Page 49 of A Touch Of Death

I give him a nod and look down at my hands that lie in my lap lifelessly. I heave out a trembling sigh and say, "I'll be fine. Thank you for staying with me."

"You don't have to thank us, sweetheart," Spencer says, keeping his forehead against my shoulder. I lean my head against his, blinking slowly while my eyes burn from all the tears I cried.

Nix is still hugging me from behind, making no move to let me go. He gives me a squeeze and drops a sweet kiss on my shoulder where my shirt has slipped. "Of course, you don't. We'll be here anytime you need us."

It's then I remember what my mom told me about the bond. A bond I forged to these four Naturals when my soul was split into pieces. That would explain all of the complicated feelings I've been getting around them, how they feel like home to me. Since meeting them, I've felt safe and protected, like being with them is exactly where I'm supposed to be. From day one I've felt a mating bond tugging at me, but I didn't understand it. Or maybe I did, and I refused to believe that all I knew, all I was taught, didn't apply to me. At any cost, I've tethered these four men to me without even giving them a choice in the matter. What if they didn't want to be bonded to me? What if I've robbed them of something they can't get back?

"Little fae.We're bonded to you as much as you are to us. I've been researching a lot since you came into our lives, and I can assure you that we are just as much attached. I can't speak for the others, but I wouldn't have chosen anyone else suited for us."

The honestly almost renders me breathless. I can read the truth in Zayn's face, rendering my ability futile.

"You're stuck with us, babe," Nix says next to my ear.

I feel Spencer nod against my shoulder, and he mumbles, "Sure are."

Because of my overwhelming emotions, I almost miss Ezra pulling away. His hand no longer rests on my thigh, and I don't feel him sitting as near as he was. When did he move?Whydid he move?

Lifting my head, I turn to look at the incubus. He's staring at nothing in particular, his eyes unfocused but troubled. His elbows rest on his knees, and his hands are clamped together so tightly that his knuckles turn white.

When he sees me looking, he relaxes his hand and offers me a strained smile. He nods at the others, and, with a voice that doesn't hold much conviction, says, "What they said."

I hear Nix sigh, but I don't question it. My head is swimming, and my headache is only getting worse with the overwhelming emotions and information that feel like they’re drowning me. Zayn understands immediately and says, "What do you need us to do?"

I look down at my lap, thinking about what they could possibly do about the conflicting thoughts racing through my mind. How to make this easier for me. But that's not their job. It's not down to them to make my life easier, to make everything easier for me when I don't want to face difficulties. I've faced plenty in the last few years, so I can deal with this one too.

"I think I just need some time to myself for everything to sink in. To process. It feels like my head is going to implode, so I just need some time to think it all out," I tell them, fidgeting with my fingers without meeting Zayn's gaze. It's not that I want them to leave, but perhaps the space will do well for my muddled brain to sift through all I've learned.

"Of course, Novia. We'll be downstairs if you need us," he tells me. He leans in to give me a kiss on the cheek that has my eyelashes fluttering until they almost close. Ezra leaves immediately without looking back, not bothering with words. Zayn catches me watching the incubus with a frown filled with confusion and hurt. "Don't pay him any mind. He's still going through some things."

I nod, and he gives me a reserved smile before leaving the room. Spence follows but not before dropping a lingering kiss on my forehead. It takes Nix a little longer to untangle himself from around me. When he does, he crouches in front of me and says, "I don't want to leave you on your own, but I know you need it. We're just right down the stairs when you're ready for company again, okay?"

"Okay," I whisper, holding his deep blue eyes with mine.

"Okay," he repeats.

He leans in close and places a brief but sweet kiss on my lips, and then on my nose, before following after the others.

The moment he leaves, I fall back onto the bed with a ragged sigh and rub my hands over my face. Everything I learned today crashes over me like a tidal wave, and so many emotions barrel into me all at once that I'm left more overwhelmed than before.

How do I process any of this? Being a prophesied saviour to all Naturals? Knowing there's a war brewing between Naturals and humans, andI'mthe one who's supposed to prevent it? And then there's the bonding to the guys before they were given a choice in the matter. Despite their reassurances, I can't help but feel guilty. They should have had a say in something so important.

With a frustrated growl, I drop my arm over my face. When I do, I feel something underneath the skin on the inside of my arm where it lies against my cheek. I lift it away from my head slowly, and bring my finger up to rub against the spot. Sure enough, there's a feeling of something solid beneath the skin. When I rub my thumb against it firmly and lift it away, I catch the faintest orange light flashing inside my arm. Realisation dawns on me, and I feel the blood drain from my face.

I think... I think I just found how those assholes managed to track me down.

Chapter 23

Zayn

We allleave Novia's room, giving her the space I know she needs right now. Seeing inside her head even overwhelmed me, so I can only imagine how she's feeling.

Nix is the last to leave her, but when he does, he looks as worn down as the rest of us. As soon as Novia's eyes went completely white, I was checking her mind to make sure she was okay. The only other time I've witnessed her eyes turning white was when she demonstrated her ability to become incorporeal. To say I panicked would be putting it mildly.

As soon as I was inside her mind, watching all she had gone through, learned, and suffered, I sent projections to the others. I wasn't trying to invade her privacy, but once I saw everything for myself, and learned what I did, I thought the best thing for Novia was to inform the others so she didn't have to go through explaining it. It also helped that we knew and understood the situation when she came back, so we could take care of her. Knowing where she's at mentally, so we know what to give her and when to back away to let her breathe.

Like now, for example. It's not to say I like it, and the others seem to agree with me, but it's what she needs. I find that I'll give her anything so long as it helps her.

Nix walks to the couch and throws himself down with a heavy sigh. "Anyone else's heart completely shatter just now?"

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