SWNOVELS Chapter The Cabin
‘Are you ready?’ Skylark squealed at me while I was packing my final stuff into my backpack. I was invited to the Briareve Cabin. It was in the state Millentin, which the Briareves ruled. It was known for its mountains, therefore the famous Briareve cabin aka mansion was located on the biggest one.
I was excited, because I would be there with my two best friends. Even the company of Oak for the weekend didn’t scare me anymore. We were cool these days.
The cabin was a midnight summer dream even though we were in the middle of winter.
Oak just gave me his hardest stare and I scowled back at him. We had left these feelings far behind yet he had the occasional flare up. Ash and Skylark glanced between us with slightly amused looks in their eyes. I was not finding it so funny. Why was Oak such a difficult man anyway? I knew he disapproved of my relationship with his brother. Even though all of us had not yet stated the obvious, that we were way into each other, it still was rather obvious in everything we did. He hated that his twin was interested in a human. It showed in everything he did. Even though we had bonded at that event and that evening in the library, there was still a huge wall in place, especially built for little old me.
I was doing the dished when I sensed his presence behind me. I scowled over my shoulder and scrubbed the plates a little harder. Skylark had went to bed to sext with her new boo thang and Ash had passed out on the couch after dinner.
‘Care to give us a hand?’ I grunted at him. Yet he stayed silent, just watching me do all the work. He was such an asshole.
I placed the plate down a little harder than I would have liked, not wanting to give him the satisfaction.
‘Let’s go outside for a moment. We need to talk, Lux.’
His voice was emotionless.
I dried my hands on a towel and stared him down. It probably was a good idea, so I silently followed him outside. It was cold out, I was in my tank top and sweat pants.
He silently offered me his hoodie again, and I took it while thanking him on the inside.
We sat down by the hot tub, next to the barbecue. The cliffs below us, dark as night and the sky above us the complete opposite. Many stars shone brightly down upon us. I couldn’t help but feel sad for the fact that one of those dots was earth once upon a time. Yet, here I am.
It stayed silent for a few more minutes. We were sitting side by side on the picnic bench. Knees barely touching. Our breaths showing in the cold air.
‘When is this heart to heart happening, because I’m about to freeze to death.’ I word vomited.
The corner of his mouth lifted and dropped again.
‘Well, miss impatient. Let’s just not start this thing out on the wrong foot.’
I snorted. ‘A little too late for that don’t you think?’
‘I shouldn’t have said those things at dinner.’
Was that an apology?
‘No you shouldn’t have Oak.’ I took a deep breath. ‘Ever since we met, you have never given me any chance. At all. Yet your brother and sister have been open and welcoming even before they really knew me. I have no idea what I did to piss you off or why you harbour these ill feelings towards me, but it needs to stop.’ There.
He glanced at his hands. Thinking about his next words.
‘You didn’t piss me of, Lux. I don’t hate you. Our time last week actually showed me a new side to you.’
‘Well thanks for not hating me.’ I sarcastically added. Feeling slightly hurt by that.
‘My brother…’ he paused. ‘He’s always been this rebel. Ever since we were young he made it his mission to piss our dads of. Mom was the pillar of the family, yet our three dads they just always made it more difficult for the two of us than was necessary. Skylark was everyone’s favourite child, so she didn’t really notice much of it.’ He scraped his throat. ‘To add to that predicament, we are royalty in this world and that comes with great responsibilities. Ash always ran away from those.’
I was glued to his lips. ‘Yeah, I’m not really surprised by that.’
‘The three of us need to find our mates Lux. We took an oath. We have obligations. We have a family to protect. If we don’t… it’s over for our Briareves line. More than the other Paramore’s, we are the only ones that took the vow to forever be loyal to the Mating Bond. Ash cannot… he cannot abandon this. Not for…-’
‘For me…’ I added with a thick voice.
’You are not his mate.’
It all became clear to me in that instant. Since I was human I could never mate with anyone of the Rainers officially. The magic imprinted signs would never decorate my arms. There were no Rainers destined by the stars for me. I was plain. I was human. I could marry a Rainer if I wanted to, I could date one, I could fuck one….but I could never marry one. I could never marry Ash, I could never truly have him.
I swallowed.
’He will never look for her, them…if you are his romantic interest. I’ve noticed this from the very start. Since his eye has wandered your way. He has not hooked up with other women like he used too. He hasn’t even looked at anyone. Please forgive me Lux for what I’m about to say next but I’m not sure he is so into you because of you or because of the fact you are exactly what he wanted all along. A big fuck you to the system, to the oath and to our dads.’
My heart clenched. Because I knew he was right.
‘I am sorry though, about the way I’ve treated you this last year. You are a good person. Obnoxious yes, a little stubborn and pig-headed, slightly aloof,-’
I hit his arm. ‘I get it you asshole!’
He laughed and put his arm around my shoulders and cuddled me close.
‘Just, let him go a little, Lux. He needs to find his mates and right now he hasn’t got his eye on anyone else. He won’t. As long as you are so close to him.’ He gently rubbed my back and I had to blink back tears.
‘I really thought you hated me.’
‘I never could, you are too cute for that.’