Figment of Dreams

Lux

It turns out all it took to snap out of the Raina curse was indeed to get under someone else. Ash had done the trick. We had some very intense make-up sex last night and I had woken up this morning without any vivid urges to go and climb Oak like a tree.

'Spill it out,' Ash said with his hoarse morning voice while treading his fingers through my hair. I was lying on his naked chest, plucking absently at his dark chest hairs.

'You shouldn't have to give up so much by being with me, Ash." I whispered. 'Oak told me what you did. He also told me what you can't do any more by being with me.'

Ash growled.

'That motherfucker never minds his own business!'

I sat up straighter to scowl at him.

'He cares for you and that's why he told me. I also care. If you didn't know.'

He snorted.

I rolled my eyes.

'Are you still Raina?'

'No, I'm not Ash.'

'Then why are you defending him? Defending this!'

I reached for my phone to check the time and buy a few more seconds. I noticed I had a couple of Sebastian texts and I felt a pang of sadness I had ignored him for this last week.

'I will never be the one to hold you back from anything. I can't live with that.' I honestly said. I put my phone down and glanced at him again. 'You are meant for great things and you cannot denounce your Paramore titles, Ash. You cannot do that for me.'

'I love you, sweet cheeks.' Ash said. 'I love you most of all people, most of all things. There is no title out there I would ever give you up for.'

That was so sweet I felt my chest swell, my eyes water and my toes curl.

I reached for his hand and squeezed. Emotions took my voice.

'We did make some progress in finding out who shot you.' He said, breaking the loaded silence because he too was feeling emotions, and as always he hated showing me his tears.

'And? What is the verdict?'

'Dean still has some contacts at the Razz Moros and they think my feud with Dornatill had something to do with you being shot. The shooter is a guy named Colin. Supposedly a cousin of the dude I put in the hospital.'

Holy shit. That feud ran deep.

'Enough to kill me? That's some crazy hatred they carry.'

'We are still searching for Colin and I have told Dean this too. If I find him first they will be searching for Colin for ages to come.'

'Ash!' I slapped his chest hard. 'Don't say those things! You will turn him in and let the Razz Morros deal with his ass!'

By the look in his gaze, I saw he wasn't budging. He would kill him. Painfully. I decided to drop the subject. I jumped out of his bed and went to his dresser to pick up some fresh clothes and have a shower. I noticed his eyes following me around the room. I was naked after all.

'Can I ask you what happened between Oak and Raina?' I closed the cabin and showed him one of his black shirts in a question. He nodded at me to take it and opened his mouth to reply.

I interrupted. 'Unless you don't want to tell me. I understand if it's something private but those emotions I felt...weren't normal.'

Ash rose too, he was only wearing his tight-fitting black boxer shorts. He walked my way and kissed the top of my head.

'Raina and Oak had been together for years. I think seven years to be exact. They have waited and waited on the mating mark to appear, yet it never did.' Ash searched around his drawers too, for a new shirt. I stepped aside to give him better access.

'Until one day, Raina and Oak started teaching at Rivellin College together. Raina met a professor named Morgan, and somehow they marked without ever having sex.'

I gasped. 'What? How is that possible?'

'Morgan was a rare one. Also half-fae like your friend Olive. I think it is a half-fae thing. He is actually the center of the bond, the Tika, for two females. He was mated and engaged to another girl and to Raina once upon a time.'

'And Raina died?' I sighed, feeling sorry for everyone involved.

'Yes, Raina died on the same day Yenn died in that forest ambush-' I still saw pain go through his gaze and I couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous of a dead girl. I mentally slapped myself, because that was all kinds of fucked up.

'Raina... killed herself.' Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Findɴovel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

'What?' I gasped again, my hand flying to my mouth.

'Raina couldn't handle Oak not being her mate and one day she decided to end it all. It broke my brother. He has never been complete since that day Raina left.'

Poor Oak. That must have been so difficult. It made me understand his cold act a little bit better. He was in pain. He was in pain still... and it would probably never truly fade.