Page 11 of Truth
“You and your vampires. . .” he paused, his eyes falling on me and holding for a moment, “and our wolf sleep. There is a wash basin behind that door. I have supplies to gather for our journey.” He leaned forward, giving Libby an awkward kiss on her forehead before turning on his heals and leaving.
“Are we just going to sleep?” I asked, when the door clicked closed behind us.
“What else are we going to do?” Ellis asked.
“I don’t know. But you seem to trust him enough to sleep under his roof. When I joined you all, you slept with a knife under your pillow.”
“We still do.” Ellis informed me. “But he’s shown no signs of a threat, and even if he had, he could harm some of us, but that mate bond prevents him from harming Liberty.”
“You trust him over me?” I was offended. Appalled that they would trust this stranger over me, after I fought next to them.
“Absolutely.” Sterling chimed in, and what could I say? Nothing, really. So I just glared my displeasure.
Liberty laid down blankets on the floor before disappearing into the washroom. When she emerged, the mud was no longer caked onto her face. “I’m tired. I know you all are too. Rest will do us good.”
She flicked open her jeans and lowered them to the floor, before pulling off her sweatshirt and t-shirt, leaving her only in a tank top and undergarments. She plopped down into the nest of blankets and pillows and snuggled in. Her vampires all filed into the washroom, not caring that the space was small. When they emerged, they all circled around her and it left me wondering where I fit into this.
She needs each one of them. It’s apparent. Even now, when she is half asleep, she reaches for the scarred one, Sterling, offering him comfort to lull him into slumber. If she’s scared and needs protecting, she latches onto Oak, squeezing his hand like that alone will keep him to her. And Ellis is the one she goes to for basic conversation, to explore theories and talk about the world. When she’s overwhelmed and needs calm, she seeks him out and just a glance steadies her heartbeat. But what about me? Where do I fit?
I don’t ground her. I don’t calm her. I don’t lull her into sleep. I’m a fifth wheel, if there was such a thing, and I hated this feeling. I hated the jealousy that overcame me whenever I saw her happiness with the others. I hated that it wasn’t me bringing the smiles to her face almost as much as I hated the fact that her mere existence displeased me. I felt ownership over her, after all, she wore my mark. But it’s them she chooses.
I was the last to visit the washroom. The silence of the others as they lulled off to sleep made my feelings of solitude that much more apparent. I washed slowly, knowing there was no rush when my girl wasn’t exactly anticipating me or cared when I would get to bed. The water was cool against my skin; the mud caked on thick in spots, causing me to nearly scrub my skin raw. It was worth it though, nearly therapeutic to feel the bite of pain as the sand and grit scrapped against my skin. When I was finished, I donned on a clean pair of pants and opted to go shirtless.
When I entered the room, everyone was asleep. Each vampire made sure they touched her in some way as she used Sterling as her pillow. I tried not to growl. Tried to remember that she was theirs before she belonged to me, and that it would take time before she wanted me. The reminder didn’t make it easier. The battle between want and rejection waned within me. Wanting me to be a part of them, but feeling disgruntled at my lack of choice for mates.
Above Liberty’s head, there was an empty spot, and I had to maneuver over body parts and squeeze through tight spaces to get there. But what choice did I have? The room was small and no matter which direction I looked, there was no free space large enough to fit me. When I reached the spot, I fell to my knees, trying to work out in my head the best way to lie without kicking accidentally, or possibly intentionally, one of the vampires. I needed to remove myself from that temptation before it got me in a feud from which I wouldn’t be able to avoid. I laid on my back, with my upper body toward my mate and my lower body as close to the wall as I could get it.
I closed my eyes, letting the steady thrums of heartbeats soothe me, along with the methodical movements of Lenin in the next room over. Lenin. Now there was a situation I couldn’t even begin to let myself think about, or I may never sleep. My breathing leveled out as I drifted, my mind fighting between overthinking and the need to just be blank. I surrendered, letting my exhaustion take over and pull me toward sleep. But right before it fully overtook me, I felt the pull of Liberty’s hand on mine, as she sought me out and pressed our palms together, intertwining our fingers as I drifted off.
Chapter 7
ELLIS
I have to admit,having Justice and Lenin join our group hasn’t been the worst thing that has happened to us. In fact, I feel like it gives my humor other targets besides Sterling. Although Sterling is still in my line of vision. He just makes it so easy.
I cleared my throat, “Hey, Lenin.”
The big guy walking in the back of our group answered, “What is it?”
“I have to ask, for Justice.” I smirked, knowing full well I was just trying to ruffle his feathers, “How big are you?”
“I am six foot seven.”
I saw Liberty fan her face at that information. Whatever. That doesn’t mean he knows what to do. “I meant, in bed. How big are you?”
Sterling literally spit out the water he had just been sipping, spraying everyone near him. Beside him, Oak smirked, and Liberty, well, she wasn’t saying anything to detour the conversation. Hell, I expect her to at least punch my arm or elbow me for jesting the dude. Justice however, looked like he was two seconds from tearing into my throat. Too bad for him, our girl stood between us.
“Still six foot seven. I measure the same laying horizontally as I do vertically.”Oak’s shoulders began to shake with silent laughter, slight gasping sounds was all I heard. Sterling wasn’t so composed. He was choking, wheezing, desperate for air as he laughed. When he finally was able to breathe, he said, “I don’t think that’s what he was referring to.”
“What do you mean? Where you not asking my height?” Lenin asked, causing another burst of laughter, this time even Justice chimed in.
Liberty stopped, pointing a finger at each and every one of us, “You all need to stop. Leave him alone.”
“I do not understand.” Lenin was looking at Liberty like a helpless confused puppy, waiting for guidance.
Liberty glared at me, “I hope you’re happy with yourself.”
I grinned so damn hard I felt like my face would break, “Completely.”