Elora

I took my time in the shower, rinsing the conditioner out of my hair, and brushing the tangles out. Falling asleep on the couch last night messed up my schedule, but I can't bring myself to care. I should be annoyed, but I was so comfortable in Lucifers arms I just passed out. His arms were more comfortable than my king sized bed.

It's early, around eight. Even on weekends, I've never been one for sleeping in late. Waking up in yesterday's outfit was a bit annoying. Whoever carried me to bed couldn't have woken me up long enough so I could change? I guess I should count myself lucky that they didn't leave me on the couch.

I turned the shower off after I finished. When I reached my hand out to grab my towel, I only felt the wall. Pushing my eyebrows together, I pushed my shower curtain aside and looked around my bathroom. Dang it. I also didn't get to set up my towel for the morning last night...

I closed the curtain and rung out my hair. "Can someone bring me a towel, please?" I said, knowing they can hear me.

I can't believe I didn't check before I got in. It's not a big deal, but being this disorganized is not like me.

"Elora," Duke announced as he entered my bathroom.

I stuck my wet arm out and did a grabby gesture, "Thank you!" I giggled. "I'm usually not such an airhead, I guess it serves me right for passing out on the couch, huh?" I joked.

He handed me the towel, his fingertips brushed against my hand, and I felt the weird tingles again. My stomach flinched at the weird feeling, but I grabbed the towel and wrapped it around myself quickly.

He cleared his throat, sounding uncomfortable, "You were exhausted, I think you should take more time for yourself. I don't think being as... involved in school activities as you are is good for you," he commented.

I pulled the curtain open and raised an eyebrow at him, "You sound like Theo."

Duke froze for a few seconds, his eyes doing a quick once over of me. But he quickly averted his eyes to the sink, looking surprised. "I'm just saying, it's okay to relax," he mumbled, looking tense.

I grabbed my toothbrush and started applying toothpaste. I smirked up at him, "You should take your own advice," I teased, poking his stomach. He's so uncomfortable, and I don't understand why. He's seen me in much less than a towel before, I hope that's not what he's being awkward for.

Duke backed up to the door, still not looking at me. "This isn't the most appropriate time to have a conversation," he cleared his throat again.

I started brushing my teeth, leaning my hip against the counter. I smiled, watching him look all flustered and cute. Cute? Bad Elora!

I gave him an amused smile, "It's a towel, Duke. I'm not naked," I softly shook my head. Has he forgotten the hundreds of baths, showers, and times he's changed my outfit. What a weirdo.

After successfully exiting my bathroom, he shut the door, so it was barely cracked. "Felix is taking us all out on the boat today," he said before leaving.

I finished getting ready, dressing in my swimsuit and shorts. It's a white set, the bottoms show the smallest amount of my butt cheeks, and the top is decently conservative. I threw on light wash shorts, not bothering to button or zip them.

I love boat days! It's been so long since Felix has taken us all out on the lake. He loves his boats, I'm assuming we'll be taking the pontoon today.

I put my hair in two loose braids and went downstairs.

I found everyone in the kitchen, also dressed for the sun, in swim trunks and tshirts. Theo and Felix didn't have shirts on, and for a second I caught myself oogling over their muscles.

Quin was busy cooking breakfast, so naturally I gravitated to him. He always lets me taste things and I'm hungry. I padded over to him, peeking around his large frame to see what's on the stove.

I widened my eyes at the green gross looking thing in the pan. "What's that?" I asked politely.

Quin glanced down at me, "It's a healthy breakfast, making up for your ice cream dinner last night."

I crossed my arms, "Is it... edible?" I gave him a pointed look.

Quin mimicked my stance and narrowed his eyes at me, "Don't give me sass," he ordered. Oops. "Of course it's edible, I wouldn't give you something bad," he said matter of factly.

"It's poisoned," Theo mumbled.

I turned to see him smirking, smugly looking at Quin for his reaction.

Quin pointed the spatula at him, "Just your portion."

A question popped into my head, "Can vampires be poisoned?" I thought nothing can kill them.

A mix between no's and yes's reached my ears. I pressed my lips together, "That was super clear, thanks," I laughed.

Dane shook his head, "Vampires cannot be poisoned. Nothing lethal to us would survive in our blood," he explained.

"Yes we can, there's one substance that can make us very ill, but not kill us," Felix argued.

Quin turned and looked between everyone, "That herb went extinct thousands of years ago," he dismissed.

I walked over and sat between Eugene and Lucifer, seeing as they have sweets between them and I don't plan on eating whatever Quin made.

As they argued over my question, I tried to sweet talk myself into whatever goodie Lucifer was eating. It looks like a danish.

I blinked up at him, "Good morning," I smiled.

He looked down at me, but didn't say anything, as I expected. Under the table, I felt both his and Eugene's hands rest just above my knees. Small ticking feelings shot up my thighs and between my legs. For a few seconds, I tried to figure out what that feeling was. But then I realized that I probably just have to pee.

I smiled up at them, "Are you excited to go on the boat?" I asked.

Eugene nodded, "Boats have never been my favorite, but seeing as today's going to be scalding, yes."

I blinked up at Lucifer, urging him to answer too. I don't know why, but lately I want to hear his voice. It sounds much more calming than I remember.

He eyed me for a few seconds, and I kept patiently waiting. "No," he said softly, but the corner of his mouth turned slightly up in an amused grin.

I tilted my head to the side, knowing he's lying. Lucifer has never gone on one of the boats with us before. So why go now if he's not happy about it?

I was about to jokingly beg him for a crumb of his danish, but stopped myself. There was a time in my life that I actually did have to beg people for the smallest amount of food. I should be grateful for whatever Quin makes me, even if it does look like a gross gelatinous mass.

My shoulders slumped and I looked away from the danish, seeing Quin walk over to me with a plate. I smiled, "Thanks," I took a bite of the green food.

Ick! Ick ick ick. It's like he blended eggs with kale, celery, cucumber, and every other green vegetable we had in the kitchen, cooked it, and made an omelette. I reluctantly ate the entire dish, seeing a happy look from Quin across the room.

Theo looked disturbed, "I can't believe you ate that thing."

I shrugged, "It wasn't my favorite but it wasn't horrible," I lied, not wanting to hurt Quins feelings.

Quin gave me a soft look, "If you didn't like it, you didn't have to eat it," he said softly.

Fair enough. I grabbed one of Lucifers pastries and took a bite, the sweet flavor curing my tastebuds. "Never make that again," I said.

~•~

"Have you decided on what you want to do yet?" Dane asked me out of nowhere.

We've been on the boat for a few hours now, just chatting and having fun. They all took their shirts off and I took my shorts off, hoping to get tan. My eyes seem to have a mind of their own, I keep catching myself staring at them.

I shifted in my seat, stretching my legs in front of me, "I've wanted to be an anesthesiologist since I was ten, you know that," I questioned. I'll make a lot of money, and not actually have to deal with any blood, win win.

He chuckled, "For your birthday, Elora," he clarified.

I blushed, "Right." I shrugged, "I don't know, as long as I get cake, I'm happy."

Duke leaned forward, "There isn't anything specific you want? Turning eighteen is a big deal in the human world," he gave me a small smile.

It's just another age. I shrugged.

"In less than a week you'll be able to vote!" Theo said with fake enthusiasm.

"You'll legally be an adult, how crazy is that?" Dane added.

They're more excited for my birthday than I am. Granted, They're always excited for my birthdays.

"You'll be legal," Lucifer added in his usual hushed tone.

Everyone gave him a pointed look. Dane and Duke looked especially irked. Theo smirked and shook his head, like whatever Lucifer meant by that was bad.

I pushed my eyebrows together. Legal? "What does that mean?" I asked.

Eugene groaned, running his hands down his face, "Thanks Lucifer," he glared at him.

Theo scoffed, "How did the education system fail you this badly?" He asked.

Confused, I shrugged.

Felix sighed from where he sat, steering the boat. "Legal means you're at the age of consent," he gave me a pointed look. "You know what that means, right?"

Oh. It's awkward. It's very awkward. Why the heck would Lucifer say that?! Sex makes me very uncomfortable, and I try not to think about it. I really don't want to talk about it with them.

"It means if we don't change the subject I'm going to throw myself overboard," I mumbled.

Dane sucked in a breath, "Me too- anyways, you really don't want to have your friends over for a party or something?" He quickly changed the subject.

I shook my head, "Not really." Ive never been invited to any of their parties, so I don't want to be weird and invite than to mine. I don't have any close friends that I'd want there anyways. "I'm fine with it just being us- and a huge cake," I added with a smile.

I stood up and walked over to Felix, "Can I steer?" I asked.

Felix eyed me for a second before nodding, gesturing for me to sit in his lap.

I smiled, sitting on his legs, on my back, where our skin touched I felt the same tingly feeling as yesterday, the same one I get from Duke too. I want to ask about it, but it's kind of embarrassing. The tingles feel... good. But not like the hot sun on my skin good. I've never felt it before, but I like it. But it's something I think I should keep to myself.

Felix wrapped his arm around my stomach, his large hand resting on my hip. I know it's not a hug, and he's acting more as a seatbelt than anything, but I'm counting it as a hug.

"Keep it straight for now, I'll tell you when to turn," he instructed.

"You got it captain," I joked.

The thought being able to vote make me think. Vampires don't really have presidents. At least that I know of. Their world is very different from mine, and until now, I've never questioned it. "In your world, do you have a president? Is someone in charge of all vampires? Or do you all just do whatever you want?" I asked, glancing at everyone.

Theo smirked, "Not exactly. Thousands of years ago, when the very first vampires came into existence, they were named royals. They ruled for thousands of years, but eventually they were killed."

"So, there was never another person chosen as a leader?" I concluded.

Eugene turned towards me, "There's no election, or choosing. Power and status is dependent on age. The older we are, the stronger we are. And it's even possible that we develop abilities with age that others will never have," he said.

"Lie super powers?" I teased.

I felt Felix laugh from behind me, "Lucifer can get into peoples heads and read their minds. Back in the day, when we needed information we... persuaded or enmities into allowing him in their minds. It's incredibly useful. But I don't know another vampire who's developed an ability like his," he explained as he grabbed the wheel from me, seeing as I'm not paying attention.

I raised my eyebrows, "Lucifer you can read minds?" I asked in awe. That's cool!

Lucifer looked at me through his dark sunglasses and nodded. He somehow found the only shaded area on the boat and hasn't moved the entire time.

"Isn't that what you already do though? You can talk to each other in your heads," I thought. Mind reading isn't that great if he can already do that as a vampire anyways.

Duke shook his head, "No, the mind link is different. We choose what we say to one another, like talking. If someone allows Lucifer in their mind, he has access to every thought you have."

I eyed Lucifer, letting curiosity fill me. I never think anything mean about anyone, and I doubt I will in the future, why not test it. "Okay, prove it," I turned sideways in Felix's lap, his arm still around me. "Tell me what I'm thinking-"

"Elora you don't want to do that," Dane gave me a pointed look.

"I agree, you don't want someone prying in your head, don't give him permission so easily," Duke warned.

I rolled my eyes, "Oh come on, I'm not worried," I smiled, dismissing them.

"You'll never be able to kick him out once he's in. Where ever you are, he has full access to your mind. Usually, I'd be all for it. But trust me, this is a bad idea," Theo said, giving me a similar look.

What are they so worried about? It's Lucifer! If I asked him to leave, I'm sure he would. I smiled at Lucifer, "Do it, tell me what I'm thinking," I allowed him in.

Lucifer straightened, looking intrigued. He stared at me before a satisfied look fell on his face. "As you wish," he whispered.

I felt the slightest flutter in the back of my mind. It was strange, but somehow I knew he's here, in my mind. I can feel his conciseness, but barely. It's very strange, and I'm not sure if I like the feeling.

Everyone seemed tense, but I stared at Lucifer. He tilted his head, "I've never had access to a humans mind before, it's very strange," he mumbled.

I raised my eyebrows, how is my kind different than anyone else's? I know there's vampires and werewolves, but they're still people who have the same thoughts and feelings as I do.

Lucifer shook his head, "You're cold, exhausted, and you're still mad at Duke," I flinched back at Lucifers voice in my mind. My smile was gone, and I was shocked. He just spoke to me, through my mind.

I pushed myself as far back into Felix as I could. I didn't like that at all. A persons mind is their own, they're never supposed to hear another persons voice in their thoughts. It's unsettling.

"I told you," Duke shook his head at my reaction.

Lucifer leaned back, resting his head against the back of the seat, "She's annoyed because no one ever answered her question," he said.

I am? I guess I am. No one ever told me who's in charge.

Felix tightened his arm around me, "I'm the last vampire with royal blood. I'm the ruler over vampires," he said, pride clear in his tone.

I widened my eyes, looking up at him, "You? How didn't I know that?" I thought. I guess I'm not that surprised, Felix has always been strict and oozed power. But for him to be the leader of all vampires... that must mean all of them are in positions of power.

Felix smirked at my surprised reaction, "It wouldn't have made a difference if you knew or not," he answered.

I hummed. I don't think that's true. I'll always love them, nothing could never change that. But I feel weird knowing that the most power vampires in the would chose me. They go on their missions, that I now understand are part of their duties as leaders. But wouldn't I be a burden?

"You're overthinking. Duke took you in because you needed help. It's the best decision we've ever made. Don't doubt that for a second," Lucifers voice echoed in my mind.

I shifted my eyes and looked at him, seeing him already looking at me. I smiled at him before turning to look at the sunset.

A mix of pinks and oranges sprinkled the sky, and I felt happy. I'm not mad at Duke, no matter what Lucifer thinks he knows. I just wish he never left and I didn't miss all those years with him.

Now that they're all back, and I have all my guys with me, I feel complete. Like all my puzzle pieces are coming together. I just wish I knew why it feels different than before.