The Vampire’s Servant
Chapter 76

[Gray]

When third period ended I met up with Cam and we headed to the counseling office. I didn't want to wait through fourth period. I linked my teacher in that class and let him know what was going on.

I wanted to get to Echo. I should've known something would happen. When I felt her fear through our bond, I tried to get out of class, but Mr. Hayes was human and wouldn't have understood why I needed to leave. He had a strict 'no hall pass' policy. We rushed to Moxon's office and knocked on the closed door. He came out and motioned to the empty meeting office next to his. I didn't know why he was keeping me from Echo, but I went into the other office anyway. He closed the door behind us. "Gray, your mate needs help. She's dealt with a lot of abuse in her life and the kidnapping added a whole level of trauma to her experience that she had never experienced before. I'm thinking about sending her home for the rest of the day. I know she lives with a vampire. Is there anyone who can come get her?" Moxon asked.

"Yeah, but it might be better if I can take her. She knows them, but there's no one she's really connected with at home. I can get her settled and be back in time for fifth period." I offered.

"That may be for the best. She'll want her mate with her. She fell asleep after crying for a while. I have Link coming to meet with her on Tuesdays during first period. He'll keep the time open for her after school ends, too. That way she can continue getting help." He said.

"Thanks. I didn't know how bad it was for her, before Victor saved her, until just yesterday. I've had some flashes of what happened when she was taken, but I didn't want to push her to talk about it."

"You're trying to take care of her, that's good. Just, don't let her sit with this. It can start eating at her. Letting her pretend she's fine isn't going to help either. I know you young pups all want to focus on the happy, easy stuff, but Echo needs to be able to talk about the hard stuff. I'm not saying make your whole life about it, but don't try to change the subject if she starts talking about it. Listen to her. Talk to her." Moxon instructed.

"Got it. Can I take her home now? I want to make sure she's safely with Victor. I know he's still sleeping, but she can rest with him until he wakes up and he can take care of her." I said.

"Go ahead. I had her teachers send her missing work and work for today down. She has a lot to make up." He replied.

"I'll help her as much as I can." I told him and turned to leave the meeting room.

When I entered the office, Val and Harmony looked up at me. Echo was curled up between them. It seemed that Echo's crying had affected Harmony. She had a hollow look in her eyes, as if she'd been crying too.

I crouched down in front of Echo and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She opened her eyes a little and caught my hand. Echo brought my hand back to her cheek and rubbed her face against it. I smiled at her. "Are you ready to go home, angel?" I asked.

"Did I sleep all day? I can ride the bus. You had something you were going to do after school today." She answered in a breathy voice.

"It's just about lunch time. We can go pick something up from a drive-thru and then I'll take you home. You can lay with Victor until he wakes up." I told her gently.

Echo looked worried as she sat up and rubbed her eyes. She glanced around the room nervously.

"I can stay at school today. I didn't mean to get so upset." Echo insisted.

"It's not that, angel. You need more rest than we thought. Why don't you go to the restroom and wash your face? We'll head out as soon as you're ready." I said, pulling her to stand.

She left the room and I let out a relieved sigh. I thought she would fight more. Thank the goddess that she didn't.

Harmony got up and went to hug Cam. "She said my name is Hannah. No one told me we had different names. Only that we were taken. She said we were already eighteen, too."

"Yeah. She said the vampire told our mom she was wrong about our birthday. Is that true, Gray?" Val asked.

"I'm sorry. I don't know much. I saw some flashes of things that happened to her there. She fed us information mentally, but she never said anything about her birthday or a different name." I replied.

"Her name is Emily. I like that better than Echo. I wonder what our parents were like." Harmony murmured.

"I bet they were great, babe. They made you. I think I like Harmony more than I like Hannah, though. If you want to change it, I'll learn to love it." Cam said.

"I like Harmony more, too." She said softly.

"Echo kept telling him that her name wasn't Emily. I will support her in whatever she decides, but I think she prefers Echo." I told them.

"I think we all grew up with these names so it's hard to think of being called anything else at this point. We should take some time to think about what we really want. I wouldn't mind being called John, though." Val chuckled. "I never really liked my name that much." "Will Echo be alright, Gray?" Harmony asked.

"She will be. Victor and I will take care of her. We'll do everything we can to make sure she's happy and healthy." I assured her.

"I would prefer if Echo came to stay with us, so we could take care of her." Val said.

"Supernatural beings need each other to be healthy. Before she had me and Victor, you and Harmony were enough. Now that she's found her mates, being with us will be healthier for her. She'll find more comfort and feel safer around us. Trust me, if being with you would heal her faster, I'd be packing her up right now." I told him.

"I would just prefer if it were only you. I don't like the idea of Echo depending on a vampire. They were the ones who hurt her. He could just be using her for her blood. Or whatever that other vampire wanted her for." Harmony insisted.

"Stop that, now." I growled. "You haven't spent enough time around them to see the truth. Victor loves Echo. He loves her as much as I do. He's her mate, too."

"Just because she marked him, doesn't mean he's her mate!" She insisted. "You're her mate. I can't believe I'm the only one who can see that she belongs only with you, Gray! She can't love both of you the same. Why doesn't anyone else see it?! She only needs you! If you keep sharing her, he's going to steal her from us. He's going to make her a vampire and we'll never see her again! Echo deserves to be loved, not used! She just doesn't know any better and thinks she loves him!"

Echo came into the room. It was clear that she'd heard her sister. The look on her face was upsetting. She looked hurt and angry all at the same time. Echo closed the door behind her and stared at Harmony.

"This is the last time I will address this, so listen closely. My relationship is my own. The way I handle it is the business of me and my mates. It doesn't matter what you think. What either of you think. Victor is my Solus Amor. Grayson is my mate. I will not give them up. They love me and I love them. I will not listen to you disparage either of the men I love.

Victor is the Master of this territory. We're not going to leave. We're staying right here. All three of us. You don't know my mind or my heart, Harmony. Don't try to pretend you do. I know you just want me to make smart decisions, Valor, but giving up on the people I love, any of the people I love, isn't something I'm willing to do.

This arrangement may be unconventional, but it fits me perfectly. If I find either of you trying to control my relationship, I won't speak to you for a month. These are my husbands. My mates. The men who will be the fathers of my children, when I'm ready for that. If you ever want to spend time with those children, or me, I suggest you learn your place, which is not in the middle of my relationship." Echo warned.

She was beautiful when she was angry. Her eyes glowed like an angry vampire. I never thought I'd find an angry woman as sexy as I found Echo. I walked toward her and took her in my arms. Echo wrapped her arms around my waist and pressed her face into my chest.

"I... I didn't mean anything by it. It doesn't make sense to me. Everyone keeps pushing for you and both of them. It just doesn't seem right. What about when you do... you know... bedroom stuff?" Harmony asked softly.

"That's none of your business, Harmony. What I do with them in my bedroom is my business only. Stop this. I don't want to have to stop talking to you. I will, but it will hurt me more than it will hurt you. Just not as much as you saying mean things about my mates hurts me." Echo replied.

"Let's drop this for now. I'm taking Echo home. To our home." I stated firmly.

I guided Echo out of the office. We stopped so she could sign out for the day. I took her to my truck and helped her in. I drove her to a fast food restaurant and we grabbed a couple burgers and drinks. I took her to a park to sit and eat.

"Do you think I can't love you both the same? Am I being selfish by keeping both of you, Gray?" Echo asked after she finished her meal.

"You have the biggest heart of anyone I know. If either of us had a problem with sharing you, we'd give up." I assured her. "Victor tried to give me up." She whispered.

"He was trying to be noble. We've gone over this. You need to stop focusing on the past. Only think of the future. Do you want a real wedding, Echo? Something where you get to wear a beautiful white dress and we stand in front of my Alpha, swearing to love each other and care for each other forever?" I asked.

Echo looked up at me with wide eyes. I knew that would pull her from her funk. She scanned my face, like she was checking if this was a joke or something. I smiled at her.

"I don't need a wedding, Gray. If you want one, we can do that. I want to be with you and make you happy." Echo smiled a little.

"Maybe we can have one once you're ready to start talking about babies." I said with a wink.

"Are you going to start asking me about when we get to make babies, now?" She giggled.

"I think we need a lot of practice before we start trying to make babies." I leaned over. "I think we should start practicing as soon as possible."

Echo closed the distance and started kissing me. She nibbled my lips and I groaned, pushing her back on the bench seat of my truck. After some maneuvering, she got her legs around my waist. I rubbed myself between her legs as we made out. Echo moaned into my mouth and worked her hips against me.

I started kissing her chin, jaw, and neck. Her skin was so soft and fragrant. I began sucking on the spot where I intended to mark her one day. My last hickey had disappeared. It looked like I would have to refresh them daily. I certainly didn't mind. Suddenly, there was a knock on the window behind Echo. I looked up to see an angry looking woman. I reached over and rolled down the window.

"There are children here! What on earth are you thinking doing that where children can see you!?" She screeched.

"Sorry, ma'am. We'll move along now." I replied.

"You better or I'll call the police." She huffed and marched off to some benches by the play equipment.

"Sorry, angel. I got carried away." I murmured as I turned on the truck and started driving out of the park.

We were nearly to the house when Echo turned to me and put her hand on my arm. I glanced over at her. She was nibbling her lip and blushing a bit.

"Stay with me when we get home, Gray." Echo said.

"What?"

"Stay with me. Let's keep going. I want you. I want you to be my first." She said softly.

"Echo. What about Victor?" I asked.

"There are a lot of decisions I have to make in this relationship, Gray. One of them is who my first for everything will be. For this first, I want you. There are still other firsts. I can't be with both of you for my first time... please?" Echo whispered.

"Not today, angel. I have something really important to take care of after school. If I have sex with you, I'll want to hold you and cuddle you for hours. Maybe even do it again. I just... I really hate saying this, angel. I want to tell you yes. Please, trust me. I would be saying yes if it weren't so important that I get this done today." I told her.

"What is it? What's going on? Victor has a lot of important business and now you do too. Maybe I can help. Tell me how I can help you, Gray." She insisted.

"You can't help with this right now. If there's anything I can think of, I'll let you know. I promise."

I pulled into the driveway and punched in the numbers into the code box. The gates opened as Echo sighed sadly. I wished so much that I could stay with her, but I had to go talk to my great-grandfather. I had to help save Victor.

When we reached the house, I got out of the truck and helped Echo down. She grabbed her bag and we went in the house. I wanted to let Dillon and Claude know she was home. Talia had gone with Bellamy to see my brother about securing an alliance with the Eaten Heart Collective.

We entered the house. It was pretty quiet. We looked around, but didn't see them anywhere. Echo looked down the hall and pointed.

"I think they're in the library. I heard something that way." She said.

I hadn't heard anything. Her senses were getting better. I was happy to see that. It meant she would be stronger soon.

Heading down the hall, we got to the door of the library. It was wide open. When we walked in, we could see Dillon and Claude. They were on the couch, well, Claude was on the couch. Dillon was straddling him, pulling his hair back and kissing him deeply while rubbing his hips on Claude's lap.

Echo giggled, breaking the spell of their make-out session. Dillon looked up at us, surprised. Claude rolled his eyes back to see who had come into the room.

"You could knock." Dillon said.

"The door was wide open. We would've knocked if you were in your room where that stuff should be done." I scoffed.

Echo elbowed me in the ribs. "Sorry. We were only trying to find you to let you know I'm home from school early. I had a... problem."

Dillon got off Claude and made his way to her quickly. He looked her over, like he was checking for wounds.

"What happened, cookie?" He asked with a worried tone.

"She had a flashback to the kidnapping. The counselor thought it'd be best to have her come home to rest for the day. I was going to take her upstairs and get her tucked in with Victor, but we thought you should know so you weren't waiting by her bus stop this afternoon." I explained.

"Oh, poor baby. We'll be here if you need anything. You need lunch?"

"No. Gray took me to eat something before we came home. He has to go back to school." Echo said.

"Go on and get her settled, Gray. You just call for us if you need anything, okay, cookie?" Dillon smiled.

"Thank you, Dillon. Sorry we interrupted you." She told him, ducking her head a little.

"No problem at all." He replied.

I led Echo up to Victor's room. It was really dark, but I could see pretty well in the dark. Echo climbed up into Victor's bed and slipped under the covers. She wrapped an arm over him and curled up with her head on his chest.

Part of me was jealous. At least I knew he was in no position to really enjoy it. I reached over him to caress her cheek.

"I love you, Gray." Echo murmured sleepily.

"I love you, too, angel. Get some rest. I'll be home as soon as I'm done with what I have to do." I promised.

"Good. I'll miss you." She smiled softly.

"I think I'll miss you even more." I replied and headed for the door.

Getting back into my truck, I sighed deeply. Rex was raging in my head ever since I turned her down. I couldn't believe I did that. I guess it's part of acting like a grown up.

Quickly, I turned my key and headed for the street. I may be working on changing, but I knew one thing for sure. If I stayed there for another minute, I was going to jump out of my truck, collect Echo from Victor's bed, and spend the afternoon in bed with her myself.