"Liam, I know, but just how are we going to fight that curse if I can't even understand what's wrong with it? I can't just let it dominate me like last time, I need to overcome it. I'll be just as useless if I can't even calm down the part that's inside me!"
"No, Mara," he growls. "I'm a hundred percent against this crazy idea. The mere thought that this stupid curse is still inside you already makes me worried sick. Now you actually want to go and wake up all that crazy and risk making yourself sick again? I know you're strong as hell, tiger, but that thing messes with your head! It just did last night, Mara! You're already tired as hell because you couldn't even go back to bed, now you want to do that all over again?"
I let out a long sigh, but I don't know what to say to that. I know Liam's right to be worried, and as my mate, he knows better than anyone how risky this is for me. However, I just can't sit still. It's not like me to give up, but I also don't want to make the mistake of provoking that curse on whichever birth place it's hiding if I can't even contain the darkness inside me.
"Mara," says Nora, "I think Liam is right... I know you really want to do well, but... there's been a lot happening these past few days, and honestly, there's probably more to come. You should rest a little."
Just as Nora said that, I feel a wave of fatigue suddenly come over me. It's not as if I hadn't felt it before, but... it was like a little thing in the back of my mind until Nora mentioned it. Plus, we just had lunch, and the digestion coma might be kicking in too. Liam wraps his arm around my shoulders again and pulls me in to gently kiss my forehead. I nod.
"Okay..."
Nora smiles gently.
"You can take one of the rooms upstairs and have a good nap. I promise we will wake you up if anything happens, alright?"
"Get a good rest," nods Kelsi. "I'll just keep studying this stuff and see if I can find more clues!"
"You're just impatient to dig into all that old witch stuff some more, eh?" chuckles Ben, teasing her.
Kelsi blushes, but we all know he's right. Ayesha suddenly lets out a long sigh.
"Finally! I'll help the human chick too."
I stare at her, giving her a clear warning.
"Ayesha, if anything happens..."
"Hey, I'm out of magic, alright? I'm not stupid enough to do anything when I have this many Alpha werewolves around and plus? I am actually interested in all this stuff too. Also, you guys fed me and no one actually killed me, so I guess I can behave for a few hours."
"We'll watch her." Selena nods behind her.
I know she and the others actually have enough power to keep Ayesha contained if anything happens... I guess I just feel a bit nervous about leaving her alone with Kelsi, but she won't be. Moreover, Kelsi happens to know a lot about witches. She might even be the first one to notice if anything is wrong, but I hope it won't get there. Ayesha even takes another burrito before sitting on the other side of the table, already grabbing one of the old, dusty books with a grimace.
Selena sighs and leans against the mantel. Meanwhile, Nathaniel and Damian Black keep exchanging glances, but whatever it is they are mind-linking about, they don't want to share. Nora smiles again, and gestures for us to go upstairs.
I am a bit embarrassed that Liam and I are taking a room with all his family here, but he guides me so naturally to the stairs, we leave the room in just a few seconds.
He picks an empty bedroom, probably one of Nora's guestrooms. I didn't realize how big the house is from the outside, but they do have several guest rooms on top of theirs and one for each child... Now that I have a bed right in front of me, I'm just dying to get in there and close my eyes. I take off my pants to be more comfortable, and climb on it, Liam chuckling behind me.
"That's... cheating," he says.
I chuckle.
"Stop being a pervert and come here."
"I'm not a pervert," he protests, climbing on the bed too. "My girlfriend is in panties right in front of me and I'm supposed to lie down and be a good wolf..."
"You can sleep on the floor if you want."
He makes a vexed expression, but he knows I wouldn't make him. He shakes his head, and comes to lie next to me. He takes off his top, but not his bottoms. Hm... afraid to lose control, perhaps? I smile a little and curl up against him. I can't help but cheat a bit, and put my fingers on his pecs, following the lines of his muscles.
"Hey..." he growls a bit.
"Don't move," I protest.
"Oh, you're a sadist..." he grumbles, closing his eyes.
I chuckle, but really, I'm... too tired for that. Maybe when we wake up? This is still his brother's house, though, and with everyone downstairs, I'm not sure I'd dare... I lazily trace circles on his chest, feeling my eyes wanting to close. Liam is already breathing slowly too, not reacting to my movements. He puts an arm around my waist, and I like his heat against mine... The smell of his skin too. We smell like the same soap, but it's still Liam's smell underneath... my mate's smell. My wolf is content, and she lies down like a good girl too.
