Eir's POV
"She's fine! Just stop! Just do not touch her!"
A dark voice hovered over me and pierced through the sludgy darkness surrounding me. He almost sounded angry, letting his low-key growl follow beneath each word he uttered,
"Show respect! I am the Luna here, and it is my duty to make sure she is safe!"
A screeching voice scraped inside my mind like claws dragged over a chalkboard, making my skin crawl even in this state, swaddled in the soft darkness.
"I said, do not touch her!"
His voice rumbled through my entire body, and a warmth spread across my cheeks when I realized how much I enjoyed the feeling that sound made cursing through my body. Not like I first expected, like the embarrassing warmth that struck my core, but it filled me with energy and almost a sense of joy. It was bizarre, like I watched a gift getting unwrapped, I knew exactly what it was, knew it was exactly what I wanted, but still every fiber in my body tensed and waited for the ultimate moment.
The rest of the conversation faded away, like muffled mumbling and sounds of moving feet shuffling lazily over hard wooden floors almost like everything around me prepared to lift me out of this fogy state in a calm and safe environment. I felt no rush, I took my time taking deep breaths and actually just enjoying the soft and nice feeling.
"You can stop pretending and wake up now."
I frowned and made a grimace as I opened my eyes and looked directly at Seb.
"I didn't pretend,"
"No, of course not. But instead of getting up, you kept your eyes closed and avoided the drama."
"Not true! I woke up to the drama! What was the drama anyway?"
"You, you were the drama."
He laughed a little before he continued,
"No, you fainting sure started the drama, but that woman made sure to add fuel to the fire. Keeping the drama alive, and about her. I don't like her..."
"Sorry,"
I muttered while trying to think back, realizing there was no reason for me to faint at all. It just looked like a bad soap opera in my head, fainting at the mere sight of my estranged father's new lover. But she wasn't really just that was she, well, I can't prove that.
"I think she did something."
My attention snapped back up to Seb with a frown, did he just hear my thoughts or what?
"Yeah, she appeared. I also think she is the one that tricked, or should I say helped my mother escape when there really was no reason for it."
"Hah, interesting. Well, that might be true, but it is not what I meant."
He grabbed my chin, turning my head slowly from one side to the other looking down at me. I cleared my throat and tried to swat him away when he leaned down and sniffed my hair, looking everywhere else but at him,
"I am fine! Just fighting my fainting addiction, I guess. Help me up instead of inhaling my hair will you!"
That frown was still etched on his face when he grabbed my arms and helped me up, keeping me steady while my feet tried to remember how they worked.
"You smell like magic."
"Oh, thanks! I washed up before we left!"
"No, not that. I can still smell your sweat and body odor,"
My face flashed red while glaring at him. But without managing to force out a single word. Not that it mattered anyway, he looked at me, studied me, but without meeting my eyes, or should I say death glare? Continued like nothing happened at all, while I felt like an angry cat about to jump him with all claws out. He didn't pick up on it at all, so instead I huffed and pushed him away while making my way over to the table. My body felt stiff and a bit cold after lying on the wooden floors.
"That's not me, that's your sweat stench."
I muttered more to myself glaring at the wooden table only to be shocked out of it. The only thing that stopped me from jumping through the roof was his arms that snaked around my waist. Goosebumps erupted on my neck, down my back, and over the skin down my arms. I am not sure, but I swear his grip around me tightened and squeezed me in his massive arms. His nose dipped down in my hair, up my neck, over my temper, and over my shoulders, while he took deep whiffs. Filling his nose and lungs with my sent.
"What... What are you doing...?"
I felt embarrassed hearing how hoars and low my whisper was, not even able to hold my own voice. Instead, I drew deep breaths through clenched teeth, not trusting my own voice to continue.
He didn't stop, like he was slowly tormenting me, teasing me but I struggled to fight it. Struggled to keep my heart calm, to hold my heaving breathing down, and to close my eyes.
"No, it's not my sweat, it is yours. But, I am sure you smell like magic, old magic. Do you think your father's new woman can be a witch?"
He can ruin every single moment, can't he? I breathed out, realizing how stupid I was, how stupid it all was. It wasn't his fault; I am the hormonal idiot. Then the rest of his sentence stuck, and I spun around to look at him.
"Witch? But, I thought all females here were human?"
"Haven't you realized yet? We might have two different worlds, but they do work together. Creating parallel words, lives, and events. If you never came back, you would have been a human for the rest of your life but coming here opened your alternative destiny."
"That doesn't make sense, I came from this world to begin with!"
I argued and refused to let him put me off balance with his unholy beautiful eyes while tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear,
"That doesn't change what I just said. Maybe she came from your earth, but I bet she has family, ancestors, or important people in this world too. She can be a witch, she could have been created a witch or she might have a powerful wizard as her mate, something that seems unsightly since she is about to mate your father."
"So, every human entering this world can be something else.. Just like I got a wolf?"
Childish, I know, but for some reason I had felt a little special for once. thinking I was the one girl that went from human to werewolf just like that. But if what Seb tells me is true, I am nothing special at all. Not even here in this world and disappointment seeped through.
"Potentially, yes. But, no. Not like you. Nobody will ever be like you!"
I didn't notice how close we were standing before now, before everything was quiet before I took time to actually look at him. I am not sure why, but when I turned around, I thought he let his grip around my waist go, but he only changed his hold on me. Caged in between his hands, he held on to the table behind me, so close I could feel the thud of his heart through his shirt.
"Can you hear my thoughts?"
He arched a brow, but before he could answer, or laugh for that matter a door swung open behind us.
"Thank the goddess! Rosa.., I mean, Eir! How are you feel.. Oh, am I interrupting something here?"
I didn't recognize the voice, but in instinct, I knew it belonged to her. Not only did the hair on my neck rise, but I saw up close how Seb's eyes darkened and looked past me. Turning around slowly I saw her again, but this time I didn't feel as dizzy but there was still a strange feeling. Like only by looking at her something inside me began to stir, interfering with my sight and hearing. Her fake concern made my skin itch, but right behind her, my father came rushing in with an older man behind him.
"For goddess sake, let her sit! Here, I brought our medicine man. He will take a look at you. I keep forgetting humans are so fragile."
This sentence made me irritated, and he choked on his own words just as he said them and everyone seemed to freeze in their steps for a second.
"She's not a human, even if she was, I guarantee you she is stronger than anyone else in this pack of yours."
Seb's voice sounded threatening, and I saw father's eyes flashing, fear, but only a split second before anger took over. The old man looked lost, looking between his old alpha and the dragon king showing off his imaginary feathers. I rolled my eyes and placed a hand across Seb's chest.
"I am fine, now I want to hear more about this new love of yours."
"You are not fine! You fell to the floor like a sack of potatoes! Let him at least take a look at you."
"Fine, but you two wait outside. Seb will stay here with me,"
Seeing his reaction, I regretted it the moment I said it. I didn't want to hurt him or push him aside, but it was her I wanted away. I didn't trust her, and something inside me told me to be careful around her.
"It is best not to have too many around, Maybe, we can have a nice meal together all four of us, and get to know each other after my little check-up?"
I gave him my best smile and tried to ignore Seb's gloating smile while wrapping an arm around my waist. If it was at all possible, small sparks of lightning and fire sparked between the men's eyes as they glared at one another. A loud, high pinched squeal and hands clapping together brought us all out of the intense moment.
"Yes! That is a good idea! I will bring my famous wine, and you can roast that boar, honey! A perfect way to get to know each other before my brothers arrive tomorrow, don't you agree my love?"
It took my father a couple of seconds to wheel himself in, but eventually, he took a little step back. Threw Seb a last irritated glare, before shifting his attention towards me. Now his eyes were gentle again and a soft smile lightened up his face,
"Of course, yes. I almost forgot. Let us feast together tonight, Tomorrow I would like to introduce you to my future mate's family. Her brothers, the white twins!"
His smile grew wide, Seb's grip around me tightened and I could feel the deep vibration in his chest.
"The white twins?"
"Oh sweetheart, they will love you!"
Lydia's voice felt like ice scraping through my ears, and her smile. I couldn't place it, wicked, but overly sweet while she placed her hand on my father's shoulder. Her eyes never left mine,
"Don't you agree my love?"
"Yes. Yes of course my little goddess. Your brothers will be so pleased to meet my daughter! The first of our mateing ritual guests, of course, your friend will have to wait behind. The first meet is for family only."