Dorian didn't know what he had done or if he had done anything to cause Nemia to reach for and hold his hand once they got Donovan into the car. He knew one thing though and that was that he was definitely not about to complain. He had craved her touch since the moment he laid eyes on her. There has been little touching yet, aside from the library. But even that wasn't something she had don't on her own. No, that was him being a lovestruck idiot.
This though, this was different. Something has changed in her. He had felt a shift right after he had knocked Donovan out and there was a moment back in the shack that he thought she was going to possibly run up and.. hug him? He wasn't too sure on that honestly, he just knew that she had a want for him in that moment and it seemed like whatever it was had stuck with her.
He glanced down at her hand, wrapped around his. It was so tiny in comparison to his own. Glancing over the rest of her, he noted just how small the entirety of her truly is. Remembering the late evening prior, when she transformed into her wolf form, he couldn't understand how someone of such small stature could change into such a massive wolf. Hell, her wolf form, in all fours, stood as tall as he did in his own beastly form and that was over 9 feet tall.
It must have something to do with Solis, her God. But he couldn't question her on that because it was already evident the he knew more about her her connection to Solis than she did. Damn.
He was pulled from his thoughts as the car slowed to a stop. He looked out of the window and stared up at his home for a moment until the door opened and Sebastian's smiling face momentarily blocked his view. "We have arrived, My King." He bowed generously before straightening to attention as the three of them clambered out of the vehicle. Doing so caused Nemia to drop his hand and he felt a pang in his chest at the loss of her touch but breathed through it to not cause a delay on getting out.
"Thank you kindly, Sebastian." Dorian inclinded his head briefly. "Take the car into the sub-garage and get our..." He paused. "... Guest, to one of the holding rooms for questioning. Make sure he stays bound and stand guard outside the door until we come down."
Sebastian nodded, understanding. "Understood, My King." He nodded curtly and waited for the others to climb out, wishing the all a good afternoon before rounding the car once more and driving off.
"Look, I know time is of the essence and all but..." Nik started and both Nemia and Dorian turned their attention on him. "... We have yet to eat and I am absolutely famished. I'm not saying join me, but.."
Dorian waved his hand to stop Nik as his own stomach growled in response to the mention of food. "I'll definitely be joining you." He stopped and glanced down at Nemia who still hasn't looked at him since she grabbed his hand on the car ride back. "Nemia, would you care to join us?"
Before she responded, the front doors burst open and Julia came running out and tackled Nemia with a hug. "Oh Nem, I was so worried. You hadn't called or texted and I knew you'd be safe but you just got back and you was already gone again. I know it was Donovan and I know you assured me.. I know Nik and Dorian would be with you, I just..." Julia sobbed into Nemia's chest.
Dorian watched as Nemia wrapped her arms around Julia, only mildly jealous that she was getting the attention he so desperately desired. "Its okay Jules, shh, it's okay. I'm here, I'm back. Hush now, calm." There was a sudden surge in her power that Dorian could feel and her voice had an overwhelming calmness to it. In seconds, Julia stopped sobbing and pulled away from Nemia. A smile now blanketing her face.
"I just love when you do that." Julia said in a day dreaming tone and he noticed her eyes were glazed over.
He looked back over to Nemia, puzzled. "What was that you just did?" He asked curiously. He knew vampires could influence the mind and get others to do their bidding but this seemed different than that.
Nemia finally looked up at him and her lips twitched with a hint of a smile. "I calmed her." She answered simply.
"But how? Thats not like any mind control I've ever seen a vampire pull. Given you're not just a vampire but instead, a hybrid with some divine intervention but... The question still stands, how?" Dorian pressed with his guided curiousity.
Nemia shrugged her shoulders. "Honestly, I don't know exactly but it's more or less me controlling her emotions by overloading her system with whatever emotion I'm trying to get her to be in a state of. Hence, her state of now blissful calmness instead of nerve-racking fear."
Dorian's brows pulled together in thought. "Huh.. so you can control emotions instead of minds, got it."
Nemia shook her head. "No and yes, I can control minds too, I just choose not to. I find it rather unfair to the person being controlled." She paused a moment. "Unless it's necessary, but I always try to change emotions first. Usually, most situations can be improved if the emotion behind the cause is changed. I just have to be able to touch the person I'm emotionally trying to control in order for it to work whereas mind control is done by being able to just see the person."
Dorian's brows shot up as she told the truth of it and needless to say, he was pretty shocked and most definitely impressed. He felt pride deep in his chest for her. She was the model woman for whom he was meant to be with. She would make a most excellent queen. "That's absolutely amazing, Nemia." He breathed, reached his hand up to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear that had decided to try and run away with the breeze. Hope swelled his heart when he noticed she didn't flinch away from his touch, but instead she smiled softly. His hand lingered for a moment before dropping, not wanting to press his luck more than he already had.
"Alright, so... Food?" Dorian suggested to Nemia once again, but also to Julia since she was standing there. He glanced around and noticed Nik had disappeared. "Did Nik go inside already?" He asked more to himself but Julia responded with a yes anyways so he nodded his head.
Nemia nodded her head as well, "Yes, he went in a few moments ago right after Julia got calmed down. But also, yes. Food sounds nice right now." She smiled.
Dorian inclined his head and waved his arm out towards the doors. "After you, lady's." And with that, they set off inside to find the dining room.
************
Nemia, Julia, and Dorian all entered into the dining room to find Nik already devouring a plate of food and sitting across the table from a stunning blonde woman he was in conversation with. He glanced over as they entered and gave a puffy smile from the food stuffed inside his cheeks as if he were a squirrel. She knew he said he was hungry but did he really have to eat with such a lack of mannerism? She shook her head mentally. Of course he didn't, lycans are just werewolves on two legged crack which meant the wolfish boy attitude when it came to food stuck to him like glue. She really hoped Dorian wasn't the same, though she felt like he of all people wouldn't lack that mannerism.
She smiled back at Nik nevertheless as the group moved to merge and join Nik and the blonde. "You save some for us I hope?" Dorian jested, laughing as Samuel came in with a pop and set a plate down in front of all three of them in rapid succession.
The food looked absolutely delicious from the veggies to the hunk of steak cooked rare. She could tell by the smell and her mouth watered. "This looks delightful." Nemia mumbled softly, her stomach growling at the smell.
"Doesn't though?" Dorian asked with an agreement, smiling over at her.
She nodded her head and quickly looked away as she felt the heat creeping into her cheeks.
"Not going to introduce me to your... Friend.." The woman Nemia didn't recognize spoke up, her voice light in tone though she could hear the slightest bit of distaste underlying it.
Dorian's seemed to stiffen for a moment next to Nemia before his head turned to respond to the new woman. "My apologies. Jacoline, this is Julia Florence.."
"No, no, not that one. I met her earlier at breakfast. Became fast friends we did. Told me a great deal." The woman now deemed as Jacoline to Nemia.
As she spoke, Nemia looked over at Julia with a raised brow and she just gave her a beeming smile and shoved a big bit of food into her mouth she she wouldn't be made to say anything.
Dorian sighed and looked over at Nemia with an apologetic look, he jaw flexing slightly with a tick. He looked back across the table at Jacoline. "Right. Sorry. This here.." He gestures towards Nemia. "..is Nemia." He said quickly, she appreciated him trying to keep the introduction short but could only wonder what exactly Julia has told this woman about her. She made Dorian tense though, but she was unsure of why.
"Right." Jacoline responded with sternness. "And she is... What to you?"
Dorian shifted uncomfortablely in his seat next to Nemia. "She is-"
"His mate." Nemia finished his slowed response for him and could feel the heat rising in her cheeks at the statement. Its not like it was the first time she had said he was her mate out loud but it was the first time she had said it since she had made the decision to stay. He just didn't know that yet, but she was going to try to make this work. Wanted to make this work.
The table grew overly silent once she confirmed the news, Julia nudged her leg under the table drew Nemia to look at her. A big smile with wide eyes, she mouthed silently. "You accepted him?"
Nemia's lips drew up into a tight smile but didn't say or mouth a word, just looked back across the table at Jacoline and Nik who had moved to sit beside her when they came over to sit.
Nik was carelessly eating away, unbothered by the topic as Jacoline stared Nemia down for a long moment in silence. Dorian shifted uncomfortablely again as she stared, Nemia on the other hand sat perfectly poised and stared right back.
Suddenly, Jacoline let out a shrill, ear piercing high pitched laugh and looked over at Dorian. "You really should have told me about her earlier, I would've been more gentle with you." She winked and let out another one of those laughs as she reached her hand across the table to try and grab Dorian's hand. He moved it quickly though, but Nemia reached out and grabbed her reaching hand. She let out another laugh and shook her head. "No worries my dear, it was harmless banter is all. Well, not completely harmless. I did need his blood after all." Jacoline cackled.
"You're the witch." Nemia didn't ask, but made it a statement. This is most definitely the witch Dorian used earlier to track Donovan and she understood now why he seemed to be so off out by her.
"Yes indeed I am." Jacoline responded with a chipper smile as Nemia let her arm go. "I think I'm going to like you, plus you have great taste in friends." She rattled on and pointed to Julia in referencing her friend.
Nemia flashed a quick smile. "She is pretty great, when she's not telling my secrets that is." She darted her eyes at Julia with a mixed expression.
"All secrets must eventually be told." Jacoline responded with a waggling finger in the air in front of you. "Because secrets don't make good friends."
Nemia nodded her head gently. "I suppose." She wasn't sure of what to make of Jacoline. Dorian seemed uncomfortable around her but no one else seems to be bothered by her. Even her, there was a rocky start at first when she thought this woman may be a scorned lover but now, she wasn't sure what was causing his discomfort.
"Any who, onto other bits of news. You are after Malcolm and Kyth? I'm assuming Donovan is in league with them considering I was needed to find him with such urgency." Jacoline shifted the conversation.
Nemia nodded her head along with Dorian and the other two. "That assumption would be correct and I'd like to thank you for your help in locating Donovan." She paused, her head tilting to the side slightly. "You used a form of blood magic though, which is meant to be banned." She looked over at Dorian who shifted under her gaze. "Tell me how yours is so different from other blood magics."
Jacoline raised her brows at the sudden questioning and the mention of blood magics being banned. "Well, it's not actually blood magic, mine doesn't require there to be a full sacrifice as well as it's meant only as a way to enhance my natural abilities. True blood magics come from those born without magical abilities natural and force the natural order to obey which causes large imbalances within nature itself. There for, it's not blood magic in technical terms. More or less I can use blood as a conduit to over power my spells, the stronger the blood the more likely my spell is to do exactly what is needed." She answered honestly.
Nemia sat back in her chair in thought. Thinking back on history lessons from what seemed like ages ago now. Dravish, the surname of a long line of witches dating back thousands of years ago that supposedly was able to use the essence of any being to gain a substantial amount of power for their spell work. Jacoline must be from that lineage, it was the only thing that could make sense and even that was still partially unbelievable because it was also said in the history books that the last surviving member of the family died nearly 200 years ago. But, the question was still on her tongue and ready to be freed. "Jacoline... Last name Dravish?"
Jacoline's eyes widened s with surprise and a smile cracked across her face. "Oh you're smart. Good." She cleared her throat and straightened herself fully. "Jacoline Rheas Dravish, illegitimate daughter of Jazander Dravish whom was the thought to be last surviving member of the Dravish family. My mother, a woodland nymph name Mira Tradestone. He knew not of me and passed away before I could ever have the chance to meet him." Her smile faultered a touch.
Nemia reached her hand out across the table and grabbed jacoline's hand, feeling the loss of a parent connecting the two of them. "I'm sure he would have loved you." Nemia found herself saying the words of comfort she had wanted to hear herself.
Jacoline smiles brightly again. "I knew I'd like you." She responded with a generous smile.
Nemia pulled away and turned to Dorian who was just staring between the two of them. "Why do you seem so tense around her? She's sweet, friendly. She doesn't seem like a bad person like you had me believing by your tension. Hell, is she your ex or something?" Nik about choked on his steak as the question flew out of her mouth.
Dorian shook his head quickly. "No, nope. Not my ex." The words seemed to stumble out of him and a shrill laugh once again came from Jacoline.
"Oh not to worry, dear. He would never touch anyone that wasn't his mate, he made that clear time and time again. As for his tension..." She waved her hand across her face and reverted back to her natural, sickly green and sagging skin. White wisps and hair and a toothless smile plastered on her face. "He hates when I do this, he thinks I'm creepy for looking like this and liking it from time to time." Her voice had changed from a light, even tone to one that was harsh and raspy with aged vocals. Though the sight was a bit off putting, that was it. There wasn't anything wrong with her.
Nemia looked back over at Dorian, a look of shame in her eyes directed at him. "Shame on you, let her be natural with no judgement. She has a good heart, that's what matters." Nemia scolded and smacked at Dorian's shoulder, not too hard but not necessarily playful either.
Dorian winced a bit at the unexpected attack but smiles over at Nemia and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sorry, it's just... Why does she have to be natural..."
Smack!
That one was aimed at the back of his head and a bit more stern. "Let's run through that again." Nemia warned with a pointed look.
Dorian chuckled and threw his hands up. "Alright, alright. I give. Jacoline, I am so sorry that my eyes can't seem to be able to handle you in all your natural glory."
Jacoline gave a toothless grin and waved her hand in front of her face again to revert back to the young blonde form. "It's no worries, I love being able to make you squirm." She teased, smiling brightly.
Nemia returned her smile, "It is quite fun to make him squirm I feel." She teased back and glanced over at Dorian again who was sitting stoically now, his eyes still telling on his quarrels inside his mind. She likes seeing this side, it made him seem so much more real. Not saying she didn't think he was real but deep down, she felt like this could all just be some fever dream that she could wake up from any second now. She pinched herself at the thought. 'ow' Nope, not asleep.