Page 25 of His Sold Fated Mate

I shook my head. “I mean, no. You don’t need to go traipsing around wasting time when we need to keep our heads focused or worse, getting hurt.” I had too much on my plate as it was. I couldn’t worry about her trying to learn magic and it backfiring.

“Klaus, this could be a step toward figuring the answer out. I have to do this.”

“Or it would be a complete waste of time. They could be wrong. You could possibly have no magic.”

Her lips formed a tight line. “You don’t know that. Why are you getting upset? This is a good thing. If they can get my magic to come out, I can help. I will actually be able to do what it is you need me to do.”

Because I needed to focus, and I was having a hard time doing so with her around. I couldn’t do my job if I were constantly wondering if she was okay. “You know what? Do what you want, but when you end up hurt, don’t come crying to me. I’m too busy as it is to deal with any crazy idea you and the witches decided to come up with.”

She fell quiet, and I could see instantly that whatever walls had come down went up. She stiffened in her chair and looked outside the window.

“I’ll be fine,” she muttered before falling silent.

I knew I’d misspoken. It wasn’t that I didn’t want her to try, because I did. But it seemed everything we were doing was just turning us in another direction. I didn’t want her to spend all this time on this and end up disappointed when it didn’t work out. I just wanted a straight answer rather than feeling like I was running around in a maze.

Chapter 8 - Aubrey

I sat at the island, still irritated about the drive home. But I wasn’t going to let Klaus’s grumpiness get in the way of finding out the answer and getting my freedom. He might want to drag his feet, but I didn’t. I wanted answers, and I wasn’t going to wait.

I finished my breakfast and set the plate into the sink. I glanced at the time, knowing I had a little time before Julia was going to be here. Klaus had asked her last night if she would be willing to drive me, and she hadn’t seemed exactly thrilled about the idea of being in another pack for several hours.

I glanced down at the address Elize had given me for the healing center where she worked. She’d expressed that I could show up whenever, and they would be more than willing to help. A little part of me was eager. I felt like I belonged with them, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt like that.

I heard my phone buzz and glanced down to see it was a message from Julia. She’s just pulled in.

I slipped my shoes on and headed out. I hopped into Julia’s car and offered a smile. “Morning, Julia. Thank you for doing this.”

She nodded, holding a casual expression. “Of course. It’s part of my job.”

Julia was never rude to me, but she hadn’t been exactly friendly either. It was clear there was a line in the sand, and I was just part of her job at this point. Another task she had to handle.

“This is the address of the healing center.” I handed her the paper, and she glanced at it. She gave me a nod before she pulled the car out.

It wasn’t hard to figure out why Julia worked for Klaus. They both liked quiet, and they were both reserved. I drummed my fingers on my lap, trying to think of something to say.

I wet my lips. “So, how have you been?”

“I’m fine,” she said, her eyes focused on the road. She drove like I wasn’t in the car.

I nodded. “We have nice weather.”

She nodded. “We do.”

I chewed on my cheek. I glanced out the window and sighed. “Have you always grown up here?”

“Yes.”

“And Klaus? Has he always lived here as well?”

“Yep.”

I glanced down at my phone, wishing I had someone to talk to. Klaus bought it for me the day after I arrived and popped in a few numbers. I had no one to text, no one to call when I felt alone. I found myself wishing I’d asked for Eliza’s number.

“Is it true you’re a sex worker?”

My head popped up, and my eyes widened. “What?”

She held a cool expression, her eyes still holding no emotion. Her voice remained the same, like she wasn’t asking an insulting question. “Word is going around the pack that you’re a sex worker.”