I too knew his name but have not had the courage to utter it beyond the safe confines of my mind. Of course I knew it, we all do and that’s another reason this all seems so unbelievable. If I were to mate with the future ruler of the immortal world shouldn’t there be more fanfare?
Shouldn’t my parents and aunts be here to prepare, or trying to hide me away somewhere? Their absence both confirmed and posed lots of unanswered questions for me. On the one hand if it’s true that the one who imprinted on me is Crown Prince Lucien Star, then no one would be allowed to interfere.
And on the other, because of that dark past that looms between our clans, shouldn’t my parents be here now, protecting me? Instead they’d gone statically quiet when they never have before. I can’t imagine that they’re afraid of repercussions, especially not my dad; but their glaring absence is something else to worry about.
But what if I reject him, come to think of it, with him being who he is, can I even? Wouldn’t that mean sudden death anyway? And what about the rest of my clan? Will they be eliminated if I refuse the future ruler of our people?
What’s my objection anyway, other than the fear of dying? Yeah that one, that’s all that’s needed isn’t it; that real fear that something might go wrong. But that night he’d been so in control. I can’t imagine that perfect specimen being so far gone over me that he’d lose his senses to the point that he’d kill to have me.
And what would it feel like to have his hands on me again? To be that close, held that intimately in his big strong arms! Have mercy! Even as I had the thought my body felt open, ready…I forced those dangerous thoughts aside as I finished up in the bathroom, shaking my head as if coming out of a trance. How long had I been standing here in front of the mirror lost in thought?
My eyes fell on the mark on my neck and I remembered what it was I’d been doing before I started daydreaming. I can’t let the others see my neck, which seemed to be getting darker by the minute. Not until I had some answers myself as to how it got there. So I did my best to conceal it with some makeup.
That only hid it to some extent but it would have to do for now. Pulling my hair forward did the rest and I looked myself over one last time before leaving the bathroom.
I suddenly felt more rested than I had in days, weeks even, and was looking forward to spending another lovely Sunday afternoon with my sisters before school started again in the morning. How odd the mind is. It can go from the sordid thoughts I’d been having as I stood before the mirror. Thoughts that were incendiary at best, and now to something as innocent as school the next day.
I took birdie downstairs with me leaving Patrick in his cage since the two of them couldn’t seem to get along. I’ll make it up to him later. Right now I have to find something for my new little pet to eat. He rode on my shoulder as I headed downstairs where the others were already busy getting breakfast started.
“Good morning everyone.” They all turned from what they were doing to look at me.
“Good morning sleepyhead. We were wondering when you’d be coming down. We need to talk.” Uh-oh, when Zoe says we need to talk it’s always something serious, usually some infraction of Annalise’s but this didn’t feel like one of those times.
“What’s up?” I pulled out a chair and sat, petting birdie’s head. He’d jumped from my shoulder to my lap after hiding under the hair behind my neck when I first walked into the room. Phoebe came over with a cup of my favorite raspberry tea and sat it down in front of me before going back to the stove.
Zoe was at the grill making her famous fairy pancakes while Annalise was juicing fresh oranges. They could have the meal prepared without lifting a finger if they chose, but we’d decided long ago to do things the way our human compatriots preferred.
It was easier to get use to doing things this way than having to explain to someone who’d dropped in unannounced how we’d prepared a four-course meal in minutes. Once was enough for that near miss.
“Didn’t you feel anything last night?” Phoebe asked as she put the teacup and saucer down in front of me.
“Huh?” I lifted the steaming brew to my lips and savored the first sip. “Like what?” I didn’t miss the look she shared with the others but it still didn’t registered in my mind that there was anything wrong.