought me back here and I’m guessing some super blood healing took place because I feel five by five right now.” I smirked. “Like I could go ten rounds with an ogre or three, kind of good.”

Mitz sat on the end of the bed. “You almost died, love, you were taking your last breaths despite Paisley’s blood pouring into your veins.”

I gave her a wide-eyed look. “It was—I can’t piece it together.”

She nodded, understanding on her face. “Do you remember Michael talking to you?”

I nodded slowly, remembering, but not fully. “He was asking me something.” I glanced to him; his facial expression was so guarded I wasn’t going to get any clues from him. “What did I do?”

He gave his head a slight shake. “You didn’t do anything. I asked your permission to mark you, to save your life.”

I couldn’t grasp what they were getting to. “I take it I said yes.” I grinned and lifted my arms, “because I’m still here and breathing.” I froze and looked at my arm. My left arm, the one I’d had the horrible tattoo on to trick the wards. That tattoo was gone. Now, my entire arm had intricate woven lines and designs on it. I turned it over and looked at the other side. I jumped up and stood on the bed. “Holy—my-that mark.” I looked to see him standing with his arms at his side now. He had the matching ink covering his arm too. “But-but—” I frowned and looked at the bed, then to Mitz. “I-I thought that mark,” I held up my left arm, “this mark could only happen if-if…” I couldn’t say it to her. Not when she was giving me that understanding, caring, kind of motherly look.

Finally, she shook her head slowly. “The mating mark doesn’t just happen during sex, Autumn, yes it’s a nice way to receive it, but all that is needed are true mates and a commitment to complete it.”

I opened my mouth, then snapped it closed. Scowling, I walked off the bed onto the floor and paced toward the closet. I lifted my arm and looked at it. Then turned and looked at Michael for a moment. Putting my hands on my hips I took a deep breath and let it out slowly as I tried to figure out what to say. “So, you, bound yourself to me—to save my life?”

“I did.”

That was it. No emotions showing on his face or any sign of caring what he’d done. The man that wanted nothing to do with me was now stuck with me. “There was no other way?” I snorted and shook my head, “never mind, I know the answer to that.” I felt like I was dreaming all of this. “Okay,” I turned back to Michael, “first, thank you.” He didn’t move or speak, I’m not even sure he was breathing. I looked away from him to Mitz, who was no better sitting there looking all patient and serene. “And, now, wh-what does this mean?” I lifted my tattooed arm like they needed a visual reminder of what we were talking about.

Mitz looked to Michael expecting him to say something. He didn’t move, his blue eyes locked on me. She gave a soft sigh and then looked back to me. “You’ll have a bond, share emotions, feelings—”

I smirked and looked to Michael again. “Yeah because emotions just pour off him.” Touching my arm, I could feel the lines in my skin. “So, there’s no catch or anything I need to know about this?”

“No catches, dear.” Mitz answered.

“Right. Okay, so just go on like any other day?”

Turning her head slowly, she looked to Michael once more. She didn’t look away from him this time.

His gaze moved over my face for a very long, awkward silent minute. “If that is what you wish.”

I shrugged, not sure what to say to any of this.

Inclining his head, Michael finally looked away from me. “I’d like to get down to the cells now to see if Troy has been able to find out where Hubert may be now.”

I nodded. “Give me a shout if he does. I want the guy that was with him.”

With an abrupt nod, he spun on his heel and left.

“I’m sure you’d like some quiet time to process all of this.” Mitz said softly.

I gave her a ‘ya think’ look and didn’t even feel bad for doing it.

She stood up. “I’m going to get some food ready.”

My stomach growled on cue. “I could eat.” Hunger was right behind confused, as I took stock of how I was feeling.

“Okay, love. Come find me in the kitchen when you’re ready.” She gave me one more of those understanding looks and left.

I stared at my arm for I don’t know how long. Snapping out of it, I looked down my body to see I was dressed in clean, undamaged clothes. I moved over to the bed and sat down. Putting my shoes on, I paused and stared off into the air. Shaking my head, I spotted my phone on the table. I got up to get it. As days went, this was way up on the top of my crazy shit list. I tapped the screen to unlock it. Crazy…from an electrified roof to… I paused and wondered how they fixed that, the roof. Not that I planned to be on it ever again.

My mind was like left-over stew. A little of everything swirling in a pot. I couldn’t focus on one thing. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Focus Autumn, the roof is the last thing you need to know about right now—even if you’ll have lightning chasing you in your sleep.

My stomach bottomed out. I opened my eyes. “Food is…” I froze. I was on that roof again. I looked at my phone like it was responsible somehow. It rang in my hand, startling me like a scared cat. It was Michael. I answered it in slow motion, afraid to move.

“Autumn?” He sounded concerned.

I swallowed and looked to my left to see how far I was from the edge of the roof. “Yeah?”

“Are you all right? I sense…”

“Fear?” I checked the other way.

“Yes.”

I shook my head quickly. “Not all right. So far from all right at this moment,” I blew out a breath trying to control my frantically beating heart, “Michael?”

“I’m here.”

“I’m on the roof.” I looked over at the hatch I’d jumped through earlier, wondering if I could just go climb down.

I heard a door close. “The roof?”

I nodded. “Yeah, you know the one that tried to fry me? That one.”

“How…”

“If I knew that, I wouldn’t be on the roof.”

“Do you have your device on?” His tone was softer now.

I looked at my wrist. “Negative.”

“I’ll be there shortly.” He hung up.

I stared at the phone, then held it tight in my hand. If I hadn’t picked it up before this happened, I’d be stuck here.

Michael appeared ten feet away.

“I was afraid to move, after the last time up here.”

He came over quickly and held out my device.

I took it with a shaking hand. “Thanks. I’m never taking this off again.” I put it on, then looked to see he was watching me with a strange look on his face. “What?” I couldn’t take much more today.

Michael shook his head. “I’m trying to figure out how you got here.”

“I don’t know. One second I’m in my room and the next, I’m here.”

He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen, then put it to his ear. “Clairee, have you been checking for spells and traps in the chambers?” He nodded. “No, just curious. Thank you.” He hung up and crossed his arms over his chest. “You must have done it on your own.” Shrugging, he frowned, “No one has this quickly…”

I held up my hand. “Wait. I did what?” I looked around. “I brought myself here?” I smirked, “last I checked I didn’t have that power.”

“You do now.” He lifted his arm. “Any mate with royal blood can port unassisted.”

I opened my mouth and paused for a second. “Is there an instruction book for this?” I frowned. “What else is there? Mitz said sharing emotions but didn’t say teleporting at whim.”

“Normally it takes a great deal of practice and focus.” His harsh expression softened. “What were you thinking about directly before you were here?”

That question was easy. “How this day has made the top of my crazy shit list. I… I was thinking about… the roof.” I brushed the hair back from my eyes. “How do I not do this again?”

“Practice.” Michael held out his hand.

I blew out a breath and took it. The touch somehow made me feel more at ease, immediately. I had to talk to the girls and find out how this mate connection worked.

“Think of somewhere—in this realm, picture it and close your eyes.” His tone was soft and soothing.

I nodded. “That’s it?” I looked up at him.

His gaze moved from my eyes to my mouth, then back. “That’s it.”

“Okay.” I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, focusing and picturing the practice room. My stomach clenched. I opened my eyes to see we were in the practice room.

Daxx stood less than a foot from us. “Scared the hell out of me.” She glared at us. “Teaching her to port already?”

Michael smirked. “No. I had to go rescue her from the palace roof.”

Her eyes went wide. “You ported to the roof? On purpose?”

I shook my head. “No, I was going to get something to eat and thought of that electrified roof… then I was standing on it.”

“Oh. Well,” she looked at my arm checking for a device, “better leave that on.”

I nodded. “Yeah. Might put one on the other wrist for backup.”

Michael gave me a gentle, appraising look. “If you’re all right now, I have to get back.”

“I’m good. Thanks, iceman. That was…” I didn’t have words to describe it, “well, I’m really looking forward to tomorrow being boring.”

He smirked, his gaze holding mine for a moment. “I don’t think boredom will ever plague us again.” He inclined his head to Daxx and turned, walking with long strides out the double doors.

Daxx sighed loud. “I was just heading to the girl cave, if you want to grab something to eat and come help.”

“Definitely.” I bobbed my head. “Alone isn’t working out for me today.”