2. Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Lexia

I hardly remember getting back to the house. It's been hours since we've been here and I'm still in a daze. My father is alive. He's part of this. So is my mother. They die over and over again, all because of a prophecy I have to fulfill. What kind of crap is that? It's terrible. Why did my family get stuck with this responsibility?

I think back on how I felt when Vesperon acted as if he didn't know me. The pain I felt. It was paralyzing. The worst thing I'd ever felt. My parents have gone through that same thing, over and over again. I hate that for them, and I can't help but be angry at the universe for doing such an awful thing to people who don't deserve it. How can it be so cruel?

"I brought us a snack."

I blink a few times, snapping out of my daze. Ves comes into view, giving me a small smile and sitting beside me. There is a large bowl in his hand.

"You don't like human food," I say, reaching into the bowl of popcorn.

"I will suffer through it," he says.

The popcorn doesn't feel right, so I look at my hand before putting it in my mouth. I frown. "Ves, what is this?"

He smiles proudly. "It is a snack mix. I saw it in a movie. It was very liked."

I sigh, picking out the piece of corn and putting it back into the bowl. Hesitantly, I put the rest in my mouth. The popcorn, skittles, and—crap, I think that was a pea—isn't the best thing I've ever tasted, but it isn't terrible.

"Usually when people made snack mixes, they're full of snacks."

"Is that not what this is?" He points to the bowl. I lean over it to get a better look and try not to laugh. The look on his face is hopeful, like he's waiting for me to tell him he did a good job. He tried. How can I expect him to learn about all the food we have when he's only just tasted it for himself?

"Yes, it is," I say, taking the bowl and putting it on the end table. "I'm just not hungry right now." I snuggle into his side. "Is this okay?"

He puts his arm around me, resting his chin atop my head. "More than okay, my love."

I close my eyes and allow my body to sink against his, willing myself to relax. I'm mentally wiped out and my body is feeling it. But being with my mates always makes me feel better. They re-energize me.

"What in all the realms is this?"

I sit up, startled, not realizing I'd fallen asleep. The room is dim, the only light coming from the TV.

"You have woken her with your loud mouth," Vesperon growls.

I look to where he is glaring and find Slate standing on the end of the couch, staring down at the bowl of Vesperon's snack mix as if it's insulted him.

Scrubbing a hand down my face, I yawn.

"Well, I'm sorry for that, but I wasn't expecting to get a mouth full of vegetables when reaching into a pile of popcorn."

I try to hide my laugh with my hand, but it doesn't work well. It comes out half laugh, half choke.

"It is not yours to eat. You do not have to like it," Vesperon argues.

"No one should eat this." Slate gestures at the bowl. "It's horrid!"

"Is that true?" Vesperon frowns. I turn a glare on Slate, who shrugs.

"No, Ves. It's not horrid, it's just not a common mix of foods, is all." I get up and take his hand, tugging him to his feet. "Come on. I'll show you the way we normally make it."

He follows me into the kitchen, and I dig through our snack cabinet to pull out random stuff. I hand Ves the bag of popcorn and ask him to make it. He's recently learned how to use the microwave and is proud of himself for it. As he should be, considering all of this is new to him. I get a new bowl and start pouring stuff into it.

"These are what taste best with popcorn," I say, dumping in a handful of Milk Duds, M&M's, and Reese's Pieces into the bowl. "Sugar goes best with sugar."

"But is that not too much sugar?" he questions.

"Yeah, probably. But humans love it." I shrug lazily, watching Slate dump Vesperon's mixture into the trash with a disgusted look on his face.

"Why are you being so judgmental?" I ask, putting my hands on my hips. "You know he's new to this."

Slate turns to me with a frown, and I expect an argument. But his eyes flick to Ves and they soften, then he turns back to me. The microwave beeps, so I don't bother continuing to berate Slate. It's just me being tired and grumpy. He could be a little nicer, but Ves hasn't exactly been nice to him. Regardless, I'm too tired to play peacemaker between them two. I open the popcorn and let it cool for a minute before dumping it in and mixing it all around.

"This is the way you like it?" Ves asks, pulling out a milk dud that has a piece of popcorn stuck to the melted chocolate.

I nod, grabbing a handful. "It's my favorite."

He smiles at me like I just told him the most beautiful thing. I lean on the counter and stuff my mouth full, knowing I should eat something of substance but not having the energy to do it. This is hitting the spot right now. Sugar and more sugar after a bad day.

"That grey is troublesome," Ves comments after Slate disappears upstairs.

I eat a few more handfuls as I think over what to say.

"He's just… different."

"We are all different. You, me, and the light-being," Ves answers. "He is a pain."

"That's how you felt about Lumen in the beginning."

Though it didn't last long, I could tell.

"We are sworn enemies," Ves defends. "But he protected you, and for that I am grateful. Plus, he is your mate."

"So is Slate," I remind him. "He may not have protected me, but he has given us valuable information. Just give him a chance, okay? For me?"

Ves sighs, keeping his gaze toward the stairs as he thinks it over. He leans down to kiss my forehead. "I cannot deny my mate any request."

"Good. So we can go to bed then?"

"My cock does miss you."

I roll my eyes. "I meant to sleep, Vesperon."

"That does not make what I said a lie."

I huff out a laugh, taking his hand and leading him upstairs. The spare room is brightly lit, Lumen and Slate huddling over the desk, looking through the journal. Lumen hasn't stopped fussing over it since my father said it has the answers. Though, he didn't say it was that book, just a book. Part of me wonders if Lumen has found anything, while another part is too tired to care. It's the last thing I want to worry about, so I ignore them and keep going into the bedroom. I get right into bed, and Ves follows. I snuggle into him, and he happily holds me to him.

My body relaxes after some time, but my mind won't stop. Not only about the prophecy, my father, this journal, what we need to do… but about my mates.

Will they ever get along? Vesperon wasn't wrong in saying Slate is a pain. He is. It's just that I find it endearing. It's his personality shining through, and not a reason for me to dislike him. But I can see why it would bother Lumen and especially Vesperon, who isn't used to people acting like that. I like Slate. And I think once we mate, the others will be more accepting of him too. Like how when I mated with Lumen, he and Vesperon relaxed around each other.

Should I get the mating done sooner rather than later for that reason? So all of this can move faster? I've already accepted the fact that it will have to happen, and that my emotions need to be put aside. I'd worry about having to do that with Ves, but nothing about it felt impersonal. Same with Lumen. Will I get the same luck with Slate?

I hear soft footsteps on the floor. The rustling of fabric. The bed dips and my body is encompassed by heat. Lumen is here. He rests his hand on my hip, kissing my cheek. He likely thinks I'm asleep, and I'm going to keep it that way—because I want to fall asleep. The house is quiet, and I can't be sure if Slate left or stayed. Soon enough, both Vesperon and Lumen are fast asleep.

As carefully as I can, I untangle myself from them both, slip out of bed, and go in search of Slate. The room across the hall is dark, the entire upstairs is quiet. I make my way down and find Slate at the kitchen table, staring at the wall. When I reach the bottom landing, his eyes flick to mine.

"I thought you would be sleeping," he says, giving me a tired smile.

"I should be," I answer, going to the fridge to get some chocolate milk. "Do you want some?"

"No, thank you." I can tell by his tone that something is bothering him. He sounds almost melancholy, his normal cocky tone gone.

I sit down beside him with my glass of milk. "What's on your mind?" I ask.

He holds my gaze before blinking slowly. "Many things."

"Want to talk about them?"

"Not particularly."

"Do you want to talk about anything?" I ask.

"What is there to talk about?"

"Oh, I don't know. Do you like sports?"

His brow furrows before his face splits into a grin. "You are funny."

"I used to think so."

"But not anymore?"

I take a big sip and put my glass down. "There's a lot that's happened and I don't feel like myself. I don't think I have a safe enough space to be myself."

"You should always be yourself."

"Easy to say, coming from you."

"What is that supposed to me?" He turns to me more fully, preparing for an explanation.

"You have a big personality, Slate. It's easy for someone like you to not worry about anyone else around them and just be you. People like me? It's not so easy."

He gives one slow nod, then flicks his gaze away. I see his jaw working. "You've got it all wrong, Lexia."

"How so?"

He blinks a few times, his gaze staying on the wall. When he turns to me, he gives me a small smile and gets to his feet. "You should go to sleep."

He offers me his hand and helps me to my feet, then takes my glass and washes it, leaving it in the strainer to dry.

"Are you staying?" I ask.

"Do you want me to?"

"Yes."

"Then I will."

I nod carefully, not sure what is up with him, but it's something. He's being weird, and I can't figure out if I should be worried or not. He and my father seemed to share something they didn't want us to know. Slate has been secretive since he showed up here. My gut tells me it isn't something I need to worry about. That whatever he's keeping to himself isn't something that'll affect me, Lumen, or Vesperon negatively. That I should trust Slate. I'm just not sure if I'm in the right head space to listen to any of my feelings.

Before going up the stairs, I get a thought.

"You know you can leave at any time, Slate."

"The prophecy says I can't."

With my hand on the banister, I look over my shoulder at him.

"Well, I say you can. I don't care about a stupid prophecy. If you don't want to be here, if you don't want to be part of this, then don't. Your lack of willingness to participate will only get in our way."

I don't wait for his response. I go upstairs, get back in between Lumen and Vesperon, and fall asleep.