Page 66 of The Secret Mate Society

His jaw tightened slightly."Then we'll find another way to keep her safe.I won't let anything happen to your family, Ethan.I promise."

The fierce certainty in his voice should have been reassuring, but it only added to the growing list of questions I had about him.How could he make such promises?What exactly was he capable of?

"You keep saying things like that," I said softly."Like you have some kind of power over this situation.But you're just one person, Calder.What if this thing is stronger than you think?"

His eyes flashed with that strange golden light again, and for a moment I could have sworn I saw something wild and untamed looking back at me.Then he blinked and it was gone.

"I'm not as helpless as you might think," he said, his voice carrying an edge that made my skin prickle."And I have friends who can help if needed."

"What kind of friends?"

Before he could answer, my phone buzzed again.It was Mom again.

Mom: You know what, I might just come out there anyway.I’m feeling like a little vacation.

My blood went cold as I read the message."Shit," I muttered, showing Calder the screen.

His expression darkened as he read, and I felt the muscles in his arm tense against me."When?"

"She doesn't say."I quickly typed back, trying to keep the panic out of my response.

Me: Mom, maybe wait a few more weeks?I'm still getting my bearings here and work is really demanding right now.

The three dots appeared immediately, showing she was typing.My heart hammered as I waited for her response.

Mom: Nonsense!You work too hard anyway.A surprise visit from your mother is exactly what you need.I'm thinking maybe this weekend?I could drive up Friday and stay through Sunday.

"This weekend," I said, my voice barely above a whisper."She wants to come this weekend."

Calder sat up abruptly, running both hands through his hair."Fuck.That's...that's not good timing."

"Not good timing?"I turned to stare at him."Calder, there's a monster leaving human hearts outside my apartment, and you think my mother visiting is just bad timing?"

He was quiet for a long moment, his jaw working as if he was fighting some internal battle.When he finally looked at me, there was something desperate in his eyes.

"Ethan, I need you to trust me on this.Your mother cannot come here right now.It's not safe."

"Then help me convince her not to come," I said, grabbing his arm."Tell me what I should say."

"Tell her..."He paused, seeming to weigh his words carefully."Tell her you're seeing someone new and you want to focus on that relationship without family interference for a while."

I blinked."You want me to use our relationship to keep my mother away?"

"If it works, yes."His voice was firm, but I caught the slight uncertainty in his expression."She'll understand wanting privacy for a new romance, won't she?"

Before I could answer, my phone rang.Mom's contact photo filled the screen.It was a picture of her smiling in her garden, completely oblivious to the supernatural danger that seemed to follow me everywhere.

"I have to answer," I said, but Calder's hand closed over mine.

"Be careful what you tell her," he warned."The less she knows about what's really happening here, the safer she'll be."

I nodded and swiped to answer."Hi, Mom."

"Ethan, sweetheart!I was just so excited about visiting that I couldn't wait to call.I already booked a hotel room!"

"Mom, listen..."I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words."This really isn't a good time.I'm...well, I'm seeing someone, and it's still really new and?—"

"Oh honey, that's even more reason for me to come!I want to meet this guy!And don’t worry,” she added before I could protest.“I’m not going to monopolize your time.I know how to entertain myself.But I would like to have dinner with you two just once while I’m up there.”I could almost hear her gesticulating wildly like she always did.“Then I’ll leave you be, I promise.”