Elena and Gentry were right, the Oleander patch was not nearly as bad. The magic surrounding it was a soft pink and just like the wolfsbane it appeared friendly and inviting, but it sure attacked when we started to work against it. This time the images I saw were the guys, my brother, my friends and my team all finding their mates and moving on without me.
The pain of being left behind and forgotten was almost as bad as the physical torture. The gold magic from Elena and Gentry and apparently me wrapped around everyone. All of the people surrounding the crop had their eyes closed. It seems that the pentagram is designed to personally attack me. I was able to see through the magic a little better this time though.
Like the images plaguing my mind were flickering in and out of focus. No one else seemed to have images play in their minds while Elena and Gentry fight to contain the magic. It finds my deepest insecurities and plays on my emotions. I know this, I can see it like I am an outsider looking in, but I can’t stop the feeling of dread that fills me, I can’t fight it off or control it in any way.
What will the other three points do to me? Just as the images start to take a more solid form and the feeling grows more intense, I can see the edges of my vision darken. It is trying to consume me and I don’t know how to fight it.
I am panting and I feel tears burn hit streaks down my cheeks, but I can’t do anything to stop them. Cam has one of my hands, Oliver the other. This time Dakota is behind me, both arms wrapped around my waist holding me in place. A flash of electricity shoots up my spine and the blackness takes over.
I know that I told Jena and Sierra that I’m afraid of being mated to Cam, Oliver and Kota but I have also always thought of them as ‘my guys’ in my head and a possessive feeling takes over at the thought that they would have a mate that isn’t me. They are mine. What is wrong with me?
When I woke up, sweating and weighed down, I looked around the familiar bedroom and had the vague thought of ‘how did I get here’ but the soft snores next to me told me exactly how I got here. When I tried to move again, I felt a tug on my waist.
“Sleep, Smalls. No moving for two more hours.” I huff a laugh at Dakota’s sleepy grumble.
When I take another deep breath in, I smell honey on my other side. What is Oliver doing next to me in the twins’ bed? I can smell Cam though, on the other side of Dakota. Did they all sleep in here with me? I try adjusting again.
“Bitty, he said sleep and don’t move. Not sure how that was unclear.” Oliver laughs without opening his eyes.
“You both realize she’s never done anything we’ve ever told her to do right?” Cam’s comment makes me full on giggle, body shaking and all.
“Can I go to the bathroom at least? I’ll come right back.”
“NO!” All three of them state. It’s not a yell, but there is no hesitation in their words.
“Everytime you get up to pee, you disappear and then bad sh*t happens.” Kota shifts so we are on our sides and my back is to his chest. Oliver lays on his side to look at me.
“No it doesn’t and I really need to go.”
“It does and you are not going to go alone.” Oliver gets up and holds his hand out to me.
I roll my eyes and take it. Kota lets me go, but makes a whining sound in his throat.
“I’ll be right back. I’m too tired to go looking for more trouble. We have enough, don’t you think?”
Oliver walks to the private bathroom, opens the door slowly, looks around and checks every possible hidden nook and cranny before letting me in. I have no idea what he is looking for. I pack that away to ask all of them when I get done. I’m not having a conversation while I’m on the toilet. It’s weird enough that he is standing in the doorway. His back is to me, but if he turned his head to the side he would be able to see me and the whole bathroom.
