Part Three- Chapter 24

“When you go through a hard period,

When everything seems to oppose you,

... When you feel you cannot even bear one more minute,

NEVER GIVE UP!

Because it is the time and place that the course will divert!”

― Rumi, The Essential Rumi

DARYA P.O.V

“Three, four, Knock at the door” I heard Lorcan singing, the moment I climbed out of my car.

“Five, six, pick up the sticks.” I smiled as I saw Lorcan sitting on Sel’s lap and singing, while she was cutting his nails.

“Seven, eight, lay them straight. Nine, Ten-”

“A big fat hen” I shouted louder than Lorcan because I always loved that rhyme.

“Daroo” Lorcan screamed and getting of Sel’s lap, he rushed towards me.

“My baby-bear, I missed you so much” I cooed kissing the top of his head. Lorcan let out a loud shout of laughter as I tickled his stomach. “Alright, let’s go inside” I said when he fell on his butt near my feet. “And your Cadbury is in this” I told him handing him my handbag. Just like Sel’s grandpa, Lorcan too loved Cadbury’s.

Chuckling, I looked up and found Sel staring at me with an amused expression. “You let him mark you” she stated and I gulped. This is why I think Sel knows me better than I know myself. She knew Quillon could not have marked me if I did not want it.

“Surprise” I tried to be cute but Sel just shook her head.

“Come in” she said walking inside the house. Pouting, I did as told.

“You will tell Duncan?” I asked sitting on the couch, while Lorcan ran away to bring a pair of scissors.

“What do you think?” she asked smirking and I nervously licked my bottom lip. I think it is better that way. Sel telling him and getting him prepared for it, then him actually flipping when he sees my mark. “How and when did this happen?” Sel asked handing me a glass of juice.

I told her everything but cut some details, like us making out for one.

“What about Quillon. How does he feel about the mark?” she demanded after I told her, I was okay with the mark.

“He is okay with it too” I said with a shrug and lowered my head to hide my blush.

“He told you so?”

“Yes” I said and glanced up when there was no reply from her. I growled when I found Sel frowning. “What?” I asked annoyed.

Sel sighed and said, “Just wondering if that sixty days crap of yours is cancelled or still in existence?”

“Cancelled. I think” I said unsurely.

“You think?”

“We did not actually talk about that”

“Then do” she said and that very moment, Lorcan jumped on the couch and handed me the scissor so that I could cut the wrapper.

“Why did you bring Cadbury again? Ma and pa had come home last week, they brought Cadbury’s too” Sel muttered while I cut the wrapper.

“That one is from his grandparents, this one’s from me” I said and Lorcan grinned.

“Just two pieces” Sel warned Lorcan.

“No. Mama… five”

“I will make it one” she threatened.

“Three please?” Lorcan reasoned.

“Fine. Only three” she said and Lorcan beamed. Chuckling, I gave him three pieces and handed the rest to Sel, much to Lorcan’s protest because he knew she would hide it and only give two pieces per day to him.

“He has his school Annual Day in November” Sel informed.

“You are in any dance?” I asked him and he shook his head. “Then?”

“I am the MC” he said happily and I gasped. Lucky boy! An MC when he is only five. I was first chosen as an MC when I was twelve.

“That’s awesome” I said proudly placing a kiss on his head.

“The school has given him three pages of his speech that he has to deliver” Sel said watching Lorcan, who once again ran to bring those sheets. “Are you free next Saturday?” Sel asked abruptly and I nodded. “Good! I am going to meet the girls in Elegance. Come” she invited.

Almost immediately a bulb in my head flashed and Grace popped in my mind. This is my chance! I can make Grace meet Cortez there.

“I am coming” I told Sel with a grin.

I was there for another half-an-hour in their home listening and also helping Lorcan say some of his lines. Then, I went to meet my guards especially Mikhail, who was hypnotized by Konrad recently, but luckily he was fine. The others were there and they were shocked to see the mark in my neck, but I made them promise not to tell Duncan about it.

“But how could he mark you just like that?” Nick inquired with a growl. “You are only trying for two months right?” he asked and I frowned at him.

“I don’t know about that. I am going to talk to him about it” I said more to myself than Nick.

The sun was already below the horizon when I reached Serene. Quinn was finally awake and he was playing in his tab. “Where is Quillon?” I asked.

“With his friends” he said without looking up while I walked past him. “Wait a minute, you smell… Q marked you” Quinn said and I turned to face him from where I stood in the stairs. “When?” he asked startled.

“Yesterday” I said and before he could ask any more questions, I rushed upstairs to change.

---

I heard her before I saw her. “Darya” Grace called me happily from downstairs and I took in a long breath. I put on my knitted cardigan and head downstairs to greet her.

“Oh My! It is true. I thought Quinn was messing with me” Grace said the moment she saw me. “Q marked you” she grinned and I blushed profoundly. “I am so happy for you both” she cried hugging me.

I was so surprised by her hug that I didn’t know what to do. So, I stood there and kept smiling.

“This is definitely a step forward. Are you going to join our pack now Darya?” Grace asked pulling away and I froze.

Join Serene? Just like that?

Sensing the change in my mood, Grace smiled softly, “I understand. Take your time” she said softly and I let out a breath. “But I can’t wait to share this news with the pack” she added merrily and once again I smiled.

“When did he mark you?” Quinn demanded after Grace left.

“Yesterday” I said.

“Oh… That’s what you were doing after you left the party” Quinn mused and I turned scarlet to the roots of my hair.

Clearing my throat, I decided to change the topic. “What happened afterwards?”

“I won a bet” he replied proudly, “And also got drunk as skunk”

“Where were you last night though?”

“I partied till six in the morning. Most of the boys were still there. It was raining quite hardly, so we all decided to stay there and continue partying” he said and I nodded.

“Whose turn to cook?” I demanded.

“Quillon. He will return after sometime. He has gone to yell at his friends”

“Why?”

“Because they let me and my underage friends drink as much as we want” Quinn smirked and I shook my head.

Quillon stormed inside the house a few minutes later and stopped when he saw us in the living room. “Hey Q, just prepare salad alright, I want to eat something light” Quinn told him and he nodded.

“Come upstairs. I need your help with something” Quillon told me and perplexed, I followed after him.

“Help with what?” I asked entering our room.

“I forgot” Quillon said before going for a shower, leaving me all the more confused.