His green eyes flashed in her direction, “What is so amusing?”
“Well, let me see...” She tapped her chin with her index finger a habit she had gotten from Chantelle. “Did you go all, I’m a mighty all powerful being so you best listen to me, at the club?”
A sheepish look overtook Loki’s features; that was all the answer she needed. The rest she could piece together herself. If she knew anything about her sister it was all Savannah’s suggestion that she dance with a juicehead gorilla.
She gave Frigga a knowing look, if he had tried to be a he-man they had their work cut out for them. “Well, why would you go and do something like that?”
“Because that mortal boy had no right to touch her.”
Emma fought hard to hold in her laughter. Finally with great effort her will won out. “I sure hope you didn’t say that to ‘Telle.”
When he didn’t answer she just motioned for him to take the seat across from them. Loki needed to get his head on straight if they were going to figure out what they had to do. With his attitude and medieval thinking they needed to do some serious damage control. If he had made a fool of himself, getting Chantelle to fall in love with him would be harder than planning D-Day.
Emma poured him a cup of tea from the service before them. She hoped it would calm him down enough to think clearly. There was no telling what had gone on at the Serpent’s Den tonight. But if a messenger from The Council of Immortals wasn’t there yet that was a good sign. An angry mate they could deal with. It might take some serious convincing but it would work. She wasn’t so sure that dealing with a pissed off Council would turn out well for any of them.
Frigga had said they were already gunning for Loki. Perhaps it was because his mischief had taken on a dark tone these last few centuries. But now that he had found his chosen one, all that would change. She would bring the balance back to his soul. Or at least that’s what Emma was told.
“Son, calm down and tell us exactly what happened.”
Slowly, as if walking through quicksand or waking from a dream, Loki began to tell them what had transpired that evening. He didn’t spare any details, even the ones that had him wanting to murder someone.
It was a good thing Savannah had driven to the club, because Chantelle was shaking. There was no telling what she would have done if Loki had come after her. His arrogance just rubbed her the wrong way. They were living in the here and now, not some trumped up bodice ripper. She was even more annoyed at the way she had reacted to his kisses. The way she had let him touch her as no man ever had. She was beyond upset about all of this.
There was no telling what would come out of her mouth right now if she opened it. So she just sat there and watched the dark streets pass by the car window. She had never felt so angry in her entire life.
They had been having such a good time at the club and then that jerk had to go and get grabby. Chantelle could have handled Steve with no trouble and then she would have just carried on with her evening. But no, life had other plans for her.
Loki had been there to witness the whole thing. Not only had he witnessed the scene Steve had made, but he had to charge in and try to save her. As if she needed saving from a guy with the thought process of a Neanderthal.
At that moment her cell buzzed signaling she had a text. Pushing the message icon a little harder then was necessary, she noticed it was from Arabella.
‘’Telle, go easy on the guy. He’s old school. ;)’
Furious, she texted back, ‘You knew he was going to be there. That’s what all that cryptic shit was about?’
Arabella’s answer came faster than she expected. It seemed she knew what Chantelle was going to say. Maybe foresight wasn’t such a bad gift after all?
‘Don’t shoot the messenger. :) Besides, I have something to tell you.’
Oh no. Not another prophecy. Chantelle could not take any more crap on her plate. Tonight had been the last straw. Yet she found herself wondering what Bells could have to tell her.
‘What?’
‘A blue eyed witch will seek her revenge. Claiming all that the dark immortal holds dear. Reflect her dark spell back upon her. Together the yin & yang shall stand strongest.’
Chantelle just stared at her iPhone. What the hell was she raving about now? She could make more sense out of a Dr. Seuss book.
‘Explain.’
Her screen lit up. ‘You know I can’t. Luv, Hell’s Bells.’
Frowning at her screen she didn’t even bother to answer. Chantelle knew that she wouldn’t get any more out of Arabella. Sometimes her friend annoyed her more than most people. After one of her visions or prophecies you were left with more questions than answers. Anytime you asked her to explain, Arabella would say she wouldn’t.
Chantelle knew it was more like she couldn’t. When one was burdened with the gift of Foresight they were not allowed to meddle. Sure they could give you Lady Cleo answers, but anything more and you were on your own.
“If you keep up all that thinking you’re going start a fire.”
Chantelle could only glare at Savannah. She was having a hard enough night without her joining in.
Savannah nodded toward the phone, “Was that Bells?”
“Yeah, she was being her normally cryptic self.”
As they drove down the quiet stretch of road Savannah asked her, “So what was that all about back there?”
Chantelle eyed her as if she had grown another head. What kind of question was that? Didn’t she understand that he had embarrassed her? That by trying to be her hero he had set all women back about six centuries. Or maybe it was just her.
After all Savannah seemed to like guys who would fight for you. For as long as they had been friends the willowy blond beside her had gone for the cave man type; all brawn and no brains. She had asked her once why that was, Savannah had answered that they made her feel safe and wanted.
“Really, ‘Telle what’s wrong?”
She turned then to face her friend wondering just how much she should tell her. Should she let Savannah know that she was Loki’s Fatum Anima? Knowing Savannah the way she did, she knew that was not the best idea. She would be making wedding arrangements before the night was over. But if she couldn’t tell her then who could she confide in?
“He thinks I’m his mate.”
Oh God, there it was out in the open, Chantelle wanted to cringe. She had treated him so badly and he had let her. Not once retaliating. Absently, Chantelle ran her fingers over her kiss swollen lips. Her thoughts returning to Loki.
He could have carried her off into the night and not broken a sweat. Yet, when she had pulled away from their heated kiss he had let her go. All but telling her to leave before the choice was taken from her.
“That’s a… great.” Savannah shot her an odd look.
“Why don’t you sound convinced?”
Chantelle was hoping that Savannah would tell her it was a mistake. She had a gift of her own. Savannah could tell exactly who was destined to be together. When they were at the Academy, the headmistresses told her friend that she needed to keep her gift a secret. Because there was a group that was rising up that would hunt her for her power. They wanted to know which mortal Halfling belongs to which immortal. They would stop at nothing for the information. Even if it meant killing all those she loved and making her watch.
“Oh, I’m more than convinced. I just think you could have handled it better.”
Chantelle gave her a dirty look. “Well how would you have handle it, oh great temptress?”
Savannah waved her hand, “No need to be snide. You love him and that bothers you. It’s cool. None of us are perfect.”
That was crazy. Chantelle knew she couldn’t love a man she didn’t know. There was no such thing as love at first sight. That was the stuff of high school crushes. When you wrote your name and their name in little hearts all over your books.
But at almost twenty-five it was time to put away such flights of fancy. To stop
dreaming of your prince charming and work with what life gave you. She refused to believe in fairy-tale romances; even when her life was so steeped in magic.
Savannah was still waiting for her reply and she still couldn’t think of anything to say. How could she begin to explain that she hadn’t pushed Loki away because of the whole Steve incident? Chantelle had become angry with him because he was acting as if he had some screwed up right to her and for some strange reason her soul seemed to agree with him. Now he had Savannah backing his claim. She was so screwed.
No, that couldn’t be right. Chantelle was a person not a possession. There was no way he was just going to waltz out of her dreams and into her life, as if he belonged there. Loki could just go back to wherever he came from for all she cared.
“You don’t believe me about him?” Her eyes never left the road. But they didn’t have to; Chantelle heard the impatience in her voice.
“Loki. His name is Loki.”
Chantelle only waited a heartbeat of time before Savannah was pulling the car to the shoulder of the road. She cut the engine and turned to stare at her.
“Damn girl. You couldn’t pick any old immortal could you? You had to go and snag yourself a badass. Leave it to you to pick a troublemaker for a man.”
She put her head in her hands, admitting defeat. Savannah was right, of course. She had a big problem on her hands. Loki was a prince. He would expect her to treat him with deference, not how she had tonight.
“I’m in deep here.” She rubbed her arms, her heart aching for him already. “I think I love him.”
Chantelle said it so fast, she wasn’t sure Savannah had heard her. She really hoped she hadn’t. Regretting the words the moment they were out of her mouth.
“You what?”
“God, help me, I think I love him. How can I not? I’ve known him since I was five. Maybe not on the physical plane, but still I know him.” Her friend didn’t say anything, just shook her head so Chantelle knew she was still listening. “I find myself drawn to him. It’s as if he is the other half of my soul.”
A nervous laugh left her as she waited for Savannah to tell her she was crazy. That some guy she’s never met; except in her dreams doesn’t just walk into your life one day. Acting as if he’s always been there and has some claim on you.
“So you love him. You’re supposed to. Or did you sleep through all those lessons about Fatum Anima?”
“I was wide awake, same as you. I just can’t have this in my life now. Emma needs me.”
“That’s a lame excuse and you know it. He can only see to your happiness. Emma is included in that you know?”
Chantelle knew she was right. If making sure Emma was taken care of was important to her it would be important to Loki too. One mate could not hurt the other. They were two halves of the same soul. Destined long before either was born. He would complete her and she him.
Tonight had only been an example of how fiercely he would protect her and when he had let her leave she knew it had torn at his soul. But she needed space and he could only give it to her.
Savannah started the car and pulled back onto the road. “I think you’ve had a long night. We’ll go pick up Emma and you’ll go home and get some sleep. Tomorrow everything will be clear.”
All Chantelle could do was nod in agreement. There was just too much to think about. If Loki was really her mate, then things would be changing. She was too afraid to hope it was for the better. Besides, Arabella had warned her about a blue eyed witch. She did not need to deal with crazy immortals on top of her mate.
Chapter 19:
The sapphire mustang pulled to a stop in front of the cream colored Tudor. Savannah cut the engine, both women exiting the car laughing. Each of them had hoped to dispel the thoughts of the conversation from moments ago.
There had been too much shared between them in the space of only an hour. Things that once they had admitted to could never be taken back. Savannah had coaxed Chantelle to admit to feeling a need for Loki.
That wasn’t what troubled them; it was their theory of exactly who the man was to her that made them worry. Even if their theory was right, Chantelle didn’t know if she could just accept the alpha male claim of her Fatum Anima. Really? There was no amount of schooling the Academy could have given them that would prepare them for this. They were modern women. How were they supposed to handle centuries old men?
Chantelle had always had her suspicions about Frigga. What if she really was the Norse queen? That would mean one of two things. She had either known about Loki’s connection to Chantelle and lied. Or she was mortal and had no idea about any of this.
She was hoping it was the latter, because there was no way Chantelle would stand for anyone lying. Not even a millennium old queen. Sorry, there were somethings you just could not allow.
Chantelle quieted as she pulled Frigga’s house key out of her pocket. “I don’t know if they’re sleeping. The lights are on in the living room, so who knows.”
Both women finished their conversation in hushed whispers, just in case Frigga and Emma had fallen asleep watching TV. Often times Chantelle would come out of the kitchen to say dinner was ready to find them asleep on the couch with the TV on and forgotten. She smiled at the memory. Chantelle opened the door and let them in. They tiptoed into the hallway trying not to make too much noise.
“Chantelle is going to be so pissed.” Emma sounded nervous and Chantelle was willing to let her language pass this time.
Both women stopped where they were so they didn’t alert anyone of their presence. Whatever was being discussed in the other room seemed to be some kind of secret. If Chantelle knew her sister there was no way she would get it out of her other than eavesdropping.
The sound of the conversation taking place in the living room did not bode well for the rest of the evening. Chantelle wondered what Emma thought she would be pissed about. Maybe something had happened at the tutors that she hadn’t told her. She hoped her baby sister wasn’t fighting with other kids, no that didn’t make sense Emma never fought. She was too even keeled. Maybe she liked a boy and didn’t want Chantelle to give her the birds and bees talk?
It was the next voice that halted her worry over Emma. As a matter of fact it had her seeing red. All thoughts of her baby sister’s nonexistent love life forgotten.
“Be that as it may, she is my female and will be returning home with me this evening.”
His voice flowed over Chantelle like warm honey from a dripping hive. The old world elegance of his words made her long to give into his every demand. Yet the smugness behind them set her teeth on edge. How dare he assume that she would just drop everything for him? He may be her mate, but that didn’t give him the right to lord it over her.
Loki sounded as if she would blindly do whatever he wished. As if he could snap his fingers and she would come running with his pipe and slippers. Well, let him just try it and see if she didn’t throw the damn things at him.
She turned then to look at her friend, “Are you with me?”
Savannah lifted one finely arched brow, “With you? I’m gonna skip beside you, with a Louisville slugger, singing, ‘someone’s gonna get it’.”
Even annoyed Chantelle found herself chuckling at her antics, “They sure are.”
They moved into the living room and the conversation died faster than a fish out of water. Loki caught her eye and nodded in her direction. Chantelle turned her nose up at him, not bothering to acknowledge any of the three before her.
Just who the hell did he think he was? Ok, that was a stupid question, because he was claiming to be her mate. So he was practicing under the assumption that she should be on her knees worshiping him. Well that practice went out with the golden calf, so he could keep dreaming.
Her body betrayed her at the thought of worshiping him. The images of her on her knees before him flashed through her mind. She could see herself doing things to him with her mouth she wasn’t even sure were possible, at least with his si
ze. Chantelle felt annoyance flare as soon as the blush painted her cheeks.
Damn her treacherous thoughts. There was no way she should he thinking about Loki like that. She was pissed at everyone in this room and there was no way her hormones were going to make her forget that she had been lied to.
Chantelle was getting ready to let him have it, but movement to her left caught her attention. Frigga stood up and opened her arms as if to embrace her. Chantelle shook her head, too afraid to speak.
She worried her bottom lip, afraid she would cry because of Frigga’s betrayal. Here she finds her with Emma and a man who thinks he has some kind of claim on her. He had even gone so far as to plan on spiriting her away, with their help. In her book that was considered aiding and abetting.
Or at least that’s what he had been telling her baby sister before she had interrupted their little meeting of the minds. Speaking of Emma, just how much did her sister know about all of this? Was that why she had been so eager to have Chantelle go out tonight? Did she know Loki would be at the Serpent’s Den?
Chantelle held up her hand, “Don’t. I deserve an explanation.”
The anger and hurt rolled off of her, slowly filling the room and its occupants. She felt Savannah tense beside her, waiting for the thunderclap after the lighting. But Chantelle’s inner storm was building slowly, like heat lightning on a hot summer night.
She prayed that one of the three people before her could come up with a plausible excuse for what she had walked in on. If not, she was done. Chantelle would wash her hands of Frigga. She had no qualms about walking out of the older woman’s life and never returning.
After working so long for her, she had thought of Frigga as family, someone she could trust with her life. Funny how the person you would take a bullet for is usually the one pulling the trigger.
“Chantelle, you need to calm down.” Emma whispered not daring to look her in the eyes.
Chantelle was ready to lose her cool. Calm down? For what she had just heard, Chantelle was as close to calm as she was going to get. Besides, who in their right mind would let a cover-up the size of Watergate go unpunished.
Mischief's Mate (The Immortal Mates Book 1) Page 14
