I open my mouth a few times before snapping it closed, too shocked to find a single word. Zeke must realize this because he gives me a moment to process before leaning up and kissing my lips.
“Okay,” I say softly against his lips. I feel so much for this man kneeling before me. We’ve only just met but I already never want to leave his side. I want to be near him for as long as he’ll have me. I want to learn about him, embrace him, and learn how to properly love him.
Before Zeke can stand up and move to his chair beside me, the front door is rattling. Someone uses a spare key and steps inside.
“Oh shit! We should have knocked! He’s blowing him! Cover your eyes!”
“Ewwwww!”
“Oh my fucking gods,” Zeke says, standing up and putting his hands on his hips. “I gave you that key for emergencies, Page!”
“Sorry, sorry! I wasn’t thinking! I forgot you’d be in that honeymoon freshly mated phase!”
“My dick is not out!” I yell over everyone else. Three sets of eyes look over at me, blinking slowly before we’re all overwhelmed with laughter. Ray shakes her head in my direction but it’s from amusement, not disappointment. Not a bad way to restart this whole ‘getting to know your spark’ thing. My chest blooms with hope. Maybe we’ll all be alright after all.
Chapter Eight
Zeke
“I’d offer you some food but I’ve only made enough for two.”
“That’s fine,” Page says, coming into the kitchen fully and sitting down at the table with us. Ray sits beside her. Despite just laughing a moment ago, she’s stiff once more, looking unsure. My heart aches for them. I just want their bond to fall into place, knowing they’ll both be so much happier once that happens.
“Oh my gods,” I blurt out, grabbing Ray’s wrist and pulling it towards myself so I can get a better look at it. Her cheeks turn bright pink. “Holy shit!”
“It’s nothing,” Ray says right away, pulling her hand back.
“Nothing? That’s a mating mark!”
“Aww,” Casper coos through a full mouth of pasta. “That’s so cute. I’m so happy for you,” he murmurs around his food.
Ray’s eyes soften and she ducks her head. “Thanks,” she whispers.
“Where’s yours?” I ask Page, looking for an obvious place and not finding it.
“None of your business,” she says with a smirk that tells me it's someplace fun.
I pull my shirt to the side, showing off the bite Casper gave me. Page squeals in delight, getting out of her seat and pulling me into a tight hug.
“Gods, this has been the most wonderful weekend,” she gushes before sitting back down. She turns towards Ray. “I know this has been bombshell after bombshell but you have to admit that overall, it’s been amazing.”
Ray rolls his eyes playfully. “Yeah, whatever. It’s been alright, I guess.”
“You’re such a bitch,” Page says, grinning ear to ear before pulling Ray into a smacking kiss. The two of them giggle against each other’s lips.
“And they said we were in the honeymoon phase,” I say to Casper. His eyes sparkle with amusement but I can tell he’s still holding himself back. I wish there was a way I could bridge the gap between them, to somehow be their bridge.
“Shut the fuck up,” Ray says, flipping me off before kissing Page one last time. She turns towards us, her eyes darting between the two of us before blowing out a long, exaggerated breath. “I’d like to apologize for how I acted when we met.”
“Oh, no. You don’t have to apologize. I totally understand that I was way too much.”
Ray frowns. “Don’t put words in my mouth,” she says sternly. “You were not too much. The situation was overwhelming but I could have handled myself better.”
I fake cough, “understatement of the world.”
“Do we need to ask you to leave?” Page asks, raising her brow at me. I shake my head, pretending to zip my lips closed.
“I’m sorry that I hurt you with how I acted. That couldn’t have been easy for you. This weekend, though fun,” she says, looking at Page pointedly who just grins back, “was hard because things felt unresolved between us. I may only be dipping my toes into the supernatural world right now, but I can still feel our bond, Casper.”
Casper’s shoulders fall away. “Oh, thank Lady Fate,” he breathes out, rubbing at his eyes. “I was so worried all of this was in my head or something.”
“It’s not. You and I are connected.” Ray swallows thickly, looking away. “I’m your spark. Sorry you got stuck with me.”
“I’m not stuck,” Casper quickly says, reaching across the table and taking Ray’s hand. Her eyes widen but she doesn’t say anything, waiting for Casper to speak. “I’m choosing you. I want to stick around. I want to watch you grow and learn to use your magic. I want to be your conduit and your familiar. If you’ll have me, of course.”
“I will,” Ray says, nodding her head seriously, like the two of them are making some sort of blood pact. And maybe they are. Well, minus the blood. “I want to be the best spark for you that I can be.”
“You already are just by being yourself,” Casper promises with a grin. Ray cracks, her face softening until she’s smiling back.
“That was the sappiest thing I’ve heard in a long time, which is saying something because I literally confessed my undying love to Ray this weekend.”
“Oh my gods,” I say with a groan, shoving Page. “Way to ruin their moment.”
“I didn’t ruin anything! I was simply lightening the mood! Tell him, babe!”
Ray snickers, looking over at her mate. “You did kinda ruin the moment.” Page starts to pout but Ray just rolls her eyes, telling her, “it’s fine. I still love you, my mate,” adding the last part under her breath, her cheeks heating once more.
Oh no. They’re so cute together. I feel like my teeth are aching just watching them. Ray’s never been this affectionate before, but I guess that’s what happens when you realize someone was literally made to be your soul mate. Things change. People change. It’s beautiful.
