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“Yeah, because as unfair as it is, walking alone and camping on the side of the road is a hell of a lot safer for a guy than a woman. Let alone if anyone realizes you’re a myst, and a center to boot.

It’s a shitty reality, but it’s the one we live in.

Even if you weren’t a mimic, it’d be risky.

And as terrified and furious as the guys likely are right now, they’d have my head if they found out I put you in danger for their sake. ”

My stomach twists. I know he’s right, but it’s complete bullshit.

This is exactly why I prefer the virtual world; reality sucks.

At least in video games, I have a shot of leveling up and changing my fate.

In the real world, I’m helpless to change anything that really matters in the grand scheme of things.

Actually… if I knew how to use my abilities when adrenaline was crashing through my veins instead of needing to be completely relaxed and concentrate, it would be a game changer. I wouldn’t need to worry about mysts trying to kidnap me; I could just turn their powers back on them.

Mimics might just be the biggest supernatural threat because we hide behind myths and legends. There’s power in the unknown.

Oblivious to the rabbit hole my brain wandered down, Bell says, “Give me two days. With access to my computer again, I should be able to track down one of the guys’ numbers and Arson can meet us outside the barrier and shadow walk us home.

If not, it’ll give me time to come up with a plan to get you home. ”

Hands on my shoulders, he gently pushes me back so he can look me in the eye. “This is literally what I do best; prepare for anything that could go wrong, and find a way to get someone out safely despite the danger. I know you’re anxious to get out of here, but I need you to trust me on this.”

I hate it, but can’t find a single point to refute his logic.

Rushing out of here when I’m still light-headed, don’t know how to reliably use my abilities, and honestly, don’t know how to get home without GPS, would be epically stupid.

Not to mention, the outdoors and I are bitter enemies.

If I had to hike for three days to get back to Mercy Ridge? I’d be lucky to show up in one piece.

As soon as I accidentally use poison ivy as toilet paper, I’d happily play Russian Roulette with forest mushrooms, praying one of them would put me out of my misery.

“Two days,” I reluctantly concede. “But if you can’t reach one of the guys, we take our chances hopping on a bus.”

“There aren’t any buses for a hundred miles, sweetheart.”

“Well then, I guess it’s a good thing I’m not the one planning our escape, isn’t it?”

A knock at the door startles me out of my thoughts.

Bell tucks me behind him, and I narrow my eyes at the back of his head.

For all of his claims that we’re safe here, surrounded by his family and friends, the fact that he automatically stepped into a defensive position between me and the door doesn’t escape my notice.

“If you’re not decent, you have two seconds to cover up,” a raspy feminine voice calls. Two seconds on the dot later, the door opens, an elderly woman striding into the room, cane clacking on the stone floor.

“Grandma, you can’t just waltz into other people’s apartments,” Bellamy chastises, but his shoulders relax.

“I gave you a warning to put your pants on,” she argues, waving him off.

“Besides, not like it’s anything I haven’t seen before.

Do you have any idea how many people fool around in any shadowy corner they can find?

And don’t even get me started on the baths.

If the hot spring flowed any slower, pretty sure half the women in the compound would wind up pregnant taking a dip in that biohazard. ”

“Thanks for that visual,” Bellamy replies, tone flat, while a small smile twitches at the corner of my mouth.

“Well now, she is lovely, isn’t she?” His grandmother eyes me up and down, and I have to remind myself you can’t kick an old lady in the shin for talking about you like you aren’t there, no matter how tempting the idea is.

“I can see why you ran away from home to chase after this one,” she continues, hobbling closer.

As soon as she’s within reach, she swats Bell’s arm.

“You couldn’t leave an old woman a note?

Fates above, you damn near gave me a heart attack, boy.

Remind me to send whoever punched you in the face a fruit basket. ”

Okay, maybe she’s not so bad.

“Sorry, ma’am. I wasn’t thinking clearly when she disappeared and panicked,” he mutters, earning him another swat.

“Well of course you did, she’s stunning! Pretty girls turn even the smartest boys stupid.” She scowls. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to the woman you nearly killed your grandmother for?”

I snort as he rolls his eyes. “Grandma, meet Everest Moore, my mate. Ever, this charming lady without any sense of boundaries is Elder Naomi, my grandmother.”

“Nice to meet you.” I offer a hand.

Grip firmer than I was expecting, she shakes my hand and scoffs.

“Don’t lie to your elders, dear, we’re far too old to deal with bullshit.

From what I heard, Bellamy’s team went rogue and drugged you both.

I can’t imagine waking up in a strange place was comforting, no matter what situation those boys pulled the two of you out of.

It’s okay to be angry; I certainly would be.

Wouldn’t trust me as far as you can throw me either. ”

“Grandma,” Bell hisses, but I tilt my head, studying her a little closer and weighing my words.

He introduced her as an Elder like it was a formal title.

The supernatural world may not have a council lording over the country according to Arson and Ledger, but I imagine a small compound of mysts thought to be extinct live under strict rules to keep their existence a secret.

Without knowing much about this place, it makes sense to play my cards close to the vest. I can either kiss some ass and rub elbows with the people in power to make my life easier until we can get a hold of the guys, or do things the hard way.

Alas, pandering to other people’s egos is the one game I royally suck at.

I’d rather know who my enemies are from the get-go than be caught off guard when they stab me in the back after thinking they were my friend.

“If I want to go home, are you going to stop me?”

Bellamy’s grip on my side tightens, but his grandma throws her head back and cackles. “Oh, I like this one. You really think if you wanted to leave, this old bag of bones could stop you?”

“I think you want people to underestimate you so they’re more likely to show their true colors.

And if they prove to be a threat, you’d show them exactly how dangerous a mimic can be.

Even if you weren’t borrowing someone’s powers to torch my ass, you could snap your fingers and whatever security you have guarding this place would jump to follow your orders without question, I imagine. ”

Hissing at me to back down, Bellamy tries to step between us, but Naomi grins, patting his chest. “I had a feeling the Fates had something good in store for you, but I had no idea how lucky you’d be.

” Passing over a bag hanging from her wrist, she offers it my way.

“Here, change out of those filthy clothes and we’ll get going. ”

Bellamy frowns. “Where?”

Naomi shuffles towards the door. “Now that you’ve finally taken a mate, it’s time you started preparing to take over when I step down.

We need fresh blood at the table, and while you may have been stupid to leave without backup and made us all worry, I can spin this as a heroic act of you being willing to dive into danger head-first to rescue your fated.

People love a good love story, and they respect everything you’ve done for this community.

Hell, a couple hundred of them have you to thank for saving them from shitty situations and giving them a home.

You underestimate how many people here would jump if you needed so much as a tissue, my sweet Bell.

I can’t think of a better person to replace me and continue keeping our family safe. ”

Mouth parted, Bellamy stares after her silently, stunned, as she opens the door.

Glancing over her shoulder, Naomi raises a silver eyebrow.

“Well don’t just stand there. Everyone’s waiting to meet the girl that finally turned Bellamy’s head away from his precious screens.

Pretty sure you’ll have to beat some of them off with a stick, Everest dear, because the whispers have already started that you must be something damn special and wondering how many mates you’re open to. ”

It’s not until the door slams shut behind her that I realize she never actually answered my question.