Dear Enemy, You're My Mate

Chapter 51 **

Patricia

As I'm chewing, a hundred thoughts are racing through my mind. I see images of myself using Finn's wind magic and the beastly Dior being hefted off the ground and thrown into a car. Did I end up killing him?

"I have a question."

Everyone who is gathered around the table gives me their attention. Riley glances between Elijah and me, and I observe the vampire wipe his mouth with a tissue, readying himself to speak.

Wesley might be the beta, but it seems Elijah is the one running the operations. I don't blame Wesley for letting his mate be in charge, though. Elijah is intelligent and has lived for so long that he also has enough life experience to make hard decisions.

Elijah takes a deep breath, calm and gathered like royalty. "I know what you're going to ask, and we locked him up in your basement."

I drop my taco shell. "You did what?"

Everyone gives me questioning looks—Wesley raises his eyebrows, and I facepalm. I'm beyond frustrated knowing that older Dior is probably long gone while we don't know where he sent the younger one.

My heart squeezes—older Dior should pray my mate is alive somewhere, or I will end up murdering him.

I wet my lips. "You realize Dior can teleport anywhere he wants? Once he has transformed back into his human self, he will flee."

"We realize that," Elijah says. "But there isn't a way for us to keep him a prisoner, considering his magic abilities. Alice gave me enough information to conclude that nothing I do can make that fraud stay locked up in your basement."

I sigh heavily. "I guess you're right, but I had hoped you at least questioned the idiot and asked the location of my mate before leaving him alone inside the basement."

Wesley cuts into our conversation. "To be fair, older Dior probably wouldn't have given us an honest answer. The man is a lying weasel and can't be trusted."

"That's true..." I mumble.

Riley breathes a laugh and then proceeds to eye Finn. "I get Dior is an important topic and all, but what I'm dying to know is why that thing picked you as its master. It's not like you are special or anything!" Riley smiles and drinks more red wine with a predatory gleam in her eye. When she places the glass down, she keeps being mean. "You're a loser, Patricia, and the sooner your slave recognizes that and picks a new master, the better for all of us. I mean, I would be a far better candidate."

Riley winks at Finn, who got his mouth filled with tacos. His lively eyes turn cloudy, and I watch the fairy lift arse from his chair. He silently sizes up Riley with his empty plate ready to be refilled, then shakes his head with a bit of a laugh, causing Riley to glare at him like a vicious animal.

"What is it?" Riley snaps.

I stifle a laugh. Riley isn't used to boys not throwing themselves down by her feet, I guess.

Finn shrugs nonchalantly. "Nothing."

Riley growls. "You were laughing at me."

Finn turns her way then, smiling in a way that sends a shudder down my spine. "A person who constantly put other people down through mean comments isn't a person worth knowing in my eyes, so I'm going to pretend like you aren't here and enjoy the food," his lips then part for a second time. "And for the record, Patricia is a way better person than you are—she is kind and doesn't openly state how much she loathes having you over, which is remarkable, considering you're a nasty bitch."

Wesley spits soda over his food, and even Elijah is cracking up with laughter until Riley sends them both a glare. After everyone turns quiet, Riley folds her arms over her chest, lifting her little nose into the air.

"Well, if I'm not welcomed here, then I will take my leave, and don't be surprised if I tell my mother about this!"

Riley's mother was once considered an influential member of the Winterbite pack. She handled the communication between other clans, but I don't remember Dior letting her keep that position.

"Typical," Finn comments from the stove, where he is busy dribbling cheese over his minced meat.

Riley freezes momentarily. "What do you mean by that?"

"Oh, nothing, I just never would have taken you for a rich, spoiled brat who doesn't fight her own battles—who could have known?"

"Are you being... Sarcastic?"

Finn challenges the angry little lady by smirking at her with glee written all over his face. Riley gasps and Elijah and Brad get up from their chairs, knowing where this will lead if no one stops the two firecrackers.

Brad picks up Riley's bag from the floor and then places a hand on her shoulder to lead her toward the door. "It's pretty late—why don't we head home and prepare you a bath?"

Huh, I never knew Brad and Riley were that close.

"But I'm talking with Finn!"

Elijah grimaces. "Trust me, darling; keeping you here will only lead to bad things."

"What do you mean?" Riley asks.

"Nothing, just that it's late and you should leave."

Elijah forces a smile as he leads the two werewolves outside of the kitchen area. Even Wesley follows the group, smiling and laughing at Riley. She is pissed-off and won't stop badmouthing Finn.

Once I'm left alone with Finn, I lift my chin. "Thank you for defending me, but you don't have to do that—I don't take what Riley says to heart. Her words go in through one ear and out through the other."

Finn sighs. "While I got angry for your sake and wanted to defend you, I also spoke on my behalf—I hate bullies."

I take a bite from my taco shell. "Is that right?"

"Yeah," Finn is wearing a thoughtful expression as he faintly smiles down at the floor. "In my world, before I was caught and placed in an orb, the other fairies used to bully me for not having magic abilities."

I grow silent. "Your world?"

Finn grins. "You didn't think I was born here on earth, did you?"

"I honestly didn't know what I believed."

He laughs. "I'm not from earth. I come from a world where magic used to buzz in the air."

"Used to?"

Finn searches my face before answering, probably trying to decide if he can trust me. "I have been a prisoner for so long that I don't know what has become of my world. The council from your dimension came, and my sister and I quickly became friends with them. They were witches and werewolves searching for power, and as stupid as we were, we helped them imprison three other fairies before we met the same fate as them."

"Jesus Christ," I wrinkle my forehead. "I'm not even sure what to say! I can't imagine your pain..." My heart squeezes for the big guy, and I offer him a smile. Finn lost his sister while I lost my parents—we both have experienced grief. "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

Finn's eyes widen in surprise. "You mean that?"

"Yeah?" I'm not sure why he is acting as if we aren't friends. "That's what friends do for each other."

By now, Finn looks ready to cry. "Oh, well, could we try finding my sister then? She is a water fairy, and I think the two of you would get along—you probably could connect with her too."

I smile. "Sure, what is your sister's name?"

"Kyra," Finn says in a fond voice. "She is older than me and always used to scold me for going out on my own in our world." Pain washes over Finn's features as he speaks. "It's my fault that the council found us."

"I'm sure your sister doesn't blame you, Finn..." I hesitate, not knowing if I'm overstepping any boundary by speaking my mind. "Is there a way to set you free?"

Finn is staring down at the floor. "Not that I'm aware of—when the council caught us inside the orbs, our bodies were separated from our spirits. I think releasing me from the orb will kill me."

"Well, if we find a way to set you free without you dying, then I won't keep you a prisoner inside the orb for any longer."

Finn smiles. "Thank you, Patricia."

"You're welcome."

I watch Finn take a seat with a plate bigger than his earlier one with both taco shells and nachos. The man seems to have a black hole for a stomach, and when he catches me looking, his lips turn smug.

"By the way, I've been meaning to tell you this: you're interesting, Patricia—when you passed out, the face creeping into your mind was the one belonging to Dior, and yet you haven't finished this mating ritual. Why is that?"

I blush. "I just haven't had the time."

Finn snickers. "Excuses, excuses, so many excuses."

I send him a mopey glare. "How do you know about the mate-bond, anyway?"

"I had a mate in the past," Finn words himself like it's the most boring subject ever. He doesn't even face me. Instead, he keeps eating while speaking. "She was a werewolf and the one who captured me inside the crystal orb. I thought she loved me, but it turns out the only thing she was interested in was power, and the irony is that I didn't awaken to my wind abilities before I needed to protect her. I was deeply in love with her while she found me disgusting. After she caught me, she said she would never love a fairy."

I grimace. "Ouch."

Finn laughs and seems to have gotten over his past. "Agreed. I had big trust issues after my mate betrayed me, but with time, I learned how to look inside people's hearts before picking them as my master."

"Saw anything good inside of mine?"

Finn delivers me a mischievous smile, which tells me he isn't up to anything good. "Yeah, I saw a lot of things when we were connected—you're dirty, Patricia. I mean, in the shower? Really? And damn, your mate is pretty hot."

"Oh-my-god! You're like an annoying little brother—you're not supposed to look through my memories!"

I pick up a taco shell and throw it at Finn, who cracks up. He tries to shield himself from my next attack, but I hit his face with cucumber slices that stick to his chin—suits him right. I stand up from my seat and hold my drink threateningly over his head.

"Never look inside my head again!"

The fairy part his lips. "But-..."

I glare at him, and Finn visibly gulps, knowing he will be drenched if he doesn't shut his mouth.

"Fine."

I frown at him. "And if you ever look at my memories again, then I will murder you with my bare hands."

Finn stifles a laugh and instead smiles. "Noted."