Chapter Four

For the rest of the Sunday we celebrated with our family and lazed around in the living room watching movies and napping in between. That night at dinner I felt more like myself and Martha had outdone herself making our favourites to celebrate us getting our dragons.

“My boys are all grown up now,” our mother said as she looked at us.

“In more ways than one,” Lucas said and Chase started laughing out loud.

“What do you mean in more ways than one?” Rylee asked him.

“Oh my gosh! Are you two banging girls?” Emily asked loudly and Rev almost choked and Hannah looked at her in horror.

“Banging girls? Emily!” Hannah said as Rev just shook his head.

“I think I hear my phone ringing in my office,” Lucas said as my mother glared at him.

“Not so fast wise guy, is that true, are you two sexually active?” Rylee asked us and I didn’t know where to hide my face.

“Mom seriously, do you want to discuss this at the dinner table?” Chase asked her.

“That means yes Aunt Rylee,” Emily said as I pretended to be interested in my plate.

“I hope you’re using protection,” she said.

“I am,” I said and Chase laughed as everyone looked at me with shock on their faces.

“You guys shouldn’t sleep around before you’ve met your bonded half,” Hannah said.

“So it’s okay to sleep around after I’ve met her?” Chase asked and Hannah threw a bread roll at his head.

“Smart ass,” she said and Lucas tried not to laugh.

“That’s not funny,” Rylee said looking disappointed.

“How old were you again the first time we had sex?” Lucas asked her.

“So what’s new at school?” Rylee asked us and we all laughed because we knew the answer to that question.

We headed to bed early as exhaustion took over again and I slept like the dead. I didn’t even send Tia her regular goodnight text and I woke up the next morning feeling back on form again. Abeloth stretched when I did and I smiled as I finished getting ready for school.

“Today’s the day,” I said to him and placed Tia’s gift in my school bag.

“If you say so halfling,” he said sounding bored.

“You’ll change your tune once we establish our bond with her,” I said to him. I was feeling very positive about Tia being my bonded half because that meant I could officially bring her home to meet my parents.

“Have a good day,” Lucas yelled as we walked past his office and headed downstairs.

We drove to school and parked side by side like we normally did. Chase climbed out of the car and he looked around. Something seemed different with him and I followed his gaze as he stared at the group of girls.

Kenna, Melissa, Tori, Leana and Megan stood to one side speaking to each other and clearly waiting for Tia to arrive. I looked back at Chase who seemed rooted to the spot.

“What’s going on with you?” I asked him.

“I can smell her,” he said the shock evident in his eyes.

“Your bonded half?” I asked him and he nodded.

He started walking towards them and now I was the one rooted in my spot as I watched him with shock on my face. Kenna smiled as she looked up and saw Chase but he zeroed in on the girl standing next to her and I could see the shock on her face. She wasn’t seventeen yet so she wouldn’t experience it the way Chase would but she would have an idea when he touched her.

Suddenly Chase kissed her, his hands on either side of her face, as Kenna stood there with her mouth open and everybody watched them. Chase broke the kiss off and stared into her eyes as Melissa took a step backwards and slapped him hard across his face.

“Ooh,” I said out loud as I watched his stunned face and then Melissa turned and ran for her life. Kenna was the next one to slap him as she stomped off and he turned towards me as I started to laugh. He lifted his arms questioningly and shrugged as he walked into the school building.

The scent of dark chocolate and bergamot filled my nose and I turned around as I instantly recognized that this was the scent of my bonded half. Tia walked towards me and I smiled in happiness. She had that dazed look in her eye that Chase had just had and soon we were kissing too.

“I’m so freaking happy right now,” I said the moment we stopped kissing to breathe.

“Me too,” she said as we intertwined our hands and I took her bag from her.

“I almost forgot to tell you Chase found his bonded half too,” I said to her.

“Oh wow who is it? Is it Kenna, because if it’s Kenna I’m going to die,” she said looking serious.

“What’s wrong with Kenna?” I asked her.

“She’s a slut,” Tia said and I started laughing.

“So is Leana, and you’re friends with her,” I pointed out.

“True but Leana is also my cousin, so there’s nothing I can do about that,” she said.

“His bonded half is Melissa,” I said and she stopped walking.

“Quiet, reserved Melissa? As in my friend Melissa?” she yelled.

“Yeah, talk about total opposites, she’s watched him bang half the school and she slapped him across his face right after he kissed her,” I told her.

“I’ll talk to her, oh wow we’re going to be sisters-in-law!” she yelled the last part with excitement.

“I’m sure Chase will charm her to his side,” I said and Tia laughed.

At lunch Chase sat across from Melissa and kept staring at her and I couldn’t stop laughing because she was so uncomfortable. He didn’t even look at anyone else and even though a few girls tried to get his attention he dismissed them all as he stared lovingly at her.

“Stop staring at me,” she hissed.

“I can’t, you’re just so beautiful and I think I love you,” he said and she blushed a deep red.

“Stop being weird!” she finally yelled.

“I’ll be whatever you want me to be,” he said not taking his eyes off of her.

“Why did I have to get you?” she asked and I laughed again as Tia slapped my leg.

“He’s not all bad Melissa and if there’s anyone out there that can change him it’s you,” I said to her.

“I know but why couldn’t I get a normal guy with morals and who likes to read,” she said.

“I can read,” he said and she glared at him again.

“We need to talk Chase,” Kenna said as she stood next to the table.

“No we don’t,” he said without even looking at her.

“We’ve been dating for two months!” she said angrily.

“And now I’ve found my bonded half, I’m sorry Kenna but you just don’t feature anymore, now it’s all about Melissa,” he said to her and Melissa groaned.

Melissa stood up from the table and started off towards the door. Chase sighed and got up as well but I stopped him, “let me brother,” I said to him and followed her outside into the hallway.

“Hey can we talk?” I asked her.

“Sure Ryder,” she said and I led her to an empty classroom.

“I know this is awkward for you and I’m probably biased because he’s my brother but everything in his life will change now that he’s found you, don’t deny this for yourself either because the bond will grow whether you want it to or not, he’ll change everything about himself if that’s what makes you happy and eventually you’d do the same for him. As soon as you turn seventeen that bond will intensify with like a million percent of what you’re feeling now and before you can blink you’re going to love him,” I said and she sighed.

“I know but did he really have to sleep with everyone I know?” she asked looking dejected.

“He didn’t sleep with your social circle at least,” I said and she laughed suddenly.

“Yeah lucky me I got the one guy that didn’t bang Leana,” she said and I laughed with her.

“If it makes you feel any better I’ll take him for an STD test,” I said and this time she genuinely laughed.

“Actually, that’s not a bad start,” she said as the bell rang.

After school I followed Chase home as he looked depressed and I couldn’t stop laughing at him. Finally he had enough of me as we walked up the stairs and he lunged at me suddenly as we tumbled down two flights of stairs hitting each other.

“Stop fucking laughing at me!” he yelled as we landed with a thud on the floor.

“Stop being such a dick,” I said through my laughter.

“It’s not funny,” he said as we lay on the floor.

“Actually it is, because it’s your dick that got you into this predicament,” I said and started laughing again.

“Shit,” he said and closed his eyes.

“Why are you laying on the floor?” Emily asked as she looked down on us.

“Chase is depressed because his bonded half hates him,” I said and Emily laughed.

“Serves you right,” she said and stepped over us and headed upstairs.

At dinner that night I broke the news that Tia and I were in fact bonded halves and everyone seemed pleased as Chase remained quiet which was very unlike him so I decided to share his good news for him.

“Chase also happened to meet his bonded half this morning,” I said and he glared at me.

“Oh really who is it?” Rylee asked excitedly.

“Melissa O’Hare,” I said and smiled.

“I know her mother, she’s a very nice girl,” Rylee said and I started laughing again.

“In fact she’s so nice she asked if Chase could go for some STD tests you know before she considers accepting their bond,” I said and Lucas and Rylee both looked at us in shock as Chase lowered his head to the table.

“Fuck Chase, how many girls have you slept with?” Lucas asked him.

“A lot,” Emily answered.

“Man-whore,” Rev said and I started laughing again.

“Was she serious?” Chase asked me.

“Deadly,” I said.

“This is just fucking great,” Lucas said as I laughed again.