Page 11 of From the Edge

Bands of crimson light began to swirl around her again, and there were jagged edges this time. She held her hand out, a disk of power began to spin, and she sent it shrieking across the landscape, plowing a path through grass, dirt, stone, and water as it ripped through the top of a pond, then spun around a tree, removing two lower limbs.

The power spun and returned to Rowan’s hand. “I only let my energy dissipate to stop you from being injured. That ban is now off.”

Mell saw Norecayet’s eyes widen as understanding dawned.

Rowan handed Mell over to Ted. “I will meet you at home.”

Mell nodded. “Yes. Thank you for not killing him.”

“I will print some Calm Down, Rowan cards. You can use them as you like, but you will only get ten.” Rowan patted her shoulder. “Okay, I am heading home. I will grab you a phone on the way.”

“Thank you.” Mell looked at her friend. “I mean that. Thank you.”

“Right. Well, I am going to grab some takeout on the way, so you have an hour to show up.”

“And then you eat it?”

“And then I eat it and come looking for you.” Rowan patted her cheek. “Okay, I am out of here. Goodbye, ladies.”

Mell watched her friend get on her motorcycle, put on her helmet, and coax it to life. Rowan roared off, and Mell felt a tear trickle down her cheek. Norecayet walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her. “I am sorry. Did she really control a spinning saw blade made of magic?”

“Yes. That is how she took apart the shadow mages. She had six of those blades whirling around.”

“She never used them on me.”

“No, because she knew you were my mate. She would never hurt something that I needed or that made me happy.” Mell looked up at him to see if he was getting the point.

He winced. “I understand. My other self understands. He is filled with dawning horror as to his actions.”

“Great. Well, today, I am going home, and Rowan and I are going to have takeout. I am going to go over all the baby stuff she’s picked up for me, and we are going to giggle a lot and cry and more giggling.” She smiled. “Tomorrow, I start applying for jobs and try to explain the gap since my last one. Nor, what would have happened if the runes hadn’t caught you when you came barging in here?”

“I would have attacked the others around you. Why? Wait, how did they stop me?”

“You already know the answer to that.”

He sighed. “She caught me without hurting me.”

“Yes. And as you tried to fight your way out of the wards, she took the damage.”

“What can I do?”

“Not hit her. Stop glaring at her. I have to confirm she still has the same food cravings, and you could do something there. Oh. I don’t know if there are any shops that cater to omega stuff, but she loves soft stuff. Her skin is hypersensitive, so everything she has is soft. Even her jeans have a lining.”

Ted asked softly, “When did you want to go?”

“Um, I would like to leave in about twenty minutes? I hate watching Rowan crying, and she’s really going to cry.” She shrugged.

Norecayet asked, “Why will she cry?”

“She was really hurt; she was really worried. I am okay, and the baby feels okay. I have to restart my life, but she’s kept everything warm for me.”

Lucia frowned. “You make her cry alone?”

“She doesn’t like to be touched. When she’s sad, I just want to cuddle her.”

The healer from earlier asked, “Why doesn’t she like to be touched?”

“It hurts. She says that it hurts.”