The woman Lexus was with stopped when she got to the top of the staircase. “You don’t have to walk
so far behind me. You're mated aren’t you? I’ve heard rumors about it, apparently you ran off with the
holder and you’re marked. You both are very controversial now.”
Lexus chuckled. “Yeah I know. If you knew I might have been marked then why would you touch my
shoulder and kiss me?” I didn’t feel good after hearing that someone kissed him, but I didn’t stop
watching because I had faith in him.
She leaned over the staircase railing. “I kissed your cheek, it’s not a big deal. I just wanted to mess with
you. I think I can offer you a job since you are a childhood friend.” She gave an expression of thinking.
“You’ve been taught to rule since you were like twelve so I can offer you a job to be in charge of one of
our branches.” She walked down the hall. “It’s a shame you’re marked.”
“Viv, I’m not here for you to realize your childhood crush. I’m here to find work. I care about my mate a
lot and I want to be able to not just protect but support her too. I’m also not used to doing nothing.” I
knew everything was fine and that my family overreacted.
“I’ll give you the job.” She smirked. “If you show me a good time. There’s a protection spell on the
building, your mate won’t know.”
Lexus laughed. “You might not believe it but we’re true mates. I’m qualified enough to get the job
without sexual favors.”
“True mates?? You're Kidding.” She threw her hands up. “I might have a mage employed who’s strong
enough to prevent even a true mate from being able to know.”
I opened my eyes. “He’s in a manner with a childhood friend. He’s just trying to start a career since he’s
not going to be king anymore.”
Cade stood up. “What childhood friend?”
I put the gem back in my bag. “Tall, skinny, noble, long black hair-“
“Viv.” Cade put together who she was fast. “You should be there. Viv’s always had a thing for Lexus.”
I shrugged. “I don’t care, I trust Lexus. I’ll feel it if he does anything.”
“Aqua, you did feel it.”
“Twice.” Mom added. “Once directly on his mark.”
“Trust me, people don’t touch each other’s shoulders. It’s considered rude here because they could be
marked. Accidents happen sometimes, people don’t think and do it, but I was marked for over fifteen
years. I’d never let a woman get close enough for anything else.”
“I got a lot closer than that.” Mom muttered and I could see it made Cade uncomfortable.
Dad sighed. “That’s different.”
“Exactly.” Cade stood up. “If Lexus wants to cheat he’d find a way, even if it’s harder than it would be
for non-true mates.” He walked out of the room.
I followed Cade. “You’re not helping me by trying to convince me that Lexus would do that. You’re still
upset about what he and Vella did. Do you want to talk to him? Maybe it’s time to make up.”
Cade shrugged. “I don’t think it could be time to make up Aqua. I’m afraid he’s going to hurt you like he
did me and Sadia. You deserve better than that.” He walked to the shelf and grabbed the portal splicer.
“Where are you going?”
Cade opened a portal. “I’m going to confront Lexus. You don’t have to come but I have to go, I care
about you too much.”
I didn’t go with him or stop. The portal closed and I walked back upstairs into my mom’s room. I closed
the door as soon as I opened it. I heard my mom laughing then she opened the door. “We weren’t
doing anything Aqua. Well, we were kissing but that’s all I promise.” She looked around. “Where’s
Cade?”
“He took a portal to Lexus. He’ll probably bring the splicer back.”
“Oh good.” She turned her head to my Dad. “I’m going to take Aqua to the coven. How long will you be
here?”
“Lynn will have Gray for a while and Stewart is babysitting Kaya and Polly.” I hadn’t spoken to Stewart
or Arma since I left. “I could stay over the whole weekend.”
Mom smiled. “Great.” She walked down the stairs. “Can you fly us dear?”
I followed her out the house. “Yeah I can’t fly far but I’m getting better, your coven is close?”
“Yeah it’s in the next kingdom over, we're pretty close to the border already.” I shifted and my mom
climbed on. She climbed a lot faster than I could. “I can’t get over how beautiful you are in your dragon
form. You’re beautiful in your human form too but you get what I mean.”
‘Were you watching me? Did you send Cade?’ Lexus asked but I didn’t answer because he didn’t
answer me earlier. ‘Aqua, you said you would tell me when you were going to use your third eye to
watch me. You don’t trust me do you?’
I landed where my mom directed me. She climbed off and I shifted back. “I think Lexus is mad at me for
spying on him. Now he blocked me from feeling his emotions too.”
“What’s the point of being marked if he’s going to do that?” She led me to the coven’s house. “I know
you two are true mates but are you sure you didn’t rush into mating?”
“I love him Mom. I know everything with us seems rushed but it’s not. We’re usually together so it’s not
like his thoughts and emotions are blocked often.”
Mom stopped when we got to the house. “As long as you’re happy and he’s not cheating. You can’t go
in because their protection barrier keeps anyone out who isn’t a part of the coven. I’ll be back.” I tried
not to let everything others were saying worry me about my relationship. I needed to talk to Lexus and
get this sorted out.
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