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“Mind if I sit here and eat with you? Probably just a half an hour. I’m also anxious to get back and dig through data.”
“Sure,” I say. “C’mon in if you want. I only have this one outdoor chair, but we can both fit comfortably inside.
She follows me in.
I pull the footlocker out from under my back bench seat and slide the notebook into it, then lock it.
Bailey is taking in the space. “This is really cute.”
“I came in a hurry. Forgot my outdoor shower and camping toilet.”
“You should come stay at my place. We have a guest room.”
“Somehow, I don’t think your father would appreciate that. Besides…” I trail off and say nothing.
“You’re making a statement,” she whispers.
I stare at her.
She continues. “You’re exactly where you arrived, waiting like you said you would, even if it’s less than comfortable. You’re letting your mate see that you’re willing to be less than comfortable. But, you’re probably punishing yourself needlessly.”
I guess I am punishing myself. Though I wouldn’t agree with the part about it being needless.
“When he’s ready, he’ll find you. And he will get there. He has to. It’s biologically inevitable.”
I say nothing for a minute and then I ask, “How did one of my sisters get the documents to you?”
They’re not allowed to come to Arcana Falls until they’re invited as part of my punishment.
“Riley brought them.” She says, eyes widening as she opens her mouth to take a bite of her wrap.
“Riley brought them?” I whisper in shock.
“Don’t know how that came about because he refused to discuss it; just dumped two boxes of paperwork on my desk this morning and grumbled that he didn’t have time to answer questions and left.”
Wait. What? How? Who gave them to Riley?
Heat floods my face. I need to get ahold of my sisters.
“Um… if you’re not allowed to practice magic here, why do you have so many…” she gestures to the cabinet that’s open a little. It’s filled with jars.
“Herbs, lotions, and potions?” I finish for her.
“Yeah.” She lifts a jar out of my fake, decoration only, apothecary. It reads “love potion number ninety-six” and is filled with dried lavender and sparkly red heart confetti in it. The fake apothecary was a joke gift from Ronnie on Christmas the year I turned eighteen.
“That’s not real. It was a gag gift. But I don’t travel light,” I say. “Besides, I might have to perform magic the minute I’m out of here.” I take a bite of the wrap, pushing away the thoughts of the severing ceremony that’ll likely happen as soon as I step outside the village. “Mm. This is good,” I lie, not because it’s not good, but because I can’t even taste it. “Thanks again.”
14
Riley
Five of my council pack brothers are in my garage. Years ago, my father converted it to the Savage Construction office. Everyone’s here but Greyson, and the air is thick with their combined concern. It’s nighttime and I’ve spent the day here, trying to bury myself in work. Trying to bury myself in something so I don’t go to that witch and bury myself in her.
I can smell her from here. Clean, hungry, virgin pussy with a hint of lilac.
Hungry? More like ravenous. Beckoning to me like a siren. A siren in the depths of the deep, dark blue water, wanting to drag me to the bottom.
Virgin. That’s the kicker. Saving herself for me after what she did to me? It makes no sense. Despite how I’ve tried to push it all out of my head, it’s playing on a loop. What she did. That she’s here. What her sister said. If it’s true.
I’m pissed off. These guys need to leave me be. I can’t handle the lectures.
Ty and Mase are pushing me to hear her out.
Joel and Jase aren’t saying much, but look concerned.
Lincoln seems like he’s waffling between the two sects.
And I’m pushing back.
“Leave me alone. Give me space.”
“She can sit there and wait for more than a couple days since I’ve been here seven goddamn years.”
I’m tired of repeating myself and am ready to leave, ready to hit the fuckin’ road if they don’t lay off warning me about what might happen to me if I reject her, if I reject my instincts.
Beyond seeing where I’m at where she’s concerned, they wanted to update me on the fact that three of them went to check in on Grey and said the air is thick with mating scents. Grey poked his head out to good-naturedly tell them to fuck off. That he’ll see them in a few days. Ish.
“So this means we have zero answers about his new mate so far? Not why she shot Tyson. Not why she targeted our pack?” I demand.
“Nope. Nothing,” Jase responds.
Greyson Blackwood loves nothing more than this pack, but if I were in my right head I’d have pushed for at least a few answers before now. I’m not in my right head. Not about that; not about anything.
