Page 20 of Nighted

I nodded, willing the fear in my body to be replaced with the knowledge that I was going to take this asshole down. “I just need to grab my stuff from the library and then we can go. I want to get far away from this forest right now.”

We made our way back to the library, Jasper quizzing me on every second of my interaction with the demon while we walked. If I hadn’t been so grateful to see his handsome face, I would’ve been a lot more annoyed with his nonstop questions.

“Jasper, it was dark. I’m telling you as much as I can remember.” And honestly, I’d rather remember less. I wanted to go back to my research and figure out how to take this thing down without Jasper winding up as collateral damage.

We walked inside the library and I started tidying up my stacks of books, making sure to keep aside the ones that seemed to have anything at all. Jasper started stacking books as well, haphazardly, and the papers I had been taking notes on began to fly everywhere.

“Fuck,” he muttered, and started grabbing the ones falling to the ground. But he laughed as he recognized my handwriting. “Back in school then?” His laugh trailed off as he realized what was written on the paper. I knew what the page said. It was only one word.

Orcus.

“Ava… what is this? Do you think this is what’s hunting you? I thought I told you to avoid names. They have power. More than either of us will ever understand.” Jasper’s voice was quiet, and I knew he was unimpressed.

“I needed to know more. I was hoping I could find something to fix everything. Before the problem got worse. I thought maybe if I knew the name of it, I could figure out how to get rid of it.” I couldn’t look him in the eyes, couldn’t acknowledge how terrified I now was for my friends. My family. My bruises ached -- a reminder that this thing was very real, and very dangerous.

Jasper crumpled the paper in a tight fist, before pulling me into his arms. “We’re going to figure this out, Ava. Together.” His voice was tender and reassuring, but I could feel the panic racing through his veins as easily as if the feeling were in my own body. He was scared. The mate bond was going to betray us both.

* * *

I woke up in the night, but I wasn’t cold. The air was humid, and beads of sweat were forming on my skin. I tried to push the blankets off, but the covers weren’t on top of me anymore. I needed to open a window. I needed air. Opening my eyes, I looked around, and then did a double take. I wasn’t even in bed. I was outside, on the stretch of highway between Merrillan and Easton where there was nothing except for farmer’s fields. A heavy thunderstorm was brewing in the distance, the culprit of the thick humidity. It was turning the still-dim sky a bruised shade of purple. I had to be dreaming. But the scene felt so real, I could practically taste the approaching rain, and could almost feel the lightning in my bones. This wasn’t my normal nightmare. The storm rolled ever closer, darkening the bright fields. Somewhere close, someone screamed.

“Ava, why are you screaming?” Jasper’s quiet voice tickled my ear.

I whirled around. Jasper was never alive in my dreams. Why was he there?

His face was alight with wonder as he tucked a loose piece of hair behind my ear. “How did you do this, Ava?”

“I… I don’t understand,” I whispered.

“Show me how you summoned the storm. Show me how, and I’ll show you how it feels to be truly awestruck.” Jasper bent his head, kissing me as the storm broke over us, kissing me until I was alone once again. The storm raged as I screamed.

I woke up screaming.

“Ava! Ava! It’s okay. You’re okay.” Jasper’s perfect face was above me, gaze concerned in our dark bedroom. His fear was quick in my own veins, a reflection of the marking tying us together.

I took several deep breaths as I took stock and patted the sheets around me. I was awake. This was real. But I needed to be sure. Needed to know my mate was physically next to me, safe.

“It was different. You were there, talking to me, and…” I trailed off, shaking my head. It didn’t matter. “Kiss me,” I begged. I need something to centre me in this world. Not a dream.

He obliged, crushing my lips against his until I wasn’t thinking of anything except for the feeling of his skin on mine. Jasper slipped his hands down my body, urging my thighs wider. He stroked the soft skin between my legs, and I could feel myself growing wetter with each gentle pass of his fingers.

“Let me help,” he whispered, curving his body over mine. I parted my legs without thinking, and he groaned as he discovered for himself how wet I was. I arched my back as he dipped his finger inside of me, the pleasure snaking up from the tips of my toes. Jasper slipped another finger into my pussy, and there was no doubt in my mind this was real. I gasped as he curled his fingers up, rubbing my swollen clit with the heel of his hand.

His movements were intoxicating, and he was a drug I couldn’t get enough of. I could feel the pressure building deep within me, needing a release. Jasper’s fingers stroked the perfect spot as he pressed down with his hand and I cried out as I rode out my orgasm. I smiled at Jasper, my mate, knowing there wasn’t anything more I needed from this life than him.

* * *

I checked my neck in the mirror again. And again. I barely recognized myself anymore. The dark, fitted clothes. The muscles I had worked hard for. The face of someone betrayed one too many times, by those who she assumed loved her. I tugged my shirt down, hoping the fabric was long enough to hide the sheaths I wore on my back. I patted the thick concealer, hoping the makeup wasn’t too noticeable. It felt wrong to cover up something so precious. Thankfully my bruises from the other day had healed, so that was one positive. The memories still lingered though, and I knew I was running out of time to solve this problem. I was directing my focus on looking up one -- Orcus.

“Baby. Stop touching the makeup. You look perfect.” Jasper tugged me away from the tall mirror, spinning me in his arms to meet his warm caramel gaze. “Now, remember what I told you?”

I sighed. “Don’t go anywhere alone with anyone. Always be on my guard. Always be ready for a fight,” I parroted, raising an eyebrow at him expectantly.

“Perfect.” He tipped my chin up with his finger, kissing me so deeply I could feel my bones crying out for more of him. I had thought I couldn’t get enough prior to the marking, but I had been sorely proven wrong. “That’ll have to last us both until later.”

We were getting ready to go to the new pack’s party in Chicago. I had fought tooth and nail to not have to hide our mating, but Jasper had stood his ground. The man was immovable when he wanted to be, and I had to pick my battles. To the costume store I went, to get the thickest possible concealer for both of us. The thick paste would have to do. And even though this was a getting to know you party, Jasper insisted I arrive armed. Both of us would be.

“This pack isn’t like ours, baby,” he had said. “They don’t have a Venator. They aren’t fans of human mixing. But Alpha wanted to be clear on where we stood. Your presence is necessary.”

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