Page 10

Chapter Ten

Juno

I was the worst mate ever.

Nix and I had decided the best action would be for us to act like yesterday never happened, for me to go out with Remi and then kiss him like humans did after a date. I’d gotten the others from our team to help me out and they’d seen movies and read books on dating, so I would have more to go on. I’d let Remi fall into a deep sleep, then carried him back to his room with Nix, erasing his roommate’s memory of us bringing him back, and then returned to our own room.

This morning, I had the pleasure of yet another call from the rulers, stating that I wasn’t allowed to kiss Remi until he knew where I was from. Why? Because they suddenly realized he might get magic once we mated, and it could happen when we kissed. So, that was fun.

Then I attended classes and made plans with Nix on how to act around Remi, pretending today was our date and hoping he was confused enough to believe it. I hadn’t expected his emotions, though. Those had to be a lot to deal with, and even worse, he’d run away from me. Again . I wasn’t faring any better, my own emotions warring with me, begging me to kiss him. To hold him. I simply knew why and that was the only way to sort of deal with it. Getting Remi somewhere private was crucial. There was just the tiny issue of where he was hiding.

An hour later, I was truly desperate. Remi was nowhere to be found. I’d checked all the bathrooms, the cafeteria, his dorm, outside. He was gone and I was losing it. Calling Nix was the only solution.

“Hey,” he greeted immediately.

Ignoring his greeting I said, “I can’t find him, can you?”

He was silent, but I knew it meant his magic was doing its job. “I tracked his phone to the library.”

“Thank you!” I said, ending the call, all but running towards the library. It was after lunch, meaning a lot of students were heading in the same direction as me, but that didn’t stop me from using my magic to slow their pace without them noticing. When I reached the doors, I calmed immensely, just the sheer relief of being near Remi was enough for my body to calm itself. I hoped he could feel the same, knowing I was coming. I ignored the part where he ran from me, since that hadn’t been about me, or I hoped it hadn’t. He’d asked if I’d been intimate with our professor. It truly made no sense to me, why he would even ask me that. Was that normal here? It seemed highly unprofessional.

When the main floor was cleared, and no Remi was found, I made my way to the second floor. No Remi there either. The next floor had a whole different feel to it, there was a peacefulness and just… quiet. A library should be somewhat quiet, but this was soothingly quiet.

Not wanting to disturb the ambiance, I walked silently around the floor until I spotted him. He was so beautiful. His dark brown hair mussed; his green eyes vibrant as he scribbled down notes in a journal. I sat down in the chair opposite him and waited for him to notice me. It didn’t take long. A sharp intake and then his gaze landed on mine, his eyes wide and gorgeous and his mouth open in shock.

“Hi, beautiful,” I greeted him carefully.

“Hi,” he whispered, not taking his eyes off mine.

“Are we still on for our date tonight?” I asked, trying to move on from whatever had happened an hour ago.

He sighed and closed his journal. “I’m not stupid, Juno. Please don’t lie to me.”

I sat up a little straighter. “It was never my intention to lie to you,” I admitted, not really knowing which lie he was referring to.

“I remember everything from yesterday. Don’t try to act like it never happened, or I’m leaving again.” The fierce look he gave me was so hot, I found myself smiling at him, too enamored to do anything else. “Juno?”

Oh, right. “How much do you remember?”

“Your call with your father and the other people, the part where you spoke about us being mates and you being from another world, or I guess that’s what the portal talk meant. Then the kidnapping, which I have to thank you for shutting down, since that wouldn’t have been pleasant for me.”

I gaped at him. He was taking this way too well. “How are you not freaking out right now?” I demanded. “Do you truly believe everything you heard?”

“I didn’t believe it at first, but how else would I fall asleep? I wasn’t even tired. And it makes sense that we’re mates. I haven’t felt this way about anyone before. Then they mentioned emotions and feelings being heightened and I definitely feel that. So, believing it was easy. I had plenty of proof.”

He was so amazing. A little crazy, maybe. But mostly amazing. “You do realize this is our first true conversation, right?” I asked, knowing we still needed to get to know one another, especially before visiting my dad. This was also a way to make him realize he was taking this awfully well, considering we were mostly strangers still. This was normal to me, not him. He should’ve been freaking out or maybe he was right and his body told him we belonged together. If he had magic, which he should have to mate with me, then he would feel the pull.

He smiled. “We’ve had plenty of conversations, they were just short ones. And I knew I wanted you as soon as I saw you, I just had a girlfriend at the time and got scared.” He shrugged, still a little embarrassed about that, I thought.

I thought I would be the one to hunt him down and get him to love me, but he seemed just as determined to be my mate as I was for him to be mine. It was a huge relief, knowing he was mad because I lied, not because of whatever he’d yelled about, and not because he was afraid. He definitely took everything better than expected.

“What does girlfriend mean? Is it a friend who’s a girl? We just use the word friend where I’m from, regardless of gender,” I smiled back, pleased to finally have a real conversation, without yelling, crying, or him running away.

“Oh, no. It means I dated her, romantically,” Remi explained, putting his journal back in his backpack.

“What?” I squeaked. He’d been romantic with someone else? Why?

He tilted his head. “I had a girlfriend. Is it only same sex couples where you’re from?” he questioned, looking interested in my world.

“We’re only with our mates,” I explained, still confused and honestly, kind of hurt. “We aren’t attracted to anyone else, only our mates.”

“That explains so much,” Remi said, sighing as he slumped back in his chair. “I thought maybe I was ace or something. Even when I was with Hayley, I wasn’t interested in being intimate, hugging and cuddling sure, but anything else wasn’t something I needed or wanted. To be honest, I wasn’t even that big of a cuddler.”

“I have to admit that hearing that you’ve been with someone else is eating me alive,” I said, hugging my stomach. I could puke just thinking about Remi with someone else.

His eyes widened and he stood in a rush to kneel at my side. “I’m so sorry, Juno! I had no idea I was yours at the time.”

“And now? Do you truly trust it or?” I asked, fearing he was messing with me somehow.

“I do, which is strange, I’ll admit that. But it made sense when I saw you, like I was alive for the first time or something. I have to trust my heart, and it wants you. That has to mean something.”

I smiled. How could I not? My mate spoke about trusting his heart and that it wanted me. That was so romantic. “Normally when mates meet, they mate the same day, then get to know one another after,” I told him, laughing when he gaped at me.

“Seriously?”

“Yes. Why wait? They are meant to be. And often the rush of attraction makes it harder to control the new urges and wants.” I was still struggling with that, but I refused to rush Remi. He was already taking this better than most would’ve. Mating could wait until he was truly ready. We just needed some cuddles to get by.

“Sure, I can see that part,” he admitted, looking at my body like he, too, was feeling the pull. I slowly reached out and grabbed his chin, forcing his eyes to meet mine.

“I really want to kiss you,” I whispered, seeing his eyes turn dark as he nodded eagerly. I didn’t even care about the warning from the rulers, I wasn’t waiting another second. Remi’s lips were too perfect to resist any longer. I leaned forward, closing my eyes as I pressed my lips to his, softly, then firmer as he melted into it. Letting our need for one another take over, we deepened the kiss, adding our tongues, feeling the rush of finally kissing someone you desired. Your mate.

“Juno,” Remi whispered against my lips.

“Remi?” I answered, not moving away but also not kissing him.

“I feel weird.” That was all he said before his eyes rolled back and he slumped in front of me.

He fainted. Fuck!

I quickly called Nix. “Remi fainted after kissing me. We need to head back to the portal, can you help?”

“Library?” he asked.

“Top floor.”

“On my way.”

We hung up and I called my dad. “Hi Dad,” I quickly said, interrupting whatever greeting he was going for. “I kissed Remi, and he fainted. We’re heading to the portal.”

He didn’t waste any time and quickly replied in a calm but firm tone, “We’ll be ready for your return. Call the others and ask if anyone can help. It will take a lot of magic getting him out there without people seeing.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I replied, ending the call, grateful that he didn’t ask any questions.

I called the team, and all but Sid answered and after explaining the situation it became clear only Nolen would be able to help, the others being too far away to do anything. Nolen had a car and could drive it, so we planned for me and Nix to get Remi to his dorm, pack a bag, and then Nolen would meet us there, helping with the glamour.

Nix reached us, panting as he stopped next to where Remi was on the floor. His timing was perfect. He’d likely sprinted over here, being the amazing friend he was.

“Nolen is helping us,” I informed him while he caught his breath. “He’s bringing a car and will meet us at Remi’s dorm.”

“Great,” Nix wheezed. “Never running again,” he complained, his hands resting on his thighs.

“We need to move around invisible, but also without bumping into anyone,” I explained, kneeling beside Remi, ready to pick him up.

“I know. Just like yesterday, I haven’t forgotten,” Nix huffed, amused that it was only twenty-four hours since last time we had to carry Remi around. “You couldn’t have picked a shorter mate?”

“Whoever picks our mates chose perfectly for me,” I informed my best friend with a smirk.

He just smiled back and got ready to lift Remi with me.

Just like yesterday.

Derek was staring at us as we picked random things to add to Remi’s bag. He was still out cold, but thankfully alive. We figured Derek could help us out with what to pack and then after, we would deal with his memory. It wasn’t something we liked doing, but it was needed in this situation.

“So, you’re his mate?” Derek questioned while I packed some of Remi’s socks.

“Yes,” I replied, not caring what we told Derek since his memory would be erased soon anyway.

“Cool,” he muttered looking at Remi with concern. “Why do the three of you smell the same?” That had both Nix and I stopping our random packing.

“What?” Nix asked, clearly just as confused as me.

Derek pointed to us. “You all have this smell that’s super comforting to me. Right now I feel so safe. Like I’m home somehow, and I technically am, since I live here, but like home home. You know?”

“No,” Nix and I replied at the same time which had Derek slumping in defeat.

“Whatever,” he muttered, trying to ignore our presence and resumed his work.

Three knocks on the door alerted us to Nolen’s arrival. I swiftly opened and ushered him in. Nolen was a tall, bulky guy, a real bear. I was glad he was helping us carry Remi, especially since the portal was an hour away, deep into the forest.

A soft gasp came from where Derek was sitting, causing all our attention to shift to him. Nolen took in a startled breath, then in two determined strides kneeled in front of Derek.

“Who—?” Derek began but was interrupted by Nolen.

“Mate,” Nolen stated.

“Fuck,” Nix muttered. “Horrible timing, man.”

“Please, Nolen,” I begged. “You can return to Derek as soon as we’re back home.”

Nolen seemed to remember my poor mate was unconscious and nodded as he stood. He looked back at Derek, “Please stay here. I’ll be back in three hours.” Derek nodded, his eyes wide and vibrant. Nolen walked over to Remi, but then seemed to think something over. He quickly removed his shirt and handed it to Derek without a word. Derek took it and held it close like it was the most important thing to him.

Nix and I ignored whatever was happening, and with Nolen back on task, we carried Remi out to the car while invisible. We drove in silence to the forest, which was a ten-minute drive, then carried Remi all the way to the portal. It was only visible for those with magic. I feared Remi wouldn’t be able to pass, but the others had assured me he would be fine.

I had to trust our rulers and they’d told me to bring him back home. I let that thought calm my nerves as we waved goodbye to Nolen when we reached the portal. I needed to remember to thank Nix for coming with me. He didn’t like leaving our new world either, but he did it for me, which meant a lot.

Nolen rushed out of there and I completely understood him. He was shirtless and had just found and left his mate. I would need to thank him, too.

“Do you think your mate is from here too?” I asked Nix just before we entered the portal.

“Yeah, I think so,” he replied.

And then we were back home.