Warring Mates

Sunrays peeked through the thick clouds, letting the raindrops on the window glisten. A sight I would normally enjoy—calm me—but now it was nothing more than another rainy day.

“Lexi!” a voice yelled, the excitement dripping of her voice, and a bearhug followed soon. “It’s so good to see you and that you are feeling better. Jay told me what happened. Gosh, I can’t believe that actually happened.”

I groaned softly upon Remy's never-ending talk. “I’m happy to see you too but Goddess, please stop your rambling,” I breathed out, hugging her back. I loved her, but that mouth of hers... it never stopped.

“Awh come one. I’m not that bad.” She fist-bumped my shoulder, a chuckle leaving her mouth.

I rolled my eyes, mumbling, “yes you are.”

“Okay, maybe I am… but admit it. You love me.” Her face was inches away from mine as she poked my cheek, earning her a furious glare. She had just broken rule number one... Never. Poke. My. Cheek. “See you later,” she hasted out before dashing away with a squeal.

“You are one crazy bastard, you know that!” I shouted, running after her as our laughter filled the hallway.

"You're never gonna get me," Remy sung as she ran down the stairs. She almost tripped over her own feet, causing me to chortle.

"What do you mean, I'm never going to get you?" Following her down the stairs, I sped up, careful not to trip over my own feet like her. "You can't even run properly." And for a moment, I regretted my choice of words.

Remy picked up a vase, mischief written all over her face. "You didn't take into account that I don't care about the rules," she said before throwing it at me.

My eyes widened. The vase came at me with great speed, and I was lucky to duck in time. Behind me, it shattered into a thousand pieces, scattering all over the floor.

"Sorry," I mumbled, giving an apologetic smile to the glaring maid who uttered something under her breath. I had just pissed off another maid...

"You know what your new nickname should be?" Remy taunted when I caught up with her as she ran through the garden. "Snail... or maybe turtle. Which animal is slower?"

"You are so going to die," I hissed, tackling her, and as we rolled through the grass, we burst out in laughter. "Who is slow now?"

A giggle left her lips, her eyes connecting with mine. "Still you."

I let out a snort, climbing off her. "You're the devil, you know that," I said, laying down beside her.

Remy hummed in response.

"Throwing a vase," I scoffed. "You certainly let the maids know you are back."

And yet again, she let out a hum.

"Remyy," I drawled out, waving my hand before her eyes, which had a far-away look in them. "Earth to the little devil."

"What?" She swapped my hand away, pushing herself up as a slight blush adorned her cheeks.

"What's with the blush?"

"Nothing..." She looked away from me. "Who is that?"

A groan escaped my mouth as I stretched myself out. "Who?"

She jerked her head to the mysterious guy. "The guy with the silver hair and elf ears."

I glanced to where she was looking, my eyes raking over the newcomer. He seemed strangely familiar. A lean body, his hair tousled on his head, but above all... a dangerous scowl. And yet, no name surfaced.

“I have no idea,” I murmured. This guy… why couldn't I remember him. I was sure dad told me something about him.

“Well, let’s go,” Remy yipped, dragging me with her. “He seems nice.”

“He seems nice, really?” I gave her an incredulous look. Nice? “Look at the scowl on his face.”

“So,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “Doesn’t mean he can’t be nice.”

“By the stars, you’re gonna kill us one day,” I breathed out, almost tripping over my own feet, and I bumped into her back when she halted in her steps. “Wha—”

“Who are you?” Remy asked, showing no fear as the guy’s scowl deepened.

I slammed my hand on my forehead. That friend of mine… “Real smooth, Remy,” I hissed.

Some incoherent words came out of the guy's mouth as he stepped around us, and I didn't need to have a good hearing to guess what he was saying. He didn’t like us, that was for sure.

“If you know what is good for you, you will take your hand off me,” he growled, catching my attention. Remy had her hand on his arm.

“It’s just your name,” she bit back, taking her hand off him, “not like I am asking for you to marry me.”

Through my lashes, I glanced at the guy. A dangerous aura emitted from him as he balled his fists. One that told me you shouldn't mess with this guy.

“Watc—” he started.

“Dad!” I yelped, interrupting him before Remy would fight him.

Upon hearing me call him out, the corner of his mouth tugged up. “How are you feeling?” he asked, hugging me close to him.

I squeezed him for a moment, breathing in his pinewood scent. “Better than yesterday.” I was safe here and not where Goddess knows where.

“Good.” He let go of me, turning to the new guy. "I hadn't expected to see you this soon, Ace. Are the others with you?"

“No,” he answered, his eyes darting between me and Remy. “But Rokan and Evie will be here somewhere tomorrow.”

“And Santos?”

Ace shook his head. “He is somewhere in the north, following a lead.”

My dad sighed out as he turned on his heels to leave. "This lead he is on... does it have to do with those creatures?"

I furrowed my brows, the new guy doing the same, which made mine go even deeper. Everyone knew about these creatures.

"I have no idea what you are talking about…"

"I would have thought you were the first one to find out about them." My dad pinched the bridge of his nose, walking away from us. "I guess it can't be helped."

As I saw my dad walking away with Ace, I made a quick decision. I ran after them, stopping my dad by placing a hand on his arm. "Can I come too?"

He narrowed his eyes at me, his jaw clenched. “I’m not having this argument with you again, Lexi”

“I know it is about those creatures,” I urged. “Don’t you think it is in my best interest to know what this is about?”

“Lexi...” he warned.

“Fine, fine.” I held up my hands.“I will stay here with Remy.”

Dad ruffled my hair, earning him a growl. "Don't do anything stupid," he said before walking away.

“Well, at least now we know who the guy is,” Remy said when they were out of sight.

I rolled my eyes. “No, shit.” Everyone knew who Ace was. The leader of the Seven. Well... the ones that were still alive.

A chuckle left her lips as she fist-bumped my shoulder. “You have to admit he is hot.”

“Do you honestly see yourself in a relationship with him?” I asked, the disgust clear in my voice. Who would want to date a guy like him? Wearing a scowl all day, grumbling and glaring the entire time.

“I'm saying that he is hot, not that I would date him.” She pushed me playfully away. “Besides, only a lunatic would want to date someone so grumpy.”

I placed my palm over my mouth, silencing my giggle. "You are lunatic enough for it."

She gasped at my words. "No, I'm not!"

I bit down on my lip, averting my eyes, only to let out a cackle of laughter when I looked back into her furious ones. It wasn't long until she joined in, both clutching our sides as we fell to the ground.

"Goddess," Remy breathed out. "It has been so long since I laughed this much."

I quirked a brow, the remaining laughter dying down. “Is it that bad back in the demon kingdom?”

“Don’t even let me get started.” Remy ran her hand through her hair, leaning back. “The council is still hell bent on dethroning him after so many years.”

“I don’t get it,” I murmured. “Maya is a kind person with no bad intentions… can’t they let his pact with her slip?”

“Completely agree with you," she said, her posture tense. "I think it is also one of the reasons he is still king. Maya works as double as hard to show that she doesn’t have any evil bone inside of her.”

"Still... The council should just acce—" I tilted my head, my brows drawing together. Cole was running towards us, his eyes wide.

“Thank the Goddess you are here,” he said when he was close enough, his hands on his knees as he caught his breath. “I've been looking for you everywhere.”

I stood up, giving a helping hand to Remy. “Something wrong?”

“You can say that,” he answered, his eyes darting to Remy. “Maya is in labor and Eros is freaking out about it.”

"Wait, what..." Remy stiffened for a second, letting reality down on her. "I thought she had two weeks left," she said as she ran back to the palace.

"She really is giving birth?" I asked my uncle, still not able to believe it.

"Yeah." Cole clasped my shoulder. "Now shall we go too?"

A smile crept upon my face as I hasted back to the palace and to their room. Once there, I saw Eros pacing around, his hair disheveled as he kept rubbing his face. I had never seen him this... this panicked.

“Eros... Eros!” Maya cried out as another contraction hit her. “Calm the fuck down! You are not the one in labor here.”

A chuckle graced the air, followed by Remy hugging her dad. "She is right, you know."

“I’m sorry. It’s just...”

“I understand,” Maya said, slight worry gleaming in her eyes as she held her hand out.

Eros sighed out, squeezing her hand as he sat beside her and mumbled something in her ear. Too soft for me to understand.

“Now everyone who isn’t family leave the room,” a velvety voice said, which could only belong to Arwen. She shooed everyone away, closing the door with a soft thud.

“Good luck, Maya!” I yelled through the door before sauntering away, my uncle going the other way.

As I walked through the corridors, my hands glided over the wall while I looked at the ground, not caring where I was going. Lost came the closest thing to what I felt. Now that Remy was occupied and with Lachlan missing.... everything seemed to go from bright colours to a dull gray. The Spirit Fest didn’t sound as fun anymore, and if I hadn’t anything to take my mind off, I just wanted to drown in my self-pity.

A hand touched my shoulder, causing me to jump in fright as a yelp escaped my lips. "Dad," I gasped.

“You seemed deep in thought,” he said, mirth gleaming in his eyes. It wasn’t every day he could catch me off guard.

“I thought you were in a meeting?” I asked as I started walking again.

“Well, without Eros there, we can't have much of a meeting.” He bumped my shoulder, his eyes analysing my face. “Is there something on your mind?”

A sigh filled my chest, my heart constricting painfully. “It’s Lachlan… I miss him so much.”

He pulled me to his chest, hugging me tightly. "I know how hard this is, but know that we are doing everything in our power to find him."

“But what if you can’t… what if…” Tears shed my eyes, the words stuck in my throat.

“Don’t think like that, Lexi." He pulled back, wiping a stray tear away with his thumb. “He is resourceful and knows what to do to survive.”

"You really think so?"

He let out a short laugh. "You remember that one time when you and Lachlan got stuck in those caves?"

I cracked a smile. "Yeah... he used his gift to speak with the bats and in no time we got out of there."

"Have faith in him," he said before walking away.

"See you at dinner," I called out, turning around to continue my fruitless walk when a voice startled me—again.

“Who is Lachlan?”

Collin pushed himself off the wall as he had hidden behind a plant.

“You still here?” I sneered, crossing my arms as I scowled at him. “Thought you would run back to your kingdom with your tail tucked between your legs as soon as the meeting was over.”

“Watch your mouth, mouse,” he threatened, his canines bared. One wrong word out of my mouth and he would explode.

I scoffed out, ready to walk away. "Bye, Collin." Though I never came far.

He pushed me against the wall, his fingers curled around my throat—a warning. And the golden ring in his irises did not go unnoticed by me. His beast was more in control than him.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Now he acted all jealous. Goddess... how I ever wanted this asshole, I would never understand. Lachlan was double the man he would ever be, treating me as if I were the most precious thing in the world.

“You don’t get to act all jealous,” I hissed at him, my nails digging into the skin of his arm as I ignored the purring of my beast. His lips were inches from mine and all my beast could think about was what they would feel like—to kiss them. “You’re the one who didn’t want me,” I reminded him.

He closed his eyes, breathing out harshly. “You’re right. I don’t want you,” he snarled as he let go of me.

My heart broke upon hearing his words. I knew he didn't want me and yet hearing it all over again...

“Right back at you, asshole!” I spat, pushing him away with all the strength I could muster, and I ran away with tears burning in my eyes.