Page 71 of Laid Bare

My parents stay on the porch, their hands lifted in a wave as we drive away. I hate leaving them. Again. But this time, my heart is more settled than it was when I left on my birthday.

And I know, without a doubt, that this isn’t the last time I’ll see them.

Plus, the prospect of them moving out of the human sector and in with me makes me more determined to work harder so I can graduate from the academy and solidify my place in the supernatural world, so they don’t have to worry about a thing for the rest of their lives.

There’ssomething on Bailey’s mind.

I can see it. Axel can see it. Hell, even the demons can see it.

She’s been more subdued, more somber, since we returned back to her dorm from the human sector to see her parents. I thought nothing could wipe the smile off her face that she’s had since the moment the blindfold came off. But something has and, as her mate, her first mate, it’s time to find out what it is.

“Well… I’m sacked.” I stretch my arms above my head, not bothering to pull my shirt down from where it exposes my abs. “We’re going to head to bed. We’ll see you guys in the morning.”

I sweep Bailey off the couch and into my chest, not giving her a chance to refute or fight me on this.

The nod Axel gives me tells me he knows exactly what I’m doing, and I’m confident he was thinking the same, I just beat him to it.

My goddess murmurs a quiet good night before laying her head on my shoulder, letting me take the lead.

Axel clicks the door shut behind us, blocking out the demons in the main room. It won’t stop them from listening to our conversation if they so choose, but I’ve come to realize that they’re respectful of Bailey’s privacy.

Bonus points to the demons. Not many, but a few.

I sit my beautiful mate on the edge of the large bed while Axel takes his time, moving around and closing the drapes on all the windows around the perimeter of the room.

She lifts her arms, hinting for me to help her out of the large hoodie dwarfing her small frame. Methodically, I slip her arms free, then pull it over her head, revealing the thin silk camisole underneath that does nothing to hide the pink of her areolas.

Damn.I drop the hoodie to the floor and bite my fist, stifling my groan at the picture of sexual innocence sitting before me.

My fingers twitch with the need to reach out and trace the tips of her breasts until her nipples peak under my touch, but I shake my hands out and stuff them into the pockets of my sweatpants, doing my best to hide my straining erection.

Later,I tell myself.After we find out what’s got Bailey looking so down.

Because this is so much more than just driving away from her parents in the human sector.

“Alright, goddess.” I kneel in front of her, peeking under the curtain of white hair shielding her face from my view. “Spill it.”

“It’s nothing,” she mutters, sliding back onto the bed to put distance between her and this conversation. But she should know we won’t let this go.

“It’s not nothing,cor meum.” The bed dips behind her, making her fall into Axel’s chest. “You should know by now that you can tell us anything.”

“I know. It’s just that… something Mom said earlier. It’s stuck in my head, and I don’t know what to do about it.”

“The most you can do is talk it out, goddess. We’ll give you our take on it, but ultimately, whatever you decide to do is up to you.” I tilt my head, a thought flitting through my mind. “Unless you’re thinking of leaving us. Then we’ll cuff you to the bed and pleasure you until you change your mind.”

She huffs a quiet laugh, leaning her head back on Axel’s shoulder. She didn’t say no, though, so I file that idea in my head for a later date.

“Mom… she mentioned other prospects,” she trails off, wringing her hands in her lap. “I’ve felt guilty as hell all week.” Axel and I share a look of concern but let her continue before jumping in. “I… I almost kissed Zane. There was a fire,” I raise a brow, “and he was trying so hard to make me food, and well… it just kind of… almost happened.”

Neither of us says a word, letting her work through this.

“There’s just something there with him…you know? Him and Bane. I just don’t know what it is.” She rubs at her chest like she’s trying to soothe her heart. “I like them. And I know it probably makes you guys mad, especially since I didn’t tell you earlier. But I swear, it hasn’t happened again.”

Our poor mate. We had no idea she’s been feeling like this all week, but that’s in part our fault because we’ve been busy dealing with all the other bullshit surrounding her.

“Take a breath,cor meum. I can speak for myself and Luka that we’re not mad. We knew you’d have more mates than just the two of us. We figured that out when you told us Hudson said you were his mate, and Luka is your fated mate also. So it’s only natural for your soul to be looking for all its missing parts—fated and chosen.”

“The vampire speaks the truth, goddess.” I slip onto the bed, sitting cross-legged in front of her. Not that she makes eye contact with me. My poor sweet mate is still beating herself up inside. “One more mate, or ten more, it doesn’t matter. You’ll know, without a shadow of a doubt, when you’ve collected all your mates.”

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