21. Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

Lexia

Slate and I stay in bed for most of the morning. I can only assume Lumen and Vesperon know what we're up to, because they haven't come in to see what's going on or call us for breakfast. They're giving us space. They must have felt the mate bond snap into place, because that's what happened with Lumen when Ves and I mated. He said he felt a change. They had to have felt it similarly now.

Slate and I haven't spoken a word to one another since it happened, and that's okay. I don't need words. Him being here with me is enough. He finally understood what I was getting at when inviting him into bed with us. I figured he'd get it eventually, and he did.

There is a soft knock at the door, and I call out for whoever it is to come in, though I'm pretty sure I know which of them would knock like that.

Lumen comes in, a soft smile on his face and a plate in either hand.

"Figured you'd be hungry," he says.

"Starving, actually, but we can eat out there," I say.

"Suit yourself." He spins and heads out of the room. I glance at Slate.

"Want to come eat?"

"Do you think your shadow will bite my head off?"

I laugh. "Knowing he could shift into something to actually do that is a little frightening, but no. I don't think he will."

"Then let's go."

We get dressed and head to the kitchen. Vesperon is sitting on the couch, watching TV, and I go to him before going to the table.

"Hey," I say, leaning in to kiss him. He kisses me back as if nothing is wrong. "You okay?"

He smiles at me. "Why wouldn't I be?"

I shrug. "You're usually there when I wake up."

"I came out to speak with Lumen."

"As long as you're okay."

He pulls me in for another kiss. "Fine, my love. Go eat."

Relieved that Ves is fine, and maybe they're all going to get along now, I head to the table to eat. A plate of stuffed French toast and sausage waits for me.

"So, Vesperon and I thought we could leave Saturday morning," Lumen says as he sits across from me. "You know, to go to the Underworld now that we're all mates." He grins that cocky grin, and I shake my head.

"Saturday is great," Slate says, picking up his coffee mug.

We spend another day lazing around, knowing there are only a few days left until we have to leave. Knowing what's to come is daunting.

Our day is going really great.

Until it isn't.

The four of us get into bed together when the sun goes down. Slate chooses to stay on the end. He says it's likely he'll get up at some point since he doesn't sleep and doesn't want to disturb any of us when he does. Ves falls asleep first, as he usually does. I feel awful that being here is taking so much out of him. This sun sucks . Hopefully it won't be so bad for him once we leave and go to the Underworld. I can imagine it would be better for him, but what do I know? Maybe it'll be worse. All I know is that when all of this is done, we'll have to live somewhere that doesn't have so much sun.

Lumen falls asleep a short time after, and I drift off myself. I'm warm and safe between my mates. Everything is finally going well. Vesperon and Slate didn't argue once today. I didn't even feel the tension between them. Slate is finally putting himself out there. I feel better than I have in a long time. Like we're heading in the right direction. Like things are finally going right for once.

I stir awake a short time later to Slate leaving the bed, like he said he would. I turn over to get comfortable so I can go back to sleep, but I hear the soft whoosh of the sliding glass door and voices—which has me jolting up.

As I get out of bed, a heavy weight settles on my chest. Had Slate got out of bed and went to the living room, that would be normal. But to get out of bed and go directly outside? That's odd. Especially since I know I hear voices. Maybe it was his… maybe it was someone else's. I'm going to figure it out because who could he possibly be speaking to in the middle of the night?

Carefully as I can, I make my way out of the bedroom, tiptoeing to the end of the hallway to peek around the corner to where the sliding door is. Thanks to the bright moon, I see Slate standing there. And he's definitely talking to someone because his mouth is moving, but I can't make out who it is. From his jerky movements, he seems annoyed. Is he arguing with someone?

The weight on my chest grows heavier. I take a slow, deep breath, expanding my lungs and trying to get rid of that weight.

I glance back at the bedroom door, wondering if I should wake Vesperon and Lumen to come with me. But I decide there is no point, because I trust Slate and whatever he's doing isn't anything wrong. So why would I need Ves or Lumen to come with me? This revelation also has me realizing that I do not need to sneak around. So, with my chin held high, I head for the door, pull it open, and step outside, only to scramble back inside the moment I see who Slate is talking too.

Or rather… what .

"Shit, Lexia!" he hisses, as I reach for the door to slide it shut, flipping the lock closed. He reaches for the handle and tugs. His eyes frantic. I step back, panting, dizzy, and nauseous. "Open the door. Please."

I look from him to the shadow standing beside him. It grins at me, then it disappears. I shake my head in disbelief, slowly taking another step back.

"Lexia?" Lumen's voice is sleepy, coming from behind me, but it's Vesperon who is at my side.

"He… he was…" The words hardly come out of my dry mouth.

"What? What is wrong?" Ves asks, his gaze staying on Slate.

"I can explain. Open the door," Slate says, his voice still full of panic.

I keep shaking my head in disbelief. Did I really see that? Was he really… My hand goes to my mouth, tears forming in my eyes. Vesperon was right. This whole time, Vesperon was right, and I was doing everything I could to prove him wrong.

"What is going on?" Lumen asks.

"He was… Slate—" I clench my jaw, stepping back and out of Ves's and Lumen's grips. My chest aches. It burns. It's tight. I can't breathe.

"Don't let him in here," I whisper hoarsely, then hurry back to the bedroom, where I bury myself in the blankets as the tears fall.

I trusted him. I fought with Vesperon for him. And all along, he was right. Ves knew something was up with Slate, but I took Slate's side anyway. I was wrong. I didn't trust my mate.

I… I…

"What did I do?" I mutter, gripping my pillow tighter and crying harder.