"I didn't want to do the bond to prove it to both of you. . . I did it to prove myself to you Jason."
Rickey lifted his head back up straightening himself looking Jason straight in the eyes.
Jason still didn't speak, and I didn't know what to say either.
"These tattoos right here?" Rickey pointed to the two he showed me earlier.
"Are for her. . . I need more for the other mistakes I made, but these are the first two. . . I told her you and I were fighting in each other's heads, maybe that wasn't completely right of me"
"Rickey. . ." Jason finally spoke.
"No I'm not done just yet please."
He swallowed.
"I do a shitty job at protecting her heart Jason. . . Sure I fuck her well, I make her smile sometimes and I make her happy or so she says. . . Jason you have the hardest part of all, I'm sorry I get so heated about it."
He meant every word to, he wasn't nervous now, he wasn't angry, he was every bit of calm. I just hoped that Jason could tell too.
"I should apologize too. . . you're right, I do guard her heart more than my own, but that doesn't excuse my poor behavior and using my stupid title as a way to be a dick"
Jason stepped back from Rickey giving him space then looked at me.
"I can only imagine what you were going through since you guys did that. . . I know it's a stressful process as thrilling as I hear it is. Truth is, I probably would have snapped too"
"Stupid politics aside, I love you both, so much and I couldn't imagine living any differently now."
I stepped forward looking at them both with tears in my eyes starting.
"But I hate seeing you fight. . . and being able to feel your half of feelings now isn't going to make that easier. . . so I'm begging you two, to please agree to work on this truly this time. . ."
Their eyes both turned worried as they moved towards me.
"Whatever it takes"
They spoke in unison.
I smiled and they each reached out a hand to wipe the tears that felt down my face.
"So umm. . . on the honesty note. . ."
Rickey started off slowly as he pulled away his hand and looked at Jason.
"Obviously you know about tonight, but umm. . . we had sex in your room the other night you were with us too. . ."
"Yeah I uh, lets just say I found the blanket from the night before"
"First I have a question"
I looked at them both.
"What happened there's glass?" I motioned to the floor.
"I uh, I smelled your- you know. . . and I was beyond pissed because it was one of the rules- part of me was trying to shrug it off you know? The fact that he was being so cocky and comfortable in his bed after knowing damn well he just fucked you in a completely different one, just kind of titled the scale" Jason admitted.
Rickey just shrugged.
"He's not wrong, sorry- it's not you, just what she does to me"
"My head was swimming- both of ours were clearly, with everything I didn't even really realize where I was and maybe that was also because I was exactly sober in the moment, we were tangled in each other rolling around and it was over by the time I had noticed."
Rickey rubbed the back of his head before he continued.
"We heard the door and ran- well rather I ran"
Rickey tried to give Jason and apologetic look.
Jason smiled and started laughing.
"Well I don't know what I thought this whole honesty thing was going to open to, but it wasn't this."
I shook my head confused.
"Wait, wait what did you mean it's my fault?"
You stroke my ego like no other woman has, my little goddess.
I felt his voice ring in my ears and I fought the smile that tugged at my lips.
"I guess uh, there were some mistakes on all our ends. . ."
"I got angry and snapped because when I got nervous seeing you" Rickey looked at Jason.
"When I do that it creates doubt which just ends up hurting me- actual physical pain, and nothing injury wise can I compare it to it's horrible. So when I was out I got plastered trying to numb a little bit of everything- she obviously doesn't feel that part though which is good. . ."
He took a breath.
"So when I came back and I thought I was fucked up enough to confront you it hit me like a damn semi truck and I hate it, I hate being weak and the pain was so much worse I was screaming more at myself than you"
Rickey was trying. The most he had ever tried at least in front of me. . . I know they had their solo time to discuss things. To work things out, but this time was different. . . you could tell all his chips were in it was all or nothing.
"Well. . . there might be something you can help us with tomorrow and in turn hopefully it helps you with that."
Jason bit his lip as if he were thinking of a plan.
"Cassie and Eric are coming. . . we discussed coming out about your engagement with Luna then, Zadicus will be there- if you come out with this publicly I will admit he could react differently compared to how he has been. . ."
"Just because I bowed down to that asshole doesn't mean I'm afraid of him, I did it because she was like my sister- what do you need from me?"
Rickey straightened himself looking Jason in the eyes.
"That's it. . . we can't hide it forever- it might bring some other issues but nothing that should bother you, maybe the press will bother you for a short while aside from that nothing."
"I'll scream it for the whole world to hear if you asked me to."
Rickey simply agreed and took my hands into his and kissed the top of my head.
"I mean technically you will be. . ." I muttered.
"Don't be a brat" Rickey chuckled.
"Alright well. . . lets go downstairs and figure things out"
I pulled myself away from Rickey and gave him a small smile as I followed Jason to the door.
"See, no one looks that hurt Alexander, just needed to wait it out"
My eyes widened as I looked at Jarred and Alexander leaning against the wall across the hall. They clearly had been there the whole time listening in.
"Well . . . it's good to know you aren't too relaxed Alexander. . ." I sighed.
"I was about to barge in when things started breaking but Jarred insisted I stay out of it until he gave me the green light. . ." Alexander muttered clearly annoyed.
"And was I wrong, when I said I knew them best when it came to things like this?" Jarred looked down at Alexander grinning.
"No." Alexander grumbled.
"So you guys. . . just stood out here the whole time?" Jason looked at them both.
"Every, single, word" his brother looked at him with a bigger grin.
"God I hate you sometimes. . ." he groaned shoving his brother shoulder.
"Just because you're a King now doesn't remove my big brother title" he laughed as he bounced against the wall.
"So why do I smell blood then?" Alexander questioned looking at Jason and Rickey.
"Well. . . there was some glass, but it could be from my tattoo from earlier or something. . . I'm alright though and more importantly so is he" Rickey nodded to Jason.
"Oh yeah we heard all about it" Jarred teased looking at Rickey.
"I will one hundred percent look away if you want to hit him." Jason shrugged at Rickey.
Rickey smiled.
"Nah, I kind of owe him anyway. . . if him teasing me makes him happy my debt is considered paid" he laughed.
"Anyways, Alexander I want to talk to you about the plan for tomorrow. . . Jarred don't forget Cassie and Eric will be over."
Jason glared at his brother in warning.
"Yes, yes I know- no stupid merda when they're here. Who knows I may not even be home."
"Works for me."
Jason started walking towards the stairs and motioned us.
☾☾☾
"No I agree, he's been way beyond a lot better than we ever thought he'd be- especially on that trip? I know he's explained why to Luna a dozen times, but something like this. . . I don't know " Alexander shook his head as he poured himself some Earl Grey tea and sat back down at the small round table.
"Not to sound morbid, but so what? he might make me his first target instead? Honestly even if it's selfish to say, if I can hold a target on my back to prove things to Jason I don't give a shit"
Rickey shrugged taking a sip of water.
I winced at the thought. I didn't want either of them hurt. I didn't want either of them threatened. . . Zadicus has been so much nicer than we ever thought possible. . . if everyone else could change I suppose. . . why shouldn't he be able?
"Well Luna?" Alexander broke my thoughts.
"I don't want either of them hurt or threatened obviously. . . I don't see any other options though and the plan that we-"
I quickly shut my mouth.
We can't while he's here.
Jason's voice calmly reminded me.
"The plan that we originally had for Zadicus getting involved with Italy is working out great- well rather your plan. Maybe he wouldn't want to risk messing that up and lets be honest. . . if he sets off the homestead then. . ." I trailed off.
"There would be a full on war."
Jason spoke flatly.
I nodded.
"He doesn't have that kind of patience"
I reminded them.
"So Cassie and Eric. . . how do I. . .?"
Rickey looked at each of us unsure of who to ask his question to.
"I'll take Jason, Luna and Zadicus in first- then they'll bring you up and I will send for you"
"Sounds easy enough"
"They're first language is French so at times where they feel unsure we may have to translate- I apologize for that"
Jason gave him a small smile.
Rickey shrugged then smiled.
"It's okay, Delilah did too if you remember. Used to love hearing her talk just because of her accent"
He laughed a little.
I reached over touching his hand softly.
It had been the first time he talked about her since then. . .
He cleared his throat.
"So then after that do I just. . . do whatever you guys do? go to my room? go home?"
"You know. . . you wanting her to marry you and everything, you don't have to go home" Jason looked at him.
Wow. that's a big olive branch. Even if he was right, and I had wondered what would happen with that I didn't expect now to be the time. . .
"Are you saying you want me around more Jason?" Rickey grinned.
Jason rolled his eyes.
"You always gotta be an ass huh?"
Jason laughed.
"I would love to, but I have to talk about it with Jeff. . ."
Jason looked at him confused.
"Why? Jarred and him are dating anyway, and honestly we have enough space regardless of what happens with them."
"Yeah but Sei-"
"Rickey I'm not telling you to cut your lease or anything or kick anyone out" Jason chuckled.
"If that's the case then. . . yeah"
"Are you forgetting about something?" I finally spoke and gave a small frown.
They both looked at me confused.
"What am I going to do?"
They both looked at each other.
"Uh. . . well I guess we'll do what we've been doing all this time?"
Rickey looked at Jason unsure of the answer.
Jason thought for a moment.
"We'll figure it out, we have this whole time so far right?"
He gave me a smile and I nodded.
"I'll warn you, it's not usually fun on most days here"
I looked at Rickey and he laughed.
"I didn't assume it would be, but working for Jarred while you two get most of your stuff done too, I think we'll all be just fine"
He kissed my cheek.
"The only thing that's the real bummer is that Jarred lives here ad can bother me so much easier" he added.
"Yeah, he tends to just get into wherever he wants to be, been that way since we were kids"
Jason laughed.
"But with your brother moving in too hopefully they can amuse themselves"
I reminded him of the other part of the offer.
"I must say, when the three of you want to be you make a great team"
Alexander admitted drinking his tea.
I laid my head on Jason's shoulder and squeezes Rickey's hand smiling.
"Alright Luna, remember we said throne first remember?" Jason shook his head.
"I can't help it. . . I'm focused I promise" I whined.
☾☾☾
"Only three languages she says. . ." Rickey grumbled.
I laughed.
"I mean I know a little German, but it's been centuries."
"Yeah so that's how I ended up with the role of translator" Alexander rolled his eyes.
"How many titles do you have?" Rickey chuckled.
"More than I could fit on a business card that's for sure"
He shook his head.
"He's never turned down a challenge or request"
Jason pointed out.
"You honestly think he could turn you two down?" he looked at Jason with a raised brow.
"Hey now. . . we aren't that cruel, at least to them"
"It's true, it's a reversed sort of maternal instinct"
Alexander defended.
Rickey just looked confused shaking his head.
"What does that even mean?"
"We were extremely young when he- we whoever took who under who's wing- they raised us in the ways we hadn't had the chance to grow yet"
"So. . . you parented our. . . parents?" Rickey's face twisted into a weird face.
"It sounds so gross when you say it like that. . . god I hate that" Jason groaned.
Alexander laughed.
"Sort of, though I'd rather call them Gods- maybe that's how you should makes it sound less. . ."
"Creepy?" I chimed in.
"Gross?" Jason added.
"Okay, okay I'm sorry" Rickey laughed.
"But anyway, even Jason being higher class he wasn't nearly as high as this position gave him so even he had to learn- Jarred was to be the head of his family after all so he was still under less pressure." Alexander brought the conversation back to Rickey's question.
"Their goals may have had their own selfish reasons, but they did help people within their selfishness."
He continued.
"You mean the whole running away thing?"
Alexander nodded.
"You know I'd hear so many mixed stories about you two. . . either horrible or beyond great. . . there was no between, truth is I think they were both wrong"
Rickey smiled looking at Jason and I.
"I think, you two had to do some horrible shit to make it a perfect existence for the rest of us- you still do really."
"Alexander is right, what I did- what I do, is very selfish I can't deny that. My whole idea was selfish and now it's everything to keep that selfish idea alive."
I gave him a weak smile.
I didn't want to say I was a bad person, but I couldn't say I was a good person either.
"Luna do you honestly think I can judge either of you? You think I haven't killed- I forgot you never read that. . . but anyway I can't judge either of you, but I can tell you that you're much more than what they say about you both sometimes."
I suppose being a vampire you were bound to kill at least one person. Let alone working along side Jarred. So I guess it made sense, and I wouldn't judge him for that any more than he would ever judge any of us.
"Besides, I'd be curious to see the body count from the last King and Queen considering they had to establish it first, I'm sure it was far worse"
Alexander muffled what seemed to be a laugh.
Rickey looked at Alexander with a raised brow.
"I take it that book keeping is another job of yours?"
Alexander grinned shrugging.
"Maybe."
"I shouldn't be surprised"
Rickey shook his head.
☾☾☾
They day started to move quickly once we knew Cassie and Eric were on the jet here. Everyone was scrambling around the house trying to get this or that ready. It was rare we had many visitors lately. So it appeared everyone was more stressed then usual.
I was walking around the house trying to think of any changes that needed to be made before they arrived and did my last file check just after my morning meeting. I was walking to the parlor for a drink when I felt a weird tingly sensation through my neck causing my head to buzz. I rub my forehead shaking it off.
Weird, maybe I'm still adjusting to the bond. . .
My chest felt like it was pounding as my stomach clenched. Thankfully I saw Rickey about to go into the same room and I stopped him before he walked down the hall as I stood at the front door.
"Hey do you feel that?" I winced at the weird tension again.
Something was starting to feel really wrong about whatever this was.
Rickey shook his head.
"I don't feel anything- you okay? Luna you're shaking. . ." his eyes suddenly looked worried as he looked me up and down and I looked down at my hands realizing he was right.
"Luna listen if you changed your minds-"
"No it's something else. . . listen I need you to go somewhere in the house- don't tell me where just stay there until I come get you okay?"
"But how will you-"
"Just trust me."
Something was terribly wrong and I had to find Jason to get to the bottom of it. Maybe he knew something I didn't. Whatever it was I didn't want Rickey in the middle of it. I grabbed my jacket and went for the door as Joshua walked in shutting the door looking at me.
"Where are you going?"
"Where's Jason?" I snapped, I could apologize later. I had priorities.
Joshua held up his hands in defense.
"He said he was going for a job real quick, listen if you want to go grab him that would be great because Alexander is nagging up a storm."
"Yeah that's fine go take care of whatever it is"
I waved him away as I moved passed him out the door.
Jason, a run really?
I whispered in my head making sure he could hear it.
Something was off though, he didn't respond which was odd. More than that it was almost like there was nothing to call out to almost like he was blocking me. I didn't know of all the effects the blood bond would have- especially it being my second there was no telling what it'd do.
I shook my head and started running down the driveway to the road.
Leave it to him to take a stroll at a time like this, while everyone else was working their asses off.
My nose twitched as I followed the sidewalk towards the road and was hit with the scent of blood.
"Jason! Come on it's time to get back to the-"
I stopped dead in my tracks when the cent of blood finally sunk in making me sick to my stomach. It was his. The scent was now clear as ever and as I looked down the path I saw him curled up on the ground and I walked closer reaching out with a shaky hand.
"Jason? . . . what happened?"
I whispered softly as I knelt beside him and shook his shoulder.
To my horror though as I shook him his head fell back more and it made me now see that his head was hardly hanging on to the threads of flesh that connect it to his shoulders. The scent and the smell made me want to vomit. I wanted to scream, I knew he'd heal so at least that was good. It was going to take him some time to recover though, but that didn't make this any less okay. The more the scent filled my lungs I noticed a familiar small scent of pine.
Suddenly I felt an incontrollable growl come from my chest. I was being completely consumed by my rage and I could see my vision grow darker, I'm sure they hadn't been darker.
"You slimy little snake!" I screamed as I flashed back to the house.
Forget about Cassie and Eric. This was war now and I had just the right weapon, at least hopefully for it to end once and for all. I marched my way to the training room throwing the doors open hearing the slam against the walls. My blood was boiling as I felt myself start to get into a tunnel vision like state. He was dying, once and for all.
"Luna, jesus scared the Hell out of me- what's going on?"
My head snapped.
Ben? what the fuck was he doing here?
"It doesn't matter."
I shoved passed him moving to the case where we put his sword.
"If this can kill you, surely it can kill him or at least torture him while I get information out of him"
I fumbled with the lock for a moment and decided to just rip it off throwing it on the floor and took it out and made my way back to the door.
"Luna- talk to me, what happened?" Ben grabbed my hand.
"You're bound to me and to my family to keep them safe yet you're alive and he's dead outside right now! How is that fucking possible?!"
I yelled as I spun around another growl ripping through my chest.
There was a plan. A plan that took us so long and so much work. In the end it had failed, been useless. At least for my primary selfish cause.
Ben let out a small cough breaking me out of my thoughts for a moment.
Then I felt it. The warm liquid splattered across my face. I looked and saw it was coming from Ben's mouth and I had realized in my blinded rage when I turned around I shoved the sword through him. . .
"I'm sorry. . ." I whispered as I felt tears suddenly sting my eyes falling down my face.
I sniffled ripping the sword out of him. He had no purpose now anyway. If he couldn't fuffill is own promise then I didn't need him anymore. Maybe that was selfish, no it was selfish. Jason might be upset when he wakes up, but in some ways maybe he'll agree it was what was best. I'd deal with those things later. . . Right now I had to find that bastard.
Was he really going to just show up after? Like nothing had happened? Like no one would notice?
I felt my blood begin to boil again and I looked down at the blood that was now pooling around my feed from Ben's body that was now slumped on the floor. I wiped my eyes as I looked at his now pale face as I listened to his ragged breaths and his slow heartbeat. The crimson liquid now started to bubble and I blinked as I swore I started to see images start to form within the liquid.
Was I going crazy now? I blinked a few more times as I stared at the sight in front of me.
They were his memories. . . specifically the memories of Jason and him. Without me. . . Where was I when these took place? I wasn't even sure if any of these were real. They were laughing, smiling and sharing what seemed to be their best moments together. . .
My heart sunk. Would Jason be able to forgive me? Had I really just been so cruel? We got him and took him under our wing so he wouldn't die. . . Yet I was the one to take him life from him anyway.
As I heard Ben's breathing suddenly halt I thought for a moment there was a chance at a peaceful break from the horror of the past few minutes. My thoughts were however interrupted by an excruciating pain and heaviness in my chest. It felt like it was exploding and as if the nerves were dying and regenerating over and over and over again. I was now screaming in agony.
My head was now throbbing as if my brain was doing the same exploding sensation. My vision becoming clouded as black splotches went in and out. . . Trying to get up from suddenly dropping onto my knees in the process my hands were slippery and covered in Ben's blood as I gripped the sword trying to use it to get back up. Unfortunately I had landed back in the pool of crimson liquid wincing in pain. I coughed up my own blood as my vision blurred with the red color slowly dripping into my eyes as I heard Kaiden's voice repeat our blood promise in an echo in my head.
My whole body was now shaking my nerves weren't under my control anymore and the pain was unbearable. I started to hear a painful ringing in my ears and my body suddenly felt like it was shutting off, which I didn't intend on doing but I couldn't seem to shake it off. I could just barely hear the sound of yelling and shouting. I couldn't even make out the voices. I tried to pull any strength I had left - even if I couldn't see to push myself off the floor.
I was too weak. . . or still not in control whatever was happening to my body. I slipped back down hitting my head hearing a crack, my mouth unable to make any verbal noise, unable to do anything as the smell of smoke and blood filled my nose.
Suddenly everything went black
ns 15.158.61.51da2
