THE MOON COURT

Chapter 2

Charlotte POV 

I was so tired after our daily practice with my grandfather that I just wanted some peace and quiet. I had to go through my lessons with Alice and then skipped dinner, because I was terrified I wasn’t going to fit inside that ridiculous dress Aunt Diane had chosen for me. It felt like a second skin, but right now all I could think about was those ridiculous delicious muffins Aunt Bethany had made this morning. 

As I walk into the kitchen around ten in the middle of the night, I'm immediately grateful that no one could see my little victory dance as I found the last remaining chocolate muffins. I popped the smallest one into my mouth and moaned as my toes curled with delight. 

“Still the night kitchen raider I see.” 

I start choking awkwardly as I turn around to find Gideon standing in the door only in his navy blue boxers, barefoot with amusement in those hazel eyes. I have seen that ripped stomach and toned legs more than a thousand times, but now everything was different. We weren't teenagers anymore. He was certainly not a child anymore, he was a man and the scars reminded me of what made this wall of muscle standing in front of me so intimidating. 

“Some things never change,” I say and pop another one into my mouth while turning around and quickly opening one of the fridges looking for milk. 

I could feel myself blushing and hated myself for wearing the most boyish blue baggy pajamas I own. 

WHY JUST WHY????

“Yes some things never do.” 

His voice carries a message that takes me off guard and I grab the milk and just start chugging it down. After three swallows I realize how manly I’m actually drinking this and want to die.

“I needed to get a couple of sips in before you down it like you always do, Do you remember how your mom caught us when we were trying to eat Erandri’s birthday cake when we were like what tenish?”  I wipe my mouth as I turn around to face him and find him so close to me I almost take a step back, but the Alpha blood in me makes me take a step towards him. 

“Yes I remember every moment with you Char, you have grown and aren’t the girl you were when I left four years ago and I don’t know if..,” His eyes were darkening and as his eyes flicker to my lips I revert my eyes.

“No don’t you dare say it, I know my hair looks ridiculous like a huge unkept bush of curls doing whatever they want, but I’m still the puzzle solving, arty girl you left behind,” I say trying to make him laugh by fluffing my hair, but he only brushes a fallen curl behind my ear. I see goosebumps run over his skin and my heart feels like it is about to burst.

“I didn’t want to,” he whispers and my eyes flicker to his beautiful long fingers and I swallow a little too hard. 

“I always loved your hair and I have to admit it did grow longer, but I was trying to say is that i don’t know how to describe how you look without sounding like a creep, f**k i’m like your brother” he stops as if realising what he said would break the weird tension between us and suddenly takes the milk out of my hand and drinks while not taking his eyes off of me. My eyes flicker to his throat and the way his skin seemed to call to me like a siren. 

I took another step wanting to touch his throat knowing I was going to cross a line that I wanted to since I could remember. Then I see it. A scar running over his shoulder and a tattoo arching over his chest. I touch his shoulder and then slowly walk around him and he goes as still as when he was hunting and the milk falls out of his hand, but we both ignore it as his finger runs down the side of my body slowly taking my hand. I don’t feel nervous at all as I study the different tattoo’s on his back flowing into each other like some kind of tree. I waited for him to start telling me the reason for each of these symbols. I could see that it was maybe Fey symbols and maybe some warlock? I couldn’t understand it except one. 

“I lost you in war and so war will become part of me to have a part of you”

 I go very still knowing it was for his father Edward that died in the war. My fathers best friend that he still always talks about and that Aunt Diane loved deeply, her first mate that sacrificed himself to save her. The story made me and Erandri cry every time we talked about tragic love stories. And Diane would sometimes make a joke and say “Yeah, well Jack and Rose have nothing on us,” we didn’t understand until my mother told me it was one of the most romantic stories back in the mundane world about a ship called the Titanic. Where Jack was a card player, Edward was someone who always just wanted to protect everyone and I could see it in Gideon since he was a little boy. 

The tattoo was just under his shoulder bone and as I finally touched him I felt his whole body tense. 

My mind starts jumping at the thought, are we mates? He’s already past 21 and we’ve seen each other and he’s acting different? Should I just ask him? 

His skin was warm and the tattoo on his back had dramatic arches and would have been dangerously beautiful for any artist and before I could help myself I bent down and pressed my lips softly against it, making him shiver and make the most beautiful sound. “You are not my brother Gideon,” I whisper and don’t know if it's me or my wolf talking, but the way he bows his head makes me wonder if I just offended him. 

“No I’m not,” 

He gently pushes me against the kitchen table as his hands run up my neck and cheeks, holding my face. He pushes his forehead against mine and I take in the feel of his body pushing against the fridge and I want to just die in his arms. His breath fans my face and his dark eyes search mine.

“Kiss me,” I whisper and he goes so still like he was just about to attack his prey and then he smiles while he runs his thumb over my lips. 

“I wouldn’t be able to stop,” He whispers and then kisses me gently on both of my cheeks. 

“Then don’t, don’t stop” I whisper and one of his hands grip my hips pushing me against him making it clear with the feel of his hips that he wanted me too. 

“I will not have you in a kitchen,” he whispers and then kisses the side of my neck where my mate would mark me and I gasp and without thinking I say. 

“Are we mates?” I blurt out and his eyes flicker to my lips. 

“Charlotte I..”

‘WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?” My Father steps into the kitchen and he does not look happy. 

“Gideon!’ I hear two other men's voices and as I untangle myself from Gideon I peek over my fathers shoulder at the two warriors standing behind him. 

“Charlotte your mother is waiting for you in your room,” Lucas says and just stares at Gideon and I know they are mind speaking. 

“I would like to talk to the three of you Gideon, there has been an update about the Cyanide. Ash has discovered something and Eli said we would find you here and I was thinking you had respect for my daughter,” Lucas says and I can see his eyes start to glow. 

I place my hand on my fathers shoulder and shake my head popping one of the little muffins in his mouth. 

“We were just talking truly, I was just trying to steal the milk back. You know Gideon is like a brother to me,” I say and I see Ash and ELi sharing a look and when they look back at Gideon there is so much laughter in their eyes I want to throw up. My father swallows and kisses my cheek, but I can still see the tension in his shoulder.

“Love you,” my father whispers and I dart to my room and find my mother sitting on my bed staring out the window. She and I will look like sisters forever I realize. She turns and smiles at me and I’m reminded of my mothers soft heart and how she can see straight through me. 

“I’m scared Gideon is not my mate ,” I tell her and she only opens her arms and I rush into them. 

“Your mate will be exactly what you need and it’s ok to be scared and uncertain. My love story should be a great example of that,”  she whispers and I only nod. I couldn’t imagine what my mother felt when My father and Eric almost died. I know the mating bond between my mother and Eric snapped the moment the prophecy was fulfilled, but I sometimes wonder what if it wasn't? I fight away the thought and as if hearing it my mother kisses my forehead. 

“If your father had died on that field, I would have too. We are heart mates, but I chose him long before. It was just so complicated and it’s alright to make mistakes Charlotte, remember love is the most powerful thing in the world, but also the most confusing,” She whispers and I chuckle. 

I sit up and take her hands, “I can’t believe tomorrow is..” 

“Hush! I don’t want to hear the baby say it!” My aunt Diane comes in as dramatic as ever wearing pajamas and Erandri is with her holding a tray of hot chocolate. 

“My father was called by Lucas and I realized we should properly come check out how your nerves are feeling!” Erandri says and I smile as my best friend comes to sit next to me. Diane and my mother start chatting and so does Erandri and me about today’s dance class and after a couple of minutes Erandri and I are joking about how our first kisses will be like and find our mothers smiling at us. 

“What?” Erandri and I ask in union and immediately laugh at each other. 

“We’re just wondering how on earth did we get so lucky,” My mother says and Diane rolls her eyes, “No well I’m wondering how is it possible that we have the most beautiful daughters and they haven’t even had their first kiss yet! Where did I go wrong!” 

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Gideon POV 

“A HYBRID? HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?” I say and see Ash and Eli share my anger at this information. 

“I thought it wasn’t possible either until I saw him with my own eyes tonight,” Ash says and I shake my head knowing where he was. The dark woods where the most despicable things happen at a market. We’ve tried locating it, but each time the market would flee as if they could read our minds. 

‘’I need to know if the three of you will be up for this task?” Lucas says his eyes solemnly focused on me. 

“SO let me get this straight,” Eli says and stands up, slapping his hands on his thighs, “We are to kill the Hybrid and locate the Cyanide, before it is mutated into something stronger? How do we know it isn’t already?” My friend is right and I stare at Lucas seeing him calculating.

“They can’t go alone,” Nicolas says and I see the dread blooming  in his eyes, but I shake my head. 

‘’We are the best chance you got,’’ I say standing up and so does Ash. 

‘’We will locate the fae called Hen and Simon will help us track him. That part is easy, but what about the hybrid?”

‘’If you can’t kill him bring him home, but this is after the ceremony tomorrow night. You will leave in two days time after the arrangements are made for your travels,’’ lucas says and watches me closely, but I don't flinch as he asks me in mindspeak. 

‘’Is Charlotte your mate?’’ 

I stay behind as everyone leaves feeling the tension in the air between me and Lucas. Eli and Ash try to catch my eye, but I only smile and say in mind speak, “Gotta do this now or never,” 

“He’s gonna kill ya!” 

“Shut up Eli, man he is trying to keep calm!” 

“I am calm,” 

“Sure, buddy!” They say in union and I roll my eyes that I realize is the wrong thing to do because Lucas is staring straight at me. 

As Eric closes the door I see Nicolas and him sharing a look and know they are mind speaking to each other and I wonder. Does Lucas even trust them like he trusted Edward? WHat type of person was my father? So many times I wanted to ask my mother, but I was terrified it would hurt Nicolas’s feelings. 

Lucas places his hands on the table and a soft look crosses his face. 

“Your father was supposed to have this talk with you, because Nicolas is technically the father you grew up with, but I know what your father would have told you.” Lucas begins and my breath catches in my throat as someone knocks on the door. 

Aunt Bethany comes in with her swollen pregnant belly and she has a sad look in her eyes. 

“It wasn’t Lucas who wanted to talk to you, it was me and him, because he knows Charlotte is your mate and I want to help you understand something,” I quickly stood up and let her take my seat as I took Eli’s. 

“I'm listening, could I atleast get you something to eat or drink?” 

“That would be lovely, I think there are some of my muffins left..” she starts to say and then eyes the plate on the table. 

“No you didn’t!” She hits Lucas on the chest and we burst out laughing. She laughs with us and I quickly get her a glass of milk and some pomegranate. She takes a long sip and then takes my hand. 

“Lucas you can start,” she says and my eyes dart between them. 

“My daughter is my world and I know you will treat her right, but I knew Edward as a person that would give everyone everything and never wanted something for himself,” he begins and I see tears fill his eyes and I swallow my own and stare at the table. 

“He always protected me and I just wanted him to be happy, but he wanted to keep a promise he made when we were just children and he was so honorable in everyway. He was kind and I still sometimes don’t know how to do life without him,” Bethany says and I squeeze her hand not knowing where this conversation as going. 

“He loved so much and I can see it in you, Gideon, so much and it scared me, because of all the things I want is for you to be selfish in the things you love and don’t let anyone tell you differently,”

Lucas says and I only nod and then shake my head. 

“So what are you asking me to not be like my father?” my voice breaks and I suddenly grab my hand back. I didn’t mean to say it like that, but no one would talk to me about my father ever. My mother would start and just cry and I couldn't handle this.

 “no , not at all we just want...” 

“I understand and I respect you, but the only thought I had that was truly selfish is that why everyone survived, and my father died. Why couldn’t it be anyone else.  Everyone tells me I look like him and yet that is all I hear my whole life and now that I will finally have a mate, someone that I have known my whole life and feel like everything makes sense about my life, you want to talk about this. I wanted my dad and yet still Nicolas is my father. But now you make me wish he was here to tell me this, you make me think of what could have been,” 

“Gideon, we loved him truly and I know you were only two when you saw him and you can’t remember,” 

“I remember him and every word, he lives through me,” I whisper and Lucas' tears fall freely. 

“I know, you are just like him and just like Nicolas and all I was trying to say was he was my best friend and you will  be my son now, in a way you have always been my son too. I am trusting you with my daughter, I am saying that when you go to war you have to remember that you and Charlotte have immortal blood and if you die she is alone. I will not lose you too, be selfish when it comes to what you want for her. Don’t think of everyone, you have a responsibility to her, I have seen the way you don’t care about your own life for each warrior no matter the rank and I have so much respect for you, but please BE MORE CAREFUL!” 

I shake my head and as we stand up he grabs me in a bear hug and then Bethany whispers. 

“Edward and Lucas would have gotten so drunk tonight knowing their children were mates,” Lucas and I grab each other's arms and laugh. 

“He would have been so proud,” Lucas says and I shake my head. 

“Thank you for the short chat, i will do right by both of you and to Charlotte in everyway I can,”

I say and then as they excuse me I run up the stairs and find Simon sitting there with a book on his knee. 

His warlock eyes jump up and he winks at me. 

“Hey Asshole, I want to show you something!” He says and I chuckle. 

“No Fey drugs tonight kid!” I say and then as I pass him something is suddenly pressed against my mouth and I pass out. 

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