A/N: Okay I'm back with more. Not much to say about this chapter, just that I hope that you enjoy it. And a special shout out goes to Bilba0691 for making a few suggestions for this chapter. I'd been stewing over the idea that you offered up for a while but I wasn't sure how to execute it. Thanks for making the suggestion, and giving me the confidence to do it.
Okay, song of the chapter. Today's chapter's song is by the amazing and awe-inspiring Adele. It's "Take it All" from her album, 21. For any of you Adele fans will know that this isn't exactly a lovey-dovey song. It's a break up song. I'm not going to give any spoilers, you'll just have to read the chapter. But here are the lyrics and once you finish the chapter, I think you'll have a fairly good idea of whose POV it's for.
Take it All
Didn't I give it all?
Tried my best.
Gave you everything I had,
Everything and no less.
Didn't I do it right? Did I let you down?
Maybe you got too use to, having me around.
Still how can you walk away,
From all my tears?
It's gonna be an empty road,
Without me right here.
But go on and take it. Take it all with you.
Don't look back, at this crumbling fool.
Just take it all, with my love.
Take it all, with my love.
Maybe I should leave,
To help you see.
Nothing is better than this, and this is everything we need.
So is it over?
Is this really it?
You've given up so easily, I thought you loved me more than this.
But go on,
Go on and take it. Take it all with you.
Don't look back, at this crumbling fool.
Just take it all, with my love.
Take it all, with my love.
I will change if I must.
Slow it down, and bring it home,
I will adjust.
Oh, if only, if only you knew,
Everything I do, is for you.
But go on,
go on and take it. Take it all with you.
Don't look back, at this crumbling fool.
Just take it. Take it all with you.
Don't look back, at this crumbling fool.
Just take it all, with my love.
Take it all, with my love.
Take it all, with my love.
BE-A-U-tiful, right? Sad but beautiful. Special mention goes to "Rolling in the Deep", also by Adele, "Only for Me" by 2AM Club, and "Speechless" by Lady Gaga. They were all considered, but "Take it All" took all the votes.
Okie. Onto the story.
Disclaimer: These characters, all except three, are not mine. J.R. Ward just gave me a field to go crazy around in.
Chapter 14: Invitation
The request for permission to pass into her sacred Other Side came to the Scribe Virgin unexpectedly. Standing in her country yard by the tree that housed her beloved birds, she reflected on the fact that she didn't get many of these calls anymore and hadn't for a long time. The last she could recall with her perfect recollection was from Wrath, the Blind King, a few months previous. Now, as she stretched her intuition out further, she saw who was trying to appeal to her, and what for.
The Promise and the Black Dagger warrior Rhage were kneeling before her a moment later, dressed in white, both their heads' bowed in deference.
She looked at the beings of her creation, both special and vitally important to the race in their own ways. Their request came as a shock, mainly because in her grand scheme, this was never meant to happen. The Promise was not meant to fall in love. She had created Shailene with the thought that she would give hope to the race, protect it, serve it, nourish it… and since her transition, she had done exactly as she was meant to. And not that the Scribe Virgin was displeased with her Promise, but she had noticed that she had been a little distracted of late.
Rhage had her attention next. The rash and wild warrior with whom she'd always had trouble, from the time after his transition. She could sense the changes in him, the way he'd matured, grown more responsible, more caring. Never would she expect him of all people to ever be able to make the kind of selfless commitment they were there to request.
But there they were. As surprising and unlikely as this match was, they were there, about to request her presence at their mating ceremony. They were serious about one another, as committed and devoted to their mate as possible.
She could feel all of that, and still it came as a shock
"My children," she addressed them.
"Scribe Virgin," they murmured in unison.
"I must say, I'm surprised to see you here, Warrior," she said, speaking to Rhage first. "It's been a long time since you and I had an audience."
"I remember it well, Scribe Virgin," he replied, still on his knees and his head still bent.
She laughed softly. "As you should." She turned to Shailene. "But you, Promise, our visits are frequent and close in between. How do you fare?"
"I am well, Scribe Virgin."
"What really confounds me is why you are here together," she said.
"If it would not offend, we have a request to make," Rhage answered.
"I know all about your request. You wish to be mated."
"And it would not be complete without you," Shailene added.
"Rise and look unto me," she told them, and they did so. "Do you understand the problems that plague my mind if this mating is to proceed?"
They looked to each other, both unsure how to proceed, so she continued.
"Shailene, you are well aware of why you were put into that world, yes?"
She nodded once.
"Tell me why," the Scribe Virgin commanded.
"To serve, protect, and give hope to my race."
"Correct," She approved. "Tell me, do you not believe a mate will complicate and interfere with your calling? Especially the one that you have chosen?"
They stiffened.
"Scribe Virgin—"
"You're purpose is very specific and important, not to be toyed with as it has been of late. A mate was never part of the plan."
"I understand, Scribe Virgin," she said in deference. "But my falling in love with this warrior has only made my desire to serve that much greater." She looked up to Rhage and it would have been hard for anyone not to see the devotion shining out of both their eyes. "He has given me something more to fight for. A new motive, something other than fear and anger."
"Love," she concluded.
Shailene nodded.
"And he is the one who brings you this?"
"Yes."
"Was the love for your race not enough?" she demanded.
"Of course," Shailene answered immediately. Her hand grasped his. "Rhage only strengthens it."
"What say you, Warrior?" she asked. "Are your intentions true?"
"I love the Promise," he said simply, but the devotion that was in his eyes was now also in his voice.
Still, she was skeptical. "You have asked her to mate you." She shook her head in surprise. "If memory serves this is the first selfless thing you have done. And the last time you have made such a commitment was when you joined the Brotherhood. Maybe you have changed since we last spoke. But a mating… from what I've seen of you, you are fickle of heart, and careless when it comes to the feelings of others."
"As you said, Scribe Virgin, I have changed," he replied.
"Have you now? You are committed to Shailene?" she asked.
"More than anything."
"Shailene? Do you believe in him? More importantly, do you believe in yourself? Do you believe that this mating is what's best for you and for your race?"
"I do," she replied, and the strength in her voice was nothing short of what the Scribe Virgin expected from her Promise.
"Than by all means, get mated," she chuckled.
"Really?" they both asked.
"Of course." She addressed Shailene first. "You have fought so hard, for so long for your race. You deserve happiness, and the love that I can feel connects the two of you. If this warrior is your hearts true desire than I couldn't be happier for you." She turned to Rhage. "And you. You too, have fought long and hard. I can see that you have changed, in more ways than I thought the beast would be able to do for you. But I see there was another factor that has an even stronger effect on you." She came towards them until she was standing right before them. She took their interlocked hands in hers. "I offer one piece of advice: she is the ultimate female of worth. If you are to go forward with this mating, I want you both to treasure each other. Respect, support, and love one another. This may all come as the obvious, but I only tell you because I feel that you both may need the reminder. Life together will be difficult given both your lines of work."
"We'll make it work, Scribe Virgin, thank you," Shailene assured her, happiness in her voice.
"I hope so. I wish you both every happiness," she said as she turned to leave.
"Will you be there?" Rhage asked, and then immediately looked contrite, as he should. It was known that questions asked of the Scribe Virgin were a breach of respect. "I mean no offence Scribe Virgin."
She laughed. "Be at ease, Warrior. The presentation to me shall proceed. I suggest you get back to your home and start preparing."
She continued to walk back to her quarters, leaving and listening to the happy couple behind her, celebrating in their love.
"The Promise Shailene is here for you, sire," Onella informed Hansen.
The Promise? Shailene was here?
He had no recollection of her telling him that she was coming. Was something wrong? Was she upset again?
"Are you receiving, sire?" the doggen asked.
"Yes, yes of course," he told her absently. He was still trying to figure out why Shailene would come to him unannounced. It wasn't unusual for her to stop by for casual visits, but she always let him know beforehand.
"Send her in," he instructed.
Why was she here? Not that he was complaining.
He let out an audible breath when he saw her. She was beautiful as usual, wearing a white, silky robe-looking dress that flowed along her elegant body perfectly. I t was a stark contrast to her tan-brown skin and her raven black hair, which was loose and fell around her shoulders and down her back like a dark waterfall.
But when he focussed on her face, he could see clearly that his suspicions had been right and things were not okay. Her face clearly showed her discomfort, unease and nervousness.
"Shailene?" he asked.
She gave him a false smile. "Hi, Hansen."
"Hi. What's wrong? Has something happened?"
"Lately, whenever I come to see you, you automatically assume something's wrong," she said jokingly, but it was clear to him that she was avoiding answering his questions.
"That's because lately, every time you come to see me, you look as if your world is about to tumble down." He went over to her and took the hands of his love. When he leaned in to kiss her cheek, though, she quickly avoided the contact.
Something definitely wasn't right. She never avoided the hello kiss that he always gave her. She never hid her feelings from him, and when something was wrong, he was one of the first people she went to. Lately, everything was out of whack between them, she was so far away from him, and her reluctance to let him in only made him worry that much more about her. What was going on with his female?
"Shailene," he said sternly. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," she said quickly, and just when he was about to protest her answer, she smiled slightly again, and this time it actually lit up her face, making it that much more glorious. "Actually, something wonderful has happened."
"Okay. So why did you look so put-out a moment ago?"
"Because I have something… very hard to tell you."
"Whatever it is, you can tell me." He caressed the back of her hands with his thumbs. "We tell each other everything."
She looked away nervously, another thing that was so unlike her. "I don't want to say it," she whispered. "I don't know how you're going take it."
"Just tell me," he urged gently, but his curiosity was spiking as well as his anxiety. What would she have to tell him that he couldn't take? "I want to know, whatever it is."
She took a deep breath and didn't look him in the eyes when she continued. "You need to find someone else to feed from."
Silence.
"Excuse me?" he eventually asked.
"I can't feed you anymore," she said, looking at him this time. "Everything else about our relationship can stay the same, but the feedings, my needings… those are going to stop."
Hansen's head was reeling. No more feedings, no more serving her in her needing…
"Why?" he asked.
"I know how you feel about me," she informed him. "I know you love me. And something has happened, and for us to continue…that would ruin a lot of things.
"Hansen, I'm getting mated," she said bluntly.
All at once he became aware of something. She wasn't just off emotionally, something physically was different about her as well. The bonding scent, he realized. It was all over her, every inch of her, radiating off of her, his female.
He let go of her hands and stumbled away from her as if she'd hit him. "Mated?" he breathed. "How… how did this happen?"
"I fell in love," she said quietly.
"But…" we were supposed to get mated, he finished in his head, and then she sighed, looking away from him. Clearly she'd heard that little thought.
"Fell in love?" he breathed. "Just a few weeks ago you were over here in hysterics and now you're in love?"
"I was not in hysterics," she protested. "And you know personally how quickly a person can fall in love," she reminded him.
"Who is it?" he demanded. When she stayed silent, he put to and to together. "It's him, isn't?" he guessed. "It's Rhage."
"Yes," she whispered.
Hansen wanted to laugh. Or burn the house down. Rhage. She wouldn't commit to him, but she was ready to mate Rhage?
"What about us?" he asked without thinking.
She sighed. "Hansen, there hasn't been a real us in centuries. You know that."
"So that's it?" he questioned angrily. "You're going to mate him and leave me behind."
"Of course not!" she exclaimed. "Hansen it's not like that. Like I said, I know how you feel about me. I've always known, and I should have let you go a long time ago. But I'm a selfish creature and I needed your support so much back when I was young and then we got so close…" she trailed off brokenly. "You're very special to me, Hansen."
"But not special enough," he muttered.
"I'm sorry that it's not the way you would like it to be."
"I always knew you'd never love me," he said in a low voice. He was sitting on the edge his bed now, his back hunched, his hands hanging off his knees. It was the position of a broken male, which was what he was now. "At least not the way I loved you," he continued. "But I thought that if I waited long enough, you'd finally see me. You'd finally want me. But I guess I never really mattered to you, did I?"
"Hansen—"
"What does he have that I don't?" he demanded, busting up from his sitting position. "What can he give you that you never found in me?"
"It's not like that," she said quietly, her thin but strong arms wrapped around herself.
"Tell me what it's like?" he demanded. "I love you, Shailene."
"I know you do," she sighed. "I love you, too, but—"
"But you chose him!" he almost-yelled.
"There was never a choice," she shouted back. She shook her head and shrugged hopelessly. "I love him. There's nothing I can do about it."
"You could've given me a chance," he whispered.
"I did," she replied, her face and voice softening. "I gave us a chance. I didn't work. It was nothing you did, it just wasn't meant to be."
"And you and Rhage are?" he demanded.
"I don't know," she exclaimed hopelessly. "All I know is I love him. I want him like nothing else. And as long as I feel that way, I'm going to be with him."
"Do you not remember what you told me?" he inquired roughly. "Do you not remember coming here all broken up? Because he went to that trashy club and was unfaithful to you? Do you not remember how he made you feel, because I do. You tried to pretend like it was nothing to you, but I remember seeing the pain in your eyes even when you tried to hide everything from me. I remember holding you while you trembled in my arms. Do you forget?" He was yelling by the end.
He was surprising himself. He'd never spoken to her this way before, but then again, he'd never had reason to. They'd always been so perfect together, so monumentally right. Now everything was going straight to hell because of that bastard.
"It wasn't like that," she denied again.
"Nothing is as it seems anymore, is it?" he asked nastily. "So he didn't break your heart. You weren't furious at him for what he did."
"Hansen, things have changed—"
"You're right, things have changed. You've changed," he snarled, jabbing a finger into her face. He was right up close to her now, bearing down on her. "The female I knew before this ahstrux nohtrum shit happened never would have let herself be hurt by a male like that, and then plan on mating him. She wouldn't have been so foolish and naïve and just plain stupid."
The smell of wood smoke rose in the room. She was getting angry now too, her flaming eyes and set jaw were also proof enough of that.
"He's not right for you," he said scathingly. "He doesn't love you. You know how he is with females. You're uncharted territory for him. That's why he's stayed with you for so long. But how much more time do you have with him before he gets tired of you like he does with the rest?"
The door opened at that and a big, blond being joined them in the room.
Rhage was seething. Clearly he'd heard their whole conversation.
"You need to shut the fuck up," he warned.
Hansen only laughed. God, he must really be out of his mind with anger. He could almost literally feel his sanity slipping away. The fact that there were two kinds of bonding scents in the room only made him more hysterical.
"Don't bother acting like it's not true," Hansen snarled. "I don't think there's a member of this race who doesn't know about your pass times. You're a legend, fathers tell their sons about you. You use females and then get rid of them the moment they're no good to you. Don't expect me to believe things are different with Shailene."
"I don't give a fuck what you believe, Hansen," Rhage retorted. "Here's what you need to know: your arrangement with Shailene is over. Effective immediately. Whatever work you two have to do with each other is the extent of your relationship. Whatever hopes and dreams you had for your future with her, you need to forget about them right now."
"I think I'll keep them," he replied. "I know that this mating is only temporary. Once she realizes how worthless you are, she'll be done with you and right back here with me. Where she belongs."
The blow that came right after that sentiment was stunning and amazingly painful. His head snapped to the side, his teeth slammed together and threatened to fall out, and the taste of blood flooded his mouth.
With that hit to the face, he let go of all his anger. It was like fire set to a dry meadow. It consumed everything, and came back to the front of his mind in angry sparks: how could she do this? He had been there for her whole life. He'd loved her more than anything. How could she betray him this way?
He swung back at Rhage, catching him in the temple. And from there the fight broke out. They went at it hard-core, blood popping from noses and mouths, the sound of cracking bones ringing through the air. Hansen knew that he wasn't really a match for this warrior, but it didn't matter to him. All that mattered was this beating—the one he was giving and the one that raining down on him—was an outlet for all the frustration he'd endured these last centuries. He hit Rhage with all the fury he had in him. Every time Rhage hit him back, it took his mind off the emotional anguish, which was ten times worse than anything physical that was being inflicted upon him.
Rhage had him pinned against a wall with one hand and his other was reeled back in a fist, ready to strike again. Hansen smiled a sick, bloody smile, ready for more of whatever Rhage had to dish out.
But then Rhage was off of him, and his female was between them, her hands on both their chests'. Wait, she wasn't his female anymore. She never really had been to begin with.
"Stop it!" she commanded, the full authority of the Promise coming out in her voice. That didn't seem to matter to either of them in that moment. They tried to get around her, tried to push her out of the way, but she wasn't having it. She slammed Hansen back into the wall roughly, his head rebounding off it, and pushed Rhage the same way in the other direction. "Stop it right now!"
Rhage glared at him for a moment before backing away, his hand coming up to wipe his bloody mouth.
Shailene turned to Hansen first. Whatever pain Hansen may have been feeling in that moment went away when he saw the look on her face. She'd never looked at him this way before, with such disappointment and shame.
He immediately grabbed onto her.
"Please don't do this," he begged. "Please, Shailene!"
"Hansen—"
"He's not right for you!" he shouted at her. "Give me a chance, Shailene. I'll be better to you than he ever could."
Rhage started to stalk back towards him, but Shailene shot a nasty glare over her shoulder and froze him where he stood.
"Give me a chance," he said again, softer this time, but still desperate.
"No, Hansen," she said. "There is no chance for us."
"He'll never love you the way I do," he whispered scathingly to her, looking straight into her shame filled eyes. "He never will. I've been there for your whole life. I've taken care of you; I've always been with you no matter what. I love you." She looked away and he took her face into his battered hands, forcing her to look at him. "I love you. He can't love you the way I do."
"I don't love you the way you love me," she said evenly. "And I can't love you the way I love him."
He let go of her at that. He might have argued with her, if it wasn't for the look in her eyes. There were no falsities there, no regrets. She was speaking from her heart.
And he couldn't argue with that, no matter how much he wanted to.
"I'm sorry that that hurts you, but it's true," she continued. "And I wouldn't take it back even if I could."
She backed away from him, closer to Rhage, and when she reached him, he took one of her hands tight in his. "I'm sorry."
And with that, the love of his life and the person that stole her from him left without a trace.
"That could have gone better," Rhage grumbled as he and Shailene sat on his bed in his room—that she was going to be moving into as soon as this mating ceremony business was out of the way—in the mansion. She was helping him nurse the wounds that Hansen had inflicted on him, which he had a surprising amount of. He winced as she dabbed at a cut under his eye. She wasn't making much of an effort to be delicate.
Shailene, however, had no sympathy for him.
She was furious and flat out shocked. Not at anyone in particular, but more at the whole situation. She could not believe what had just happened. Never in a thousand years had she expected Hansen to react the way he had. Anger she'd expected, denial she'd expected, but not flat out violence. And never had she expected his cruel words. He'd just been so… mean.
She didn't blame him, though. He'd been hurt by the news, hurt by her, and unlike both her and Rhage, he was just going to have to deal with his wounds on his own.
Rhage cursed as she dabbed at his eye again.
"You know you deserve this, don't you?" she deadpanned. "You didn't have to punch him."
He sighed. She expected him to argue with her, saying something about Hansen having it coming and needing to protect her or some bullshit, but he wisely said, "I know." But then he tacked on, "I'm sorry you had to see that."
She laughed harshly. "Sorry I had to see that. Are you sorry you hit him?"
"No," he said without hesitation. And then the justifications she'd been expecting came. "He shouldn't have spoken to you that way. He deserved it."
She nodded noncommittally. She didn't want to argue with him, so she chose to hold her tongue. If she voiced the things that were on her mind— like he could have handled that so much better, or better yet, he could have let her handle it, or that he didn't always have to resort to violence— it would surely have resulted in another screaming match.
"You feel sorry for him, don't you?" he accused.
"How could I not?" she retorted.
"He doesn't deserve your sympathy," he growled. "The fucker was way out line."
"Rhage, don't you see where he's coming at all?" she asked. "You should. Remember how you felt when you thought I was leaving you for Hansen?"
He grunted and looked away from her, and she took that as a reluctant agreement.
"That's right. And last I checked, you had some pretty nasty things to say to me that night as well," she reminded him calmly.
She felt him stiffen. "Shailene, you know I didn't—"
"I know, Rhage," she said softly, taking one of his hands in both of hers. "I wasn't very nice that night either. But the point is, you both have some common ground now. So I'd appreciate it if you could give him a break."
He grunted again and she smiled slightly.
He sighed again and wrapped an arm around her, holding her closer to him. "Are you mad?"
"Yes," she admitted bluntly. But then she sighed and relaxed against him. "No. Not at you, at least. I just wish it didn't have to be like this."
They were silent for a moment, before Rhage quietly spoke again.
"You don't…" he trailed off.
"I don't, what?" she murmured.
"You don't believe anything he said, right?" he asked self-consciously.
"Of course not," she assured him, and she meant. Everything that Hansen had accused Rhage of were problems that she fretted over and freaked out about herself. If she hadn't come to terms with Rhage's past and put all those doubts behind her, she wouldn't be planning on mating him.
"Good," he sighed. "I don't want anyone to make you doubt me. I'm one hundred percent committed to you. I love you."
She smiled to herself. She never got tired of hearing him say that. Even when she'd been set against ever being with him, those words had warmed her on the inside, even when she hadn't wanted them too. "I know, Rhage." She looked up at him. "I love you, too. And nothing anyone says or does is going to stop me from mating you."
Bella wasn't sure who could be knocking on her door. She didn't have many vampire friends left, and no human in their right mind would be taking a nightly drive at three in the morning. It could be John, she thought. But then she remembered he was living with one of the Black Dagger warriors so he would have no reason to come to her for help. Plus, he hadn't mentioned he was going to come over in any of their emails.
Regardless, she paused the episode of America's Next Top Model she'd DVR'd and got up from her couch in the living room to see who it was. By the time she was at her door, she remembered that it could be her brother. She hoped that it wasn't him and cringed at the reasons for why he would be showing up at her door.
It wasn't him. Instead, when she opened her door, she was met by a face that was the most beautiful in existence and that she had only seen once before.
"Hi," the Promise greeted her with a radiant smile.
"Promise, M'lady," Bella sputtered. She bowed her head in deference.
"Don't do that," she laughed, touching her shoulder, and Bella took that as sign that it was okay to come out of her bent-head position. "And please, call me Shailene."
"Of course, whatever you wish M'l—I mean Shailene," she quickly agreed.
There was an awkward moment while Shailene looked at her expectantly and Bella stood there like an idiot, just staring in awe at her radiance and wondering why she was here.
Then Bella got it.
"Please come in," she said, stepping out of the way to let her through the threshold.
"Thanks," she said as she entered.
For some reason, seeing the Promise here in her house was even more amazing than seeing her at the Brotherhood's training centre. It was probably because it was expected that she would hang out with the Brotherhood. But having Shailene here in Bella's house…? It was abnormal. The Promise didn't belong in such ordinary settings; even though she was dressed ordinarily enough— in a bulky yet somehow fitted grey sweater, a pair of dark blue ripped-at-the-knees, skinny jeans and black suede ankle boots—she didn't fit in with her now-seemingly mundane home.
"Would you like something to eat or drink?" Bella asked quickly. "I could get you tea or water or wine or whatever you'd like. I was just going to warm up some left over stew I have from seeing my mahmen Wednesday. I could get you some." Oh God. Did she just offer the freaking Promise three day left-overs from her mommy's house? "I can't believe I just offered you three day left-over stew. I'll make you something else. Is there anything—?"
The luxurious sound of her laughter stopped Bella from her haste to the kitchen.
"No thank you, Bella. I'm good on the food front. I can't stay long, actually, I only came by because I have something to tell you."
Bella immediately jumped to the worst possible conclusions.
"Is it John? Is he okay? Did he go into his transition? Did he make it? Or is it my family? Is my mahmen okay? Why didn't Rehv call me—?"
Shailene walked right up to her and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her a little. "I need you to breathe, Bella, okay?" she said, looking her in the eyes. Bella could see the amusement in her eyes and figured she was probably acting like an idiot. Again. "There's no bad news, that's not why I'm here. Just relax."
Bella nodded and took a deep breath. She just didn't understand why the Promise was standing in her house.
Shailene eyed her with an entertained expression on her face. "At first glance, I never would've taken you for such a pessimist."
She laughed self-consciously. "Yeah, I never used to be one. Something happened a while ago and it brought on this perma-hysteria."
"Ah, your fall from grace," she said, nodding in understanding.
Bella wanted to bury her head in the sand like an ostrich. Even the royals knew about how the glymera had cast her out.
"I only know because of this special little thing I do," Shailene said quickly. "You don't have to worry that it 'got back to me'."
"Special thing?" Bella asked to distract herself and hopefully Shailene from the ugly dredged up memories.
"Whenever I touch someone for the first time, this annoying thing happens where I get to see their whole life's story."
"Oh…wow." That didn't make her feel any better.
"You don't need to be embarrassed," Shailene assured her. "The glymera are a bunch of jackasses. The Virgin knows I can barely stand them whenever I have to be around them." She rolled her eyes.
Bella laughed in spite of herself. She'd always imagined the Promise to be perfectly proper and the pinnacle of glymera behavior. But she wasn't anything like that. She was actually…normal. Aside from being glorious-looking and as fierce as a tiger and having an all-round kick-ass personality.
"You're not at all like I expected you to be," Bella blurted out.
She laughed again. "I get that a lot. But I guess when you're basically raised by and spend most of your time with improper males who have no regard for the comfort of a female, they tend to rub off on you."
Bella laughed, too. She knew a little about that.
"Okay, so no bad news. To what do I owe the honor of having you here?" she asked.
If it was possible for Shailene to glow anymore, she did with the smile that lit up her face this time.
"I am here to give you an invitation," she said brightly. "Rhage and I are getting mated."
"Rhage, the warrior, Rhage? Your ahstrux nohtrum, Rhage?" she asked.
Shailene nodded like it was Christmas morning. "Yes."
"Wow, that's amazing!" Bella exclaimed, but then something struck her. "Wait, where is Rhage? Isn't he supposed to be with you everywhere you go?"
Shailene smiled devilishly. "He's out fighting the good fight. Technically, he's supposed to be with me right now, but I'm a bit of a rule breaker." She winked co-conspiratorially. "Anywho, we're getting mated tomorrow night at midnight and we'd love it if you were there," she said enthusiastically.
"Me? You want me there?" Bella asked in disbelief.
"Yeah. Duh."
Bella was flabbergasted. "But why?"
"Well, John's going to be there, and I think it would make him more comfortable if you were there with him. Plus, it would mean a lot to me if you came."
Well what could she say to that? The freaking Promise was inviting her to her mating ceremony. The thought of refusing wasn't even an idea in Bella's head.
"So…will you come?" Shailene asked into the silence.
"Of course," Bella stuttered. "It would be an honour."
As Mr. M was driving down Route 22 to another lesser pow-wow, something caught his eye, and when he realized what it was, he couldn't believe them.
The Promise. She was there.
He wasn't sure why he noticed it. It was only a woman standing at the door of a house, waiting to be let in. Then the door opened, and another let her in. Nothing out of the ordinary there, so what was it about that scene that made him stop?
He wasn't sure but he didn't care. The point was, he'd found the Promise again. He was sure it was her, even though she was hundreds of feet away. He'd found her, by chance maybe, but what-the-fuck-ever.
The instinct to break into that house and take her out right then and there was strong. Very strong. Almost too strong. But he had to get control of himself. He wasn't sure how many vampires were in that house, or if those over-muscled, shit head Brothers were around. It would be sure suicide to go storming in there with no backup.
So he'd play it cool. He made a mental note of the address and would make sure to have someone come back and capture the person—be it vampire or human—that lived in that house. Whoever they were, the Promise was visiting them, which meant that there was a relationship there, which meant that they might have found someone new, someone more useful, to pump for information on their race.
He drove on to the lesser meeting. He would make sure someone was on top of the house situation. He wasn't going to tell anyone else about the Promise, though. That was his project, and he didn't want anyone finding out about her and catching her first. If that happened, then he wouldn't get a chance to play with her the way he wanted. It would be a tragedy for someone if they got in the way of their fun.
A/N: So that's that. The Scribe Virgin approves, Hansen is furious, and Mr. M is closing in. Sorry I wasn't able to fit it the mating ceremony in this chapter, but it just didn't make sense to me put it here. It's coming, I swear! Shailene and Rhage just had a few things to sew up before they could get on with the ceremony.
I hope it was clear to everyone who the song from the beginning was for. It was for Hansen. I just wanted to make sure we're all clear.
Again, special mention to Bilba0691 for her suggestions for the chapter. She wanted to see a little fist between Rhage and Hansen and I didn't know if I should've done it until I read her PM. Thanks for being such a loyal reader.
To the rest of my commenters, messagers, favourite-ers, and alerters: thank you all as well! Now you see that your opinions and ideas are welcome and considered. If there is anything you want to read about in my story, please let me know. Comment!
Until we read again…