Chapter Twenty-Four

Something in me shifts as I sit in the hallway, just outside the bedroom door, waiting for Vesperon and Lexia to… finish. I feel it the moment they are connected. It's hard to explain, but it's almost like I feel the bond too. I am connected to her and she to him. Therefore, the shadow and I will be connected as well. That must be what I felt, and it should only strengthen when she and I have our time together. The bond will make a full circle, tightening our bond and making it unbreakable. At least, that's how mate bonds are supposed to be.

I'd expected to be jealous, listening to them together, but all I can do is smile. Of course, I wish I was in there. Who wouldn't want to be intimate with their mate? Especially after the moment we shared earlier. I'm only grateful this worked, and it's one less thing we have to worry about. The biggest thing we have to concern ourselves with now is finding the grey. I'm not even sure where to look for one. I've never met one, never even seen one. They do their own thing and aren't out of their realm often. It's rare they're needed for anything. They have zero purpose other than being part of the balance. No duties like me and the shadows have. They just exist for the sake of balance.

Lexia and Vesperon spend hours locked in the room, alternating between fucking, hard and fast, and making love, soft and slow. The sounds of them coming over and over again have me aching. His low, growly groans. Her whimpering moans and cries for more. Gods, my dick is so hard it hurts. I want to give in. Just a few strokes and I'd be done for. But I won't. I'll save it all for my mate.

That bed is going to be a mess once they're done, and there is no way Lexia will be able to sleep in it. It's no secret shadows come waterfalls, and she'll no doubt need a shower when they're done. I wonder if Vesperon will help her. Has he ever taken a shower? I chuckle to myself as I think about it. Now that he is solid in this world, he is going to experience things he's never felt before. He can eat now. Sleep in a bed. Shower. Use clothing, if he wants. Oh, what fun it'll be to see how he reacts to all of this.

I rest my head back against the door and fall asleep to her soft moans and pleas for him to keep going. I worry if I don't sleep, I'll come in my pants.

When I wake, sunlight is streaming in through the large windows with a soft, yellow glow, telling me it's early morning. I get to my feet, stretch, causing a few bones to crack, then I quietly rip the tape from the door to allow them out when they are ready. I'd thought they would come out at some point during the night to shower or maybe sleep on the couch, but they're still in there.

I take a quick shower because I enjoy them like I enjoy food. We don't have showers in my realm, and I like starting my day under the hot spray. I don't need them, as my body self-cleanses, but I like to indulge while here.

I get dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, then head to the kitchen to make breakfast. I'm not sure how much Lexia likes cooking, or if she even can, but I love seeing her face light up when she finds me in the kitchen. It's got to be one of those weird domestic things women enjoy more than the actual food. Seeing a man in the kitchen and all that… Whatever it is, I'm glad it pleases her.

After I eat, I store the food in the oven to stay warm, then pop into town.

I've checked out a few different areas, but Missoula is by far the most convenient. It's more populated than a few others, meaning there are more stores to choose from.

I walk down the main road of the quaint downtown area, passing small shops with bright window paintings and outdoor displays. People pass me as I go. Singles, couples, families browsing or shopping. The sweet scent of dough and sugar fills my nose, and I follow it to a bakery. If there is anything in this world that'll catch my attention, it's sweets. I swear a kidnapper could lure me into the back of a white van labeled "killer" if he only told me there were donuts inside.

We don't actually need anything for the house today, as I've already gotten everything, but there's nothing else to do while Lexi and Vesperon sleep.

The scent of sugar, berries, and pastry fills my nose when I open the door, and I hold back the moan rumbling in my chest. There are a few customers waiting to order, so I step in line.

A small boy standing just in front of me with his mother, perhaps about six, looks up at me with wide blue eyes, then he smiles at me. I smile back. His hair is dark, shaggy and messy.

"You're tall," he says with wonder in his voice.

His mother looks at him with a frown. "Sweetie, that was rude," she whispers.

"It's okay, Ma'am. He's not wrong." I smile politely, wanting her to know I'm not offended.

She smiles back, her cheeks going a little pink when she takes me in. I get two reactions from people. Heated cheeks or scowls of disapproval. There is no in between. Though, my looks are quite dramatic, so it makes sense people's reactions would be too.

"Well, no, but not everyone would take too kindly to a comment like that," she responds.

"Nothing wrong with being tall," I say, then add, "Or honest." I wink at the boy, so he knows I'm talking to him.

She nods, then turns around and puts in her order. The little boy picks out a chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting and keeps sneaking looks at me. I make silly faces at him each time, and he laughs into his hand to stop his mom from noticing, which I find adorable. Human kids are cute. I wave to him when he leaves.

"Morning, sir. What can I get for you?" the woman behind the glass case asks. Her white apron is covered in different colored frosting smudges, and her blond hair is tamed under a dark hairnet.

I give the woman my order and end up leaving with two large paper bags full of goodies. I think I may have ordered one of everything and two of the stuff that looked really good, like the croissants.

I manage to carry the two bags while eating a jam-filled croissant as I make my way back to the area I popped in at. With a glance around, I make sure no one can see me and pop back to the house.

I grin when I spot Lexi laid out on the kitchen table, naked, Vesperon having her for breakfast.

"Ves!" she whisper-shouts when she sees me, reaching for his head to push him off. He slaps her hand away, gripping her thighs tighter and growling.

I walk past them, taking a bite of my croissant and winking at her. "Don't stop on my account, darling," I say. "He's enjoying himself. Don't take that from the man." I put the bags down on the counter.

"Oh gods, this is—I'm going to—oh hell!"

I turn and lean against the counter, popping the last bit of croissant into my mouth as she comes. Her back bows from the kitchen table, fingers grasping onto the edge, her face screwed up in pleasure. My dick aches all over again as I swallow the food.

I can't wait to do that to her.

I reach into the bag blindly, pulling out another pastry, ending up with a scone. I take a bite as Ves gets to his feet, darting out his tongue to lick his lips. He looks to me, smirking. I give him an approving smile.

Lexi opens her eyes, meeting mine, and they widen as if she forgot I was here. I smile at her too. She scrambles from the table, gathers her clothing into a pile in her arms, then hurries up the stairs.

"There's no need to be shy," I call after her. "Sex is completely normal!" She shakes her head, so I add, "Once you have all three of us, it'll happen more!"

She makes a choked sound that echoes through the house, and I chuckle, then turn to Vesperon, who looks much more interesting now that I can't see through him. He looks the same, only darker and more formidable. He's certainly scarier this way, though he doesn't intimidate me. I hand him the half-eaten scone with a grin. "Wanna try some human food?"