31. Arabella

Chapter 31

Arabella

U gh, my head is absolutely killing me. I feel like complete death, and I have a feeling I will be spending all day in bed today trying to sleep this hangover away. It isn't often that I get drunk. The only time I've really been this drunk is when I've drunk alcohol infused with Fae magic. That was one hell of a time, and I knew I would never do it again. I'm pretty sure Warrick wanted to kill me that night, especially because I wouldn't shut up about how amazing I was feeling. I also may have shoved him into a fountain when he told me I wouldn't be feeling that great in the morning. It was well deserved.

Oh shit! Warrick!

Bolting up out of bed, I panic looking all around me to figure out where I am. I vaguely remember Warrick helping get me into bed and giving me pain meds, but I don't remember much else. I could have sworn he helped me back to my dorm, but looking around, I can tell this isn't my dorm at all. I have no idea where I am. Warrick would never leave me somewhere that I wouldn't be safe. That I know deep down in my heart, but I just wish I knew where he left me.

"Oh good, you're up," Warrick calls out, pulling my attention to the doorway of the bedroom where he is standing with a tray in his hands. "You've been sleeping for over twelve hours. Your phone there," he nods toward my phone on the nightstand beside me. "Has been going off nonstop all morning. I don't know your passcode to be able to answer, but I did take a peek. Sorry, it couldn't be helped when it wouldn't shut up, and I was switching it to vibrate. The girls and Phoenix have been messaging you."

"Sorry," I blush, reaching to grab my phone and entering my passcode to unlock it. When I open the messages, I see he wasn't kidding. The girls have been blowing up my phone all morning, trying to get ahold of me and make sure I'm okay. Typing out a quick message in our group chat, I let them know that I'm okay was sleeping, and Warrick is taking care of me before I close that chat and move to the one with Phoenix. His texts are different. He wasn't necessarily asking where I was. He just said he hoped I had a good time and wanted to know what time I would be coming back so we could talk. I appreciate that he wasn't trying to rush me or that he didn't need to know about my every move. He trusted me, and that said more to me than anything.

"I made you breakfast. Don't worry. I didn't leave it to sit for a while; everything is freshly made. I figured you could use some food and more pain meds." He gently sits the tray of food over my legs and takes a step back. "I know you are probably feeling like trash. Feel free to crash here as long as you'd like. When you're ready, I'll help you get back to your dorm, or if you're more comfortable, you can have the girls bring your things here."

"That's really sweet of you, Warrick," I give him a soft smile. "Out of curiosity, do you know if any of those drinks I had last night had Fae magic in them? I feel the same way I did the last time I drank drinks with Fae magic. I know you paid my tab, so I wasn't sure if you happened to see what was on it."

"They don't serve drinks enhanced with Fae magic at Phantom's Pub," Warrick shakes his head and comes closer, reaching his hand out to touch my forehead. "Can I?"

I nod my consent, and then I feel his magic slipping through me. I knew what happened the second he told me Phantom's Pub doesn't serve Fae-enhanced drinks. I suspected it last night but never said it out loud. Now I'm realizing the mistake that was. I should have spoken up and told him when I realized it. I'm such an idiot. I know better than to be trusting of drinks. I guess I'm just so used to always having Warrick there to watch me that I didn't think to take precautions. I also just assumed it was safe because of the proximity to campus. I have definitely learned my lesson now.

"Bella," he states in almost a whisper, his voice filled with concern. "I think you were drugged. I can sense something foreign in your bloodstream. Were you not watching your drinks all night?"

I can already hear the lecture he is about to dive into now. "Don't leave your drink unattended. Always keep an eye on it," I answer, rolling my eyes. "I know the lecture, War," I groan.

"Since you feel like this, and I'm almost positive you'll remember for next time I'm going to save the lecture. I tried to use my magic to heal you, but it's going to take a little while for the drug to leave your system completely. I'm betting that's why you puked from the car ride. Usually, it takes you far too many drinks to count for you to get sick like that."

"I should have told you last night when I suspected it. Something felt off, and I suspected my drinks weren't what they should be, but I think I was terrified to say it out loud. I didn't want to worry you after you were already doing so much for me," my voice drops to under a whisper. Shame and guilt fill me as I stare down at the tray of food he prepped for me. My appetite is long gone now, and I feel disappointed.

"Hey, none of that," he states gently, placing his index finger under my chin and lifting his gaze to mine. "It wasn't your fault. None of it was your fault. The only person to blame is the asshole who spiked your drinks. I'll go to the pub later today and see if they have video footage. I doubt it, but it doesn't hurt to check."

"Really?" I smile slightly, feeling a small bit of lightness in me. He's still my friend, no, he's my mate, and we didn't lose that between us, even if I was afraid that we had. His actions last night and this morning tell me that.

"Really," he smiles back. "Now eat your food and rest up. Also, tell the girls they are welcome to come here because I know they are going to be blowing up your phone and you need to rest. But...," he looks at me pointedly. "But you have to rest while here. No, getting out of bed or off the couch got it?"

"You're going to let me move to the couch?" I ask jokingly as I pick up the fork and put some scrambled eggs on it.

"Yes, I'm going to let you move to the couch. You need to be comfortable until those drugs are out of your system." He lets go of my chin so I can start eating and heads to the door. "If you're okay here, then I'm going to head to the pub."

"Thank you, Warrick, for everything." I hold out my empty hand to him. "You have no idea how much it means to me that you've done all of this. I know we have a lot to talk about and work out, but this is a step in the right direction. When you're ready, I think I want to tell you everything."

I watch as he walks back over to me, grasps my hand, and leans down to place a soft kiss on my forehead. "Little One, I will do everything and anything to take care of you. I went about it the wrong way at the start of the week, and I will forever be sorry about that. You, Arabella, are so important to me. I will do whatever you need to make it up to you."

"No more hot and cold then," I answer firmly. "I can't do that again. You've never behaved like that with me, and it pissed me off and then slightly scared me. I was worried you would turn into my dad. I can't and won't live that type of life."

"I know. The second you walked out that door, I knew I fucked up, and I knew you would think I was like your father. I was just terrified. I kept getting secondhand information, but I couldn't get ahold of you and figure out where you were. It was the first time I was truly afraid of what happened to you," he pauses and takes a deep breath. "You are my world, Arabella. You have always been my world. I fucked it up once. I will spend my life making it up to you."

"You know I believe that," I chuckle lightly. "But you know it won't be the first nor last time either of us fucks up. Time is on our side in some ways because we know each other so well, but we know each other as friends. Now it's time to get to know each other as mates. If you want that." I start to get shy and burrow back into the pillows behind me, afraid that he is going to think I'm jumping too soon. Maybe I am, but I'm saying what I feel. I don't want to keep doing this alone.

"Little One," he sighs, looking at me longingly. "I would like nothing more than to do that. You tell me when, and we will ask Talia how we can complete our mate bond while here."

"Okay," I squeak before I begin to fidget with my food, pushing what's remaining around on the plate. I want to do this but we have so much to talk about. He needs to know about Phoenix before agreeing to complete this mate bond with me. I make him feel trapped. He also needs to know about my weird power and the possible connection to Lucifer. There is still so much between us.

"Why did you go quiet? What's going on in the beautiful mind of yours? Scared?" he prompts, moving the tray off my lap and onto the floor before taking the seat beside me on the bed. "We don't need to discuss this now. Let's wait until you're feeling better."

"It's...," I stutter, trying to find the right words. "It's not that."

"Then what is it?" he asks, running his hand up and down my leg in a comforting gesture. He's doing it on top of the comforter, but I can still feel it.

"There are some things you need to know. Some developments in my life that I've found out before you make that decision to tie your soul to mine," I pause waiting for him to ask further questions if he wants. He sits there quietly and patiently looking at me and waiting for me to continue. "We already know that I'm destined to have multiple mates when the Divine connected my soul with yours and Mavericks. But what if I told you that I have a third?"

"How did you figure that out? I assume it's another student at the school?" he questions as his hand stops moving.

I want to tell him not to stop, but he has a right to do what he wants, especially when I drop this bombshell. "Yes. Umm, someone else may have done their mating ceremony test to determine if we were or not."

"How did you find someone other than Malach who is capable of completing that? Who is this other mate?" Each question he asks is oddly calm. I expected at least one sort of outburst, but he has remained calm. I'm really hoping that stays true when I tell him about Phoenix, but I'm not sure if he will. "Just rip the band-aid off, Arabella. Who is it?"

"Rhys did the testing. My other mate is Phoenix. He's a fallen angel, and their mating ceremony test is, well, a tad bit different from ours from what I gathered. He's a really great guy, and I know that it's weird having a fallen mate, but Talia said that it isn't uncommon. We all are the same species as it is. Only separated because the Seraphim Council declared it." I'm rambling, I know that I am, but I can't help it. I don't want Warrick to judge Phoenix before even considering the idea. I saw him tense up when I mentioned both Fallen. Now, I'm trying to do and say everything to keep him calm and just consider the idea. In the end, it is still my choice who I do and don't mate with, but it is also their choices, as well. I hope that Phoenix and Warrick can find a way to see eye to eye, but it's up to them. I can only do so much.

"Arabella," he sighs, shaking his head as he looks at me. I can hear it his voice, the disappointment, and worry. That was not the reaction I wanted but it was the one I expected.

"Just say it, Warrick" I answer with exasperation. "Like you said, just rip the band-aid off."

"Are you sure you can trust Rhys? I know Phoenix is a decent angel, he's done good in his classes and he talks during our mentoring sessions, but I'm not sure, Arabella. I've never heard about Angels and Fallen being mates." I can see the worry and indecision in his expression. He isn't completely shutting the idea down but he is unsure.

"Do you have your phone? You can ask Talia," I push, knowing that I'm right. I don't want to betray Talia's trust and tell him when she told me. It's her story, and who she tells is her choice, but I have a feeling that if the request was coming from me, she would most likely be okay with it.

Warrick shifts to his side, pulling his phone out of his pocket, and begins to pull up her contact information. "Are you sure?" he pauses, his finger hovering on the dial button. When I nod yes he hits the dial button, placing the call on speakerphone so we can both hear. The phone rings three times before Talia picks up.

"Hello, this is Councilwoman Talia. What can I do for you on this fine Saturday, Warrick?" she questions, sounding chipper. Much more chipper than I expected.

"Good afternoon, Councilwoman Talia. I'm sitting here with Arabella and she told me something interesting today, and insisted that I ask you if it's true," Warrick explains carefully. I noticed he didn't jump right out to ask the question, but I am glad that at least he told her I was here as well, which means that she has an idea of what this call is about.

"Ah, hello, Arabella. I'm assuming this call is about our talk the other day? More specifically about Angels and Fallen, am I correct?" she asks, directing the conversation to me.

"Yes, Talia. I didn't want to break your confidence and explain what I know," I answer, hoping she can tell how sorry I am about this coming up. It's still her choice if she wants to disclose her mating situation, but I think it would help a lot.

"I'm assuming, Warrick, that she told you that Angels and Fallen Angels can be mates?" she doesn't wait for him to answer before continuing. "Arabella is right. It is possible for that mating to occur, considering we are the same species. I'm mated to a Fallen myself."

"You are?" he gasps before covering his mouth and trying to backpedal. "I'm sorry that was rude of me to say that."

"No, I understand that is most people's reaction as well," she chuckles. "I'm not offended, don't worry. Just please listen to Arabella. I know it took a lot for her to come to grips with everything and to tell you about it. She only hinted at it to me, and I got the idea that she was scared and worried. Don't cause her any more worry, and just listen."

"Thank you, Talia," I call out before clicking the end button. "Do you believe me now?" I ask Warrick, looking at him and waiting for him to make a decision. I watch the different expressions across his face as he decides what to do and say next.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but it's going to take some time to wrap my head around this. I'm not saying no to anything. I would never say no to you. I'm just asking for time to get to know Phoenix as your mate and not just as my student. If you are willing to give me that?"

"I..." I stare at him in disbelief. I really thought that it was going to take a lot longer than that for him to make a decision. I never really took Warrick as the jealous type but he has always believed in the angels and what they stood for. If anything it feels as if he is accepting of this situation just a little more than I was prepared for. "You're not going to put up a fight at all?"

"I almost lost you once, Arabella. I'm not going to take that risk again. If this is what you want then this is what you can have. All I ask is give me a little time to adjust," he reaches forward to grasp both my hands in his before looking at me earnestly. "You are my world. If you want to bond your soul to Phoenix then okay."

"Well damn, okay," I chuckle, falling back against the pillows. "Just blow my mind here today," I continue laughing.

"Any other bombshells you want to drop on me before I leave?" he asks. I can't tell if he thinks there is or not but there is more to tell. If he took Phoenix being my mate this well, then maybe we will get lucky and he will handle the news that I have the same power as Lucifer. Maybe.

"So you know that power you noticed that I have but told me to basically never use because we weren't sure exactly how to use it?" I begin, not really sure how to drop this bombshell. There really is no good way to say this, I suppose.

"Let me guess, you figured out more about it?" he chuckles dryly.

"Something like that," I sigh, not wanting to do this but knowing I need to. "You know the journal my great-grandmother made sure that you go to me? Well, in it, I discovered what the power is and how to use it... sort of. I also found out that the power is passed down through bloodlines. I'm not sure how much to believe about the journal because I can't find any books to back it up."

"What's the power, and what bloodline does it come from?" he questions carefully, almost afraid of what answer I'm going to give him.

"It's the power of emotional manipulation. I can convince others to do what I want them to do, and I can control their emotions. I haven't tested the power. I've only used it once here by accident in class before I discovered what it is. Since then, I haven't touched it at all. Not without knowing more about it or practicing it on someone who gives me their permission. I don't want to do anything against someone's will. I read about what happened before Aeris was created. I don't want to live in that sort of world," I explain, hoping he doesn't get scared. I'm not afraid of the power itself. I'm just worried about how it could be used and abused. I won't do that, not ever.

"What bloodline does the power come from? If it's as powerful as you say then it has to come from a powerful bloodline. I've never heard of that power but I had my suspicions when I saw you use it those two times. You didn't know what you were doing and I remember when I asked you to repeat it you couldn't. I'm glad you now know what it is but I agree not using it unless you have permission," he agrees and explains further.

At first, all I can do is stare at him with my jar slightly gapped. I wasn't expecting him to be so calm or rational. This power is terrifying if abused and in the wrong hands. I sure don't think that my hands are the right ones to have this sort of power, but I guess I'm going to have to figure it out. It's not like I have a choice unless there's a way to strip the power from me. I know there is to me, but I just don't know what it is or what it would involve. Would I only lose the power, or would I lose all of my powers?

"Rhys made a comment about the power belonging to Lucifer. The journal never came out right and said it. I was hoping you could contact my great-grandmother and ask her if she had any more information about the journal." It was a long shot when the girls and I came up with the idea. Saying it out loud to Warrick now makes it sound even crazier. I really am shooting in the dark here, but he needs to know everything.

"Divine, Arabella," he whistles, shaking his head. "I have no idea what bloodline you expected but that? Nah, there is no way. Lucifer was stripped of being able to have children and well rumor has it the one he had died in childbirth. Not sure where Rhys was getting the idea about Lucifer. I think he wanted to spook you and get you worried. I believe you that the power comes from a bloodline but it's not Lucifer's."

I can see his conviction and that he believes he's right, but I also know for a fact that Rhys knows a lot more than he lets on. I'm not sure I believe him that it's Lucifer, either. We need proof either way. I can't just stop following a lead because Warrick doesn't believe that. I also know that I've already pushed Warrick too far. He's calm, but he is only going to be able to handle so much.

"We need to talk to Aurora. She would have the answers that I need, or at least know where to start, considering she is the one who gave you that journal for me. Why would she have it?" My mind is spinning with questions and more questions. The after-effects of the drugs in my system are now long forgotten as I try to find answers where none are. A part of me feels relieved that Warrick knows the truth and isn't running away, but the other part of me is freaking out.

"Little one," he calls out sternly as he grasps my thigh tightly, then lets go. "We've gone over enough for today. You need to rest. Bring the girls over. I'm going to head to the pub and see if I can get some answers. I'll also reach out to your great-grandmother and see if she can provide any light. We don't need to solve everything in one conversation. Remember, we need to take little steps before we can jump."

"Ha, ha," I chuckle dryly. "Fine. I'll wallow here in bed and call the girls to bring me clothes while we wait for you to return."

"Good girl," he pats my leg and rises before placing a kiss on my forehead. "One of these days, I'm going to give you an actual kiss when I leave you."

"You could have then, but no, you're a chicken shit. Also, no good girl, it sounds so weird coming from you," I laugh, watching him walk away. I hear him groan in pain as he shakes his head and exits the room.

"Don't forget to shower!" he calls back over his shoulder before leaving me alone.

"Asshole," I mutter before pushing the covers back from the bed and crawling out. Lifting my arm, I smell myself and realize he's right, I do stink to high heaven. Divine, how did he even sleep next to me last night? I smell disgusting. Damnit, I hate it when he's right.