I snap, “Your sister shoves fake shit in my bag, you guys make Bailey follow me and put herself in danger, and now you’re keeping me from her. I’ve had it with this bullshit! Bailey is not afraid of me, for fuck’s sake. Bailey knows who I am!”
“Tell you what… I’ll let you out and you can prove to Bailey that you’ve got a mind to her feelings, her fear. To ensure that, you’re not to lay a finger on your mate for a minimum of three days from the time you get home. Deal?”
What the fuck?
“Minimum,” she repeats.
“I’m not making that promise to you. Who the fuck do you think you are?”
“I’m thinking it might be prudent to talk to my sisters about voting to make it thirty days. I suspect three won’t be enough.”
I’m livid.
I glare at her, rage pulsing in my blood. But I only say, “Let me out.” Because I sure as shit can’t do anything if I’m stuck here.
She digs into her bag and sets up several bottles and a stone bowl on the bottom step. She drops in a green breath strip before she uncaps a small glass bottle and pours some dark liquid over the strip. She then uncaps another bottle and uses a dropper to drop three drops from that bottle and then sprinkles something from a larger jar, then cranks a small battery-operated spice jar over top. She pulls a pestle out of her bag and begins digging through the bowl with it and I watch as she works all the shit she added into the green thing, which is now a mustard-colored blob.
“I’ll send this through the shield after I’ve got some of my sisters and Aphra on the phone to do a circle where Aphra’s presence and acceptance will allow my potion to fuse with hers. You’ll put it under your tongue and in about two to three minutes the shield will disintegrate. You may continue to feel a bit weak for a few hours as you overcome the side effects of that flower Alta used to disable your wolf. I’ll order a cab to get you to Ljubljana airport. I picked you up a few sandwiches and there are some sports drinks.” She gestures to a bag on the step above her.
“Which airport?”
“We’re in Slovenia. I’ve booked you a flight that leaves in six hours.”
How the hell did those assholes get the two of us to another country while unconscious?
“Alta dabbles in many gray areas, evidently.” Dani mutters answering my unspoken question while examining the broken ampule on the floor from when Alta threw that potion at me, knocking me out.
She sniffs the ampule and makes a face. “Nasty. But potentially useful.”
I force out, “Is Bailey safe?”
She looks me over with those measuring eyes before she answers. “Vivi picked her up from the airport almost an hour ago. She’s spending the night in Marblehead with my sisters. Vivi and Ronnie will drive her home in the morning. She’ll be home before you. I strongly advise you against pushing your suit with Bailey. In fact, take my advice and work on mending things before you even think about laying a hand on her.”
I say nothing.
“You’ll regret it if you don’t follow my advice, Jase.”
“What’ll happen?” I demand.
“I suggest youdon’ttry to find out.”
I growl.
She says, “I suggest you reflect and decide the best course of action to show your mate real remorse and do your best to win her heart.”
She can shove her suggestions up her ass.
“All I did was live my life until I found out who my mate was.”
“And yet the girl who has for years wanted nothing more than to have you choose her is terrified of you claiming her. I’m giving you the opportunity to take time to think and figure out the best way to win her heart.”
I give her nothing. Because fuck this shit.
“Now, shall we begin?” she asks. “Or do you need more time stewing in your angry testosterone soup?”
I don’t answer. I wait.
She gives me a long, disapproving look and does something on her phone before setting it on the step.