Ch. 101: Nugget

CHAPTER 101
Rachel~
I should be so happy. Spending time every day for several days in a row with Sean. But something feels missing. I feel like I am trying to wake up from a dream. Or maybe that I have woken up from a dream, and the dream is slipping out of my fingers before I can tell anyone about it.
Come to think of it, I do think I remember something about my dream last night. I was walking home with someone, holding hands with -
“Sunshine, you okay?” Sean asks me from his spot in the driver’s seat, interrupting my thoughts.
No, I don’t think so.
I try to say something aloud along those lines but all I find myself doing is grimacing and nodding.
“Yeah,” is all that I’m able to say.
Odd. I have a fleeting feeling of having no control some other time too. Not that long ago. But I can’t place my finger on it.
Sometimes I automatically want to be honest and get away. Other times it’s like I am a prisoner in my own body. And the latter makes me - well, I think I’ve gone through something like that before.
We’re stuck in traffic on the highway and moving at a turtle’s pace. He’s been holding onto my hand since I got in the car. I have been trying to not flinch from the zaps going into my skin. But there’s only so much I can take. I pull my hand a little, trying to pull it back away…
Sean slams aggressively on the horn.
“Let’s go!!” he yells.
I flinch.
He uses both hands to slam again on the car horn. Finally I get the opportunity to pull back. I pull down the visor and pretend to adjust my hair and makeup with my fingers to give my hand a break. I can feel him glancing at me. Itching to hold onto my hand again. I can’t come up with a good reason to keep away from his touch. I wish I could. I’ve tried a few already, each time he snatches my arm anyway. I can’t afford to get him angry again. Last time…
“Rach-” he says, his voice cut short.
He’s irritated.
I guess this brief reprieve couldn’t last forever.
“Yes?” I ask in my most innocent tone.
I pull up a small smile from somewhere in me that isn’t broken. Not yet. I can’t tell what’s going on but I know I can fight through it. I just need more time to figure everything out.
Sean’s eyes examine me and for a heartbeat I think he’s not going to buy it. My compliancy. But then he looks down at my hand and gestures with his eyes between my hand and his outstretched palm.
Being careful not to alter my face, I pretended like this wasn’t something I was avoiding.
My hand back in his and I forced myself to relax. Any tense movements and he would do whatever he had been doing to make me confused.
I just needed to keep this up and figure it out before he realized I was building up a tolerance to whatever was going on.
Something in me assured me I was strong.
I reached for more strength and for a split second I felt warmth all over and saw… something. Someone. They were just out of reach.
The cars started moving faster as we passed the site of a minor car crash that really should have just pulled off, but took up 2 lanes instead.
Sean refocused on the road and I dove down deeper into myself, reaching down into something strong, something true.
Something.

Ally~
Something odd has been going on with Kyle, and for some reason I had a feeling I needed to be up to watch him tonight.
We were back home after a long, long night and early morning. The wolves continued to interrogate Sophie and Tiffany, and a few others suspected of working with them. Nick suggested Kyle and I head home for rest. But I knew it was also about whatever he told his parents. From the look his mom gave me when they had come back from the forest earlier today, I know he hadn’t told them the truth. But she seemed more calm, so he must have told her something.
I left Evan still in the same position, with Nick able to look over him.
The heartbreak of rejecting a mate bond looked absolutely awful. Already his face seemed ashen and like all the blood had been drained from his face. His whole being, his aura, resembled Kyle when he had found his way to my house after the kidnapping. All pain achieved in a few minutes.
<<From Nick to Ally>>: I can feel you worrying and awake, what’s going on my heart?
I read Nick’s message, my mouth in a small smile before I could register it.
<<From Ally to Nick>>: I’m alright, I’m just worried about Kyle - something’s been going on with him…
Every day I was still in awe that I had a mate at all, let alone such a caring, sweet one. I longed for the day we wouldn’t need to be apart. But right now, and at our age - even via magical being standards, I don’t think my mom would go for it.
<<From Nick to Ally>>: I’m sorry I haven’t been able to talk. Evan is still almost exactly like how he was when you left. I was able to get him inside with some help from Jake when he woke up. But he just wanted to go to bed. As for my parents - they think we’ve just been dating and they insisted we break up so I can wait for my mate. Do you need any help with Kyle?
<<From Nick to Ally>>: Done - That was the fastest I have followed my parent’s instructions.
<<From Ally to Nick>>: lol. Thanks, love. And it’s okay, I know. As for Kyle- yeah that might be a good idea…
<<From Nick to Ally>>: Give me fifteen minutes

Kyle~
Somehow, mercifully I was able to fall asleep. These past 24 hours had felt like a week. Hard to believe I had just walked through Maxine’s memories, outrun her in there, gone to the packhouse and seen everything there.
It was still morning when we got home, and after filling in Ally’s mom, I tried to hit the hay. I really tried. But even with how tired I was, it just wouldn’t come. I thought I was going to have to insult a werewolf to come over and punch me out - and then I finally fell asleep.
I started in a comfortable spot, my grandma’s kitchen. I had some hot cocoa, and sat in my favorite chair. I tried not to think too hard about how I wasn’t actually here. Instead I focused on relaxing and sending my feelers out.
Oddly Rachel was asleep this early too. I grew stronger as I felt around there. A dream. Thankfully. But also something dark there? No. Maybe.
Not right now young fae, a soft melodic voice came to me.
I almost protested but suddenly my grandma’s voice was there.
“Ky - you leave the Goddesses be. They’ve work to do,” she said from the kitchen.
I could hear her opening and closing cabinets, her steps echoing on the vinyl floor. I didn’t want to look, didn’t want to have my heart broken again by seeing her. She hadn’t been in any of my dreams since - since she was…
My eyes fluttered open and there she was. A lump formed in my throat and I thought I would start bawling right there if I tried to speak. So I just watched her mill about the kitchen, making something out of dough by hand.
I could hear the dough smack onto her old wooden cutting board.
Even in this dreamstate tears came to my eyes.
“Grandma?” my voice, only as loud as a whisper, cracked.
She stopped what she was doing and looked at me with concern on her face. It broke me further and I choked on a sob.
“Nugget,” she said sternly like she was going to lecture me on the importance of studying my fae history tomes. “What have I told you about the importance of family and magic?”
She waited on me to answer, her hands braced on the counter in front of her.
I sniffed and answered her, “But what if you don’t have a family Gam?”
“Then go get one,” she said simply in a huff.
“It’s not that easy!” I said a little too loudly. “You’re gone.”
“I’m right here,” she said, going back to kneading the dough. “You’re already there Nugget. Just open your eyes. Open your heart. And for the sake of our beloved Fae Goddess - open your mouth. You can’t keep it all locked up inside. Love is there. Reach for it.”
I gripped roughly on the couch’s sides.
“But-”
“No Nugget,” she cut me off. “It’s there.”
“Where?” I said after a moment, so broken I barely made a sound.
“Look,” she said without looking up.