“I’m not telling you,” I said quickly, jerking my head back to look at him.
“If it’s something dangerous or something you could-”
“Nico, I’m not stupid. I promise to be careful with my purchases. I’m actually planning on talking with King Katar about it.”
“My dad?” Fox asked. “Why?”
“I need help with something magic related,” I explained. “And I can’t ask you guys. And, I don’t really want to use your dad,” I whispered to Nico.
“Understandable,” he nodded.
“So, I figured King Katar was my next best option. Plus, I haven’t really gotten to spend much time with him.”
“Why can’t you tell us?” Nico asked, frowning.
“Because I can’t.”
If I told them what I was doing, it would ruin the surprise! The whole point of having my exes with me today was to keep my guards away, so they wouldn’t see what I purchased. If I asked for their help in finishing it, they’d know what it was. Why didn’t they get that?
“We just don’t want you hurt or doing something you could be hurt with. Magic is dangerous,” Nico said.
“I’m sure King Katar will keep me safe,” I told him and rolled my eyes. “He likes me, remember?”
“Yes, he does,” Fox agreed. “He likes your omega, but alpha personality. It intrigues him.”
“Oh, so now I’m like a weird science experiment?” I asked, defensively.
Did they think of me as some weird human that needed to be observed? Were the kings really nice to me because they liked me being around to see what I might do? I was a bit strange, yeah, I knew that, but I wasn’t completely weird.
“That’s not what I meant,” Fox said. “I meant that it’s unique to have a female like you. You’re not weird or a freak. You’re refreshing. It’s nice to have a female who likes the same things that we do. Do you know how hard it is to find a female who plays video games more than we do? Most get upset if we’re playing for more than an hour. You’ll play even after we go to bed.”
“Yes, I’m a video game addict. I know.”
“We love it,” Nico whispered and kissed my cheek. “It’s one of the great things about you.”
“We need to play more games,” I grumbled. “I haven’t played much lately. My clan has started to tease me and is calling me Jolie’s ghost. I’ve been dead to them for months.”
“We will,” Nico promised.
“This seems pretty easy for something that’s so important,” I told King Katar. I was facing him, sitting at a table in his house, with the bloodstones on the table between us.
“It is easy, but that’s because it is something that we wanted to be sure almost anyone could do. Now, take the crystal in your hand, fill it with your energy, and then put a drop of your blood on it. It will soak up the blood and seal it inside,” he instructed me.
It was simple and wouldn’t take long, but I would have to do the process four times. I didn’t like knowing I would have to cut myself four different times.
It was worth it though. I was really looking forward to seeing the guys’ reactions when they opened this gift. I knew without a doubt, that it would be the best present I would ever give them.
The bloodstones were small, the size of a grain of rice, and their purpose was to embed them in your skin, to add a piece of your mate to your body, so they would permanently be part of you. Most put the crystal on their wrists, so it was visible, but not in a way that drew your eye. I had seen some people put them on their chests and behind their ears. I wasn’t sure where the guys would put theirs, but I was anxious to find out.
The crystal was warm in my hand and it warmed even more as I filled it with my energy. Since I didn’t have my own magic, I had to use my energy. Once it was full, I used the needle Katar had given me, and smeared blood onto the crystal. As he had said, the crystal absorbed the blood and turned red. I put the crystal into a small black box, similar to a ring box, but with a groove made specifically for the crystal.
“Doing it one time is no problem,” I muttered. “Most are lucky to have just one mate.”
Katar chuckled softly. “I think you’re pretty lucky.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I said, blushing. I was the luckiest female on the planet. Four hot males, who were princes, and loved me more than anything else. I couldn’t ask for more.
“Round two,” I said with a sigh, grabbing another crystal and putting it in my hand.
When I was finally done, I let my head fall onto my arms on the table. “Done!” I exclaimed.
Katar patted my arm. “Well done.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you ready for Christmas now?” he asked as he packed up the things on the table and wiped it down, even though none of my blood had spilled.
“Yes. Now, I just have to wait to give them their gifts,” I said. “I need to hide these somewhere so they won’t find them. If they see the boxes, they’ll know right away what their gifts are.”
“Would you like me to put a cloaking spell on them?” Katar asked.
“You can do that?” I asked him in shock. “It would stay even after I leave?”
He nodded. “I can make the bag you put them in look like a present box, and you can put it under your tree. Even if they touch it, they won’t know the truth. It will last until you take the boxes out of the bag.”
“That’s amazing!” I exclaimed.
He smiled. “I enjoy talking with you. You let your emotions out, which is refreshing since Others hide their emotions all the time.”
“Rhys said I need to learn to use a court face, to hide my emotions when I don’t want people to know what I’m thinking or feeling,” I said. “But, it’s really hard!”
“They’re taught how to do it from a very young age,” Katar said. “It is not something you will pick up after a month or two. You will have to continue practicing the rest of your life. You are such an emotional creature, that I’m not sure if you will ever be able to do it.”
“Thanks for the pep talk,” I mumbled.
He laughed and wrapped me up in a hug. “It gets better.”
“I hope so. I’m really far behind the curve.”
“Let me spell your bag and then I can go fetch Foxfire. I’m sure he’s paced a moat around the house by now.”
I put all of the boxes into a single black, drawstring bag and handed the bag to Katar. He held it in his flattened palms and whispered some words I didn’t understand. Then, the bag disappeared and a beautiful green Christmas box with a red bow appeared in its place.
“So, I just open the drawstring, pull out the boxes, and the illusion will disappear?”
He nodded.
“You’re amazing!” I exclaimed and hugged him.
“Don’t start that,” Kara said with a sigh. “It will go to his already big head.”
Kara was Fox’s mother and Katar’s queen and mate. She was tall, slim, and had gorgeous silver hair that flowed tangle free down her back. I envied her hair and her beauty, mostly because she was also super sweet.
“Hello, Kara,” I bowed my head in greeting.
She pulled me into a hug and kissed my cheek. “Hello, Daughter.”
This was a new thing that I was not used to yet. Deryn, Rhys, and Fox’s parents had all begun calling me their daughter. It was a high honor that I didn’t feel comfortable having.
“Is Foxfire still pacing?” Katar asked Kara.
She nodded. “He’s convinced something is going to go wrong.”
“They’re so rude,” I grumbled.
“They just don’t like not being involved,” Kara said. “They want to keep you safe, but when you’re away from them, holed up with their father, they have no way to help you.”
“I’m certain if I screamed, he would come running,” I said.
“Try it,” Katar said with a smirk.
“Really?” I asked him.
He nodded. “I want to see what hi
s reaction will be. He knows I’m here and that I’m helping you. I wonder how quickly he will run here.”
“He’s out front, right?” I said.
Kara nodded.
I took a deep breath and then screamed loudly. Fox was there the next instant and had me in his arms before I could even suck in a new breath.
“What is it?” he asked, scanning the room.
“So little trust,” Katar said with a sigh. “I’m hurt, Foxfire.”
“What?” Fox asked, looking from me to his parents.
“Nothing’s wrong,” I assured him. “Katar wanted to see how fast you would come here if you heard me scream, even though I’m in his protection.”
“It has nothing to do with you, Father,” Fox argued.
“Are you ever going to call me, ‘Father’?” Katar asked me.
“Sorry,” I whispered. “I’m just not used to it yet.”
“It’s what you call Dan,” Kara pointed out.
“I’m used to assembling myself into a werewolf pack. I’m trying,” I said. “Maybe it will come easier once Fox and I are mated.”
“Did you give her the present?” Kara asked Katar.
He shook his head. “I figured you would want to.”
“It’s not Christmas yet,” I said.
“We’re just very excited to give it to you,” she said. “I suppose I can wait until Christmas to give it to you. You are coming the morning of Christmas, right?”
“Yes, Mother,” Fox said. “We will come here no later than nine o’clock.”
“But, we can only stay for a couple hours because we have to go visit the other clans as well,” I reminded them.
“Nine to eleven with the elves. Eleven to one with the dragons. One to three with the mages. Three to five with the werewolves. Then, home to do our presents,” Fox explained.
“That’s a lot of parties and food,” Kara said. “Are you going to survive?”
“Hopefully,” I laughed. “I’ll just make sure to eat small amounts at each place.”
“I’ll make sure to package you the best foods to take home with you,” Kara said.
“Make sure you pack the fudge!” Fox said. “She has to be able to eat your fudge.”
“I’ll make her her own special batch,” Kara promised.
“You’re the best,” I told her, tapping Fox to put me down so I could hug her.
She hugged me and kissed my cheek as she pulled back. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes,” I agreed, hugged Katar, and then picked up the present and smiled at Fox.
“What is that?” he asked me.
“A gift,” I answered.
“But they said they didn’t give it to you yet,” he said.
“It’s one she cannot open until you guys are opening presents,” Katar covered for me. “Don’t even think of trying to open it,” he threatened Fox.
Fox led me out with our hands linked and kept looking at the present. Was the illusion faulty? Could he see through it?
“What?” I asked.
“I’m just trying to guess what they got you that is that size,” he said.
I hid it from his view and said, “No! Don’t spoil my surprise! I don’t want you to know until I open it.”
“Okay. Okay,” he said.
Martin waved from the side of the SUV. “All done?”
“Sorry I kept you waiting so long,” I apologized.
“No sweat,” he said.
“We better hurry home or there won’t be any food left,” Fox told me.
“Aren’t they wrapping presents still?” I asked him.
“They’re done. I made sure they were just now,” he said and held up his phone.
“You can give me some hints about what the guys are getting me,” I said with a smile.
He laughed and shook his head. “Nope. You can wait for their surprise, just like you’re waiting for my parents’.”
“Rude,” I grumbled, but wasn’t serious. I was glad to wait for their gifts. It was something I was really looking forward to.
“Buckled up?” Martin asked.
“Yes, Dad,” I said in a childish voice.
“Don’t make me turn this car around,” he threatened.
“We haven’t even left yet. How could you turn it around?” I asked with a laugh.
“He could turn it around literally, so it is facing the other way,” Fox said.
“That’s just preposterous.”
“Sharla said to tell you that when you come to the werewolf den, you better come see us,” Martin told me.
“Of course I’m going to come see you! I have to give my nieces their presents,” I said. “They’re going to love them! I’m the best auntie ever!”
“And totally not full of herself,” Martin chuckled.
We drove through town, headed towards the apartment building. It was strange, I had been in this town awhile now, but I hadn’t really explored it. I’d driven from one place to the next, but never spent time in the places in between. I would have to fix that! The guys and I could start going on walking trips around town to see what stores and restaurants there were.
There I was, focused on food again. It had been increasingly worse since they made me their queen. I was constantly hungry and ate way more than a normal human should.
Chapter 12
I awoke to the first Christmas morning with excitement coursing through my veins, but as I woke up, surrounded by four princes, I knew I already had everything that I could ever want. Or need.
“Morning, beautiful,” Deryn grumbled in a gravely morning voice.
I rolled over to face him, a smile on my face before I even saw his smile. “Hello, handsome.”
He pulled me closer, kissing my forehead gently. “Did you sleep well?”
I nodded.
“Cold,” Fox whispered and rolled closer to me. “Why’d you move away?” he asked, pressing his back against mine.
“Where are the blankets?” I asked.
“I threw them off,” Rhys said and yawned, stretching his arms and sitting up so that I could see him without moving.
“Hello, Puff,” I teased and held out my hand.
He pulled me up with it and gave me a deep, passionate kiss. My body became an inferno and I wrapped my arms around his neck, trying to climb into his lap.
His lips were gone as was his body and I groaned, draping my arm over the edge of the bed where he had abandoned me. “My guard has abandoned me!” I moaned as though terribly upset.
“Either I abandon you, or pee on you,” he called from the bathroom.
“We need to get ready,” Nico said. “We’ve only got an hour before our first Christmas.”
“Elven Christmas!” I yelled, leapt to my feet, and rushed to take a quick shower. “I can’t miss this!”
My shower was shockingly solo, for the first time in months. Taking advantage of the time I had been given, I shaved all my parts, and thoroughly washed and rinsed my hair. After putting my silver and blue dress on, I styled my hair into a braid over my left shoulder and put on some neutral colored eyeshadow and black eyeliner. Satisfied, I walked out of the room to find the guys all sitting on the floor by the tree, staring at the gift I had placed there.
“What, are you doing?” I demanded with my hands on my hips.
They leapt away from the tree, guilty expressions on their faces.
“It’s only half a day,” I growled at them.
“We’re sorry,” they all said at the same time.
“I can’t believe you guys,” I grumbled, stomping over to slide my low heels on.
“Everyone ready?” Fox asked.
“Yes.”
“Yeah.”
“Where’s my coffee?”
The last had come from Rhys, no doubt.
“We will pick some up on the way,” Fox promised.
“Ready, my queen?” Nico asked.
I looked up from the small handbag I was inspecting and took his o
ffered hand. “Yes, my guard.”
We walked out of the apartment building’s front doors into a crush of media. They shouted questions, but with so many different voices shouting so many questions, I couldn’t understand them. My guards put me in the center of the group and pushed their way through, to the SUV that waited for us. This time, it was a werewolf I did not know driving. Martin must have been home with Sharla and the girls.
I heard rapid gunfire and immediately ducked down and covered myself in dragon scales. The media members screamed and scattered like cockroaches when the light turned on. The guys spun around to face outward, all of them except Rhys, who was looking at his hand, which was coated in red.
“Rhys!” I screamed and spun him towards me, now up on my feet and still covered in scales. The shoulder of his white shirt had a hole through it and a blood stain spread out slowly. “Rhys, talk to me,” I whispered.
“My fucking scales didn’t automatically cover me,” he whispered in disbelief, still staring at his bloody hand. “Ow.”
I glanced up, glad to see a shield around us. “Thanks, Nico,” I whispered.
“Getting shot hurts,” Rhys growled and looked at me. “Seriously, ow.”
“You okay?” I asked, opening his shirt buttons so I could move it aside to inspect him.
“Yeah, I’m fine. The bullet went clean through,” he said. “It’s been awhile since I’ve had anything pierce my skin.”
“My teeth don’t count?” I asked with a smirk, trying to get him to snap out of the weird mood that clouded his face.
He chuckled and dropped his hand, the mood gone. “No, those don’t count.”
“Get in the damn car,” Deryn growled at me.
“Nico put up a shield,” I said, “and I’m covered in scales.”
“Now,” Deryn growled louder.
I obeyed, climbing in and tugged on Rhys to come in with me. “Why didn’t your scales cover you?” I asked him.
“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “I haven’t been practicing lately, so maybe I’ve gotten lazy.”
I poked his rock-hard abs and said, “You are getting pudgy.”
He laughed, grabbed my hand, and pulled it up to his mouth, kissing my fingertips. “I guess we’ll just have to increase our physical activity to combat that.”
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