Bound: The Hybrid's Witch Book 2

Chapter Two

Laughter echoed from the living room as I opened the door. I smiled and headed in that direction. My gaze moved between Stefan, Elijah and Nik as I leaned against the doorframe. "I'm not sure if I should be happy you're all getting along or jealous you started without me," I said finally.

Three smiling faces turned in my direction.

"Damon?" Stefan asked immediately.

"He's fine," I answered then pursed my lips wondering how much else I should mention.

"What is it, love?" Nik asked. He knew me well enough by now to know when I was debating something with myself.

My gaze shifted to lock on his. "Despite everything, you are still the bad guy and I'm an idiot for loving you."

Nik grinned as he always did when I told him I loved him. He took a drink of his bourbon in an attempt to hide the smile.

I looked back to Stefan. "And you should probably know he and Elena were kissing when I got there."

Everyone in the room seemed to freeze in surprise for a moment.

Finally, Elijah cleared his throat. "I am sure it was simply two friends saying farewell. After all, they had every reason to believe he would die until Cassie arrived."

Stefan grimaced and took another sip of his drink. "I'm sure you're right," he said.

I made my way to Nik and took my favorite seat in his lap. His arms immediately opened for me and wrapped around me to hold me in place once I'd settled. "Given the general joviality here, I am assuming you removed the compulsion?"

His hand wrapped around the back of my neck and he arched a brow. "Well, I guess it's a good thing I did or I'd certainly have to now, wouldn't I?"

I rolled my eyes. "Don't even be acting like you weren't planning on doing it anyway."

Elijah chuckled. Nik and I's exchanges always did amuse him.

"Yes, I removed the compulsion. Stefan has yet to decide if he will be accompanying us on our journey or not, however."

Stefan looked between me and my hybrid. After a moment, he downed the rest of his drink and sat his glass on the table. "You know what? Why not?"

***

It was now late summer and the three of us were still on the hunt for werewolves. They weren't nearly as easy to find as Nik had assumed they would be. Thankfully, he hadn't asked for any spells from me as I still had no access to my magic. And I still hadn't told either Original. When we left Mystic Falls, Elijah had gone his own way, seeing to some 'business'. Fortunately, I'd convinced Nik it wasn't necessary to kill everyone we questioned so the two vampires had resorted to compulsion over bloodshed. For the most part.

We were following another lead and I was currently sat in the back of the car playing on my phone. It vibrated in my hand. Elena. I sighed. "Your girlfriend is calling me again," I announced to Stefan.

He answered with a grunt and a shrug of his shoulders.

I rolled my eyes. Stefan had decided he wasn't speaking to her. And since she couldn't get him on the phone, she kept calling me. "Hello, Elena," I answered.

"Hey, Cassie. How's your trip going?"

"It's going. We are in...I actually have no idea where we are at the moment," I confessed.

Nik smirked. He was driving as he got bored quickly if he had nothing to do. And Stefan complained one too many times about the activities the two of us got up to if we were in the back seat together. "We're in Tennessee, love."

"What he said," I told her as he'd spoken loud enough to be heard. "What's going on there? Anything exciting?"

"Not really." There was a pause and I knew what was coming next. "Is Stefan still with you?"

"Yep," I said, popping the p. "And his phone is fine. He just doesn't answer it when you or Damon call. Maybe you should just give him some time."

Stefan glared at me and I simply glared back.

"Oh," Elena said softly.

"Look, Elena, contrary to what you and Damon think, Stefan and I are both on this journey of our own free will. The fact that you continue to insist we are compelled and don't know what we are doing is irritating at best. We don't need to be rescued, we don't need to be talked to like we're toddlers with no concept of the world. That and he's still pissed the two of you kissed," I told her.

"I still can't believe you told him about that," Elena pouted.

I sighed. "You keep insisting you aren't a kid anymore. So, act like it. Pick a brother. Stringing them both along is something a child would do. I love you Elena, but I'm done being in the middle of this."

I hung up without waiting for her to respond and stared out the window. Feeling eyes on me, I looked toward the front to find Stefan turned in his seat and Nik glancing at me in the review mirror. "What?"

"You okay?" Stefan asked.

"Just annoyed. I'll get over it."

"Perhaps, you should follow Stefan's example and ignore the doppelganger's calls for a while, yes?" Nik suggested. Though I knew it wasn't really a suggestion. He was being polite about it for now but if I continued to get upset about the situation, that would stop.

"Message received, hybrid."

He pulled to the side of the road and parked. "The house we're looking for is just ahead." He twisted in his seat to glance back at me. "Are you coming with or staying put, sweetheart?"

I feigned disinterest as I normally did. "I'll stay. You don't need me in there anyway."

Nik pursed his lips and nodded his head. "All right, love. I'll be back soon."

My eyes followed them until they disappeared from my sight and I let out a sigh of relief. The truth was, I would like nothing better than to accompany them if for no other reason than it would keep me from worrying. Without my magic, I was just another obstacle. I would only get in the way. And I was desperate to keep Nik from discovering my lack of magic. I feared he would either send me away for my own safety or lose interest in me entirely.