Four Mates of Destiny

Chapter Thirteen

~ Summer's Mate ~

The hours passed,

My friend and I were hanging in my room when a rather unexpected interruption occurred. A rumbled with a voracious hunger, the sound echoing in the early morning air. It was as if her belly had chosen that exact moment to voice its discontent, and it left no room for interpretation. We both turned to see Violet, her cheeks flushed in embarrassment, trying to stifle her laughter. The source.

We all burst into fits of laughter, the tension from our earlier conversation dissipating into the night. Lief couldn’t resist teasing her, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Well, Vi, it seems your stomach has something to say..”

“Someone’s hungry, it seems.”

Vi replied with a sarcastic chuckle, “Haha, very funny.”

Her stomach rumbled again, we burst into fits of laughter once again.

Between laughter, I teased, “Haha, someone’s got quite the appetite.”

Violet shot me a playful glare, her embarrassment giving way to amusement. “Oh, hush, Ri.”

With our laughter still echoing in the air, we decided it was time to find some sustenance. The Ball had a massive dining hall, and when we entered through the grand double doors, we were met with a sight that left us speechless.

Rows of long tables stretched as far as the eye could see, piled high with fantastical foods of all shapes and colours. There were dishes with names like “Glowing Starlight Soup, Moonlit Nectar Pudding, Enchanted Rose Petal Pasta’’ and my favourite “Sweet Berry Dumplings,” infused with gooseberry, plumpberry and jasmine nectar. each more tempting than the last.

Taking our seats at a table, we exchanged awestruck glances before digging into the feast before us. Light chatter filled the air as we sampled the magical cuisine.

However, our conversation was abruptly interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat behind us. We turned to find ourselves face to face with a young sorcerer, his expression shy and endearing.

Summer’s face turned a shade of crimson that could rival a summer sunset. I couldn’t help but grin mischievously as I teased, “Well, well, well, Summer. Is this your mysterious lover?”

Summer stammered, her usually confident demeanor faltering. “Uhm, uh, this is…”

“It’s Jerald Jenkins, or JJ,” the sorcerer introduced himself with a gentle smile.

I nodded with a knowing look. gave a shy smile. “Nice to meet you all. Summer has told me so much about her friends.”

I couldn’t resist teasing. “Oh, we’ve heard quite a bit about you too, Jerald. Guys we know Jared, the mysterious sorcerer who went poof.”

“Ah, the mysterious sorcerer who vanished into thin air. Nice to meet you, Jerald.” Violet beamed at him.

Lief joined in, a smirk gracing his face. “So, this is the guy with the disappearing act. Nice to meet you, Jerald”

Jerald gave a nervous wave, clearly not used to this level of attention, his eyes never leaving Summer.

“You know summer was quite upset when you just disappeared on her. Quite literally may I add,” He finally mustered the courage to address her directly.

“Ri,” Summer hissed, clearly not pleased. “I was not in the slightest,” she mumbled.

“Yeah. about that,” scratching the back of his neck nervously.

There was silence, before Jerald broke it. “Summer…”

Before he could continue, Summer interrupted, her tone laced with displeasure. “You could have at least returned and explained what happened, Jerald. I was worried sick.” she said, her voice carrying a hint of hurt.

Jerald’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. ““I know, I know. I… I… I panicked and lost control of my magic.. My magic, it’s teleportation, and when I get overwhelmed with emotions, I lose control. I didn’t mean to vanish like that.”

Summer’s expression softened slightly, but her frustration was still evident. “You could have just come back and explained, Jerald. It was unsettling not knowing what happened to you. You left me there loking like a fool.”

Jerald nodded, clearly regretful. “I’m sorry, Summer. I truly am. I was embarssed. But thats no excuse. You’re right. I should have manned up and explained myself. I’m an idiot.”

Summer sighted, “You’re not an i***t,” Jareld.

”Can we talk in private? I’d like to make it up to you, if you’ll let me.”

Summer bit her lip, mulling it over. She glanced at us, and we all gave her encouraging smiles and thumbs up, silently signaling her to go for it. She returned her attention to Jerald. After a moment of contemplation, Summer sighed, “Okay.”

With that, they excused themselves, leaving the rest of us to continue our meal and chatter about the whirlwind of events that had unfolded. As I watched Summer and Jerald walk away,

I glanced around the dining hall, my attention was inevitably drawn to one of the potential mates, a man whose presence had left an indelible impression on me. He stood amidst a crowd of admirers, his enigmatic aura commanding attention and intrigue. There was an undeniable pull, an invisible thread that seemed to connect us even from a distance.

I couldn’t help but steal glances at him, my heart fluttering with a mixture of curiosity and nervousness. The intensity of our brief eye contact lingered in my thoughts, and I found myself wondering if he was also my mate. The feeling I was experiancing is similar to the one I had with the vampire dude. How is it possible. How can I have more than one freaking mate.

The voice of the announcer filled the air, outlining the day’s schedule of activities and events. Those who wished to participate were invited to make their way to the Garden of Love, where romantic scenes and bonding activities awaited.

“For those who wish not to participate,” the announcer continued, “you are free to explore the Ball’s enchanting grounds or engage in any other activities of your choosing. Enjoy your day, and may love find its way to your hearts.”

“That was corny,” I remarked, rolling my eyes as the announcement came to an end. Violet chuckled, her eyes dancing with amusement. “Well, they try their best to make it sound romantic.”

Lief joined in on the teasing, “maybe its an ancient tradition to have corny announcements at magical events.”

We shared a collective laugh, the camaraderie between us growing stronger. Summer and Jeralds had excused themselves, leaving the rest of us to continue our meal. The table was adorned with an array of delicious dishes from different realms, a feast fit for the magical occasion.

Mid way in, I felt a presence. I don't know how to describe it. Kinds like eyes watching me. Something like that.

I glanced around the dining hall, trying to figure out where the lingering gaze was coming from. my attention was inevitably drawn to a man whose presence had left an indelible impression on me. He stood amidst a crowd of admirers, his enigmatic aura commanding attention and intrigue. There was an undeniable pull, an invisible thread that seemed to connect us even from a distance.

I couldn’t help but steal glances at him, my heart fluttering with a mixture of curiosity and nervousness. The intensity of our brief eye contact lingered in my thoughts, and I found myself wondering if he was another one of the men destined to be part of my life. Great, I thought, internally groaning.

Lief, always the mischievous one, leaned over with a mysterious smile and teased, “What were you staring at, Ri? Or should I say who.”

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and I stammered in response, “Oh, uh, nothing. Just… someone caught my eye.”

Violet, who was sitting beside me, couldn’t resist joining in the teasing. “Caught your eye, huh? Is it another mystery man?”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, feeling the weight of their curious gazes. “Well, you know, Eldoris City is full of interesting people. It's not like I was staring-staring. Just, you know, observing.”

Lief's grin widened, and he exchanged a knowing glance with Violet. “Observing, huh? Sounds like there's a story there. Come on, spill the details! Is he tall, dark, and brooding like the last one?”

My attempt to downplay the situation only fueled their playful interrogation. I let out a nervous laugh. “No, it's not like that. I just happened to notice someone interesting in the crowd. That's all.”

Violet leaned in, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Interesting, huh? Well, well, Ri, you've got our undivided attention now. Share the details, and don't leave anything out.”

Caught in the playful banter, I sighed, realising that my attempt to keep things vague had only piqued their curiosity further.

“So who was it,” Violet asked expectedly. Lief didn’t say anything but his eyes sparkled with curiosity.

I sighed, realising that there was no escaping their curiosity. “Well, I saw this man… over there. He’s just… I don’t know, there’s something about him.”

“Do you think he could also be your mate,” Lief asked, all teasing gone.

“I don't know,” I groaned. “It's highly possible. The feeling I have towards him is pretty strong. Similar to the two mates I’ve met.”

“That's rough,” Violet said, sympathetically.

“You're telling me.”

Summer and Jerald’s departure had left me with a sense of anticipation, and this mysterious man had only added to the whirlwind of emotions I was experiencing.

We finished our breakfast, our conversation shifted toward the upcoming events in the Garden of Love. Violet and Lief were both excited at the prospect of potentially discovering their mates, Violet doing most of the talking. They chatted animatedly about the possibilities, their voices filled with enthusiasm and hope.

However, I couldn’t shake the sense of uncertainty that had settled over me. The idea of having multiple potential mates, each from a different supernatural species, was both thrilling and overwhelming. I needed some time to process it all.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed someone approaching our table. I got a glimpse of who it was. The devilishly handsome man I spotted earlier. Instinctively, not wanting to deal with any potential mates at that moment. With a swift decision, I redirected our conversation, suggesting we take a different path to the Garden of Love.

“Hey, guys,” I interjected, “let’s finish up here and head to the garden. I don’t want to keep your potential mates waiting.” I didn't want to give anything away.

Lief and Violet exchanged knowing glances, their excitement evident. They agreed, and we quickly wrapped up our meal, leaving the dining hall behind as we ventured toward the Garden of Love. Their chatter continued, the topic now centred on what awaited them in the Garden and the potential for romance and destiny to unfold.

As we walked, I couldn’t help but wonder about the man I had locked eyes with earlier. The connection was undeniable, and the mystery surrounding him only deepened my intrigue. Little did I know that the path I had chosen would lead me further into the enigmatic web of my entwined fate, where secrets, surprises, and the promise of love awaited.