Chapter 18: Chapter 18

I look at his still body and wish that he would wake up already. I feel as if he has been gone forever. I trail the tips of my fingers along his strong muscular arm. When I tune back into the room I hear the big guy talking about a distraction and my ears perk up.

I watch him as he takes a cell out of a drawer in the room and starts to use it. He still wears Maximus black robe. The fabric stretches over his heavy frame. Even though I can see every crease of the fabric from his large muscles, the sight does nothing for me. Sure I find him handsome. His five o’clock shady looks like gold dusted on his face. His long hair lies in a ponytail at the nape of his neck. It is the most interesting shade of blonde I have ever scene.

I could have sworn that when I looked outside it shined gold when he shifted around. I honestly thought that it was a trick of the light. I snap my head to the right toward the door of the room when I sense movement. It’s just the other man who is human moving toward me. He looks at me as if I am a science experiment. If I didn’t know better I would say that he is studying me.

“Is there something I can help you with?” I ask him as he stops a few feet away from me. His staring has started to gone from curious to the creepy stage fast.

“Sorry, I was just skeptical that I would meet another mate. So, far I am the only one and I have no idea where to begin with the questions that I want to ask you” he states with excitement.

“okay” I say. “Well, if you answer a few of my questions, I can answer some of yours” I offer as I take a seat on the edge of the hospital bed. I thought about sitting in the chair, but I wanted to keep touching Maximus.

“Deal. So, how did you feel when you first saw him?” he ask as he takes the seat near the window. He sits on the edge of the chair tapping his foot. I’m not sure if it’s in impatience of glee.

“Wow, right to the good bits huh. Well, I was attracted obviously. I think it was more than that though. after the initial fear well…..well I though he was the most beautiful man I have ever seen” I say blushing at the fact.

“Yeah, it was the same for me. Have you mated yet or taken the bite” he says as he leans to the sides eyeing my face. My hand flies up to touch it to see if I have something there or not.

“No one has bitten me. What are you looking for?” I ask him as I lean away from his gaze.

“Oh, I was looking for your mark” he says as he pulls on the collar of his robe to show me. I lean forward to see that there is a neat roll of teeth laying along his collarbone.

“It’s what happens when you mate. It solidifies the bond that builds between you” he says in a rush. Suddenly we hear a loud growl at the door and whip our heads to see Magma.

Igneous quickly rises from the chair and goes over to her wrapping his arms around her waist. I watch as the grimace leaves her face, and she goes calm as he holds her. It’s almost as if her body sags into his. I look away from them feeling like I was intruding on something intimate. After a few moments I hear her voice as she approaches.

“Sorry about that. I am more than possessive of my mate. Especially when it comes to his mark.” She says nervously. I nod my head as if I understand but only feel more confused. “I’m sure that it will be like that for you and Maximus when you guys are bound too” she offers.

Wait a minute. “Hold your horses lady, I didn’t say anything about a bond going on here. I still have a job to get back to at the end of the week. I am only here to get some questions answered and that is all” I state as I rise from the bed. She looks saddened by what I said. As confusion swirls in my head I can’t help but to back away from her. They all stare at me as if I have two heads and I am starting to feel cornered. Before I can sprint however, Magma stops me with a hand on the arm.

“Before you consider leaving my brother you should know. You are more to him than just a woman he fancies. Already he is in love with you and doesn’t even know it. He would put you before all and sacrifice everything about who he is in order to be with you. If you leave he will never get another chance. He will never know love like you can give him. Never get to have children. He will never have a family. Before you decide to leave, you need to figure out if that is something that you can live with. He wouldn’t have been fated to you if you weren’t perfect for each other” she growls at me.

“Magma, you can’t put that much pressure on her. You don’t know what it’s like” I hear Igneous say. I don’t get to hear anymore because the room has become suffocating. Not wanting to leave the room I release the hold I have on Maximus and sprint into the bathroom. Shutting the door behind me I throw my back against it as I try to calm my breathing.

As I think about what she said tears spring to my eyes. Too many feelings rush through my mind, and I feel as if they are suffocating me. I just don’t know what to do. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t even choose to be here. He brought me here. Now I am expected to just lay down with him and make babies all because of some insane attraction he has to me. The hell I will. I will be leaving at the end of the week just as I have a mind to do. There will be nothing that can stop me. I won’t be a prisoner again.

With a firm resolve set for handling these beast I look around the room. Noticing the shower I step toward it. Everything in here is pristine. Seeing the toiletries sitting neatly in a bucket, I strip off my clothes before I can talk myself out of it. Turning on the water I hop into the shower with a groan of relief at how good it feels.

As I shower I can’t help but to think through Magma’s words once more. Could I really live with myself if I left? I know that I have already grown to care for the dragon man. But to spend your entire life with someone takes commitment. It takes trust and love too. I don’t even know if we have those things. We haven’t even had the chance to talk about them.

I don’t even know if I can trust what they say. We hardly know anything about their species. Speaking to Igneous for a few moments took away barely any of my confusion. I still have so many questions. What bond is he talking about? Recalling that he said he has only been here for over a month, I wonder how long he and Magma have been together. She looks way further along than just a month. If I had to guess I would say that she is at least five months.

A shiver rushes through me and I realize that the water has gotten cold. Quickly turning it off I grab a fresh towel and wrap it around myself. I stand there cold as all heck contemplating what to do now. Going over to the mirror I start to finger comb my unruly curls. I look through the bucket of items seeing that there is no comb or brush. Looks like my hair won’t even be minimally tamed today. At least its clean.

I eye the pile of clothes on the floor and dread putting them back on. Afterall what is the point of getting clean just to put back on dirty clothes. As I have the thought a knock sounds from the other side of the door. “Yes” I call out in confusion. I know someone doesn’t think that they are coming in here. Just in case I pull the towel tighter around my form.

“It’s me Magma. I have a walk around robe here for you. Its clean” she says through the door. Walking over to it I open it to just a crack and stick my hand out. A piece of fabric is laid in it. I snatch it and hurriedly close the door locking it just in case. Dropping the towel I put the robe on and walk over to the mirror.

The darker blue color doesn’t clash with my lightly toned skin. It definitely makes the blue in my eyes pop. Shaking the fabric once more I see that there were no under garments included. I really don’t want to go commando around a bunch of beast, but it looks like I may have to. There is no way I am putting on anything that I have worn for the last three days. Perhaps I should have dared him to go and get my clothes from my tent. If I had of thought of that we would still be back at his cabin.

Feeling like I have used up all the time I can in the restroom, I gather my dirty clothes and place them in the hamper with the towel. Standing up straight I give myself a small pep talk before exiting. No one hear can tell me that I have to stay. As a human I have the right to leave when I want to. I can help them bring him back then ask to be taken back to camp. No, demand to be taken back to camp. Pushing through the door I walk out to complete silence. The room has the chill of a hospital and I cross my arms over my chest not wanting my pebbled nipples to show.

As I take in everyone in the room, I realize that all of them wear a robe like me. All except the other human here. I wonder why he gets pants and a shirt. Realizing that they are staring at me I speak to the newcomer in the room. She has on a white coat over a nude colored robe, and I assume she is the doctor. “Well, are you going to be able to help him or not?” I ask. I really don’t want to be here longer than I have to be.

“We were just discussing that. Come on over here dear. My name is Dr. Snow. I hear that in order for me to examine my patient you are needed” she says as she eyes the bed. A blush forms on my cheeks when I remember that I am the only one that can see him. This will definitely take some getting used to. Walking over to the bed I place my hand on his arm. The doctor steps forward and begins listening to his heart.

I wait as she takes his temperature. She pokes him with her fingers in various places. She tries to move his limbs only to sigh when they don’t respond. “I’m afraid that this isn’t good. His heart rate has slowed. his temperature is off by two degrees. As you can see his body cannot even be manipulated to move." she says as she places her stethoscope back around her neck. “you said that your calling didn’t work to bring him back?” She asked the giant gold guy.

“No, I tried once more before you entered. Me nor my dragon can even feel him to give our calling” he admits.

“Since he is visible, try to do so while she touches him” she suggest as she takes a step back.

I watch as he comes forward. His gaze meets mine and lingers. I realize that he is asking for permission, so I nod to him. “ Hold on to him. This is what I did to you earlier in the cabin. It can be painful to humans. Let me know when you are ready” he request as he lays a hand over Maximus’ heart.

Making sure my knees are straight I look into the handsome face of my mate for strength. I mean the man I care for I correct myself. “Go ahead” I tell him.

As the room gets heavier I feel the need to bow down. My breath hitches in my chest and I lean forward on the bed to catch myself. I flicker a gaze around the room to see the other heads bowed and find that I am glad not to be the only one affected. “Maximus reveal!” He yells.

I feel his body surge under my hand as his back arches on the bed. I look to his face waiting for him to open his eyes, but they remain cold. Just as fast he falls back to the bed and the room is still. Xander hurries out of the way as the doctor comes forward to listen to his heart.

“Shit, I need a crash cart!!!” she yells. “Keep holding him, and don’t let go no matter what happen” she yells at me. I take my other hand and place it on his arm too as someone rolls over a machine. I watch as two white circles are slapped onto his skin. My vision gets blurry, and I blink to clear it. “Clear!” she yells as paddles are brought to his chest.

When they touch his skin my back bows as I feel the shock. My heart beats erratically in my chest and I scream against the pain it causes. Unable to stay on my feet I fall onto Maximus’ body as I fight for air. I’m sobbing against his chest as his heartbeat slows underneath my ear. I don’t want to lose him.

My mind starts to race of ways to help. It has to have something to do with his ability. When he is invisible I am the only one who can see him. he becomes invisible when he travels. Wait, he travels. “oh god he travels. He’s invisible. He needs a destination! No, an anchor” I say aloud as I talk to myself.

Hazily I watch as the doctor steps forward preparing to zap him again. Without another way to stop her I shove her away with my arm. I barely dwell on her as she falls to the floor. Climbing higher onto the bed I lean my face toward his and call out to him. “Maximus come back to me” I shout and then I press my lips against his.

With a such a simple touch my world implodes, and heat fills my skin. The back of my eyelids burst into a kaleidoscope of colors as voices other than my own fills my head. “E-e-Emily,” “MATE” they yell. “Yes, please come back” The colors swirl faster and suddenly we are off as they all blend into one.

A gasp leaves my lips as I pull away to see his face. His hand comes up behind my neck as he pulls me back down to seal his lips over mine. I kiss him back with so much enthusiasm to see that he is moving. When his tongue tentatively slides between my lips, I moan at the flavor as I suck the tip wanting more. Not holding back I feel as his arm wraps around me to pull me closer as the kiss deepens. Everything is on fire, and I sure hope that he doesn’t want to stop.

Just as I have the thought our kiss breaks with a loud smack and I tumble off the bed as I fall right onto my ass. “Heyy” I scream. I look up to see Maximus’ gaze on mine as the big gold guy pins him to the bed and Magma now stands off to the side of me. What the hell just happened.