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None of us knew what that would involve. The wars continued without much explanation, providing more mysteries than answers. Wherever we sought to solve the puzzle was where it grew more complicated, layers upon layers slipping into place like ivy swallowing the side of an abandoned house.
Nothing will stop them. Not even sunlight. That horrific realization grounded in my chest.After all, they nearly found the cure for their silver allergy in my kid. What else will they find if they put their minds to it?
Chapter 20 - Charlotte
Nobody got in my way in the kitchen. Even my most trusted chefs stepped aside when they saw me prepping as if an ice storm was on its way. While I usually left prep to my chefs, I took on the tumultuous task early this morning, busying myself with multiple tasks to keep myself from sitting still.
And while everyone noticed that something was off, none of them dared to ask.
That left plenty of room for me to think.
My emotions rose to the highest highs and dropped to the lowest lows in a matter of minutes while I chopped onions, peppers, and garlic. Perfectionism took over as I set up the workstations for our Saturday rush. Though my hands ached, I went on to prepare dough for our famous bread basket.
The tavern would soon spring to life and I wanted to make sure we were ready for just about anything. Wolves, vampires, fairy creatures, shifters—everyone needed to feel welcome here. All creatures mattered. The war wasn’t allowed to get into these walls.
But after the horrors I had witnessed, I was starting to rethink our position.
Once word got out about my involvement, then our neutrality would be questioned. It wasn’t up for debate anymore. What I experienced was nothing short of unnecessary torture. What had a seven-year-old kid done to an ancient vampire like Domingo?
There was no excuse. My mind was made.
I was on the side of the Beaufort pack.
Whatever Sasha had to say about that could be kept to herself. Saying such a thing out loud would only piss her off, and the last thing I wanted right now was for someone else to push me away.
I can handle Adam, I thought.But not my soul sister. She’s all I have. Her, Rose, Nina—I can’t live without them.
My spine straightened as I stared at the dough I had been kneading for ten minutes.
I don’t think I can live without Adam either.
A snort echoed from me.
That was stupid. Ofcourse, I could live without Adam. Hadn’t I been doing it for years before I met him?
I blinked away the answers before they could materialize. Digging my fingers back into the dough put me at ease, reminding me of the things I could control. Like this bread. And this kitchen. And the tavern on the other side of the wall.
“Lottie?”
I jumped at the sound of my name. When I looked up, the kitchen was deserted, every station sparkling with cleanliness. Sasha stood in the doorway with her brows knitted so tightly together that they created a divot in her third eye.
“Lottie, you need to stop. You’ve been going since…” She glanced at the clock. Her concern deepened. “Several hours.”
“I can stop after this bread.”
She sighed. “Honey, it doesn’t need to be baked for another hour.”
“So? I want the dough to be ready. You know the witches love this stuff. It’s like the more carbs are in it, the more magical creatures love it.”
She smiled warmly while crossing the kitchen. “We’ve avoided the topic long enough. Why don’t we talk about Adam?”
“About who?”
“Lottie, it’s not cute when you act oblivious.”
I shrugged into the dough. Flour caked the workstation and my apron. It was likely all over my face and hair, too. “I don’t feel like talking about Adam.”
“I’m sure you’re thinking about him.”
