Chapter 106

Mom and Luca exchange pleasantries while I work very hard to pull myself together, wondering how the hell I’m supposed to manage all of this chaos, when Jesse – of all wonderful people – comes to my rescue.

He, too, skids through the door and is across the room in half a second, shoving Luca roughly aside and knocking him to the floor so he can wrap his arms around me, murmuring about how scared he was and how glad he is that I’m okay.

I hug my cousin back, assuring him that I’m all right, and it’s only when Jesse offers a hand and an apology to Luca that I’m able to look at my mom again. She quickly raises a questioning eyebrow at me, asking silently if everything is out in the open, and I hurriedly shake my head, begging her with my expression to please, please not say anything.

Slowly, she nods, a smile still playing at her lips as she turns her attention back to the boys, who are now standing at my bedside.

“As much as it is a pleasure to meet you, Luca,” she says, her voice official now, “and I do very much want to talk to you more - Ariel still isn’t well.”

Luca’s face pales at the news and he anxiously looks between me and my mom.

“She’s fine,” Jesse explains, putting a hand on Luca’s shoulder. “Aunt Ella healed her up, Luc, don’t worry –“

“I healed her,” mom says, nodding to Jesse, “but she’s still exhausted and dehydrated. Jesse? Will you please go get your mom, and tell her to bring an IV? Ariel needs fluids.”

Jesse nods and immediately moves to the door, but Luca hesitates, clearly wanting to stay. My mom simply quirks one queenly eyebrow at him, though – clearly requesting time alone with her daughter – and I see Luca give in.

“I’ll see you soon,” he says, kneeling down by the side of my bed and running a fond hand over my hair, my shoulder, and then down my arm. I can see him bodily fighting his instincts to stay by his mate’s side – but he also knows that I am clearly all right in my mother’s hands.

“It will be okay, Luca,” I murmur, leaning impulsively forward. Luca puts a soft hand on my cheek and presses a brief, chaste kiss to my mouth – not really able to resist, but also not wanting to put on a display in front of my mom.

I grin at him as he stands with a sigh and heads for the door. I’m still grinning, watching his form, as my mom clears her throat.

“Don’t say anything,” I whisper, reaching out a hand for hers and squeezing it before the door snicks shut behind Luca’s retreating form. Then, once we’re alone, I turn to her, grimacing a little.

“Soooo, Ariellll,” she says, leaning forward and grinning at me, her voice light and gossipy. “Why do both of those boys think that they’re your mate!?”

“Because,” I say, my voice and my face completely serious. “They both are, mom.”

Slowly the smile falls from her face. “Wait, what?”

I nod slowly and then burst into an explanation – telling her about that first day, when both of their scents hit me, and then of figuring it all out as time passed. Mom’s eyes are wide and shocked by the time I’m halfway through the story and I can tell that she’s mesmerized and worried, all at once.

I don’t even have time to get to the end – about how I just told Jackson last night, during the Examination – when the door opens and Aunt Cora comes in, wheeling an IV stand with her.

I give a little cry of joy when I see her – Cora, she’s my only aunt, but she’s my favorite anyway. She makes the same little noise as she slams the door shut and rushes to me, pushing the IV with her and abandoning it a bit when she sits on the bed next to me and wraps me up in a tight, tight hug.

“You idiot,” she mutters into my hair, rocking me back and forth. “You followed your brother and your cousin, of all people!? To the Academy!?”

“I like it there!” I protest, laughing a little and pushing her away a bit so that I can look into her face, smiling despite all the drama. “Besides,” I say, cocking my head to the side, “where did you guys think I was?”

“In a convent,” Cora sighs, slumping back against the pillows with me and glancing at my mom. “At least, that’s what we hoped. Safe and sound, all walled up, practicing the art of making tapestries or something equally dull and harmless.”

“Oh, well, it sounds like Ariel was doing the exact opposite, Cors,” my mom says, leaning forward with her chin on her palm and grinning at me. I scowl at her, thinking she’s enjoying this just a little too much. “Considering that she just told me that she met two mates at this little Academy.”

Cora gasps, staring first at my mom and then at me. I blink, shocked at the…the delight in her eyes. “They’re both here!?”

“What!?” my mom squeals, sitting up rigid and straight, just as I do.

“Did you…did you know!?” I’m equally shocked.

“Oh my god!” Cora shouts, laughing and covering her face with her hands for a second. “I’ve known since you were a baby! I saw it at your baptism – I’m so glad you both finally know so that I don’t have to keep it to myself anymore!”

“Cora!” my mother shouts, half laughing half enraged as she leans forward to smack Cora on the arm, “how could you not tell me this!?”

“You opted out of it!” Cora replies, laughing and pointing a finger at mom’s face. “I told you I would tell you, but we agreed that there are some things a mom shouldn’t know! Besides, you wouldn’t have been able to not tell Dominic and he would have locked Ariel up in a box the moment she hit puberty.”

“I just thought you saw Ariel getting into a lot of romantic drama with her mate, I didn’t think –“

“Wait, you knew I had a mate!?” I gasp, turning to my mom now. “How could you not tell me!?”

“Well, why would you want to know?” mom replies, spreading her hands innocently. “It’s important to go through life and take it as it comes, with no expectations –“

“Dad told Rafe he had one!”

“He did?” mom gasps, turning to look at the door. “Oh, I’m going to kill him –“

“Okay okay,” Cora says, raising her voice above ours and spreading her hands out, silencing us. “Let’s…get organized here. Ella, I maintain that you did not want to know this, because it would have driven you absolutely insane.”

“Probably true,” my mom concedes with a nod.

“But Ariel,” she says, turning to me, her face breaking into a smile. “Come on, dish. Who are they!?”

“Mom just met them –“

“Oh, which one do you like better?” Cora asks, eager, leaning forward.

“That is so unfair!” I protest, gasping but…I look immediately to my mom, also kind of wanting to know.

“One of them is Luca Grant,” my mom says, leaning forward eagerly, almost as if I’m not there.

“Luca GRANT!?” Cora squeals, her hands going to her cheeks. “The boxer!? Oh my god, he’s so cute – I’ve had a crush on him for like, a year -“

“Ew EW!” I shout, hitting Cora now. “That is so gross – you’re both so gross –“

“I am not gross, Ariel,” Cora laughs, dodging my blows, “I am just a woman, and he is good looking. God, you’re so lucky –“

“I’m telling Uncle Roger you said that,” I reply, narrowing my eyes and crossing my arms.

“Go ahead!” she says, waving a hand. “He’ll probably agree – Luca’s a hottie. But your dad,” she grimaces, “he’s not going to be happy about that one.”

“Why not?” I ask, my eyes going wide.

“Because,” she says, grimacing a little and glancing at my mom, “he’s kind of a ladies’ man, right? Dates around? He’s dated like everyone – every little starlet.”

I growl, hating the idea and crossing my arms. “Well, he’s not going to do that anymore.”

“Oh yes,” Cora replies, laughing again, “convince him to be faithful to you while you’re out there, dating your other mate.”

I groan, leaning against her, because I mean…she’s right, isn’t she?

“You should see the other one,” my mom says, raising her eyebrows with a grin. “He looks just like her dad –“

“He doesn’t,” I moan, throwing my head back, a little whine in my voice.

“You’re right, baby,” my mom says to me consolingly, but when I lift my head I catch her mouthing “He totally does” to Aunt Cora, who just laughs.

“He doesn’t! They have totally different coloring! And their…face shapes…” I hesitate, trying to come up with other differences, but mom and Cora just grin at me.

“Fine,” I groan, putting my face in my hands. “But their personalities are totally different –“

Mom leans forward, beginning to assure me that she’s sure that’s completely true, when Cora interrupts, her voice considering.

“Actually,” she says, her expression a little far-off. “Your dad would probably be the right one to ask about this, Ari.”

“What?” I ask, completely confused. “Cora, dad is the last person I want to talk to about this stuff – he’s gong to flip.”

“Well, that aside,” she responds with a shrug – like it’s an easy thing to handle the most powerful Alpha in the world when he’s flipping out – “he’s also the only person I’ve ever heard of who had two fated mates.”

My jaw drops almost completely to the floor.