Page 8

Chapter

Eight

“Brunch is ready,” Branson said, waking me from where I had passed out on the couch after we got home last night, or more accurately, early this morning.

“Five more minutes,” I mumbled.

“It’s two o’clock in the afternoon,” he said with a chuckle. “You need to get up and rehydrate to help with your hangover.”

“Aren’t shapeshifters supposed to not get hangovers?” I asked as I sat up and immediately gripped my head as it throbbed.

“You’re dehydrated, Lily. Drink this.” He held out a glass of yellowish water, which meant it had an electrolyte mix in it.

I downed it in two gulps, almost immediately feeling better. “Thanks.”

“Some greasy food will help, too,” he said and pointed towards the table where Mom, Caleb, and Riddick were eating.

Stumbling over, I took a seat between Riddick and Mom, mumbling, “Morning,” to them as I sat.

“We were just going over the list of those who requested to court you,” Riddick said.

Groaning, I picked up a breakfast taco. “It’s too early for this.”

“That alpha you went to college with was very adamant we consider him,” Mom said and rested her chin on her joined hands, elbows atop the table. “Something happen at college we need to do know about?”

I scoffed. “Definitely nothing happened. He’s a playboy and doesn’t realize I can scent his lies.”

Caleb’s eyes widened. “You can what?”

I flinched, remembering that I hadn’t told them about that power or some of my newer powers. “Um, yeah, I can tell when people lie.”

“When did that start?” Mom asked.

“Um, when I was fourteen, I think?”

“What?” Caleb, Riddick, and Branson shouted.

My hands flew up to my ears to cover them. “So loud.”

“Prove it,” Riddick said.

Sighing, I took a huge bite of food and waved my hand at him. “Say two things that are true and one that’s a lie. Things I wouldn’t know.”

He thought a moment and said, “I’ve seen Caleb cry. I stole a bottle of alcohol from a store. I have never eaten a peach.”

My eyes widened. “How have you never eaten a peach?”

“What was the lie?” he asked instead of answering.

“The bottle of alcohol,” I answered. “Now, why haven’t you eaten a peach?”

“The fuzzy outside grosses me out,” he answered.

“What other powers haven’t you told us about?” Caleb asked, eyes narrowed.

Looking down at my plate, I pushed the eggs that had fallen out of my taco around. “Well, um, I can sense lies, see auras most of the time though it is finnicky, and some other powers that just happen randomly.”

“Like?” Mom prompted.

“Telepathy, telekinesis, and … premonitions.” There were a couple others, but I kept those to myself.

“Premonitions? You see the future?” Mom asked.

“Sometimes.”

“How far in advance?” Caleb asked.

“It varies.” I shrugged. “Minutes. Hours.” In a whisper I added, “A year.”

“Run that back again,” Branson said. “A year?”

Sighing, I admitted, “I dreamed about that man attacking me last year.”

“That’s why you didn’t freak out,” Mom realized.

“You knew you wouldn’t get hurt,” Caleb said.

“I knew he would scratch me and that Mason and Kayden would come out and scare him away,” I admitted. “I thought it was just a dream until last night.”

They all looked at each other silently, giving me time to eat. Finished with my food, I stood, carried the plate to the sink, and said, “I’m going to shower.”

“We aren’t done talking about this,” Mom called out.

“Let’s table the discussion for now,” I called back as I climbed up the stairs.

I paused inside of my door, seeing a black velvet box and a black envelope on my bed. Kayden had said he’d put a gift on my bed last night. Walking in slowly, I opened the envelope and pulled out the card, snorting at the cartoon snake wearing a party hat. Brats. Opening the card, I blinked at the handwritten note that said:

“ Prince Trey of the Dragons, Mason of the Hybrids, and Kayden of the Hybrids officially request to court Princess Liliana of the Hybrids. Please accept this first of many courting gifts. ”

So, their comments last night had just been confirmation that their plan was correct? Setting the card down, I opened the box, gasping at the gorgeous necklace inside that had a strange power radiating from it.

“So pretty,” I whispered and stroked a finger down the bright gem. A warm feeling spread through me as I touched it. Setting it down, I went to shower and change before I returned to it, put it on, and looked in the mirror.

“I knew you would like it,” Kayden said from my windowsill.

Screaming, I turned, realized who it was, and hissed at him.

He sat down on the windowsill, one leg bent, and rested his arm atop the knee with a smirk. “You need to be more aware of your surroundings.”

“Kayden! Stop using the damn window!” Mom yelled from downstairs.

His eyes widened and he dropped his leg. “She knew?” he whispered.

“She’s known since we were kids, apparently.” I rolled my eyes. “Why didn’t you use the front door anyway? You know everyone’s home.”

“I was hoping to scare you,” he admitted with a wide, mischievous smile that reminded me of the boy I used to know.

“Come on, let’s go downstairs before my dads come up here and throw a fit,” I said as I pulled open my door.

He grabbed my hand, stopping me, and asked, “Are you busy today?”

“I was asked out on a date today, actually,” I said.

He growled. “By who? That dragon douche?”

“No,” I said, but didn’t say who it was.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” he asked, still growling softly.

Pulling my hand free from his grasp, I walked down the stairs and he followed. “I don’t think I have any plans. Why?”

“Would you go?—”

Someone knocked on the front door twice before pushing it open and stepping inside.

Mason and Kayden tensed as their eyes connected.

“Let’s go over the courting request list,” Mom said as she walked in, but froze when she saw Mason and Kayden. “Oh, uh, hi, boys.”

“List?” Mason asked. “As in more than us?” He walked over and peered over her shoulder at the list, eyes widening when he saw it.

He tried to take it, but she spun away and pulled the list out of his reach.

“Bad!” she snapped at him and shook her finger like he was still a child as he tried to grab it yet again. He forced her to move around the couch, out of his reach, but continued to follow her, eyes focused on the paper.

“You should just burn that list,” Kayden said and folded his arms over his chest.

Mason nodded his agreement.

Branson walked in and glared at Mason. “Why are you stalking my mate?”

“I want that list,” Mason said and pointed.

“What are you going to do with it?” Branson asked and arched a brow.

“Convince them they don’t want to go down this path,” Mason said. “That their life will be much better if they stay away from Lily.”

“Are you saying being with me is a curse?” I asked with a scowl and put my hands on my hips.

“Of course not,” he said and tried to go around Branson, but Branson put his arm out and growled at him.

Mom sat down on the couch and I walked over to sit beside her, leaning my chin on her shoulder while looking at the list, I gasped at the names there. “Did you add some names on your own?”

She shook her head. “They all came up to me last night.”

“Liar,” I accused even though I knew she wasn’t.

She just looked at me with a knowing expression.

I pointed at a name on the list. “Him?”

“Who?” Kayden asked, coming to stand behind the couch.

“Prince Liam of the Elves,” Mom answered and smirked when I turned and glared at her.

Kayden’s eyes widened. “I didn’t realize you were friends with him.”

“I’m not,” I replied.

“She can be courted by those she hasn’t even met before. She doesn’t need to know them yet. That’s the point of courting. To get to know each other and see if you’re a good fit,” Mom answered. “Her list would be far too short if it was just people she’d been friends with previously.”

Mason growled. “She’s wearing our gift.”

Mom’s eyes dipped to the necklace and I reached up to touch it.

“A courting gift?” she asked.

“Yes,” Mason and Kayden said simultaneously.

“Apparently I don’t get a birthday gift,” I said and sighed dramatically. “I feel a bit unappreciated and unloved. My childhood friends didn’t get me a birthday gift, but stole my first dances.”

“Oh, you do have some gifts in the car,” Mom said and perked up. Looking over her shoulder at Riddick and Caleb at the dining table, she asked, “Can you go bring them in, please?”

They got up and Branson, after pointing at Mason with a glare to behave, went out to help as well.

“Are you really thinking about letting others court you?” Kayden asked, and sat on the couch opposite us.

“You don’t get to return after being away from her for years and demand she only courts you,” Mom said sternly.

“We made a promise,” Mason said as he sat by Kayden.

“Your childhood mating promise?” Mom asked with a scowl as she looked between us.

“You knew about that?” I asked, my mouth hanging open.

“Yes. You came home and told me about it,” she said with a soft laugh. “Made me promise not to tell your dads.”

“What did you promise not to tell us?” Caleb asked as he reentered carrying tons of bags in his hands. “I thought we told each other everything.”

“Let’s not talk about this anymore,” Mason said. “I came to pick Lily up. She agreed to go with me today.”

“I don’t care about your promise. She deserves to be courted, to find the mate, or mates, who will treat her well and love her the best. So, I’m vetoing your promise as it is not legally binding since you were all children,” Mom said sternly.

They frowned, but stayed quiet.

“I want to open my gifts before I leave,” I told Mason. “You didn’t tell me what time you were coming, so I’m not ready to go anywhere, and you didn’t tell me where we’re going, so I don’t know what to wear.”

“What you’re wearing is fine,” he said. “It really doesn’t matter what you wear.”

They set all the bags and boxes on the table in front of me and I grabbed the nearest one, reading the card before I opened the gift.

Kayden picked one up and snarled.

Assuming it was from Luca, I grabbed it from him before he broke it or something, and opened it. A pair of beautiful ruby earrings that matched my eyes when I was in snake form, dangled in a small box. There was also an envelope with a hotel key inside to one of the nicest hotels in the city.

“Whoa, that’s … bold,” Mom said with a soft laugh.

Sighing, I shook my head. “I am honestly not surprised.”

“Can I cross him off your courting list?” she asked.

“Yes,” all of my dads present said at the same time as Mason and Kayden.

“Do you want me to set up the dates?” Mom asked, ignoring them all. “Are there any you want to mark off?”

“Yes,” I said and pointed at three names. “They have made periodic anti-hybrid comments. I think their parents put them up to asking to court me.”

She scribbled their names out aggressively.

“I haven’t heard anything good about this guy,” Branson said and pointed at a name on the list. “He’s an aggressive werewolf with bad views about women.”

Mom scribbled his name off just as aggressively as the others.

“Not him either,” Riddick said, pointing at a name I didn’t recognize. “He’s an asshole.”

“He’s gay,” Caleb said and pointed at one of the names. “I’m pretty sure his grandpa made him submit his name.”

“Let’s set up a date with him,” I said as I picked up the next gift to open. “That way his grandpa won’t have any reason to be upset with him.”

Mom nodded. “He’ll be my first call.”

“Who’s your second call?” Caleb asked.

“Prince Liam,” she answered immediately.

“This is all pointless,” Kayden growled.

“Scared of a little competition?” Caleb asked with a smirk.

I loved my adoptive dad a lot, but it was times like this that I absolutely adored him and his confidence.

Kayden scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Those males couldn’t last a second with us.”

He shrugged. “Prove it then. Win her heart by courting her. You think your promise is all that matters, but what matters is that she finds mates who genuinely care about and love her and are capable of providing her the life she deserves. We know you can protect her physically, but can you win her heart again, and prove you can protect it?”

Mason and Kayden were quiet after that, watching as I opened more gifts. After about five minutes, Mason stood and asked, “Can you be ready in thirty minutes to go on a shopping trip with me?”

A shopping trip? He hated shopping.

“Sure,” I agreed with a nod.

He nodded back and walked out of the house.

Kayden frowned at the door then looked at Mom and I. “Are you available tomorrow evening to go on a date?”

“What time?” Mom asked.

“Six?” he asked back.

She pulled out a small calendar book from a bag on the floor and wrote in it as she nodded. “Done.”

He bowed to me. “See you tomorrow, Princess.”

When the door shut behind him, Caleb said, “Things are about to get interesting around here! Finally!”

“I’ll make the calls, get stuff scheduled, and put this calendar on your desk in your room, okay?” Mom said.

Laughing, I asked, “You purchased that calendar just for this, didn’t you?”

“I already had it,” she admitted, “and it seemed like the perfect reason to use it.”

I laughed, stood, and asked, “Can you help me carry this stuff up to my room? I want to change before Mason comes back.”

“Make them fight for you,” Caleb said and set his hand on my shoulder. “I know you guys have a history, but I meant what I said. You deserve to be wined and dined like every other woman.”

Hopping up, I kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Dad.”

Loading our hands and arms up, we all carried the gifts up the stairs and to my room, spreading them out on the floor. I opened all the envelopes, knowing those would have cash and gift cards, and put them inside of my purse.

Hurrying, I changed into a nicer shirt, brushed out my hair, and put some makeup on. Just as I finished, I heard the front door open.

Rushing downstairs with my purse on my shoulder and my shoes in my hands, I smiled at Mason. “I’m ready!”

He looked at my shoes and said, “Almost.”

I hopped on one foot as I put one shoe on and then the other. “Okay, now I’m ready.”

“Have fun!” Mom yelled from the kitchen.

“Remember, I know where you live!” Caleb yelled as we walked out.

“That’s probably the scariest threat I’ve ever received,” Mason mumbled.