Michelle sputters, momentarily at a loss for words, before she smooths down the sides of her skirt. “I just figured we should put the past in the past since we’re going to be spending a lot of time together.”
“We only have to stay here one month,” I retort with an eye roll. “I can definitely ignore your entire existence for that long.”
I don’t bother to add that I’ll be gone every weekend.
A wicked smile cracks Michelle’s façade before she can smother it. She quickly rearranges her features until they’re a mask of feigned sympathy. One of her manicured hands flutters to her chest, directly over her heart.
“Oh dear. Is that what you think?” The condescension in her tone makes me want to slap her.
“We made a deal with Delaney,” I snap. Or at least, I did. I can only assume Ansel was told something similar to me. “One month. That’s it.”
”Michelle…” Dyson warns, all of his amusement leaching away and his playful tone evaporating. “Stop.”
Michelle ignores her brother and takes a single step closer to me. “Tell me, Izzy… Did you ask Mother Delaney to clarify whether that month was in our time or human time?”
She cocks her head to the side, midnight-black hair draping over one shoulder, as she waits for me to respond.
Trepidation lacerates my chest.
“What do you mean?” I hate admitting that I’m confused—fucking despise it—but alarm bells are ringing in my head simultaneously
Surprisingly, it’s not Michelle or Dyson who answers, but Celeste, who steps forward, nibbling on her nail.
“I’m so sorry, Izzy. I didn’t think about this when you made your deal. I swear.” She swallows and finally drops her hand to her side. “Time moves differently in the covenstead. A month in here could be only a few days in the real world. So, technically, you’ll be able to return home every weekend, but it’ll feel like months before you’re able to do so.”
“See?” Michelle tosses her hair back. “I told you we’re going to get to know each other well.”
I feel the color drain from my cheeks at her words and accompanying smirk.
Ansel takes a step closer to me, his body radiating a comforting heat I want to bathe in. He places a hand on my shoulder and turns me to face him.
“It may feel like a month in here, but it’ll still only be a week out there,” he tells me, attempting to keep his voice soft so the others won’t overhear. “Your…guyswill only be missing you for a week.”
He stumbles over the word “guys” as if he’s unsure of what to call them. I honestly don’t know if he’s learned about mates yet, and a part of me is scared for him to find out.
Will he want nothing to do with me once he discovers I’m “mated” to a group of wolves and a vampire?
“A month, Ansel,” I whisper, barely able to open my mouth. “I have to stay here amonth, if not longer, until I’m able to see my friends and family.”
My mates.
Jake, Hale, Gerry, Seth, and Lissa.
Kyle and Silas.
Desiree.
It may only feel like a week for them, but for me, it’ll be an eternity. An eternity of wondering if they’re okay, if they’re unharmed, if they’re even still alive after the attack.
An iron vise squeezes my throat.
Ansel immediately pulls me into his arms, and I come willingly, resting my cheek against his rapidly beating heart.
“We’ll figure it out, Illy. I promise. Maybe we can ask Delaney if we can check in on the others so we know they’re okay.”
I take comfort in his words, in his soothing presence, allowing myself to sink deeper into him. He smells different than normal, but I can’t put my finger on why. Maybe he used a different shampoo. Either way, being in his arms is exactly the balm I need.
Behind me, Michelle makes a smart-ass comment about referring to the Mother as Delaney, which incites a sarcastic retort from Dyson, of all people. Celeste tentatively tries to defend my apparent “insubordination,” but Michelle’s rant cuts her off.
