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It felt inappropriate from a stranger…but, we were more than just strangers, weren’t we…
I guess I was going to have to get used to that. He was…my mate after all. Why did the idea of him touching me make me sick? I could distinctly remember how attracted and excited I’d been when I’d seen him that night.
“The Fae Queen has magic, I'm sure that has something to do with your time with her blurring together," he soothed, answering the question I’d forgotten I’d asked. "It's probably for the best that you don't remember, darling. I can’t even comprehend the horrors you’ve been through." His hand went up to gently stroke my cheek, and again my insides were screaming about the wrongness of his touch. I recognized him inside me as my fated mate, so why did I feel like this?
I needed…some space. But how did you ask for space from someone that had just saved your life after searching for you for over a year?
My mother. Her face flared through my thoughts, and I winced, because I should've thought about her the second I’d opened my eyes. She would've gone mad losing me for a year.
"Have you told my mother of my return yet?" I asked anxiously. “When can I see her? Is she here already?” I peered through the open door like she was going to appear at any moment.
There was a long silence, and my attention snapped back to Alistair…because I could feel the tension that had suddenly crept into the room.
"Alistair?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Where's my mother?"
"Rune, I’m so sorry. I was hoping I could tell you this when…fuck, I don’t know when. I don't know what I was thinking–of course you would want to speak with your mother right away. I'm so sorry Rune…” he repeated. “But she's passed away."
A brittle sob slipped from my lips as I stared at him incredulously. There was no way. She was going to appear in that doorway at any moment. There were no other options.
"Why would you say that, my mom’s young, she has years and years left."
His hand gripped mine and I saw only truth in his gaze. "She got sick with something…maybe it was a curse from the fae queen when she grabbed you. But her wolf powers never took over and there was nothing our doctors could do.”
My hands went to my face and I sobbed into them, my cries bordering on hysterics.
I was faintly aware of him rubbing my back and murmuring soft words that I couldn’t make out through my tears.
“She's buried nearby. I’ll take you to her grave as soon as you’re feeling up to it.”
I nodded numbly, and lifted my face, one of my hands brushing the necklace hanging down between my breasts. I squeezed it, and then froze when I remembered I had no idea where the necklace was from…and also remembering what had happened when the queen had tried to grab it. I picked it up, staring at the stone closely.
"What is it, darling?"
I hated how the word “darling” grated on my ears.
"Nothing," I murmured. “Just trying to work through everything.”
I didn't know why I was lying to my fated mate, and I really didn't have any idea why I would have a necklace with magical powers. But for some reason I didn't want to tell him about it.
"Can I use the restroom and take a shower?" I whispered, feeling more drained than I could ever remember feeling before.
"Of course, Rune. This is your home now. Whatever you need, I can get you." I shot him a sad smile and let him help me off the bed, his gaze still racing over my bare skin in a way that made it crawl.
He led me towards a closed door on the far side of the room, and my eyes widened at the opulence of the bathroom behind it. Everything was black marble and shiny silver fixtures. I could feel under my bare feet that the floors were heated. There was an enormous bathtub to the left, and the shower in front of it could fit five people. There were two large sinks, and I realized there was an array of dark bottles by one of them. I glanced over at Alistair and found him watching me intently. Panic bounced around my gut, and I pushed it down.
"Is this…your bathroom?" I asked, praying his answer would be no.
"Of course, my mate wouldn't sleep anywhere but my bedroom,” he responded as if any other idea was preposterous.
I wanted to cry at his pronouncement, but I held it in, sensing he wouldn't be happy about that. Instead I forced a smile, my head beginning to ache as I kept trying to find any pieces of my past year.
"Of course," I murmured. "I'll just take a shower now…or maybe a bath.” I glanced over at the tub, thinking that might soothe my spiraling emotions better than a shower would.
"Take as long as you need, my moon. And when you’re done, I'll have breakfast for you." He pushed a tendril of hair out of my face and gave me another winning smile.
And I felt nothing.
I waited until the door closed and his footsteps had faded away before I locked it, not wanting him to walk in while I was unclothed. I turned on the bath, changing the temperature until it was so hot it would scald my skin.
