And Then There Were Four (Lilith Carrie)

Chapter 108: Teasing James

Ivy.

Standing at the back door, looking at the guys by the clubhouse, I found confusion about what was

happening. It wasn’t like them to ignore me the first time I called, but I knew I wasn’t the center of their

world.

At least, I didn’t think I was.

However, what caught my attention the most was how uncomfortable James looked. I had watched them

before ! came outside, and I saw how James dramatically flailed his arms around as if he was telling

them a story. A story I fully knew already.

I could tell what happened last night had been on his mind this morning. The link we shared going crazy

as he tried to push his thoughts aside and think of baseball, of all things, as I was trying to read him.

It was all too obvious though, and chuckling internally, I found amusement in how the great ‘playboy’

James was act ing right now.

Power surged through me like nothing I had ever felt be fore, and for once, I was content, determined to

get Damian back instead of feeling depressed.

I missed him, but I was taking the initiative instead of whining and crying about something I couldn’t

change. I was going to fix this.

I was going to get him back one way or another,

“What’s going on? Is everything okay?” Hale said with a soft smile as he looked at me.

I could sense the beast lurking beneath his skin. It called out to me. Purring in a sense, but he held him

back quite well. The Lycan respected him and chose to stay held back, not that it couldn’t break free if it

wanted to.

Hale and Talon had years of experience, though. Years of practice at control.

James was new to it, and the more he freaked out, the more out of control he would be.

I could almost see the electrifying aura that flowed over their skin. After awakening James last night,

something in me changed, and I awoke this morning with a whole new outlook on life. I could see things I

had never seen before.

“Yes, of course. Everything’s okay,” | smiled. “Is James okay? He looks absolutely flustered.”

The boys turned back to see James walking up towards us. A forced smile upon his face before he

stopped, rubbing the back of his neck as he stared at me with a lopsided grin. “Hey Ivy, everything

okay?”

Taking a moment, I stared at him as the corners of my lips turned up into a small smirk. “I’m great. A

better question would be, are you okay?”

The amusement in my tone and the seduction of the way! asked him seemed to startle him. Both Talon

and Hale looked between James and I before he burst out laughing again,

shaking his head as he walked past me back into the house.

My suspicions had been correct. Then James had told them what had happened last night and as I gave

Hale a side glance, he hesitated for a moment before nodding and walk ing inside as well. He knew I

needed a moment with James.

Yet, as James realized this, his face went pale.

“James, you a little out of sorts after last night? I can see that something’s bothering you, and nothing

else has hap pened to you since then that I know of, and considering the fact Talon was just laughing, I

can only assume-”

Tilting my head from side to side with a smile, I waited for him to finish the conversation I had started. If

he was honestly that worked up about what happened last night, then, of course, I would apologize.

I didn’t mean for it to happen-it just did.

“Ivy, about last night. I wasn’t going to say anything,” he said, trailing off as he swallowed deeply my

eyes, watching his Adam’s apple move up and down with his hesitation. “I hon estly don’t even know

what to say.”

Stepping forward, I kissed his lips, gently running a finger over the side of his face. “There’s no need for

you to be afraid, James. I’m sorry that things happened the way they did last night. I didn’t mean for that

to happen, but it was like some thing else inside me came alive. A name that was there… to fix all our

problems.”

“My name?” he whispered, staring at me.

“Your true name… yes.”

Letting the information slowly sink in, he nodded his head before wrapping his arms around my waist,

pulling me close ly. “I’m sorry that I acted a little weird.”

“A little weird?” | teased playfully, letting a small giggle es cape my lips.

“OK, maybe I was acting a little weird, but Ivy, you scared the shit out of me. I was literally a passenger in

my own mind. You can’t do stuff like that.” There was seriousness in what James said, and I felt guilty. At

the same time, though, I didn’t feel guilty.

It was a complicated feeling I didn’t understand but knew eventually I would.

“I know, and I’m sorry that I upset you. Did you really not enjoy the moments we had last night?” Looking

up at him, batting my eyelashes, I sought forgiveness, and, of course, the puppy dog look I gave him

instantly melted as he pulled me closer, kissing me gently.

“You know, I can’t be upset with you, and last night was absolutely amazing. I mean, we‘ve had a lot of

amazing sex, but last night it was almost electrifying.”

That was not a word I had thought to describe what had happened, but with the rush of sexual tension

and power flowing around his room last night, one could almost assume that I had been electrifying.

“Hmm… I never really thought about it, calling it electrify ing. But perhaps the next time we have fun, it

could be a lot more intense.” Placing my lips against his once more, I bit playfully before turning round

and sashaying my happy ass back inside the house.

James was a complicated man. Once upon a time he had been a complete ladies’ man looking to take

whatever woman looked appealing to him. That was until he met me, and in a way, I turned his life

upside down.

| turned him from the town playboy into a gentle family man who only thought of others, and what he

could do for them. I knew he would be the perfect father as the years went on, and honestly, I couldn’t

wait to have more children with him.

He was perfect in every way… even if he got spooked easi

1. ly.

James just wasn’t expecting things to turn out the way they have with us, I suppose, which does honestly

make a lot of sense because I don’t think anybody normally would have been able to comprehend what

the fuck we had going on.

Making my way inside, I passed through the kitchen to wards the living room, where Hale and Talon sat

talking with Kate. I had gone off the day before on them when they had done what they did and I felt

guilty because I could have han dled it better.

I could see now they were trying to protect me and bless their hearts for thinking that putting a binding

spell on the house would keep me locked in it.

Now that my warriors were awakened, breaking from this place would be a lot easier. I simply needed a

few more things.

And to fulfill what I needed, of course-I needed Damian.

But getting Damien was the problem. Once I broke the

barrier, I would have to find a way to surpass everything the Council was doing and the darkness hiding

behind them.

“Hey guys. What are you up to?” | asked as I stood by the opening to the living room, watching. Their

eyes turned to me with curiosity.

“Not much,” kate sighed as she gave me a small smile of reassurance. “Angel went back out past the

border to see if he could make his way to getting another audience with the council, but they turned him

away, saying that they had busi ness elsewhere and that they wouldn’t be available for a few weeks.”

Business elsewhere? I thought to myself as I tried to com prehend what she was saying. What kind of

business could the Council have that they would refuse an audience? There were always elder members

there, so it didn’t make any sense.

Deep inside me, though, had that answer, and as much as I wanted to ignore it, I had learned from the

goddesses and also Priscilla to listen to the voices and to take my gut in stincts seriously. Because at the

end of the day, they would give me the answers I needed.

“You don’t think that they’re possibly coming here, do

you?”

I watched as both Hale, Talon, and Kate sat quietly, glanc ing between each other before looking back at

me. “Honestly, Ivy, there’s no point in lying. I was just trying to protect you before, and I do apologize for

the things that we have done. However, that doesn’t mean that I’m going to let the barrier down, because

keeping you protected is the most important thing to me right now. You and the children.”

I wanted to argue with him, to tell him he was incorrect in his statement, but I chose a different path. “I

understand, and even though I’m not happy with it, I’ll accept it for now.”

Lies. It was all lies. I wasn’t going to sit idly by.

“Good,” he replied before he stood to his feet. “I have a feeling that they might come here, Ivy, to get you,

and that is another reason why the barrier was put up. Because we can protect the house, but not if you

try to run out and give your self up in order to protect one of us.”

He knew me too well, and as a small smile tried to force its way onto my lips, I held it back. I didn’t want

him to see I knew very well what he would do if they came for me. Each of those men would turn around

and lay their lives on the line to pro tect me and the children from whatever forces tried to take me. But

what they didn’t realize was I was prepared for that game should the Council come seeking to take me.

It would honestly make things one hundred times easier if they came here because it meant I had fewer

miles to travel. I needed to seek the guidance of the Goddesses to speak to Frigga and make sure what

was coming was what I had thought I had seen before.

“Well, I’m feeling a little tired after everything from last night, so I’m just gonna go take a nap. Is that okay

with you guys?”

Talon snorted at my comment as he laughed, knowing full well what I was referring to. James pushed

past me though, entering the living room and did not find amusement in what I said. “It’s not funny.”

Tod’”Of course, it’s not James. Nobody’s laughing. Talon sim

ply seems to have lost his mind this morning,” I replied as a twinkling glint of amusement loomed within

my eyes as ! glanced over at Talon.

“Am I missing something?” Kate asked as she looked be tween all of us.

“No, nothing too serious, but I’m sure the guys can fill you in. Anyway, I’m going to go take a nap. You

guys try not to get into too much trouble and wake me up if anything happens?”

My hanging question in the air caused them all to nod in agreement. But as I made my way up the stairs,

I sent a tanta lizing vibe directly towards Talon. He had been a very naughty boy, laughing at his brother

in his stressed-out situation.

Perhaps it was time he had his fill of me.

Or was it I’d have my fill of him?