by Heather Karn
Taking a deep breath, Shannon turned to me with a wide grin. "Jacks is my Familiar, you know that, but...he's also my husband, Koda."
"What?" I screeched. Slapping a hand over my mouth, I stared at her with wide eyes as she grinned and nodded.
"Yeah, you heard me right. Jackson and I are married."
"What? When? And if you're married, why is he always so flirty?"
Shannon shook her head, chuckling. "It's part of our cover, really. Neither of our families know we did it. We were eighteen, and so in love. One day we started talking about the future, well after he'd become my Familiar, and he just sorta asked me if I'd ever considered marrying him. Truthfully, I had, and the next thing we knew we were searching out someone who would marry us on the sly. We've never regretted it."
"But doesn't he stay up on the third floor with the guys?"
"Sometimes, but most nights he comes down to my room and stays with me. He's always in his fur when he joins me, so Luella teases me that he's my bed warmer and a soft pillow. The truth is, even as my Familiar, it's difficult for us to be separated for long periods of time. So, the answer is no. Jackson will not be coming to your rescue, but if Raven can't get to you, I'll send Avery along." She winked at me and stood, laughing. "Now let's hurry up. Luella's already claimed doing both of our hair. And yes, it's going to be painful."
Shannon wasn't joking. Luella knew what she was doing, but it was the most painful hair experience of my life. It was good that between her work and Shannon's face paint I was drop dead gorgeous or I would've bitten the naiad. At least I thought I looked pretty good. The whistle directed at me from Jackson was enough to convince me so. Now that I knew of his relationship with Shannon, I shook my head at him even more. When Shannon stepped out of the bedroom, his jaw hit the floor. If I was gorgeous, Shannon was a goddess. Luella appeared shortly after and the three of us followed our wolf shifter escort to the main room where the party was already underway.
The rest of our team waited by the room's entrance. Lee was the first to see us, and his eyes bugged out. Avery turned next and grinned.
"Showing off for the boys tonight, ladies?" he snickered, drawing Raven's attention to us.
Our eyes met before his slid up and down my body, finally landing on my face again. "You look beautiful. I thought the goal was to not attract men?"
"I lost the coin toss," I joked, walking up beside him to survey the room. Already males were on the outskirts checking out the females dancing on the floor. My stomach turned and a wave of nausea struck. "Is it too late to hide?"
"A little," he murmured, humor coating his soft voice. "I think you should've debated the results of the coin toss before you let those two work on you. And here comes your first partner of the night."
The music had changed from a song with a fast, thumping beat to a soft, mellow ballad.
He was right. A vamlure I'd seen from a distance but hadn't been introduced to yet was approaching, his eyes locked on his target: me. It was too late to run and hide, so I ground my teeth together.
"Would you care to dance?" the male asked with a slight bow as he extended his hand. That should've been a turn on, but it only made me cringe inside.
"Sure."
I took his hand and let him lead me out onto the dance floor. When he moved to grab my hips, I swooped in and took one of his hands in mine and placed my other on his bicep. By the confused look in his eyes, he'd expected more, wanted more, but I wasn't giving it. Keeping him a good distance from my body, we danced without him saying so much as a word. He just stared at me, and that awkwardness was almost more than I could handle.
After staring off into the distance for half the song because I couldn’t stand the thought of holding a staring contest with him, I squeaked out a question. "So, which House are you in?"
"You're really pretty," he blurted, and I whipped my attention on him. If the ground would open up and swallow me whole, it would be too soon.
"Uh, okay. Thanks."
"Everyone thinks your eyes are the most beautiful part of you, but I don't think so."
"And I'm perfectly fine without knowing-."
"I think your lips are your most beautiful feature," he stated, cutting me off. Where was help when I needed it?
"Okay, hold up," I told him, releasing his hand to hold mine between us as a sign to stop. He took the offered freedom to place his hand on my open hip and gave me a light squeeze. Glaring, I grabbed his hand and removed it. "I don't even know your name."
"Hey, ready to dance?" Luella squealed, appearing beside us as the rhythm changed.
"You bet," I grumbled, prying myself out of the man's grasp to follow her away from him, further onto the dance floor. It took nearly half a song of dancing with most of my new friends and team for me to wash the feel of the creeper's hands off of me.
And I wasn't the only one to keep an eye out for him. Jackson moved closer, dancing on one side while Luella stayed on the other. It also didn't go unnoticed that Avery and Lee made a trip over to the man, to talk to him. By the vamlure's expression, he didn't think he'd done anything wrong. Technically he'd just been a creeper.
It soon became apparent that the band in the far corner had a pattern. After the more rhythmic song, another slow song started up. I didn't make it three steps before another vamlure male was asking me for a dance. This one appeared normal and didn't try to hold me close while we danced.
"The name's Vincent, from Second House," he introduced. "And you're Koda, from Third House."
"That's me."
"Are you enjoying the festival?"
I shrugged. "I guess so. Can you explain to me, though, why it's called the Moon's Glow festival?"
Vincent bobbed his head side to side as he thought about the best way to explain it. "I'm not sure of its origin since it's one of our oldest festivals, but I believe it has something to do with the soft light of the moon being both romantic and a symbol of giving. Not only does it accept the light of the sun, but it offers that light to the Earth as a gift."
"And lover's give one another gifts?" I asked, hedging for a better explanation.
He shrugged. "Kind of. While it's romantic to think that, and sitting out under the moonlight is romantic, or so I've heard, not all love is romantic. The festival is to celebrate all love, and giving is a form of love. Does that make sense?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"Are there any other questions I can answer for you?" Vincent asked, and I was relieved that he wasn't trying to push me for more.
The song ended soon after, but we spent the time having small talk, and by the end, I was more relaxed than I'd been when he'd asked me to dance. When it ended, he didn't move away, but joined in with my friends as we enjoyed another fast song. Another male turned up, scooting closer to me, and when the next slow song came on, he was right there asking me to dance.
Four slow dances later and my patience was fried. Almost all of the men wanted to hold me close and murmur sweet nothings in my ear, but I put my hand up every time and left at least six inches between us. There was no interest on my part, so no need to let them enjoy themselves or think I liked them more than I did.
When the current fast song was wrapping up, I skittered away from the group, my sights set on the only male I could stand to be around anymore.
"Hey there, stranger. You planning on sitting out the whole night?" I laughed, running my hand down Raven's arm. He arched an eyebrow at me and smirked. "What? Even Avery's been dancing."
"Someone has to-."
"Nobody has to do anything. If someone attacks, are you going to be of more help by holding up the rock wall you're leaning against or by standing beside me?"
Raven rolled his eyes, his smirk growing into a large grin as he took my hand and led me onto the dance floor. "I suppose you have a point. Now, where do you want my hands?"
I gave him a look that said he wasn't funny. "Right where they were the first time we danced. I know you, and I'm comfortable with you.
" And dare I say that I liked the feel of being in his arms? I could never say it out loud, but it was the truth.
His hands drifted to my hips and he pulled me flush against him while my arms moved around his neck of their own volition. The music played in the background, our hearts beating in time with it as we swayed. Closing my eyes, I tilted my head so my nose ran against his neck, making him shiver. Blood pulsed beneath the skin, calling to me, the scent of it reaching my nose.
"Thirsty?" Raven chuckled to hide the huskiness of his voice, sliding his hands to the small of my back at the same time.
Heat flooded my cheeks, but it was no use lying. He knew me too well at this point. "Yeah, I am, I guess."
"I'll give you some tonight, after the dance."
What I really wanted to do was bite him right now, but he'd expressed before that biting wasn't a pleasant means for procuring blood. It hurt the giver, and I'd proven this when I'd had to take blood from Jackson. So, for now, I'd be satisfied with smelling him.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" Raven asked, distracting me from my haze.
"You're the best dance partner I've had all night," I muttered against his skin.
"Yeah, I have to say the same."
Snorting, I leaned back and gave him a cheeky smile. "I'm your first partner of the night, silly."
"First and only."
I liked the sound of that. But was I kidding myself? Were Shannon and Luella even remotely correct about how he felt about me? I could never be sure.
The heat building in me sputtered out, and I leaned back against Raven, no longer interested in teasing the skin of his neck. His body tensed under me, and a hand slid up my back.
"Hey, what's wrong? What did I say?"
"Nothing," I murmured.
"Don't lie to me, Koda."
Caught between a rock and a hard place, I adjusted my head so my forehead rested on his shoulder. Raven didn't push me, but rubbed my back, still swaying even after the song stopped and a faster beat ensued. Either everyone knew not to bother us or Raven was giving anyone who approached death glares, but we were left alone. We stayed like that well into the next ballad.
"How are you holding up?" Raven finally asked, holding me tighter.
"I don't know." I lifted my head and filled my lungs with a deep breath. "I honestly don't know. As if it's not enough to find out I'm the Head of a vamlure House, I'm now being bombarded with male attention, unwanted attention to be straight forward about it, and I have no idea what's up, down, or sideways. Plus, someone wants me dead. And every time I beg you and the others to back me up and keep the males at bay, you shut down and throw me to the wolves, and not the fun ones like Jackson. Whatever happened to remembering that it's not just the physical me you have to protect, but the emotional and mental parts of me? I'm drowning and all you can do is stand off to the side and let it happen."
Hurt poured into Raven's eyes as understanding dawned. Closing his eyes, Raven pulled me close against his chest, holding me more than swaying. Those nearest to us probably heard every word I said, but I hadn't been able to stop or sensor them once I'd started speaking. Too exhausted and frustrated to apply a filter, I sagged against my trainer.
"I'm sorry. I should've waited to have this conversation in private."
I felt him shake his head. "No, don't apologize. I asked, and you're absolutely right. Are you ready to be finished here?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Let's go get you ready for bed and have a talk.”
Raven grasped my hand and led me off the dance floor toward our team's unit. I didn't bother to check, but I could feel several sets of eyes watching us leave. My companion didn't appeared bothered by them, but if I was aware of them staring, so was he.
Once in our room, Raven released my hand and motioned toward my bedroom. "Change into your pajamas and then let me in. We'll have more privacy in there."
I nodded, entering the room to grab my duffle bag. Swinging it on my shoulder, I crossed to the bathroom, avoiding looking at Raven who'd taken up sitting on the couch. Before changing, I needed a shower. I needed to be clean, and I needed this paint off my face. It scrubbed off with ease, and after finishing my nightly routine, I exited the bathroom to find Raven sprawled out on the couch, his large form requiring his legs to hang over one arm.
"You ready?" he mumbled, his eyes still closed.
My heart thundered in my chest. He appeared way too hormonally intoxicating laying there so relaxed. Taking a deep breath, I nodded to myself more than to his closed eyes.
"Yeah, let's do this."
I led the way into the bedroom, dropping my duffle bag on the floor and crawling under the covers. He joined me, sitting on the other side, his back against the headboard and his legs outstretched. I couldn't sit like that, but I wasn't sure I'd be able to look at him for some of this conversation, and it'd be easier to speak without having to meet his eyes.
"Can we both just be open and honest?" I murmured into the silence when neither one of us raced to start the conversation.
More silence, and I hated to think that Raven wanted me to start this off, but I couldn't. Maybe he was having the same battle, which was why the room remained empty of sound. Resigned, I drew in a breath to speak as Raven beat me to it.
"For a decade I've been convincing myself I'm not worthy of a mate. I never allowed myself to consider the idea of having one for more than a few minutes if the thoughts ever arose. But that all changed the moment I saw you enter the building for your Interview. The more we were together, the more I allowed myself to fantasize what it might be like to have a mate, and every time I shut it down. You make me feel emotions I can't have, or so I thought, and I'm still trying to readjust my way of thinking. Plus, down here, I'm still House-less. Being with me...it'll only hurt your position."
"Don't you get it, Raven? I don't care about my position. I'd rather be a little nobody with people around me who want to be there instead of those who only want the power they think I'll give them. You earned my trust, and they expect me to hand it over without a thought. You see me, not my position. None of them know that I can't fight, that I have a photographic memory, or that I killed a ghoul my first night as a trainee. Half of them will never let me leave this place if I choose to be their mate. I can't live like that."
"I know." He drew his knees up and rested his arms on them. "This place is suffocating to you."
"Yeah."
"Do you know what the best part of my day was?" Raven murmured after silence prevailed for a few minutes.
"Glaring at Wilson when he moved into your personal space?"
Raven snorted and shook his head like I was crazy. "No. My favorite part of today was dancing with you tonight, and to be honest, I wouldn't mind doing a lot more of that."
The breath caught in my throat as my heart stuttered. "One of us needs to spit it out. We keep hanging in limbo-."
"I like you, Koda." His words were rushed, like he was afraid that if he didn't get them out, he'd freak out and never say them. Taking a quick breath, he stared over at me. "I like you. A lot."
"And I like you," I whispered back. "But, what are we going to do about it?"
A fiery heat smoldered in Raven's eyes as he leaned toward me and placed his lips to my forehead in a soft kiss before whispering in a lethal voice, "I'm not going to let any other males near you."
Chapter 15
All conscious thought left me at the tone of his voice and the promise within those words, and by the time I was ready to say something, anything, the door to our unit opened and laughter bubbled in. The bedroom door was still cracked, meaning our privacy was gone. Raven leaned away, but took my hand and squeezed it.
"Get some sleep. We'll discuss your new roll in the morning."
I nodded and gave him a soft, shy smile, which he returned with a wide grin. Kissing the back of my hand, he slid off the bed and moved toward the door as Shannon knocked. Without responding, he pulled it wide, revealing the witch and a furry
Jackson. Raven gave the wolf a warning growl before exiting the room and closing the door behind him.
An almost feline grin lifted Shannon's lips as she dropped her duffle bag on the bed and Jackson hopped up to lay down beside it. Both watched me, likely expecting me to say something. If they thought I'd divulge my private conversation, they were dead wrong.
"What?" I asked, all innocent.
"What?" Shannon laughed, keeping her voice down when I was sure all she wanted to do was scream. "What do you mean 'What?' Girl, the whole of every House just witnessed you go all weak kneed for Raven and that's all you have to say? Plus, you should've seen the glares he was giving anyone walking within a few feet of you. Please tell me you talked about more than the weather when he brought you back in here."
"We talked about more than the weather," I confirmed. "We didn't have long to talk though, after I showered and cleaned up."
Shannon's eyebrows raised. "We interrupted, didn't we? Crap. Do you want us to leave?"
Heat washed over my face, and I fought not to bury it in the pillow. "No, I think we were pretty much done."
"And?"
"And...I think the only reason he's," I pointed to Jacks, "allowed in here is because Raven knows."
The wolf chuffed and laid his head on his paws, his upper lip pulled up in a sly, wolfish grin. Shannon leaned over the bed and scratched the top of Jackson's head, and he sighed with her touch. The two already appeared much more at ease than they usually were when we were together now that I knew the truth. They were so cute together.
When Shannon pulled her hand away to finish changing, Jacks licked the back of her hand and sighed, setting his head back down. To my relief, he closed his eyes when the witch started taking clothes off to pull on her pajamas. There would've been nothing more awkward than him staring at his wife as she changed, even in wolf form.
"So, are you two official?" Shannon whispered, climbing in between the sheets beside me. My groan was muffled when I gave in and stuck my face in the pillow. She jabbed me in the arm. "Oh, come on. Nobody else can hear us, right, Jacks?"
