“Who are these wrong people?”
“There is something going on. We haven’t quite figured it out, but there have been a series of attacks on some of our smaller villages close to the Wasaeris, our crossover points,” Nato says.
“What happens if I want to leave for good and go back to my life?”
Jari winces and moves my hand to his chest. “Sweets, you can’t ever go back. For all intents and purposes, you were abducted and no one knows where you are. Even if you don’t want to be with us, you can never go back.”
“No intents and purposes about it. I was abducted.” I almost miss it, but I catch sight of barely perceptible flinches from every inhabitant in the room, even Sage. I frown. I get what Jari is saying. Until they want to release me to someone else's care, I am a prisoner here.
“Listen, this has all been a fucking ride, but I need some time to think. You say it’s too dangerous for me to go home. Work is out because you abducted me from there, and who knows what can of worms would open if I go back. I’m not even sure if that’s a can I should open. Where can I go?”
I need to get out of here. I haven’t processed everything that I need to, and I need to do some serious thinking. I need to do that without the distraction of four gorgeous men.
After an exchange of looks around the room, Nato finally answers. “You can always go to your room, or you can take a walk outside. An electric fence runs around the property, and there isn’t a neighbor for miles in any direction.”
This is his warning. Stay on the property, and even if I try to leave, I won’t get far.
“And don’t forget, I can always find you.” He taps the mark on his cheek with surprising accuracy.
That makes my blood boil. If I don’t get out right this second, I will definitely say things I’ll regret.
I pull away from Jari and Egan, and nearly knock Nato over as I storm to the door. My teeth are grinding so hard it's entirely possible that a tooth is about to crack. I shove the door open and stomp out into the yard.
“AAAGGHHHHH!” I tip my head back and scream to the sky. I jump and stomp around for a good three minutes. Anyone looking at me would seriously consider this a tantrum, but you know what? I don’t give a fuck.
I feel mildly better, but before I go for a stroll around wonderland, I stomp back up the stairs and throw the door open.
“Nato!” I point at him. “I just want you to know—FUCK YOU!” I scream at him. Man, that felt good.
I stomp back down the stairs, across the yard, and navigate through the red rocks. Spruce and pine trees are littered over the landscape. These Christmas trees among the red boulders are a beautiful contradiction. The trees remind me of everything family and winter and joy. The boulders represent heat and desert and loneliness. If I weren’t so confused and angry right now, I would take a few minutes to appreciate it.
Instead, I just start walking. The morning air is crisp, and I’m starting to notice the chill. In my haste to get away, I completely forgot that I am only in an oversized T-shirt and underwear. I don’t even have any shoes on. Dammit!
My anger is draining away quickly as the cold sets in. I spot a boulder that sits right in the sunshine. Perfect.
I climb on top and wrap my arms around my legs. The rock is already warming from the direct contact.
Now that I’m alone, I can process my thoughts.
Do I believe these guys? Yes, I do. There’s the color change on my birthmark and Nato’s new, identical blue mark. Then there’s the way Nato knocked me out in the bathroom. There was no prick from a syringe and no cloth of chloroform. That leaves few possibilities for how he managed to knock me out so quickly and get out of the diner without a struggle. Lastly, Egan’s display of power with the bobcat is huge. Even if the bobcat was domesticated, he wouldn’t take naps on strangers’ laps. No, they are definitely telling the truth.
The other important question is what are their plans for me? I want to believe they are good people, because let’s face it, who wants to think they are in an impossibly bad situation? For most people, human nature dictates that we deny what we fear until the absolute last moment. And when that last moment comes, there’s still a chance that a human will deny reality. I’m no exception.
I should make a pros and cons list. For the pros: These men haven’t mistreated me. They have fed me and been all around pleasant. A little handsy, but hey, they’re all insanely hot, so who am I to turn them away?
The cons: Nato knocked me out at the diner. Even if he did give me water and cuddles when I woke up, that doesn’t negate the act. Cuddles do not make a knockout okay. Then there is how they conspired to kidnap me from my place of work. Not cool. The better solution would be to talk to me after work. Or build trust with me by coming into the diner regularly.
Finally, Nato took my choice away not only by knocking me unconscious but by permanently tying us together for life. That is never acceptable. Is that even forgivable? I’m not sure. It doesn’t help his case that he is not repentant. At all.
I flop back on the boulder. Ouch. I hit my head harder than I anticipated.
What the hell am I supposed to do? Should I stay? Should I go?
Oh god. Now I sound like a cliché 80s’ song.
Back to important things. Nato says he can always find me. Is it in my best interest to leave to test that, and if I do, how do I escape? The only real choice I have is to get to know these men and find out what is really going on and what their intentions toward me are. I refuse to stay only because of the enigmatic draw I feel every time I’m around one of the guys. Only I decide if this is where I need to be.
If it’s not, and I’m bound to Nato regardless… Well, that’s a bridge I’ll cross when I get there.
A BRANCH SNAPS close by. Followed by another, then another, and then a slight rustle of leaves.
I sit up and arrange my shirt so whoever is coming my way doesn’t get a peep show. Expecting to see one of my four guys—did I really just call them mine? In some twisted way, I have claimed ownership of them already. Anyway, expecting to see one of the guys I know, I’m startled when someone I don’t recognize walks through the trees.
It’s a man who is probably about the same height as Jari but closer to Egan’s build. Black-as-night hair, long enough to need to be constantly pushed out of his eyes. A gasp escapes me, and when he glances up, he appears as surprised as I am.
His gray eyes are no less mesmerizing than those of the men I’ve recently met. He has more feminine features—softer lines and a plump mouth. He is no less handsome than Nato, Jari, Sage, or Egan, though. Beautiful is a good word for him.
I’m not quite sure what to do about this man approaching me. It has crossed my mind that if these guys thought I was important enough to kidnap, others might feel the same way. Wouldn’t that be the pits? To take a much-needed break for privacy in the woods only to be kidnapped by a second unknown group of Fae.
I remind myself to ask the guys what they call their race. I can’t keep referring to them as “the others” or the Fae. When I think a term in my head, it eventually comes out of my mouth. That’s offensive, even if only in my head.
His steps falter before continuing to come closer. His expression is unreadable, but his eyes are curious. Once he gets within a few feet of me, his mouth drops open in shock. From his reaction, he has to be part of the same supernatural race. He reminds me of a young kid at Christmas who just saw Santa Claus. Definitely one of them, and looking at me a little too covetously. I inconspicuously scoot backward in case I need to make a quick getaway.
“Who are you?” he says with reverence in his voice that I’m totally not comfortable with.
“Isolde. Who are you?”
“Are you with Nato? He is the only one in the area from the House of Zien. It must be him.” He says the last more to himself than to me.
“Unfortunately, yes. Do you live close to here? Is that why you are on their property?” I give him the side eye. I’m not
even sure if my guys are good guys or not. Trying to navigate if this is a friend or foe of my maybe-allies, and whether that makes him my friend or foe…let’s just say it’s exhausting.
“What do you mean unfortunately? Did he force himself on you?” He practically yells.
Hmm. It could be bad for him if I admit that I didn’t know he bonded to me. Retribution will come at my hands, and I don’t want to force any moves when I don’t fully understand the game.
“No, sorry. I worded that wrong. I’m just a little peeved at him right now.”
His scowl melts away, and his shoulders relax.
“No, my lady, my apologies. I jumped to conclusions. It’s chilly here. Why don’t you let me escort you to the house?” He cuts me a look out of the corner of his eye. He has to be wondering why I have neither pants nor shoes on. But I don’t plan on elaborating.
I hesitantly slip off the rock, trying to hold the hem of my shirt down to protect my modesty. The tension in my arms and shoulders remains coiled in case he turns out to be a serial killer. Not sure what I could do about it, but I’m on alert all the same. I keep him in my peripheral vision as we make our way back up to the house.
“Here, wear this.” He takes off his zip-up Patagonia jacket and drapes it around my shoulders. He looks like the typical trendy mountain man. Khaki hiking pants with a blue plaid shirt.
He’s so mountain preppy. His style widens the canyon between him and my guys. Nato is an all-black kind of guy, where Sage is more clean cut. Jari tends to lean toward emo style in his skinny jeans, and Egan has the grunge look going for him. They are all different, but I feel like this guy is in a completely different game with his stiff collar and clean khakis.
“Thanks.” I peek at him from under my lashes as I start to head back toward the house. “So who are you, and what’s your name?”
He laughs as he comes up to walk beside me. “My name is Rand. I don’t live far from here and occasionally work with these sorry excuses for Fennin.” Note to self, the Fae-like people are called Fennin. “So how did you get mixed up with this crowd?” He smiles over at me as he places his hands in his pockets.
“I actually thought they were my Uber and jumped into the back of their car.” He belts out a laugh as I grin at the coincidence. “I know. Crazy, right? The rest is history from there.”
“For some reason I feel there might be a bit more to that story.”
You ain’t lying, buddy.
Rand bumps my shoulder with his as he makes that comment. He is definitely trying to lead the conversation. He’ll figure out I am not easily led.
“So, I guess you are one of the Fennin too? What house do you hail from?”
“Where do I hail from? Why, my lady, I am from the House of Janer. My specialty within my power group is weaponry. Some would say I have a way with a longsword.” He smirks as his eyes drag down my body. What a line.
“Does that line actually work when you use it?”
“Pardon?” His eyebrows lift, and his eyes widen in mock innocence. “Do you think I’m trying to hit on you? If you think that...then you are absolutely correct. I would love to spend time with you in the near future.”
His gaze is assessing, but I don’t see the burning need I’ve seen in Egan’s and Nato’s eyes. Makes me wonder what his endgame is.
“All right, Casanova. Thanks for the offer, but I’m afraid I will have to pass for now.” We are just coming up on the house when the back door opens. Sage and Jari walk to the edge of the porch and stare down at us as we make our way to the stairs. For once, both assume similar postures, and by that I mean hostile.
I look sideways at Rand.
“Sorry, Rand. Isolde will have no free time to accommodate your request. We plan to keep her plenty busy.” Jari crosses his arms, and a fierce scowl comes over his face.
“That so. Tell me, are you keeping her busy too, Sage?”
Sage’s top lip lifts in a sneer. If the look of disgust on his face was directed at me, I would feel worse than gum on his shoe.
“You can go fuck yourself. If you aren’t gone in thirty seconds, we are going to see who really knows how to handle his sword.” That almost makes me snort. Heh. Sage handles his sword.
Rand lifts his hands and steps back, a smile tilting his lips. Only this smile has no warmth. Not even the remote friendliness I got on our walk back.
“No harm, no foul, friend. I was just out for a stroll anyway. Isolde, it was a pleasure to meet you. I’m sure I will be seeing you soon. Very soon.” He turns and strolls down the driveway with his hands in his pockets. We all stare after him until he disappears.
Well, hell. Now I had a strong feeling he was out in the woods for nefarious purposes. I guess I should consider myself lucky that I made it back to the house in one piece.
“Didn’t your parents ever tell you not to talk to strangers?” Sage calls out in a voice that is so condescending, it takes every ounce of willpower not to stalk up the stairs and tear his balls off.
Instead, I sashay up the steps and stop directly in front of him. “You mean the parents I don’t have? Or rather, haven’t had since I was five years old.” The hardness in his eyes thaws a smidge, and his face softens. I can tell I shocked him. “But to answer your question, yes, they did teach me that before they died. Didn’t work for me though, did it? Considering how I was still kidnapped from my work. Listen, I don’t know what your problem is, but I don’t want to be here any more than you want me here. So if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. Didn’t your family ever teach you that?”
I turn to go inside, and just when I pass through the door I hear his reply, barely above a whisper. “What family?”
Well, damn. That makes me feel like the biggest jerk. I don’t acknowledge his reply though. I have no idea how to respond. Oh sorry, I didn’t like that you took a dig at my family, so I unknowingly took a dig at yours.
In the living room, both Nato and Egan try to catch my eye, but I’m not quite ready to talk yet. Even though I haven’t been up long, I feel like I deserve a nap. So I’m going to take one.
I take off Rand’s jacket and lay it across the back of the chair in the guest room. One of the guys can return it to him later. Right after I get the history on that.
I flop backward onto the bed and roll under the covers. Ugh, now that I have been away from the guest room, I can smell Nato on the sheets. It totally irks me how much I love it. This has to be a side effect of the bond. At least, I hope.
When I wake up, there is an intense heat along my back and a heavy weight across my waist. Blinking my heavy eyes, I see Nato asleep behind me.
“What the hell!” I fling his arm off my waist and sit up. “Do you not understand what personal space is?”
Nato jumps awake and shakes his head. The covers fall to his waist, and he just happens to be shirtless. He looks utterly confused that I would wake him up in such a fashion. Almost offended that I have the audacity to wake him up at all, judging by the downward tilt to his mouth.
“You better have clothes on under that blanket.”
Nato grins such a stupid, crooked grin. He looks more carefree than I have ever seen his broody ass. “And if I don’t?” He purrs, trying to lean into me, apparently going for the seductive play. Too bad for him I’m immune. Or almost immune, but he doesn’t need to know that. It would be detrimental to my cause if he had the barest inkling of his effect on me. Thank my lucky stars I’m a good actor.
But a girl can only take so much. Why couldn’t these men be pimply, greasy-headed dweebers?
I shove him back with a palm in his chest.
“You know what? I don’t care. I’m getting up anyway.” I slide to the edge, but a hand snakes around my waist and pulls me backward.
Nato rolls me under him and uses his devil fingers to find my greatest weakness. My tickle spots. He digs his fingers in between my ribs with more pressure than I have ever been tickled before. I dated a tickler for a few m
onths in high school who tried to get my clothes off that way. I’m pretty sure he thought tickling me would lower my inhibitions and increase my horniness tenfold. Needless to say, that fling was very short.
I know instinctively that Nato isn’t trying to seduce me. This is about being with me and in my company, any way he can be.
I jerk and buck, but he is too strong and too determined. I laugh and chortle until tears are rolling down my face. The tickling is strange, a little bit of pleasure and a little bit of pain from the bite of his dancing hands.
“Uncle! Uncle! I give!” I shout. Through the blurriness of my watering eyes, his face looks exuberant. His eyes are crinkled at the corners, and the smile is so wide, the white of his teeth practically takes up the whole bottom half of his face.
“Good.” He falls to the side of me, wrapping me back up in his arms. It feels so good. This closeness is so foreign, but it fills a void I didn’t realize was there until I met him. Nato and his pushy personality. He is forceful and intense and completely unapologetic. I sort of love it, not that I would ever admit it.
“Listen, Iss. I wanted to have a few minutes with you before we rejoin the rest of the group. I wanted to explain myself to just you. I need you to know that I never wanted to take away your choice. That wasn’t my intent.”
He talks, and I lie there wrapped up in his arms as he tells me what he needs to get off his chest.
“One of the gifts of House Zien is the sight. Now, I don’t have visions or prophecies like some of our stronger members with those gifts, but I do get feelings. Instincts, if you will. I knew the moment you jumped into our car that you were someone important. I just didn’t know how. Then when Egan saw the Zien mark on your face, it started to make sense.
“I knew you were the one that we were waiting for. Looking for. Bad things are happening, and by some unknown power, when we are in need, Mazzas are born. I was drawn to you like I have never been drawn to someone before. Even though you can technically bind with any one person from each house, I knew you were meant to be with me.
Marks of the Mazza: Reverse Harem (Mazza Series Book 1) Page 5
