Fated Connection (Book 1)

Chapter 15

I spent the rest of the day locked in my room, not wanting to see anyone as I wallowed in my self pity. When Nova had come in despite my instruction to leave me be, I told him I had a migraine and just wanted to be left alone. He believed me, kissing my forehead as he left me in the darkness. I felt guilty for lying to him but I didn't want to talk about it. He didn't know the depth of my feelings for August, even I wasn't entirely sure myself.

I fell asleep early, tears silently rolling down the side of my face as it soaked the pillow beneath me. I had set myself up for that, knowing his loyalty to Dominic Drakos was unwavering over the centuries even after he had become a vampire. The fae and vampires were enemies, waging wars against one another for hundreds of years, and yet it hasn't change a thing for them.

I tossed and turned throughout the night, my sleeping thoughts filled with the sounds of swords clanging and explosions somewhere nearby. The smells of ozone and charred flesh filling my nose along with burning wood as ash and dust coated my skin. Everything was hazy and out of focus, nothing making sense as I floundered in my dreams. I was lost in a world of chaos.

When morning came, I felt exhausted as if I had barely slept at all. My eyes were sore, burning as I blinked away sleep and walked into the bathroom. I flicked the light on and immediately cringed at the sight of my reflection. Dark circles rested under my eyes which were swollen and bloodshot, my face more pale than usual, made me look like I had a hangover from hell. My blonde hair was a tangled rat's nest on my head, the strands knotted and splintered in odd directions.

I washed my face and brushed my teeth before spending the next ten minutes attempting to run a brush through the disaster that called itself my hair. When the brush finally ran smooth, my scalp felt raw but after a look in the mirror I felt satisfied. I still had circles under my eyes, the bruised tissue the only visible proof of the pain that stabbed in my chest. With one last look, I took a deep breath and slowly made my way downstairs. 

I found Nova in the kitchen, standing in front of the stove with a spatula in his hand. The smell of bacon and butter filled the large space and a smile tugged at my lips. Nova didn't often cook but when he did it was like magick in your mouth, the explosion of flavors bursting on the tongue left you wanting more even when you were full to bursting. I hopped up on the counter beside the stove and quickly snagged a strip of bacon, popping it into my mouth before he could stop me.

"Hey! Hands off til it's done woman!" He scolded, glaring at me playfully. "You know my rules and if you can't obey them, go away."

"I don't know what you mean," I replied innocently with a mouth full of bacon. Nova shook his head but went back to flipping the remaining strips in the pan. "So, what else are we having?"

"Little of this and that." He answered with a sly smile.

"Something smells good," Hatter said, his voice still thick with sleep as he entered the kitchen. 

He was wearing nothing but a pair of basketball shorts leaving his muscular chest on full display along with the deep V that disappeared under the band of his shorts. His sleep mussed hair was sticking up at odd angles, his muscles flexing as he pulled a coffee mug from the cabinet. After pouring himself a cup of coffee, he sauntered over to us and leaned against the counter beside me.

I offered him a smile which he returned. Nova's phone pinged beside my leg and I looked down as he used one finger to unlock the screen. A message was open and a picture of a very naked woman popped up. Seconds later another image followed of an equal attired man, everything on display for the world. I felt my eyes widen and I quickly looked away, not wanting any more of an eye full.

"Do I even want to know?" I asked, attempting to mask my grimace. 

Nova smirked as he turned back to the stove and spoke, "Just some friends from home."