A little shout out in this chapter to Rainbow Writers and their massively awesome and epic Heavenly Resonance!
As soon as she got to her bedroom, Bo gently laid Lauren on the bed and moved in behind her, cradling her in her arms. She held her tight, rocking them gently back and forth, whispering soothing words in her ear. She somehow knew that Lauren was fine, that her collapsing was a symptom of her panic at realizing what she had just done along with the burst of energy she used to do it. Bo had to admit that she was a little freaked out that Lauren's eyes flashed blue like her own, though it also seemed natural, like this was the way Lauren was supposed to be. Lauren was right, something was different between them and they really needed to get downstairs to finish that talk with Trick.
She cursed Dyson in her head. The stupid wolf, who after 10 months still didn't get the hint. Actually, it wasn't even a hint anymore, it was a full blown cast-iron frying pan to the head at this point, and he still didn't get it. Choosing him over Lauren was really the worst decision she had ever made in her life. She loved him, but she knew she wasn't in love with him. She felt sorry for him was what it came down to. Though she never asked for his love, the fact that he had mated with her for life did make her feel guilt and she was weak in accepting his advances when he got his love back. That acceptance had driven Lauren to leave. The only bright spot was that losing Lauren finally brought her to her senses and allowed her to center herself, to shed some of the guilt she had been carrying and realize what it really was she wanted from her life, and who she wanted to spend it with. The whole almost dying from starvation thing still needed explaining, as did Lauren's new glowing eyes, but having her back in her arms gave Bo hope that she might be able to find the acceptance and love she had been craving her whole life.
Bo didn't know how long she had been sitting on the bed with Lauren, lost in her own thoughts, but eventually Lauren started to stir and Bo watched as her eyes began to flutter open. "Hey there," she said. "You're okay, your safe."
"Bo…what happened?" she whispered, looking around the room and surprised to find herself cuddled in Bo's arms in her bedroom.
Bo chuckled. "You went off on Dyson, protecting my honor." Then she became serious. "Your eyes flashed blue and you threatened to kill him if he touched me. Then you told him you were my mate, and collapsed as soon as Kenzi dragged his ass out."
Lauren listened, her eyes going wide when Bo recounted her telling Dyson she would kill him if he touched Bo again. She remembered it all, the jealousy, the rage, the power coursing through her veins. "I… I remember watching him touching you, trying to kiss you and the jealousy I was feeling just exploded and I had to make him stop. I don't think I even knew what I was doing until he was in front of me. I wasn't afraid, I felt strong and powerful, and I know I would have tried to kill him if he went to touch you again."
Bo smiled. "Jealous Lauren is so hot. Would it be wrong to tell you that watching you confront Dyson with flashing blue eyes totally turned me on?"
Lauren chuckled. "Coming from anyone else, yes, that would be wrong. But from you…..it's kinda romantic."
Bo looked straight at Lauren, her smile fading slightly. "I want to make sure you know Lauren – I am not in love with Dyson and I do not want to be with him. It's only you."
"I know Bo, but it is still nice to hear you say it. I think I am okay now, do you want to go downstairs and talk to Trick?"
"If you are sure you are okay, then yes. I think we both need some answers," Bo says as she eases off the bed and helps Lauren up. Taking her hand, they make their way downstairs to the man who hopefully has them.
xxx
Twenty minutes later, Trick had just finished explaining the quest to them. They sat on the couch, processing all the information with Kenzi, who was watching both women for any signs of a reaction. So far, they were both sitting quietly letting the words settle in.
Bo was surprisingly, the first to speak. "Thank you for that Trick. While I do agree much of it sounds like what has happened, there are still some very gaping holes, mainly that I don't know any ancients and I didn't ask for any quest to start."
Trick nodded his head. "Yes, I agree that part is most perplexing, but this was really the only thing I could find that would explain what happened. And Lauren's new found….talent, seems to solidify that it was some sort of bonding ritual."
"Bo Bo does get herself into things she has no idea what they are," Kenzi chuckled. "Perhaps you thought you were ordering a pizza but really were ordering up a mating ritual?"
Bo chuckled. "I would like to disagree with you Kenzi, but that is so true. Though I swear, I haven't met any new people or gotten in to any fights in months. I have no idea when I would have done this. And I am also not sure why it is called a quest. It's not like I had to best a labyrinth with mummies and drowners or anything."
Trick shrugged his shoulders. "It still may not be the explanation we are looking for, but right now it is the most obvious answer, the questions notwithstanding. As for the quest part, remember this ritual is thousands of years old. In those days, people lived hundreds of miles apart and just travelling from one house to the next was usually very dangerous. It is most likely a metaphor from those times." Slowly he stood from the couch and looked at his granddaughter and the woman curled up next to her. "I am going to head back to the Dal now and will continue to do some research. I think you all need to get some rest as it has been a very overwhelming few days."
Bo nodded as she got off the couch to hug her grandfather and walk him to the door. Once he was gone, she looked back at Kenzi and Lauren, both of whom seemed exhausted. "Why don't we all take a nap, and we can catch up later if anyone wants to?"
Kenzi got up and moved towards her room. "Just remember, you said nap, so I expect it to be quiet in the house. If I hear any moaning or banging, I am coming in."
"I thought you didn't want any more therapy Kenz?"
"I already need so much, what's another few weeks?" she said as she shut the door to her room.
Bo looked down at Lauren who was unusually quiet. "You okay sweetie?"
Lauren gave her a soft smile. "Yeah, I think a nap sounds fantastic. I think my outburst at Dyson took more out of me than I realized."
Bo reached out her hand to help the blonde up. "Well let's get you nestled up in bed then. I would love nothing more than to be your pillow for a few hours."
Lauren's smile broadened as she took the offered hand and let herself be led upstairs into the waiting arms of her lover.
xxx
Lauren sat on the edge of the bed, dreading the conversation. But she knew she had to have it, and the one with Karyn which would be much worse, if she wanted to truly move forward.
"Bo, I need to go meet Karyn," she said softly, fearing the succubus' reaction. Surprisingly, it was not jealousy or anger she was sensing from her right now, it was pain and fear.
"I know Lauren. I know you are not the type to be unfaithful and this is probably killing you. I am being selfish. I'm….I'm just afraid." She finally turned to look at Lauren who could see the fear and naked vulnerability in her lovers eyes.
"Afraid of what Bo? After all we have just been through, you must know how I feel about you."
"I do. It's just….." she trailed off, afraid of voicing her concerns out loud. Fear of vocalizing them and watching them become reality.
Lauren reached up and grabbed Bo's hand, guiding her to sit down on the bed next to her. "What are you afraid of Bo?"
Bo sighed and refused to meet Lauren's eyes, instead keeping them focused on the floor near her feet. She wore her heart on her sleeve, sure, but actually being an adult and talking about her emotions was so difficult. She knew she owed Lauren honesty if they were going to truly be together, so she pushed down her fear and spoke softly. "I am afraid you are going to see your girlfriend – see someone who has never hurt you, never taken you for granted, and think that we are a mistake."
Lauren felt her heart break at the raw emotions she felt coming from Bo right now. Reaching over to gently cup her chin in her hands, she moved her head so she could look in the brunette's eyes. "Bo, I have never once, despite everything that has happened, thought we were a mistake. We, you, were always a gift that I cherished when I had it, and mourned when I didn't. It was never a mistake. And I don't know what the future holds for either of us, but I know with absolute certainty that I want to find out. With you. Am I afraid too? Afraid that this won't work out and my heart will break again? Yes, but that fear is nothing compared to how I feel when I am with you, how you make me feel. I love you Bo, only you."
Bo smiled and Lauren could feel the energy in the room shift. She needed to remind herself that despite the fact that she was a succubus, or maybe because of it, Bo had not had many adult relationships and was often times insecure about her place in people's lives. It would be something they would work on, because if they were going to be together, Lauren never wanted Bo to question where she fit in her life.