Chapter twenty-One

Leo

She's nearby, I know it. The air feels heavier when she's approaching, and it's been a few days since I've been able to fully move so I'm fully attuned to her.

I'm gathering strength though, which is both exciting and alarming, because of what that means.

Like I did that one time I was able to sneak inside and watch her sleep, I jump onto her little balcony and open her window, maneuvering my body inside as best I can without causing too much destruction. I feel a few pebbles fall off of me again, which tells me our bond is strengthening, but it"s near impossible to grow it as fast as I'd like to when I can't predict when I'm awake and have no way of calling her to me when I am.

When I'm stone, I know when she sits on me and speaks to me, but I can't wrap my arms around her and touch her for myself. I can't communicate with her when I'm frozen, can't do anything. No doubt it's another part of the curse, meant to torture and drive me mad.

But I think I'm in luck today. I hear the sound of keys in her door and then it swings open and I can't see anything but the length of her blonde hair and the curve of her hip, can't focus on anything other than the intoxicating way she smells. One of her companions gives a yelp of surprise when they see me inside her room, jumping back and away from her, clearing the way for me to get to her faster.

Delaney's not scared. Her eyes widen, but more because she's surprised to see me in her space and not outside I assume. She throws her arms around me and jumps, and I welcome the weight of her. Her legs wrap around my waist as she starts to shake a little, fixing the brokenness inside both of us from bonding and then being torn apart again. "You're mine. I don't know how much time I have," I tell her, "so let's not waste any."

"Do you need to be outside?"

I shake my head. "Not for a bit. I'll tell you when."

"I brought some people to see you today," she says, still clinging to me. "You need to meet them officially. This is Adam and Cory."

I take measure of them, liking the humble way Cory presents themself more than the cocky way Adam does. Adam has pulled back his shoulders and is staring down his nose at me as if he doesn't like that I'm holding my mate.

Like that's going to stop me. "Who are they to you, my dove?" I know she's spoken of them before whilst sitting upon my lap, but I'm not sure if their relationships have changed and things tend to get a little mixed up when I'm in my rock form.

She giggles at my nickname for her, and it's all I can do to not impale her on my cock right this very moment, company be damned.

"Adam's been my best friend for years, and he's dating Cory."

Adam interrupts her, speaking forcefully to tell me how he really feels about being just a friend. "We're both courting her."

Delaney shakes her head. "We still have to discuss it. You aren't allowed to assume anything, not after…"

The wind deflates from Adam and his shoulders round over a bit. "You're right, I'm sorry." His voice is much softer now and his eyes changed, looking more pleading and more real. He takes a tentative step closer to where I'm standing, reaching a hand out and rubbing it up and down Delaney's back. "We want to court her," he corrects.

"Leo is one of my mates," she says softly. "I don't think I've talked about him with you since you and I have been on the outs." I don't like that she seems scared for his reaction to that news, but this is all still so new that emotions are bound to be all over the place.

The Cory person steps forward, hand extended and trembling a bit, but they do make eye contact. I reach out and shake their hand, getting nothing but good vibes. "This one's a keeper," I tell my mate.

"Pleased to meet you," they say, peeking at Delaney's arm which she has covered for some reason. I growl and shove her sleeve up gently so that my marks are bared to everybody here, warming me further when I see she claimed her twins as well. But then my eyes catch on something around her neck. "Where did you get this?"

I'm shaking now, would be sweating if I had the ability to.

"It was a courting gift," Cory says. "I bought it years ago and I've been saving it because I knew I would need it someday. She was the right person for it."

"Delaney, do you know what this is?"

"Cory said it was a goblin heart and was trying to explain that it was really rare and meaningful…"

"It is those things, and so much more." I lift the stone gently, feeling the weight of it in my palm.

When I'm not frozen, my flesh is somewhat pliable and warmer than when I'm not, but I could still easily damage such a trinket if I weren't careful. I gently let it rest against her body once more, my emotions getting ahead of me. "I was cursed because I used to be an incredibly selfish person. I ruined the life of the wrong person and they were vengeful. As they should have been. With this…" I start to explain, watching in amazement as the stone seems to glimmer even when not being handled. "Why did you give this specific thing to her as a courting gift? That's sort of non-traditional."

"It"s my magic," Cory explains. "I get feelings or premonitions about needing objects that I come across. I'm not always sure why in the moment I need to collect the items, but they always work out."

I feel a genuine smile bloom on my face. "Delaney, sum of my existence, I've spent so many years on this rooftop with nothing to do but think over all the damage I've caused in other people"s stories. I was not a good person. I knew that someday the goddess would grant me the mate I desperately yearned for, and that that blessing would be the beginning of my journey to end this curse. You fully brought me back to life by your presence. And you, Cory, you have given me a gift as well. A goblin heart is one of the few things that can end my curse for good."

Delaney's face lights up. "You mean we could be together? How?"

I feel a little crack on my elbow and start cursing. "I'm not allowed to say, but it's time. I must get outside." I stride towards the window without dropping my mate. "I'll have you in my arms until the last second."

I jump from the balcony to my perch and cross my legs, making sure she"s comfortable in my lap as the change starts. I feel the sun on my shoulders and my face freezing me on the outside once more, imprisoning me into a shell. "Curses are called such because they"re meant to teach a lesson." My voice is starting to get heavy and rough. "I cannot tell you how to use that stone, but I can rest easy knowing we will be together soon. Think of me, and imagine how great it'll be when I finally get to throw you down, bend you over and—"

I freeze with a smile on my face and a very irate mate, who's pounding on my chest and demanding I finish my sentence. But I can't. I'm nearly fully in stasis now, calmed by the weight of her as she sits for a little bit longer on my lap. I'm sure that things are about to get even more exciting around here, and I'm also sure more suitors are coming. She doesn't seem to understand all that a goblin heart does, so it will be fun to watch her discover it.

If my math is correct and it almost always is, she'll have six mates vying for her hand now. That is the goddess' number, and I'm surer than ever that I'll be free soon. Free to have the dirtiest kinds of kinky (but still sweet) couplings with my mate, there to reassure her when she feels overwhelmed by having all of us at her beck and call.

Until then, I'll take my time with her when granted and try to prepare myself to meet with my adversary once more. If my curse is about to break, then he'll be finding his way to me and my mate soon.

That means it's time to talk about the mashed potatoes.

But, you know, after I nap for a bit.