Trixy nodded as she watched James and a very pregnant woman drive away. She rubbed the tattoo on her neck behind her ear. It was small enough that her hair though short still covered it for the most part. Right now the tattoo was tingling and she could feel her long-dormant powers being stirred up inside. James didn't know that it was the woman with the brown hair that had grabbed her attention. She only saw a glimpse of her in the door before she bolted, followed by James. The guys in black, wolves she could tell soon left. Some minutes later, Bruno came charging through their door, arms fisted ready to fight, but lowered them when he realized that only his sister was in the apartment.
He went to her and hugged her tightly. She is all that he has. He pulled back and looked at her, checking to ensure that she was safe. Trixy didn't have time for his big brother's antics. She clutched at his arm. "Did you feel it too?", she asked, her eyes scanning his face. Bruno sighed and nodded. He showed her the tattoo on his arm, disguised by the others, which seemed raised on the skin. Trixy gently ran a finger over the mark and she could feel the heat. "What happened?" Bruno asked, his voice tight. Trixy turned and walked to the couch, her mind reeling with what should be impossible.
The 'tattoos' she and her brother bear are marks that show them as beings of the old kingdom. It is proof of their bloodline and the responsibilities they bear. The mark usually shows only the males, but since they were twins, she also was counted as one of the protectors of their country, of the royal family. Trixy remembered the day the mark appeared on her and her brother. They were five years old at the time and the village priest conducted the ritual binding them to their charge. The princess of the royal family was only three, and a happy, squirming toddler, curious of everything around her. Trixy couldn't remember the king and queen so well, but she remembered the brown curls around an angelic face. She remembered she and her brother swearing to protect the princess when they came of age and took over for their father. She recalled the months spent playing with her as Bruno scowled, hating every time the girls dressed him up in frills or demanded that he drink their imaginary tea with his pinky finger stretched out. Trixy closed her eyes, leaning her head back. "I think our princess Annalise is still alive."
James and Trishanna held hands all the way back to the hotel. The men were dismissed and Sam whisked the both of them to their floor. Trishanna's phone buzzed again and she pulled it out to see a second text from Bradley. She bit her lip wondering how much trouble she was in. She turned the phone to James. His fist clenched but he turned his lips up into a smile. "Why don't you take that while I take a shower, hmm?", he wanted to give himself some time to calm himself before he did something reckless, like bite her. His head jerked back at the thought just as the elevator doors dinged open. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and headed to his room. Just what the hell was he thinking? His wolf, already recovered, didn't have a problem with that, in fact, he thought it was a marvelous idea. James got into the shower, hoping to drown out the thoughts of making Trishanna his and his alone.
Trishanna stepped into her room, but Sam kept the door from closing. He leaned in and looked at the woman who was supposed to be his Luna, but he had some serious doubts after the love fest she and James had in the middle of the street. He wanted to tell her to stay away from James, to not hurt his friend and Alpha, to not betray the bond, yet no words came to him. He just shook his head at the questioning look and stepped back, pulling the door close. Trishanna frowned at Sam's actions, but her mind went back to texting Bradley. She read his first text and decided to try calling him instead. After the fourth ring, he answered. "Trish, are you okay?" was his first question. Trishanna nodded before she realized that he couldn't see her, she cleared her throat. "Yes Bradley, I'm fine, and so is the pup." His sigh of relief could be heard. "I'm sorry if I worried you, but I would have gone crazy if I didn't know what happened to the father of my baby."
Bradley, three states away, clenched the phone in his hand. He knew that she was right, yet it didn't sit well with him. He knew something was going on, and not knowing or understanding was making him and his wolf very restless. He sighed again, "I know Trish, I understand." Bradley's eye caught movement and he realized that they were calling him back into the meeting he rudely rushed out of when he saw her call. "I have to go, babe. Get some rest. I love you." Trishanna smiled and whispered back, "I love you too."
The phone went dead in her hands and she sat on her bed. She knew that Bradley was her fated mate and she should be happy, filled to the brim with joy and satisfaction, yet there was something just as strong between her and James. She reflected on all the years that she knew him and she knew that no matter how badly he treated her in the past, she was always so aware of him. She always believed it was because of fear, she didn't want to be picked on, but was there another reason?
A knock sounded on her door and she shook herself from the rabbit hole she was falling into. Maybe she should share her feeling with Lorenzo, or Cynthia. They both would have a lot more knowledge and hopefully could shed some light. She opened the door to a smiling James, his fresh clean scent making her knees weak. He smiled like the temptation he was and his husky voice asked, "Can I come in?"