Ch. 7

This was all happening so fast. Yet Mary-Lynnette loved it. One minute there she was being loaded on the plane filling in Delos and Maggie a bit about what had happened to them. Maggie even told a bit of her story, Delos was a wild power. She could see that too, alone with power that he carried inside him and the one that always seemed to cast a protective shadow over his soulmate.

She, Maggie, and Delos had already gotten off the plane when the two nightworlders came over at baggage claim. They were both shapeshifters and they were also soulmates. The girl, Keller, was powerful; anyone could see that by the stance she held and the strength that she seemed to command. Her mate was pleasantly the opposite, Galen seemed gentle and quiet, and having no problem with letting her take over the reins, but still there was something about those eyes. Those pools of amber that said that he too was lethal, all in all the couple seemed to be a dangerous combination.

Mare had even felt a slight pang of jealousy when Delos had pushed Maggie behind me, he had been calm and cool but with a predatory warning should anything arise. It reminded her of Ash.

But things calmed down they explained where they were from and what the situation was. Delos had relaxed enough to let Maggie break away from his grip and introduced herself. Mary-Lynnette couldn't help but feel is anything, a little out of place. But then the boy, Galen, looked over at her.

"Are you with Ash?"

She blinked hesitantly, "um..." How exactly could she answer this? She'd already spilled the beans once to complete strangers so...now?

"How would you know...?"

Galen interrupted an impatient Keller and calmly said, "His smell, the animals inside us give us their gifts. Our smell, hearing, and even sight are increased. We smelled him the moment that you walked into baggage claim."

He looked down at her bag amused, "I don't think that he was expecting you though."

Mary-Lynnette walked forward, tired of being so awkward, merely smiled and even gave a small laugh, "No actually, he isn't expecting me. But I think that its time I did some part in all of this. Whether I want it or not this is my world too."

Even Keller had to admit to herself there was something about this girl, whether it was because of her forward honesty or because it was one alpha female acknowledging another that she honestly liked. It isn't very often that someone holds themselves like that, especially when one of them is human meeting two nightworlders.

I like her. Keller decided and for some reason, it made her feel vaguely generous, "Galen I feel like going for a drive. What about you?"

She felt him touch her slightly at the back of her mind; you know what? I think I am falling for you all over again.

Keller swatted his arm, "Listen Casanova, I feel like a drive. You coming or not?"

She grabbed a bag from Maggie, "You and Delos are coming with me. Mary-Lynnette if you head through that door right there then you can get a ride back to Thierry's place."

Maggie hugged Mare, "It was great meeting you! Hope we can see more of each other later. See you later."

Delos waved following after his soulmate. And all there was left was Galen and her, standing there a bit shocked at how fast everything had moved.

"Keller likes you."

She looked up at him, "Me? She doesn't even know me."

He shrugged, "That's just how she is. First impression seems to be the only impression for her. Not many get a second chance."

Mary-Lynnette followed his gaze to Keller as she made her exit, even walking there was something about her that just made her seem...dangerous and beautiful. I'm nothing like that.

"Who are the lucky ones that get that second opinion?"

"Well you're talking to one right now." He smiled at a distant memory, "She thought of me as someone who was too gentle to do what's supposed to be done."

Aren't you? But she kept that tucked behind her lips, there was something about him that she didn't think she'd ever really know. At first glance, yes, he did seem a bit separated from everything, too gentle for a rashness of the world. But when she looked at those eyes, it was as if she was looking at someone completely different. She was learning that in the nightworld eyes could literally be the windows to the soul. So far from the ones she'd met they had shown power, strength, danger, and even for brief moments, as she saw with Ash, a complete and utter vulnerability to the world.

"Like Keller said, head through that door in the back and wait for a car to pull up. There should be a bench, but I hope that you won't have to wait that long. Take these car keys with you that is if you want to get to the mansion. You take care and I'm sure that we will see you around. Till then."

Then Mary-Lynnette was alone again. It wasn't a feeling that she liked all that well. But what else was there that she could do? The only thing I can do I suppose. She picked up her one suitcase and walked through that door.

"First I'm a chauffeur, and then I'm the decoy." Ash sighed leaning against his car, "Oh yeah I forgot, I have to add delivery boy to the list as well. My resume is just getting bigger and bigger."

Galen had called and quite pleasantly, which annoyed him to no end, told him the change in plans, they were taking everyone in their car, if he wanted to get home then he had to pick up the car keys by the employee's entrance.

His feet echoed in the large tunnel. Where they hell was he supposed to look for those keys? Did someone have them? Whatever the case he just wanted this to end so that he could get to bed, read or do something, anything, to keep his mind off of her.

Again there was that ache in his chest, the one that kept beating at him, there was so much more that he wanted to say to her, so much that he wanted to tell her. But each time had never seemed like that right moment or even the right time. And every time he didn't do it he wanted to kick himself for it. When would it ever be the right time? Ash didn't think that he would ever get the chance to say.

Lost in this thoughts and self loathing he almost missed it, that wondrous tug inside him, one that suddenly went taunt and hummed pleasantly. And at first he didn't believe that it was possible. But yet...this feeling, there was no other feeling like it in the world.

"It can't be." He quickened his pace.

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