144. Soren

Chris

It had been a week since Zoreah. The four of us were in the lounge in France. Juliet was with her parents and spending time with Caleb. We were taking some time to talk things through.

“Now that we’re sitting here. I don’t really have anything to say.” My head rested back on the couch.

“Do you all agree that we live here?” Louis asked.

No one said anything…

“Well, now is the time to speak….” I ventured. “Or should we make this a regular thing?”

The atmosphere in the room felt a little weird… Like the four of us were uncomfortable together. Sussing out the situation. When I was with Juliet, it didn’t matter. Even when Marcus and I were together, there was camaraderie. But Louis and I had never clicked like I did with Jamal or Selena. I probably would never feel like that towards Michael either.

Marcus got a text. He ran his hand over his mouth. “Juliet says she wants to give me a baby.”

“I think it’s too soon,” Michael said too quickly.

“Let’s first talk about our own lives. What we all see for the future… for ourselves.” Louis suggested. “If Juliet was not in the picture.”

I sat back and stared at the roof, contemplating… What did I want to do with my life?

“It’s going to be so boring from here on out,” Marcus said. “We can’t be cooped up here all day long. Juliet wants to change En-gannim… but I never wanted to rule. Do you want to, Michael? Take over Palmyra and play king?”

There was no way I was going to rule on Zoreah. Would I stay on Earth? Beatrice’s words echoed in my mind… “Maybe Chris doesn’t even want to stay.” I liked being a protector. Fighting. I wouldn’t mind going up the ranks to general and going on campaigns… with Juliet… I smiled.

My head came down, and the others were watching me.

“Seems like one of has it all figured out,” Michael said.

“Fine, if no one wants to talk… I’ll talk. I had the most time by myself… so maybe that has something to do with it… I’m sorry, Louis, but I don’t think we will ever get along.” He grinned.

“I want to be a general. Take armies into battle… I want a house for Juliet and me. But away from you all. I could maybe live with Marcus. But it’s not to say he wants to… Selena and Jamal would probably always be with me or go back to Zoreah… I don’t know. I’m just talking… Nothing I can’t change my mind about… Seeing that Marcus gets the first baby… that would mean… that they have to stay alone… so we’re sure…. Don’t really want to leave it up to chance… I might just get number three as well… So Michael, why is it too soon?”

“Of course to me, her health is the most important… She will live so long does she really have to give us all a baby in the next ten years… We have to think long-term. Marcus and Louis will die first… You and all the kids at once… I will be left alone… with whoever is left. If we don’t live together, Chris… We can’t really call it a family.”

Marcus and I shared a glance. Mutual understanding of figuring out where Michael fit into it all.

“Chris, I… have no idea how to handle Juliet… I have a lot of catching up to do. Figuring out emotions, and I don’t want to split up. I like the people… It might not seem like it… but I was alone for so long that for Louis and me, this is like heaven… It’s always busy, and she is always happy when we’re all here… You and Louis were fine before you left… What changed?” Marcus asked.

“I’m jealous,” I said.

They all laughed.

“I think we’re all jealous… Not only of Louis but of something….” Michael said.

“What the hell do you have to be jealous about?” I asked Michael.

“Seriously Chris… I’m nervous that her obsession with you will manipulate her time… Well, after you came back, it was okay, but then I… became what I did, and she went right back to clinging to you after Zoreah! And to give her something, no one has said anything… And it’s you who made that call. She’s not even angry at you! ”

The others nodded in agreement.

“Well, I’m not going to push her away… Not now… And I don’t like the fact that you guys have the branding connection… What if you all die, and I’m left alone? We still don’t know if Brylee was bluffing… Oh crap, does it connect with dying of old age as well?”

Our eyes darted around the room. All eyes landed on Michael…

“No! I won’t go teleporting to another freaking planet just to go ask some old chick if we will all die when Marcus and Louis peg over… I’m not going to play messenger for everyone.” He stood up and went to the kitchen. “Anyone want something to drink?”

We all chuckled. He was already serving… He was good at it but didn’t like being told to do it.

“What?”

“Nothing. I would like one, please.”

The others also asked.

“Can we talk about Soren because it’s bugging me,” Marcus said.

Michael handed us all a beer. “It seems the two of you’re on the same page about that. Louis?” Michael asked.

He was quiet. “Well… Chris, you should know how well she handles breakups. And we will be forcing her.” Louis said. “After Zoreah, it’s immediately Soren. And you want to add telling her she can’t get pregnant again… It won’t end well.”

I had forgotten how she reacted to my letter. “Is it the same, though? Come, Louis, how does she feel about Soren? She’s older, and she seemed okay with it when I told her.”

Marcus was nervously twisting his bottle in his hands. “If we agree to Soren… We will have to agree to further spouses… What if she falls in love again? If she sleeps with someone else… I won’t be able to handle it… It made me almost walk away.”

The rest of us were quiet. Michael was already an issue for Marcus. “I think if something bothers us to such a degree, we should all face the consequences together,” Louis said. “We all have limits… Chris, do you know yours?”

There was so much to think about. “Yeah… Soren.”

I wasn’t jealous about the boy, but our family was holding on by a thin line, and adding another addition would complicate it to such a degree that it wouldn’t matter what we did. Juliet wasn’t thinking about all the consequences, and I had told her I would make the difficult decisions. If no one else would.

***

Soren

The four guys around me were intimidating. I didn’t know what to expect.

“Soren…” Chris sat forward. “I told Juliet that you can’t join us.”

It had been so long waiting for Marcus to give in… I never thought it would be the guy who wasn’t there that would stop me. The other three men couldn’t look at me. It took a moment for it to sink in. Louis got up and sat down next to me. He handed our emblem back to me. “I’m sorry.” His hand was resting on my back.

“Where is she?”

“Waiting.”

“Can I say goodbye?”

“Of course… She is up those stairs.”

I was going back and forth if I should even talk to her. I slowly made my way there. The sniffling wasn’t like her... What was the point of it all without her? It’s not like she didn’t want me…

I put my arm around her shoulders, pulling her towards me. All she did was cry. “This is my fault… I should’ve been able to resist you. I took advantage of you… thought I could handle it. I’m sorry, Julie.” It just made her dig her face into my chest.

We sat there until she was quiet. After a while, I got up. She grabbed my hand. “Juliet… love really isn’t unconditional. You can’t live in that bubble anymore. Maybe if it was only Louis.”

She stood to stare out of the window, hugging herself. I wondered who would comfort her? If any of them even would. I heard what happened on Zoreah and all the babies they killed. She had so much to deal with, and I knew she would come back full force to take over En-gannim. I could’ve been there for her. I had our whole future planned.

I walked over and wrapped my arms around her. “We were never set in stone… Why are you so upset?”

“Because you’re worth it.”

My hands dropped at my side… It was getting real, and I didn’t want to make it harder for her. There was no point in fighting it. I left. Walked out the front door and teleported to Washington and to En-gannim. I went to Marcus’s office and packed my stuff. I wasn’t going to think about it… Up until a half-hour earlier, I had hoped they would say yes. I traveled back home. When I walked into the house, I gave my father back his emblem. He growled low… shaking his head.

Isla was there. I put my box on the table. No idea what I was supposed to do. Isla held open her arms. “At least you know what it feels like. You will know if it happens again.”

***

Juliet

Soren had left, and I was thankful that he had made the decision. There was no way I would ask him to leave. I wiped my eyes when I heard him at the bottom of the stairs, running down to watch him go. The front door closed while I stood halfway down the stairs, staring after him. I could feel all pairs of eyes on me. There was no point in avoiding them.

I rested my hands on the back of the couch, taking a moment. Not meeting anyone’s eye. It had been hard. Just the five of us for a week... The tension was high because of what they did. In the end, I stayed close to Chris. Because he actually talked to me… I took a beer out of the fridge and went to sit down next to Chris. “Okay. So what now? What did you guys decide and talk about? Or would I not be privy to what was discussed besides Soren? Oh, and the baby….”

“We didn’t really get to anything else… I have to say I didn’t think you would handle it this well,” Michael said.

The corner of my mouth lifted. “I knew it was coming. I was prepared. Well anyway. I’m fine… for now.” I met Michael’s seen-it-all-all eyes. I thought about our first kiss and the fact that he had asked me. Treated me like a person, and that man wasn’t there anymore.

There was a knock at the front door. “Just a moment, Selena! I’m going out tonight….” I said as I stood up, kissing Chris. “I don’t like the fact that you guys had your little meeting and cut me out. But it seems like I brought this on myself.

On Monday. I’m going to start working… Will be gone most of the day on En-gannim. Seeing that you guys are going on with your lives. I’ll probably have to, as well. Charlene is studying. Carl is in Washington… None of you are even telling me if I’m allowed to have another baby…” I waited. There had to be a reason they were avoiding it.

“Michael doesn’t think it’s a good idea,” Marcus said. The tone in his voice made my blood boil. After everything? I spun towards Michael, who couldn’t even look at me. Luckily, Selena came in the front door. Rather than venting, I jumped over the couch and pulled her into the dressing room. The anticipation for the night would allow me to forget for a few hours. “It seems you’re my new best friend. Is that a problem for you?”

She shook her head and smiled. “I want a tattoo.” I lifted my hand into the air. She gazed at it. “Hit it.”

“Hit it? With what?”

I laughed. “With your hand. Do the same to my hand. Like this.”

She hit my hand, and I winced. “Tomorrow, we start training together. That hurt.”

“Hell, yes.”

I snorted. “You picked up some of Chris’s lingo. How could he never have taught you a high five….”

She shrugged. “He’s not really the type.”

Selena was going through my clothes. “I took the liberty to buy you some dresses.” You want to try them on. “We’re going out tonight.”

She was animated, and after a little runway show, she chose a little black number. It was short and in a V-neckline. I did her makeup and hair. Selena observed me asking so many questions.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

My dress was a charcoal sequence. The neckline went past my breast and stopped at the top of my tummy. It covered my back and had long sleeves. I didn’t want any humans asking me why I looked like I did. My hair was blonder than usual, and I parted it on the side of my head so that it hung beautifully over my face.

When we were done, we stood in front of the mirror. “Stunning.” It would be hard for the guys when we walked out of the dressing room.

“Are you ready to turn some heads?”

“What does that mean?”

“Watch Chris’s face when we walk out.”

There was a knock at the front door. I smiled, and Selena tilted her head. “You are very dangerous, Juliet.”

I snickered behind my hand. “Bored. Most of the time. But tonight, I will dance the hours and my cares away.”

“Dance?”

“You’ll love it.” I clasped her hand and laced our fingers. She was dumbfounded as Caleb was, but she followed me. Her balance on the shoes was so good that I was jealous. She was a natural, and tonight, she would be the center of attention in the club.

We walked confidently past all the men still sitting on the couches. I was so happy, but my poker face was on. And I squeezed Selena’s hand when Chris’s eyes rested on all of her.

“Jessy!” I yelled… I knew he was there waiting. The front door opened.

He was dressed in black pants and a black transparent mesh shirt. It was a low V-neck. I swallowed hard. Matching jewelry around his neck and wrist. Selena squeezed my hand. “You look great.” Jessy bowed.

“Even if I have four husbands. My other half will come with the two of us and protect us. You guys don’t have to worry. Just go on with your lives… Like I’m not even here.”

Jessy held out his arm for me, and I laced mine in his. Selena copied me.

“Amsterdam. Here we come. Saturday night, and you have it all planned, right.” I asked Jessy.

“You will not be walking home if that’s what you mean. Have a big guy to carry you.”

“Yes! And feel free to take Selena home. Charlene wouldn’t mind. Just remember, she can’t get pregnant… That would be a disaster.” I said that last part really loudly. I glanced over my shoulder. The men were on the porch watching us. I only wanted to see where Chris’s attentions were, happy that his eyes lingered on me.

The three of us were trying to navigate the thicket into the spot where we had to teleport from. Jessy was funny and charmingly attentive. We were joking with him, and it felt good. I needed to have fun.

The three of us looked back at the house before we left. I stuck out my tongue just for the hell of it. Selena did the same, and Jessy and I shared a laugh.

***

We got out somewhere in North Holland and had to take a car to the club. We had so many guards that we didn’t even need to fend our way through a crowd or a line or anything. Jessy was with me every step of the way, and I could completely let go when we entered the club.

I pulled Selena onto the dancefloor. She took to it like gasoline on a fire. The DJ was insane. People around us jumping up and down. I would’ve loved to be a fly on the wall at home... Jessy gave me his cell phone, reading my thoughts when we sat down at our cubicle to enjoy drinks. Selena was already tipsy after two drinks and gravitated to making Jessy her object for the night. I took the phone eagerly.

The men were scrambling. Coming in and out of bathrooms and rooms. They were dressed and on their way. “Do they know where we are?”

Jessy tried to nod, but Selena was all over him. His eyes were big. It was not the En-gannim way. I had to laugh. The big, strong, tall man wasn’t used to being touched like that. His soft brown eyes eventually closed, and his lips found hers.

Jamal was on the dancefloor surrounded by women. I made my way over and pushed them all out of the way, strutting my awkward dancing in front of him. He obliged me, smiling down at me. “So which one would it be.”

“I don’t really care.” His tone was clipped.

My lips turned upside down. “You’re not happy. Did I do the wrong thing?” He shook his head. Jamal was a natural dancer, and by watching the other people, he soon found his own rhythm. I pulled him to the bar. We did a few shots. He liked tequila too much and liked my reaction to the horrible taste. He was having a good time, but his eyes darted to the booth too many times. “It seems that you like her a little more than just a Riphath sleep buddy.” His eyes rested on my face regarding me. “Come on. We have to bond. You’re Chris’s friend. Talk to me. I need diversion just as much as you.”

“How do men deal with it here on Earth. If you’re all monogamous? How do you do it?”

“Oh, there is only one way. You have to fight the guy for the girl. Never leave her side. Make sure you’re always there so she doesn’t move on or have the chance to think about someone else.”

Chris clapped Jamal on the shoulder. His eyes rested on my face. They moved over my lips to the dress I was wearing and how short it was. My long legs. Down to my shoes and up again. “You look beautiful, Juliet.”

I tapped the bar and got Chris a drink.

We didn’t even notice Jamal walking over to the booth. Chris’s eyes grew twice the size, and he ran. Jamal gave Jessy one hell of a punch after picking Selena off his lap and tossing her onto a seat away from the man. Jessy glanced over at me, and I nodded. He hit Jamal in the eye.

Jamal manifested in the club, and Jessy followed suit. My hand covered my mouth. The rest of the vampire guards made a nice little ring for them to have it out. People were going nuts trying to see what was going on.

I was doing another shot. “Aren’t you queen of that planet?” The barman asked.

“Finally, someone that recognizes me.”

“I do watch TV. We also saw that other fight where you ripped out that guy’s spine….” He made a nervous little gesture with his face. “It was… impressive. Scary! Won’t mess with you.”

I chuckled, and he put another shot in front of me.

“Thank You.”

“Can I buy you a drink?” A random guy asked before I could put my drink to my lips.

I quickly took in his features and lifted my chin at the barman, who smiled. “What’s your name?”

“Juliet… You’re not from around here.”

“UK.”

I held out my glass, and he clinked mine. “What are you doing here?”

“Holiday.”

The uproar on the other side of the room had died down. Jamal and Chris were headed to the bathroom. Jessy had sat down on the sofa. My other two counterparts took their seats at the booth next to him.

“So what do you make of the aliens among us?”

Marcus's eyes came up to mine and drifted over to the guy talking to me. I turned away from them and focused on the man next to me. “Did you just get here?”

He nodded. I smiled at the barman busy in front of us. He was listening to the conversation.

“I don’t really know, and you?” The barman laughed as he took another order.

“Well, we haven’t seen any benefits yet... Crime is down… Earth is like a different place where all the criminals get sacrificed to half-human aliens. I saw the battle on that planet. Did you see it on the news?”

I nodded, sipping on a cocktail the barman had made me.

“It was interesting to see. It’s been a few years, but I can’t seem to get used to it.”

We talked for a while, and I drank down the last sip of my drink. “Can I buy you another? Or would you like to dance?”

He stood up straighter. His gaze flickered over my shoulder. “Don’t look now, but one of them is coming this way.”

“What does he look like?”

“Muslim.”

I snorted, grabbed the guy’s wrist, and led him onto the dancefloor, leaving Marcus to stand with his back to the bar, watching us.

The guy dancing with me rested his hands on my hips. “No touching.”

His hands lifted off my waist, grinning. “Why not?” He tried again.

Urgh, guys are all the same, I thought. Louis started rubbing up behind me. I could smell him. Feel his mouth in my neck.

The English guy seemed offended. “Should we move this party to the other side of the dancefloor?”

I didn’t expect it, but Marcus came over and pushed between the guy and me. He… started dancing… I paused, watching him, and laughed. The guy tapped his shoulder. Marcus was on edge. He cracked his neck before he wanted to turn around. I pulled his lips onto mine. It was the only way I could defuse the situation. His eyes were open, and he watched me. He kissed me back for a moment. Lifted his lips and turned me, pushing me into Louis. Marcus left the dancefloor and stood at the bar facing us.

The English guy left when Louis’s hands roamed my body. Chris and Jamal joined us after a while. We danced for so long. I didn’t see Michael. Louis pointed to a cubicle on the opposite side of the club. There were four girls in the booth with him. They were fascinated with his tattoos, buying him drinks, and it seemed like he was already a little drunk.

Selena had joined the dancing, and she and Chris were a little too close to each other, but I wasn’t going to get jealous. Not of them or of Michael. I turned my back on them and, went to the bar, and did more shots.

I got really drunk until I couldn’t stand anymore and walked to Jessy. “I don’t think I can stand anymore.” I fell down next to him. He lifted a hand, and one of the guards standing against the wall came over and picked me up. Jessy stood up and picked up Selena, who had passed out a while ago.

They carried us out and traveled us home. Jessy wanted to take me upstairs. “No…” I slurred. “My room… and lock the door.” He didn’t hesitate and put me on my bed. I heard the lock turn and closed my eyes.

***

I woke up the following day with my door opening. “It’s wake-up time, Your Majesty.”

I checked my phone. It was already eleven in the morning.

Marcus was in his chair reading, and Chris was lying down on the couch. Louis and Michael were nowhere. I bent down and kissed Chris. “Mornin…” He pulled me down on the couch with him. Wrapping me with his arms and legs. “Did you have fun last night?”

“Mmm. When did you guys come home?”

“Right after you. You could have asked me… I would have had you home faster.”

“That would’ve defeated the object.”

“You not going to say hello to Marcus?”

I wriggled out of Chris’s arms and got up, walking past the Muslim. I snorted again. Humans are so ignorant. I plopped down on a deckchair in the shade, letting the cool air blow over me. I had told myself that I would have to relax. Take it one day at a time. I thought about tomorrow and going back to En-gannim. It was going to be hard work, but I missed it. Caleb was there. Sammy was there. We didn’t have the space in France to be together. It would take a while to get everyone settled if we ever could.

Marcus came over and grabbed my wrist, pulling me up. “Hey!”

He led me up the trail and didn’t stop until we were at my tree. I wasn’t going to say anything. Just glad he wasn’t forcing me with his branding rights. Mimicking me from the last time we were there, he sat down against the trunk. “Everyone says I shouldn’t manipulate your time. But you’re always with Chris. He said my new prize should be to make you happy. And you’re not….”

We sat chest to chest. I threw my legs over his. I ran my thumb over his lips. “Why did you sleep in your room alone? Are you angry at me about Soren?”

“No, I’m angry because we can’t have a baby until the party agrees we can. I’m angry that you didn’t fight for it.”

He sat up, confused.

“I wanted to give you something, Marcus… I wanted to do something for you. And I could understand that it’s rather quick, but it’s not guaranteed that we would get pregnant. It took my parents two hundred years to have me… That’s the only thing going on in Michaels’s mind… The fact that it would be you and me for a while. There is a reason vampires don’t have that many children.”

Marcus pulled my lips onto his. He lifted my bum so that I sat on his lap. “Why did you do that last night… Why did you let Jessy take you out?”

“I’m angry that you guys met without me. It’s as if Chris changed everything. No one is fighting anymore… You guys are just deciding, and all I have is… who I sleep with.”

“Your door was locked, or I would’ve joined you.”

“Yeah. New rule… You guys have to work for it… Why are you laughing?”

“I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

I kissed him again. “What do you mean. You already have me there.” He sat back, intrigued. “This… What you’re doing is all it takes.”

“Talking?!” I nodded. “What? No?”

“And maybe… Rubbing my hair while I read… Oh, and smiling… But that you know.”

Marcus stood up in one push, and I grabbed his waist with my legs. “I’m going to have you every night if that’s the requirement.”

“Is that all you care about, Marcus?”

“Yes.”

I dug my nose into his neck and took in that familiar scent, “ I wish I hadn’t locked my door.” Marcus found my lips, and we kissed while he carried me home. He plopped me back on the deck chair. “It’s a date.” He smirked.

I got the stupidest grin on my face that made Marcus’s head tilt. “What was that?”

“Go read your book. I know that’s all you want to do.”

“That’s not all I want to do… I’m going hunting… What do you want?”

“Really, breakfast… Our date might have to happen sooner… What planet?”

“You ready?” Chris asked, walking out of the house.

I yawned. “Kiss.” Marcus bent down, his lips lingering.

“We might be a while,” Chris said.

“Kiss.” I lifted my chin and waited. Chris came over and kissed me. I still had that stupid grin on my face. “I’m expecting lunch in an hour. That gives you five.”

The two men rushed through the door. I liked them together. They were good for each other… and for me.

***

I had fallen asleep on the chair, waking up with someone fighting. I glanced back into the house. It was Louis and Michael. Intrigued, I listened. “You were so drunk last night, Michael. You almost kissed a woman.”

My head snapped around, and my feet landed on the ground. They saw the movement. “I didn’t. She kissed me, and I pushed her away.” Michael held my gaze.

“Because you weren’t with us… Why would you sit alone on the other side of the freaking place… You’re the one that goes on about family.” Louis ranted.

I walked down to Charlene’s house. I knocked on the door. Jessy opened. Selena was in front of the TV watching some drama. A tissue in hand, wiping at her eyes. I giggled at the scene.

“Tell me you didn’t sleep with her.”

“What do you take me for. She was so drunk. Puked her guts out. It was gross.”

“Do you have surveillance of last night for all of them?”

“What do you take me for. They all have their own watcher. If they do anything wrong… I will know.”

I pushed past him to one of the rooms. The four monitors were there. Chris and Marcus were hunting.

“Show me, Michael, last night after we left.”

Jessy sat down and pressed a few buttons.

Michael was still in the cubicle with the four girls. He watched Selena and me being carried out of the club and wanted to follow. The woman pulled his face around and planted her lips on his. He pushed her away but grabbed her arms roughly.

“Oh, Frak! He tasted blood.” We saw him manifest and disappear with the girl in his arms...

We saw the footage of him in our cabin on En-gannim. He killed her so fast and ate her. “Oh shoot. What are we going to do? The whole club saw it!” I spun around at Jessy.

His hands snapped up. “It happened so fast no one would’ve been able to do anything.”

“I should have watched him… What were they thinking coming out? You know I can’t have one evening to myself.”