Chapter 16 #2
Felicity glanced around and realized there were new faces. “Of course. You know I’m not going to pass up an opportunity to eat and hear the latest news.” She smiled at Avaleigh and Angelle. “Hello. I’m Felicity. I’m Enthrall’s mate.”
“Hi, I’m Avaleigh. Daniel is my mate,” she said, gesturing to Daniel where he’d wandered off to join the other males. “And this is my daughter, Angelle.”
“Hi,” Angelle said shyly.
“Welcome to Whispers,” Felicity said, as she distractedly struggled to slip her feet into a pair of mules. “Ah, finally!” she said when she successfully stepped toward them and closed the door behind herself.
“Thanks,” Avaleigh and Angelle both said.
“Carolena, how are you?” Felicity asked.
“I’m well. And I’m so excited to have Angelle and Avaleigh here.”
“Okay, so it’s you they’re visiting,” Felicity said.
“Kind of. They are here because Angelle is Boon’s mate.
He invited them to come to Whispers and see what it’s all about.
Angelle’s parents accompanied her and here we are.
But in all honesty, we’re here because Carnage found out that Daniel is an experienced golf player and after a few pointers has decided that he’s going to beat Enthrall. ”
Felicity laughed delightedly. “What would they ever do without their rivalry?”
“They’re like little boys,” Rowan said.
“Wait! Don’t start without me!” Destroy shouted as he ran down off the steps. He cast a quick glance toward Rowan. “I’m going to play golf!”
“I see that,” she said. “Have fun.”
Rowan started across the area between hers and Destroy’s, and Enthrall’s houses. “They’re going to be a while. Let’s go have a good old-fashioned gossip session. I’ll fill your bellies, and fill you in on everyone in Whispers, and you can fill us in on you and Boon!” Rowan said excitedly.
“There’s not really much to tell,” Angelle said, as Avaleigh, Carolena and Felicity fell into step with Rowan. Avaleigh looped her arm through Angelle’s as she walked past and pulled her along with them.
“She’s very private,” Avaleigh said.
“Just like Boon,” Carolena added. “She’s not comfortable being the subject of discussion. They both prefer quiet time alone to large groups.”
“Well, that’s okay. We’ll tell you all about us instead. Just know that we all love Boon and are so glad you’re finally here,” Felicity said.
Angelle followed along as her mother held onto her arm, guiding her toward Rowan’s house, but suddenly she felt a hand around her waist. She glanced over her shoulder and found Boon there. He smiled at her. “Do you mind if I go play golf? I know you just got here.”
“Not at all. Go enjoy yourself.”
“You sure?” Boon pressed.
Angelle, looking into Boon’s gaze, had since forgotten that they weren’t alone and lifted her head with her lips puckered for a kiss.
Boon pressed his lips to hers, pulled back to smile at her, then kissed her again. “I won’t be long.”
“Have fun,” Angelle said. She stood and watched as he jogged back toward the males, where Daniel stood blowing a kiss to Avaleigh.
Avaleigh giggled like a school girl and pretended to catch it and tuck it in her pocket.
“That boy is fully besotted,” Rowan said, as she resumed leading everyone into her home.
Everyone made themselves comfortable as Rowan started putting glasses and plates on the table as soon as they got inside, and began taking things out of her pantry and her icebox and laying them out on the table for the ladies to share.
“This cheese is delicious,” Avaleigh said, using a small knife to cut off a little wedge.
“Isn’t it wonderful? Aubreigne makes it.
She sells it along with some vegetables she grows in her garden out behind her house.
She used to keep a smaller garden, but now its really grown in size.
Amilanu helps her and it’s become their regular source of income, as well as food source — vegetable wise anyway, for most of Whispers.
A lot of people here have found ways to make a little extra for when they need something that we can’t produce here.
For whatever we do have here, we often barter,” Rowan said.
“That’s true. Simon raises hogs and makes the most delicious ham I’ve ever tasted. The most reasonable comparison would be Prosciutto, in my opinion,” Felicity said.
“And he makes that here?” Avaleigh asked.
“He does. He raises the hogs, then spends months curing, smoking, and drying the meat. He won’t tell anybody what his spice blends are,” Felicity said.
“Or even his exact process for that matter,” Carolena added.
“I can’t wait to try it,” Avaleigh said.
“Then you’re in luck! Because guess what I’ve got here,” Rowan said, as she placed a platter with a little less than a whole ham sitting in the middle of it with paper thin slices arranged decoratively around it.
“Oh, that looks delicious!” Avaleigh said, reaching for a slice to taste.
“You have got to try this,” Avaleigh said to Angelle as she handed her a slice.
Angelle eagerly tried it and quickly finished off her slice. “If I move here, we’re going to keep Simon in business. I can tell.”
They all laughed.
Rowan smiled and offered her another slice. “Don’t wait for it to be offered, it’s there to be eaten. Help yourself,” she said.
“Thank you, Mrs. Rowan.”
“Oh, none of that. Rowan will do just fine.”
“Thank you,” Angelle said.
“Does everyone survive off the land?” Avaleigh asked.
“Pretty much. We all have shopping lists for anyone that leaves the community. Nothing huge, just special requests here and there. Sometimes we’ll ask Enthrall or Lily to get us something if no one’s been to town in a while,” Rowan said.
“Or me,” Felicity said. “I can zip away and return with no problem. I have to say it’s my favorite part of my new life.”
“Oh?” Avaleigh asked.
“I’m a Vampire. But I wasn’t always. When I met Enthrall I was human. He had to change me to save my life when I was attacked.”
“Oh, my gosh!” Avaleigh exclaimed.
“It was bad. He was almost too late, and then the guilt he experienced afterward was almost too much for him. But we made it through. Then when he taught me how to do all the things he took for granted because he’d been doing them for so long, that guilt fell away when he saw how much fun I was having. ”
“Why was he feeling guilty?” Angelle asked.
“He never wanted to be a Vampire, and he’s always hated that he was turned. So when he was faced with the only chance of saving me being turning me into a Vampire as well, it nearly broke him. He didn’t want to sentence me to the same life he was forced into.”
“Do you regret it?” Angelle asked.
Felicity shook her head. “Not for an instant. I’m with the male that I adore, and he adores me.
And we have the freedom to live our lives doing anything we wish.
We don’t age. We’ll never be ill. We have forever to explore and adventure and love.
With the right male beside you, there are never regrets.
Not that you don’t want to strangle them from time-to-time, but there are never regrets. ”
“Human males, not always so much. But with your mate, your true mate, there are rarely occasions to regret your choices, in my opinion,” Rowan said.
“They do exist though. One of our clan was almost murdered by his own brother who was having an affair with his mate. Being someone’s mate isn’t always a guarantee of happiness.
Unfortunately, I think Angelle has heard some of our stories since she was a child and is hesitant to finalize anything because of that,” Avaleigh said.
“You’re right. There are some males and females, who have no right to have been gifted a mate. But they are few and far between, fortunately,” Felicity said.
“I can completely understand you being cautious rather than rushing into anything. I was so cautious, until I just couldn’t be anymore,” Rowan said.
“Are you ever regretful of living here away from everything you ever knew? I mean, you are human, and your mate is a Gargoyle. He can’t leave here, ever,” Angelle said. “Don’t you miss your family? What if you got sick and needed a quick trip to the doctor?”
“Angelle,” Avaleigh said quietly.
“No, it’s okay. These are the things you need to address in order to feel comfortable living here — or not,” Rowan said. “But so you know, I’m human, but I’m not.”
“What does that mean?” Angelle asked.
“I’m a Witch. I carry Romany blood, and inherited the gift of power from my ancestors. So, while I look human, and function like a human, I’m not as vulnerable as you’d think.”
“How fascinating,” Avaleigh said. “I’m just plain ole human.”
“Same,” Carolena said.
“There is nothing plain about either of you. There is something ethereal in your makeup, in your very cells, that screamed to your mates that you were created for them. Just as yours, Angelle, calls to Boon. And yes, I do miss my family, but I’m free to come and go as I wish.
Destroy has had Lore bring them here to visit on holidays, and I’ve gone there to visit just because I miss them.
Destroy escorts me to our border, and I hire a car at the closest town. ”
“Or Enthrall will take you, or Lily,” Felicity said.
“True,” Rowan said. “But even if I didn’t have that luxury, I’d still be here.
I cannot imagine a day without Destroy in my life.
We bicker like children, but it’s our love language.
I adore the male and wouldn’t be anywhere else for any reason.
The people here are kind, caring, neighborly.
If you need something, they’ll give it if they’ve got it the moment they see you in need.
It’s like the world was before modernism swept across it.
We care about each other. We’re safe here.
And if something occurs that interrupts that safety, we all stand together until it’s gone and we’re safe again.
It’s a wonderful place to raise children.
If anyone gets sick, Lily and Carrik both can heal, as can some of the others.
“Brannaugh can, too, can’t he?” Felicity asked.
“I’m not fully sure of the extent, but I know he saved Rune when he was injured. And Rune is still around, though I think Brannaugh did something with the Fey magics to save him.”
“That wolf looks like he did when Aubreigne first found him,” Felicity said.
“True. But as far as sickness, Aubreigne and myself are familiar with tonics and natural medicines and aids for injuries. I love it here. It’s a peaceful place to live. There’s very little stress of any kind.”
“Thank you for being so honest with me. I appreciate it,” Angelle said.