Three days later
I was mindlessly wandering around my room, throwing whatever my hands touched into the large duffle bag sitting on top of the bed.
Valen and I were packing for the stakeout that was to begin tomorrow. Von would join us in the morning, but we were heading out early to get everything set up.
I sighed when I realized I had thrown a pair of fuzzy slippers into the bag.
There's no way I'd be needing those for the next few days, but my mind was too preoccupied with our current situation to think straight.
I pulled the slippers out and sighed again in frustration when I realized I'd packed a bunch of useless junk.
I sat on the bed and put my head in my hands. Celia and Seraphine had been questioned endlessly over the last few days, together and alone.
Neither one of them had cracked yet and we had no new information about what Moonlight was planning or where Artemis was. On top of that, the idea of completing the mating ritual had been weighing heavily on my mind.
Sienna had taken to giving me the silent treatment at my refusal to finish the bond, and I was tired of waiting.
I wanted Valen, that much was clear. Every time we were alone together, our stolen kisses and gentle touches would quickly become more. I could tell he was struggling to hold himself back.
To be honest, I didn't think I wanted him to anymore. I was being torn in two.
One part of me was desperate to get it over with; to finally feel that comfort that came with knowing that our souls would be paired forever.
But the other part of me was still terrified. This was uncharted territory for me. Aunt Maddie had never found her mate, and what I now knew of my mother and father had tainted the magic of it all.
I shook my head in frustration again and dumped out the duffel bag to repack. I grabbed more suitable clothing for the both of us, along with hiking boots, emergency kits, a fire starter, and extra canteens.
We were only supposed to be there for a few days, but you could never be too careful. I pulled open a drawer and grazed my hands over the clothes Artemis had brought from home for me until my hands landed on a pair of lacy red undergarments.
I cocked my eyebrow. I didn't recognize this.
I lifted them out of the drawer to inspect and my cheeks instantly flamed.
In my hands was a lacy red bralette and a matching red pair of boy shorts. Both left little to the imagination, as I could see right through them.
I dropped the set as if it had burned my hands and glanced around the room to make sure I was alone.
I checked the tag to confirm it was my size and smiled to myself.
Artemis must have gotten this for me. She must have had a lot of confidence that I would find my mate that night.
If only things hadn't gone so wrong.
I straightened my shoulders, determination flowing through my veins. I grabbed a discreet bag and threw them in before stuffing them in the bottom of the duffel bag.
Tonight I'd have Valen all to myself, and I intended to take advantage of that.
I jumped as I felt his sweet caress on my back. He chuckled and planted a light kiss to my shoulder.
"How's it going in here?" he asked me in a low voice.
My cheeks burned. I didn't want him to see what I had been doing.
"Great," I smiled as I turned to him.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and tucked my head under his chin. My embarrassment immediately melted away and I sighed into his touch.
"Good. I'm almost done preparing the camping gear. Von is loading the last of it into the Jeep now," he murmured.
"We're taking the Jeep?"
My heart fluttered in excitement. Man, I loved that car. Valen chuckled again and kissed the top of my head.
"Just part of the way. We'll stop a few miles away from their border line and haul the cargo on foot."
"We better get going then. I don't want to be setting up all night in the dark."
I turned from him and threw the duffel bag over my shoulder. Just as I was about to walk out the room, Valen tugged on my hand and I turned to face him.
He lifted his free hand and tucked a piece of hair that had escaped my messy ponytail behind my ear.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered.
I blushed yet again and looked down, muttering a small thanks. He took my face in both hands and lifted my eyes to his.
"I love you," he said while looking into my eyes.
"I love you, too."
I pressed my lips to his, the familiar electric sensation immediately over taking my body. His lips were firm against mine, but he soon pulled away. I groaned aloud from the loss of contact but turned and walked out of the room.
"You're sure you're ready?"Â Sienna asked me. I sighed in relief. It was nice to hear from her again.
"I'm sure," I responded to her. She howled back at me in excitement.
I smiled to myself and tried not to think too hard about tonight as we made our way through the safe house; saying our good-byes to everyone we passed.
Once we made it outside, I could see Von finishing packing up the back. I walked over to him and threw the duffel bag on top of everything before turning to look at him.
Von was a wreck without Artemis. His hair was disheveled and he had large, blueish bags under his eyes.
I knew he hadn't been sleeping much since she'd been taken. A pang of pity ripped through my body, and I threw my arms around him.
He was startled by the contact, but he wrapped his arms around me anyway and squeezed me tight.
I could feel his shoulders shuddering as he tried to hold back his sobs.
"We'll find her," I whispered in his ear as I stroked the back of his head.
Valen cleared his throat from behind me and Von instantly released me, trying to wipe the tears from his eyes before his brother could see. Valen raised an eyebrow at me and I turned from him.
I knew I shouldn't be feeding into his insecurities, but Von was my friend and he was hurting right now.
Von turned back to his brother. "Good luck man, I'll meet you there in the morning."
He looked at the ground as he spoke. Valen sighed and stepped forward, before giving his brother a one armed hug. Von looked up at him in astonishment.
"Don't get too comfortable, I probably won't ever hug you again," Valen told him, but there was a hint of a smile on his face when he said it.
Von returned the smile and patted his brother's back.
"Thanks, man."
Valen nodded his head at his brother, before closing the back and leading me around to the passenger seat. He opened the door for me and helped me in, before shutting it again.
He nodded once more to his brother before hopping in on the drivers side and starting the engine.
"Are you ready for this?" he asked me.
"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied.
If only he knew what was to come.
Author's Note:
Alright, we're getting into the love scene. I promise it won't be too risky! Anyway, what do you think will happen at the stakeout? Will they find Artemis? Will Celia and her mother ever answer their questions?
Comment and Vote to let me know what you think!
Xoxo,
CrimsynIris