The Time I Tripped into a Curse and got two Mates

Chapter 22

I felt the heat of embarrassment creeping up my neck at the thought that Malcolm had figured it out. Of course he had. I wasn’t sure whether to be angry or impressed. “Yes, actually, he did have something to do with it.” I said as I raised my chin defiantly. I looked Malcolm square in the face and refused to back down. I needed to continue to show exactly who I was–a fighter, not someone who would shrink away.

Ivan’s head snapped toward Malcolm and his eyes gleamed with a sudden intensity. “Captain Luke? The Captain of the Guard, Captain Luke?” His tone was sharp and almost accusatory as if the very idea of it offended him.

“The very same.” Malcolm replied, but his grin did not fade in the slightest. He seemed to enjoy watching his brother’s reaction.

Ivan’s gaze darkened further as his eyes flickered around the ball area as if he was searching for the man in question. When he looked back at me, his eyes were hard and demanding answers. “Would you care to elaborate?” He asked. His voice was low and dangerous and carried the weight of an order rather than a request.

I felt a flare of irritation bubble up inside of me. He has no right to demand explanations like that. I wasn’t some subordinate to be interrogated. I met his gaze with fire in my own eyes and leaned back in my chair. I crossed my arms over my chest and held his gaze, deliberately remaining silent for several heartbeats.

I could see his frustration building as his jaw tightened. He wasn’t used to being kept waiting. I weighed my options carefully and decided just how much I wanted to reveal and how much to keep to myself.

“What exactly do you want to know, Prince Ivan?” I finally asked as I kept my tone calm, yet challenging. “The truth about why I made plans to leave with Luke or the truth about how we spent our time together over the last day?” I let the taunting questions hang in the air and dared him to decide on which truth he wanted to hear.

Malcolm leaned back slightly with a look of intrigued amusement on his face. He was clearly enjoying the back and forth between us.

“Careful, brother,” he said with a augh, “she seems to bite.” His eyes flicked to me and I couldn’t help but notice the hunger within them. It wasn’t just amusement I saw there, it was desire.

Ivan pressed his lips into a thin line, the muscles of his jaw flexed as he processed my words. I could see the battle in his eyes–the push between possessiveness and reason. Then he leaned in closer and his expression darkened, his voice dropped to a sharp whisper.

“I can smell him on you.” he accused.

That did it. I had enough of his possessive arrogance and my temper flared as I squared my shoulders, refusing to back down.

“That’s probably because he and I had our tongues down each other's throats not even hours ago.” I shot back. My voice was sharp and dared him to react. I knew I was baiting him, but he had gotten on my last nerve. If he wanted to test my limits, I’d test his right back.

Ivan flared his nostrils and a hint of danger flashed in his eyes. I saw his posture straighten as he forced himself to remain calm. “I see.” he replied, his voice was cold and controlled now.

“You can’t imagine that I had ever kissed anyone before meeting you, can you?” I countered as my eyes narrowed slightly. I felt defiant even though my very first kiss happened with Luke….not even hours ago…The heat of that memory washed over me and mingled with the intensity of the moment.

Ivan took in a steadying breath. “No I suppose not.” Was all he said, his voice quieter now, thoughtful. But I could still see the way his eyes burned and the way his fingers twitched ever so slightly.

Malcolm took this opportunity to break the tension. “Come on,” he interjected, his tone light and playful, “how about we get some food and have a bite. I think we are all hungry.” Thank the Goddess for this man.

I decided to take the olive branch Malcolm offered and gave a quick nod. Malcolm stood up gracefully and offered an arm to me with a charming smile, which I gratefully took. As we began to walk toward the buffet table, Malcolm tapped my hand lightly and looked down at me, softening his gaze as he did so.

“Don’t pay him any mind,” he said in a conspiratorial whisper, “He’s always so serious and…you know…the mating bond can make a man a bit dumb headed.” His grin widened and I couldn’t help but crack a smile at the exasperation in his voice.

“You don’t seem to mind.” I pointed out as I studied his face. There was an ease to Malcolm and a confidence that seemed to come from genuine enjoyment instead of arrogance.

He laughed heartily before he replied, “That’s because all this,” he said as he gestured between the two of us and then pointed to Ivan, “is all your choice. Maybe you like Luke better than us. You could choose to reject one or both of us. The point is, you get to do what you want.”

His words were a freeing reminder that I held more power than I’d realized in this whole tangled web of bonds and attraction.

“Plus,” he continued, “ it’s more fun when you have a bit of experience under your belt.”

His eyes sparkled with so much suggestion and innuendo that I had to look away to hide the blush I felt heat in my cheeks. Then I felt a pooling in my stomach, not just from Malcolm’s suggestive comment, but from the idea of having that choice. The thought of having control over my fate…my desires…felt intoxicating in its own right.

I couldn’t help but take a peek back up at Malcolm and I caught his gaze lingering on me with a mix of amusement and pure hunger. I swallowed and my heart fluttered slightly.

“I guess you have a point,” I murmured as a smile curved the edges of my lips.

I might really like this man. I thought as hunger clouded my own eyes.

As we reached the buffet table and I felt Ivan’s gaze on me from behind. I peeked over my shoulder and saw that he was a few paces behind Malcolm and myself. His expression was unreadable and I knew that more needed to be said between us. But for now, I was content to let things unfold at my pace and savor the thrill of holding the cards in my hands for once.

The three of us returned to the table with our plates piled high. I couldn’t believe I was still so hungry at this point, but I thought it had something to do with all the emotional energy I had been going through. We settled into our seats and a heavy silence fell over us. None of us seemed eager to speak and risk widening the chasm that had opened up between us.

I was grateful for the quiet even though the air around us was thick with unspoken words. But I really didn’t have it in me for another round of challenges. What I really needed was food. And if Ivan and I started butting heads again, I knew I would lose my appetite all over.

After some time, the ceremonial bell rang and cut through the roaring conversations. This bell signaled the start of a pivotal experience during the ball. The tradition was that all the men and women would shift into their wolf forms en masse, and frolic around the woods with their new found mates so that their wolves could meet and interact for the first time as well. It was a highly anticipated event of a raw and instinctual expression of freedom.

“What do you think, Selene, can we shift with them yet?” I asked with desperation in my voice. I couldn’t help but hope that maybe, just maybe, tonight would be different.

“Evelette, I really want to. I feel that we are stronger now, but there is still just something preventing me.” She replied with disappointment leaking from her own tone.

I glanced down at my hands, too afraid to meet the eyes of either of the princes. From the corner of my eye, I could tell that Ivan's attention drifted towards the crowd. Wolves were already undressed and heading toward the tree line as they were eager to shed their human forms. A select few who were ahead of the others had already shifted and ran into the woods. I could feel he wanted to join them.

The feeling of regret settled heavily in my stomach. For the first time, I truly felt the weight of my inability to shift. I wasn’t just missing out on a fun run through the woods, I was missing out on what was supposed to be a momentous occasion–the first run with my mates. Our wolves, or Lycans in their case, were supposed to run freely together under the moonlight. But here I was…stuck in my human skin.