Falling For Them Volume 2: Reverse Harem Collection

by Nikki Bolvair

  She helped me into bed and tucked the covers around me. “It’s late, but if you’re hungry, I can whip up some soup.”

  I chuckled. “I’m starved.”

  Mom ran down to get the soup. Then, Kenneth shimmed into the room. His panicked expression transformed into relief when he saw me. “You shouldn’t have left,” he reprimanded as he walked over to the bed and touched my cool forehead.

  I moved away from him. “Ack, stop. I’m fine. Mom even went to make me soup.”

  He tilted his head to the side. “You shimmed your mother here?”

  I rolled my eyes. “How else were we going to get back?”

  He drew away, eyes narrowed. “You were out of it for a few days. Did you find any changes on you?”

  I glared at him. “Like my mark? No.”

  He nodded and moved away. “Okay. I have a question. How did you know?”

  Confused, I stared up at him. “Know what?”

  “That the vaccine would balance out the light?”

  Puzzled, I asked, “What do you mean? Hooks told you.”

  His eyebrows drew together in a frown. “Who?”

  “Hooks, from Hydrent. He was there.”

  Kenneth shook his head, bewildered. “No, Carly, you told me. I never saw this Hooks guy.”

  I sat up, my skin prickling in alarm as I tried to come up with a reason why he didn’t see him. “He was there. Right by Hale. You must have missed him.” My mind couldn’t come up with a reason why Kenneth would have missed Hooks. Why Kenneth didn’t see him. “He was there.”

  Kenneth nodded, but didn’t look like he believed me. “If you say so. Take it easy and drink a lot of fluids. If you feel under the weather, let your mother know, and I’ll give you a pick-me-up. Okay?”

  I stared down at my blanket, barely paying attention. “Fine.”

  “And don’t wait until you’re on your deathbed to tell her, either. Believe it or not, I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  Hooks was there, right? I didn’t imagine him. He told me…

  “Carly.” Kenneth’s tone became firm.

  “Yeah.” I waved him off, my thoughts still stuck on Hooks. “I won’t wait.”

  With a nod, he headed out the room, and a breath escaped my lips. I lied to him. What happened in that room? Then realization dawned; Kenneth cared about me. I lay back in bed.

  Shit.

  This—everything—was getting too weird.

  ~

  Mom brought me soup as the sun peeked over the treetops. I scooted up in bed into a sitting position and she lay the tray on my lap. “Chicken soup. And salted crackers.”

  My stomach grumbled. “Thanks, looks good.”

  “Carly, we need to talk about something.”

  I glanced up inquiringly as she sat down on the side of the bed and bit her lip. “What?”

  “It’s about what Kenneth told you all those years ago. I want you to know he was wrong. To say what he did, he had no right. It infuriates me. And he knows it. Henry and Patrick are angry, too.”

  I shook my head. “I know, Mom. But he’s right. I did have a crush. I still do, but it’s not right to be hanging on like this, knowing that it can never be. So, today, I decided to stop pursuing them like I have been.”

  Her brows knitted together. “That’s not what I was going to say.” She leaned in closer and folded her hands over mine before I could pick up my spoon. “I was going to tell you to follow your heart. If it’s telling you there’s something between you, Hale, and Zander, as well as their friends, then maybe you should see where it takes you. Your mark doesn’t decide your destiny.” She squeezed my hands. “You do. And I hope you’ll listen to your heart and not a fate that’s been created for you.”

  What she said was right, but I also knew my mark didn’t match theirs. They weren’t my destiny. But I was the only one who knew that.

  I nodded in agreement. “You’re right, Mom. I’ll do what’s right for me. And right now, my heart is telling me I need to hold off on relationships. Why rush? I’m new to this world. Let me learn about it a little bit more.”

  She moved her hand away, her gaze filled with worry. “Whatever you need, just do what’s best for you.”

  I gave her an encouraging smile. “I will.”

  “Myra offered to shim by your dad’s house and grab your phone.”

  I shook my head. “Mom, you can’t do that. What if someone’s home?” Then my eyes narrowed. “And what was with that note and rose yesterday? You knew who it was from. Is Myra trying to get her son and me together?”

  Mom grimaced. “Maybe yes on both counts. But don’t worry. Today’s the day. We’ll just have to see what happens. As for your dad’s house, we won’t bother anyone. We’ll shim into your room and grab your phone and charger.”

  My shoulders dropped. “Sure. Fine. I guess that’s okay.”

  Mom grinned. “Yeah, it is. We need to have some way to keep track of you.”

  “Speaking of tracking,” I questioned carefully, lifting my wrist, “what happened to the restraining bracelet?”

  “They had to take it off of you to hook you up to those machines. The bracelet interrupts their results.” She bit her lip. “I probably should talk to Patrick about that.”

  She patted my leg and stood. “While Myra and I are out, you rest up. No one should bother you. Your stepbrothers have the day off, but I think they have some more stuff to do. One of them might come in and check on you again.” She raised a brow. “Remember what I said.”

  My eyes softened. “I got it. Follow my heart.”

  She grinned. “You got it, sweetheart.”

  She left, and I sighed with relief. The conversation with her about relationship stuff exhausted me, especially when I was keeping stuff from her.

  I ate my soup and some of the crackers then set the tray on the floor. Lying back against the headboard, I glanced down at myself and realized I had once more been changed again into PJs, purple ones this time. Soft and comfy against my skin, they even smelled good despite the sweating and sickness.

  I sighed once more. In the next breath, I was shimmed out of my room and into Hooks’ empty classroom. This time, he was the one who summoned me.

  “What in the world?” I screeched as I popped down in the seat I had abandoned the last time I was in this room. Hooks sat in the same spot, waiting. I glared at him. “Why?”

  “I need you.”

  I groaned. “Not you, too!”

  He chuckled. “No. Not like that.”

  I glared at him. “I have questions.”

  He nodded. “And I have answers…”

  “Why could no one else see you in the hospital when I was sick?”

  “Because I projected myself there. You were the only one who could see me.”

  Squinting at him, I demanded, “And how did you know I needed the vaccine?”

  “I know a lot of things.” Lips pursed, he leaned forward, eyes intent on mine. “Carly, I helped you. Now I need you to do something for me.”

  Chapter Ten

  I shot up from the couch to the sound of a quiet argument. I’d been reading a magazine.

  “Honey, it’s been a full day already, and she doesn’t have a mark. My boys have been given another chance. They’ve been so focused on Carly that they actually think she’s the one.”

  “Is that so bad, Kenneth? Would it be so disastrous for you if they let their hearts decide? What about me? What about us?”

  “Honey, baby, this isn’t about you and me. I love you, with or without a mark. You’re my rock, my home.”

  “My rock, my home, Kenneth, is with my child who is suffering. Why can’t you see that your boys have already fallen hard despite your efforts to keep them apart?”

  “You know the reason.”

  “And that reason is gone because now she’s one of you!” my mom cried.

  I eased nearer to the doorway and peeped inside as my mom’s cries muffled. Kenneth held her to hi
s chest, comforting her. “It’s because she is one of us that the possibility of being with her relies on the mark. And, honey, because she’s Lydent, she’s considered my daughter as much as the boys are my sons. The mark never matches within families. My boys don’t have a chance.”

  Tears stung my eyes as the organ that kept life pumping through my veins twisted in my chest. *I was causing trouble. *

  “I’ve asked for the warrior program to assign them on a mission in Falls.” *

  I was an issue. A problem. *Shredded and torn, I gripped my chest. *I could never have what I wanted. *

  I rested my back against the wall and listened as the crying stopped. The sound of feet shuffling upstairs signaled Kenneth taking Mom up to their bedroom.

  I slid down until my knees came to my chest and buried my head in my hands. I couldn’t stay before, and I couldn’t stay now.

  Always unwanted.

  Footsteps came down the stairs. I tensed as a sob escaped.

  “Carly?”

  My tear-stained eyes shot to Kenneth’s, and he paused on the last step. “You know, I needed a dad. One who cared. One who would listen.”

  “Carly, I never—”

  “Stop!” I cried, putting up a hand. “Do you ever just listen? My dad never did.” A broken laugh escaped me. “Apparently you don’t either. I know better now. I got the short stick. Or should I say sticks? Your sons don’t have to leave. I know when to go.”

  “Carly—”

  “No, Kenneth. It’s too late. You want me gone? You got it.” Then, I shimmed away.

  ~

  Upset and not sure where to go, I shimmed into Hooks’ classroom. I wasn’t sure why, but I thought he might take a gander at my problems since he’d been helpful before when I asked about my mark.

  My second option for help was the Council. I didn’t want to be around Kenneth or my mother, even though she claimed I was her first priority. I didn’t think she should leave her husbands. But the council might give me some options. Find me a different place to stay. Somewhere I wouldn’t see the guys all the time or force them to leave. Even if they did leave, they’d be back.

  As I stood in Hooks’ classroom, I realized the lights were off and the scent of peppermint I associated with Hooks wasn’t present. Maybe I shimmed to the wrong place. Something...something felt off about the space. Something that made me pause.

  I flicked my fingers, and light flooded the room. The classroom, once full of empty desks, now stood bare. I twisted around to where Hooks usually sat at a computer, and found an empty dust mark on the floor where the desk used to be.

  Hooks was gone.

  He’d been here, but where was he now?

  A lone piece of paper tacked to the wall fluttered when the air kicked on. I walked over and tore it down.

  It was a picture of the woman I’d drawn for him at our first meeting, but this drawing was different. The woman was clearly in a hospital. Dark, pencil-shaded circles etched under her lids, her complexion paper white. A man sat by her side, his back to the drawing as he held the woman’s frail hand, head bowed. The picture gave the impression that the woman...she was...dying.

  My hand trembled as I held on. I drew this. But I didn’t remember ever doing it. How could I have? I hadn’t seen him since I was sick.

  The classroom door opened. I twisted around.

  “No one’s supposed to be—Carly?” Naylor came in further, leaving the door open behind him as confusion flashed across his face. “What are you doing in here?”

  A flicker of irritation and impatience flashed through me. I stepped toward him, determined to find answers. “Where is he, Naylor?”

  His eyes raked appreciatively over me before finding my gaze once again. “Who?”

  “Hooks,” I growled, my spine stiffening with indignation. “Enough games. Where is he? Did they move the history center to another place?”

  A chill crawled down my spine as his eyes fixed on me. “Carly, no one has used this room before. And there’s no one here by that name.” He cautiously stepped forward once again. “And history… Lydent history and index information are located at the council home base in Woods Canyon. I’m not sure how you were able to get in here, or what you saw—”

  My lips pursed. “It was real. I have the paper to prove it.”

  I walked over and handed him the drawing. He slowly took it from me, but his eyes never strayed from mine. His voice softened. “Your family, they’re looking for you.”

  “How about Jamison? Do you know him? He knows Hooks.”

  “We have a few Lydent boys by that name.”

  “He was a teen, maybe sixteen? Seventeen?”

  He nodded. “We could ask around.”

  I paused. He was being too compliant. Not his usual self. My hackles rose. “You notified them, didn’t you? Kenneth and the others?”

  A shadow of dismay crossed his face, and he covered it with a ghost of a smile. “You really are quite beautiful.”

  I growled.

  His hand reached out to touch my face. I jerked away.

  “You’re upset, love,” he said with a brief tilt of his head.

  Anger and nerves shook my voice. “I’m so done with this conversation.”

  “Wait!”

  He wasn’t fast enough to stop me before I shimmed.

  Chapter Eleven

  I shimmed to the council. If they wanted to find me, here I was. When I shimmed inside the council room, they were in the middle of a meeting. I closed my eyes, groaning. How embarrassing!

  Opening them back up, I saw Patrick, Myra, Saul, and Gaston were there along with three other people. The conversation stopped, and all faces swung to me.

  “So sorry!” I squeaked, ready to shim back out.

  “Carly, wait!” Patrick called, getting up out of his chair.

  “Is this her?” one man asked, his gaze raking over my form. “Is this the new Lydent woman?” He flashed a smile.

  “Ah.” The other man took me in, his lips curling in amusement. “Seems like there’s trouble in paradise.”

  Patrick’s face darkened. “Carly is my daughter,” he warned as he came my way. “I suggest you choose your words carefully.”

  Even though I was still embarrassed, a flower of warmth bloomed in my chest where my heart had been torn apart. Patrick reached me and shimmed us outside the council room doors.

  His eyes narrowed as he searched my face. “They can do without me for the moment. We’ve been looking for you. Where have you been? You should be sleeping or resting at least,” he said, trying to soothe my obvious distress. “Where’s your mom and Kenneth? Did Henry come with you?”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  I started to doubt whether this was a good idea. Maybe I shouldn’t have come to him, even though Mom said he had taken my side. Nerves filled me that maybe he wouldn’t see reason or wouldn’t help.

  I twisted my fingers, my heart hanging out in the wind. “Patrick, you know about how Kenneth kept the guys and me apart on purpose, right?”

  He nodded, his brow crinkling in confusion at the turn in conversation. “To some degree, I understood why. But I was never happy with him talking to you about it before us.”

  A frown creased my forehead. “You understood?”

  He lifted his hand then let it fall against his thigh. “Yes, Carly. I understood. It wasn’t easy seeing you and the boys growing closer each day when your mom and Kenneth got together. And at the same time, your mom and me. It wasn’t easy to introduce her into our life. Hell,” he dragged his hand through his hair. “Our lifestyle. None of us knew what to do when we saw the signs that you were growing closer than siblings. Kenneth only did what he thought was right without talking to us first.”

  “And now he’s sending them away.”

  He sighed. “It’s not like that.”

  I stiffened and sent him a glare. “It’s exactly like that. I overheard Mom and Kenneth talking. Don’t do that.” My gaze softened and sh
oulders dropped. “Let them stay.” Even though my heart was breaking, I said it again. “They need to stay. I’ll go.”

  His eyes widened. “No, Carly. There are only four Lydent females here, and you’re one of them. If you leave…” he trailed off. “It’s best if they go.”

  I snorted and started pacing. “That’s the point! I don’t belong here. At one time, sure. But not now.”

  “You’re wrong.”

  Stopping, I whipped around, my eyes blazing. “And so are you. All you care about is having another Lydent female here.” I threw a hand up in the air and gestured to the council room doors. “I’m needed. Not welcomed.”

  Patrick must have realized I was at a breaking point because he came over to me. His arms folded around my body. “You are welcome in our lives, Carly. Kenneth is just a hard man.”

  “I don’t belong,” I mumbled against his shirt. “I can’t stay. They’re going to come back, Patrick. I’m going to see them, and those same feelings are going to come back.”

  He pulled back and wiped a tear from my face. “You’re talking about my boys.”

  I nodded. “Not only them, though.”

  He sighed. “The whole bond group.”

  “Yeah. You see why sending Zander and Hale away only solves part of the problem? I don’t know what it is, I just feel something with them. I need to be the one who goes. Please,” I pleaded, my eyes begging him.

  He nodded. “And you can’t go home to the valley?”

  I drew my eyebrows together in a frown. “I don’t want to go there. My father wasn’t ever a help. Everything I’ve ever done has been on my own.”

  His shoulders dropped. “How has it come to this? You don’t even have your mark yet.”

  My brows lifted. “So, are you going to help me? What if my mark is late, but it’s not the one?” I asked him, feeling guilty. “What if I was matched with another group here? Maybe an older group? Or a younger group who are still kids?” I could see I was getting to him. “Patrick, I’m not ready for a relationship while I’m getting over a broken heart. I can’t love a new group right now. I can’t be that way with them. And it’s going to hurt me, even more, to watch Zander and Hale, or Baxter and Colton find their own wives.”