17. Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Lexia

It's dark when I get up. Ves is wrapped around me like a snake, and I carefully unwrap myself from his limbs and make my way to the kitchen. A dish of food is on the counter. Lumen must have gotten up at some point and made us something to eat. It's weird that nothing is taken from it yet, like he made it and left it instead of calling us to eat. It's cold, but I scoop some into a bowl and microwave it. It's only when I sit at the table I realize how quiet it is.

I look around the house. Slate isn't here. Which is weird. Where would he be?

Did he freak out after what happened earlier?

I'll admit I was nervous about him joining us in the bedroom. He's still distant and doesn't seem fully on board. But he didn't seem bothered earlier. He was comfortable and enjoying himself. I fell asleep too fast to know what happened afterward, but him not being here now speaks volumes.

I try not to dwell on it, and instead focus on my food. I'm starving. The stove clock says it's close to five am, so once I'm done eating, I'm going back to sleep for a few hours. I'm still so tired, which is a shock considering I'm on close to twenty hours of sleep, but I guess staying up all night to decipher a journal and sex with your mates will do that to you.

My mind wonders while I eat, and I blame the silence. I somehow end up thinking about Bradyn, and how I told him I'd keep in touch. I haven't. I feel guilty about that. He's probably worried about me. Maybe I shouldn't care, but I do.

He wronged me in the worst way, but he also tried making up for it by taking care of me when my mother died. Which is another thing I have a million questions about, yet my father is nowhere to be found. I need to make sure I call Bradyn at some point. At least just to let him know I'm okay.

For now, it's best to worry about the matter at hand, nothing more. When the sun comes up, we will figure out a plan to get to the Underworld and talk to Hades. That's what needs my attention right now.

When I'm done eating, I wash my bowl and wrap up the rest of the food to put in the refrigerator, so it doesn't go bad. No idea how long it was sitting out for, but I don't want to waste the entire dish. I'm sure it'll be fine.

After using the bathroom, I head back to the bedroom. I stop short when I see three people in the bed. Ves and Lumen are asleep, but Slate is staring right at me. Even through the darkness of the room I can make out that his eyes open.

"Everything okay?" he asks quietly.

He's lying beside Lumen on the end furthest away from me. His hands are behind his head, and he looks relaxed. I hadn't noticed he was there when I got out of bed because Vesperon is on the other edge, closest to the door. I didn't look in Slate's direction when leaving.

"Uh, yeah. I just had something to eat."

"Was it good?"

"Lumen's food is always good." I crawl into bed, getting between Vesperon and Lumen.

"Lumen didn't make it," Slate says meekly.

I pause on my hands and knees, a wave of guilt hitting me.

"He didn't?" I say.

Slate turns on his side, resting his elbow on the bed and his head on his hand so he's eye level with me.

"You're sexy on all fours." He smirks.

Hopefully he can't see the blush on my face, but I certainly feel it.

"Th-thanks," I manage to say as I carefully lie on the bed.

"Are you okay with what happened earlier?" Slate asks.

"Are you?"

"I asked you first."

Oh, my stars, this man is childish.

"Yes, I'm fine with it," I say as patiently as I can.

"So am I. More than, actually."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I'm ready whenever you are."

"Unfortunately, I don't think that matters."

"Of course it matters."

I recall having similar thoughts with Lumen. I felt I didn't have the choice to be with him or not. That I was being pushed into it because of this stupid prophecy. Actually, it was the same with Ves too, only I'd already decided I wanted him before I knew of the prophecy, so it was a bit different. I don't like feeling that these choices are out of my control. It's weird for it to not happen naturally. To know I have to be intimate with someone, no matter how I feel about them, makes me feel icky.

"We don't have a choice," I say.

"If you don't want this, then neither do I. We can find another way."

"There is no other way, Slate. The prophecy was clear. We have all the information we need now. We know how this has to go."

"But if—"

"Just let it go," I urge. "This isn't making me feel any better."

It's silent for a moment, then the sheets rustle. Slate squeezes between Lumen and me. He gently takes my chin, turning me to face him. His grey eyes are bright even through the dark, and he's so gosh darn handsome this close.

"If you don't want this, it won't happen. I'm not in the habit of sleeping with people who don't want me."

I take a slow breath and say, "This is more than sleeping with."

He nods. "Exactly." He scrunches his nose up in the cutest gesture I've ever seen him do. "But am I so bad to have as a mate?"

Where is this playful side coming from? It's new.

"What's gotten into you?" I ask.

He purses his lips, eyes darting to the side for a split second. "Lumen, it seems."

I roll my lips between my teeth to stop my laugh.

"If I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't be. Just know that. Trust it. Truly, if you don't want to be my mate, fine. I'll accept that. But I really hope you consider it, because after tonight, I think I'd really like to be yours."

He kisses my forehead before sliding out of bed and going out the door.