(Author’s POV)

"I am at the Larson mansion. What happened? Do you want to talk about something important?" Nora questioned. She thought Myra would want to tell her about Fabian and her date. She glanced at Elio, who was busy applying the medicine to Elisa’s hands and excused herself from the room to get some privacy.

"Ohh~ ... actually, mom and dad asked me to call you and ask. They wanted to know whether you, your brothers and Mrs. Everests are free in the evening?" Myra spoke. "They want to invite you all for a formal dinner tonight."

"Uhh, I am free~ ... but about others, I will have to check up with them first," Nora replied.

"Ohh~ ... okay, let me know," Myra mumbled, her voice low.

"Is~ ... is anybody else invited?" Nora inquired, choosing her words carefully. "I mean, is it just both of our families?"

"Pretty much. Mom did invite Mr Yates senior, but Yelena told us that he is departing tomorrow and has to finish up his work. So, he can’t make it," Myra conveyed.

"Then, what about~ .... Prof. Stephens?" she asked. "Is he coming?"

"Ohh, Fabian. He has some things going on. So, won’t be available as well," Myra said. She had spoken to Fabian earlier on the phone. He was accompanying Jacob at that time. Though he quite desperately wanted to go to her place, he was reminded of his grandfather’s words and had to decline. Plus, there were preparations he needed to make regarding security and other matters for tomorrow’s council meeting. Myra understood and didn’t push any further.

"Okay. I will ask the others and let you know. Bu-bye," Nora chimed.

"Ummmm, please do," Myra hummed, and the call ended there.

"A family dinNEAAAA~ .... OoOoo~ My~ Moon~ Goddess~ ... ELIO, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING? Sneaking up on me like that," Nora almost jumped out of her skin.

"Sorry, didn’t mean to," Elio blinked innocently. "Was it a call from Myra? What did she say?" he shifted the topic

Nora was still trying to recover from that jump scare, her hand on her chest. After a moment, she spoke, "She called to ask whether you are free in the evening or not?"

"Myra called~ ... to ask for me?" Elio’s eyes widened, his brows ready to touch the roof. His heart flipped inside his chest. Leo was rolling with excitement, ’Why would she be asking for us, Eli? Is this a sign from the moon goddess? Does Myra want to~ .... finally confess her feelings? I can’t wait. I can’t wait. I can’t wait.’

Elio replied, chuckling, ’Don’t go on about your high horses, Leo. She must want to have a normal conversation." Though he said it, he could not help but imagine the possibility of Myra’s heartfelt words. After all, when she visited Kimberg last year, the spark that he felt with her, the time they spent together, the passionate kiss they shared in his bedroom, the way whenever their eyes met, he could see the shyness in those brilliant hazels. The feelings, in his eyes, they were all mutual.

"Not specifically you," Nora added, shattering his romantic illusions. "Apparently, she asked for our whole family. Uncle Will and Aunt Sandra had invited us all for dinner."

"Huhh? Uhhh~ .... ohh~ ... so it’s like that," Elio’s voice came out melancholic, his spirit lowered. But he instantly straightened his back and replied, "I don’t have anything scheduled for the evening."

"Good, let me ask others. Then, I’ll tell her. Let’s go," Nora said and strutted down the hallway.

___________________________

"What did she say? They’ll come, hmm?" Sandra asked with anticipation.

"She said she’ll ask them first," Myra replied. After that, she began ascending the stairs to her room. Once inside, she locked the door, marched towards her bed and plopped onto it. Staring at the ceiling, she mumbled to herself, "Ughhhh~ .... fucking goodness. How can I survive tonight’s dinner with Brave there? What has been wrong with my head? And~ ... and, why the hell did I agree to meet Brave tonight? Why did I do that? After having such~ .... such vulgar thoughts." She closed her eyes tightly, clenching her fists. The images of the vividly intimate scenes flashed like a movie trailer inside her head. She could still feel the sensation, the rawness of the touch, the brushing of their hands against her exposed skin. Them cooing with their husky, sexy voice. It all made her face flush scarlet, and her body started to heat up instantly. Her breath came out laboured, ragged. She felt a gust of something warm coming out of her secret tunnel. It made her shudder and rub her thighs together, as a guttural, unintentional moan escaped her mouth, "Aaaghhhh~ ...."

She unclenched her hands as the left one started its journey. It reached her left thigh as she caressed it slowly. But just as it started to travel upwards, her eyes flew open as she halted all her actions and remained still as a statue.

’What am I doing? Arghhhhh~ .... Myra~ ... Myra~ ... stop thinking about it. JUST STOP IT. This is not right,’ she shook her head, trying to deny it. ’But apart from others, who else was there in the dream? Didn’t one of them call me their mates?’ Her eyes trembled as she recalled how all the Everests brothers had once called her their mate.

Once again, she shook her head. This time, a lot more rigorously, "No, all that wasn’t true. It was just some weird dream, that’s all. Get your mind out of the gutter. Let’s wipe it from memory. Delete it. Erase it. Think about something else~ ... something else."

She desperately tried to shift her focus onto something else and all of a sudden recalled the tattoo on Chris’s forearm. "Yeah, that tattoo, it looked so familiar~ .... Unsettling familiar." Clicking her fingers, she mumbled, "I remember where I have seen it before. It is from one of my dreams. The guy with Amy’s sister, that girl, Vienna Clinton. He had a similar inked image engraved on his forearm, too. But what is the meaning of that tattoo? If it were just for fashion, why do I feel a chill run down my spine whenever I see it? Even now~ .... picturing it gives me shivers."

To Be Continued . . . . . . . . .