“Erica? Aphra?”
Erica and Aphra appear on screen.
“One sec. Here’s Jess, too,” Erica says and the other Young redhead appears in a separate window on the screen.
I say, “Erica, I have a bone to pick with you, not to mention the fact that your fuckin’ sister is–”
“I know,” Erica Savage cuts me off. “And believe me, Jase, knowing Dani, she’s gone easy on you. You’re lucky she likes you.”
What the fuck?
13
BAILEY
“My brother’s cousins are experts at great sleepovers,” I say, sipping my coffee at the breakfast table with Vivi, Ronnie, and Jessie. They’ve put on quite a breakfast spread, though I haven’t had an appetite.
“Since he’s your brother, I’d say we’reyourcousins, too,” Ronnie tells me, spreading butter on a muffin.
“I like that,” I say, then add, “A lot.”
“Well, cuz… consider yourself in possession of an open invite for sleepovers whenever…” Jessie adds.
“Yay!” I clap my hands.
Vivi picked me up at the airport and we came back and watched a movie while they decimated the contents of a coffee table junk food charcuterie board. And I did my best to be good company, but my mind has been scattered all over the place, especially with the stress of thinking about going home.
Jessie is staying behind to take care of their store, but me, Vivi, and Ronnie are leaving for Arcana Falls shortly. Not just to get me home, also because the Young sisters are coming to help. Because of what’s happening with Cicely and Jared, which has been a lot to wrap my mind around.
My best friend was claimed by an alpha who I’m told has no control over his wolf. He has no scent and his wolf is horrifically violent. Cicely made it through meeting her fated mate in wolf form with only a small wound before that wound was turned toa mating mark when Jared shifted and went into rutting mode, but they’ve got Jared restrained. He wants to leave, get far away from Cicely to protect her, but the council voted to hold onto him while the Young coven and Cat Savage investigate for solutions. Because Ronnie Young gleans facts by touch, she plans to put her hands on him after they bring me home to see if they can figure out why Jared’s wolf is so violent, so disconnected from him.
I tried phoning Cicely, but my calls went straight to her voicemail. All I really know is that Jared has claimed her, they’ve mated, and she’s not remotely resistant, but it’s sounding dangerously complicated.
Boy, can I relate. Or I could, if I allowed myself to think too long on it, which I can’t. Every time I begin to let thoughts creep in about my situation, I get angry and I want to cry and scream, and neither will help, so I make myself think about something else instead. I know one thing – the idea of ‘the rut’ terrifies me and makes me want to beg for a magical scent mask so I can run and hide from Jase.
“You okay?” Jessie asks, putting her hand on my arm.
No time like now…
“Maybe Ronnie should touch my arm and help me make sense of everything I’m feeling and tell me what’s going to happen.”
Ronnie gives me a kind, sad smile. “I can’t tell you what’s going to happen. I don’t see the future. And I would prefer not to touch you with the turmoil you’re feeling as I’m sure it’d consume a lot of my headspace and that needs to be clear for me to help Cicely and Jared.”
“I understand,” I say. “And I was only half-serious.”
“That’s not to say I feel like Cicely’s situation is more important than yours, but my sisters can help you where I’m the best one to help Cicely at the moment.”
I wave my hand. “I get it.”
“And wearegoing to help you,” Jessie says, squeezing my forearm affectionately.
“Gonna make me a scent mask so I can hide from Jase?” I ask.
“Not exactly,” Vivi pipes up, “But when we fed him the toggle strip, Dani worked something in there that’ll give you at least a temporary reprieve. Jase is on his way home now. Should be home a few hours after you.”
I wince.
“He won’t be able to lay a hand on you today, Bailey. And we’re having a meeting about it. We’ll see what we can do.”