Chapter 16 Matthew #2
“I can’t say why. Why does anyone act that way? Greed? Jealousy? Power? There are so many reasons. He never did say.”
I nodded and watched as Wallace came up behind his mate and placed both hands on his shoulders. When Edison reached up and squeezed them both, I saw the silent declaration between the two, but I was almost positive they were talking to one another as Cornelius and I had been.
“So what now? Do you want me to go back home?” I asked, dread filling me. I didn’t want to leave my mate—it would probably kill me, but I wouldn’t be the reason he had to leave his coven.
“Why would you go back to the fae realm?” Master Arthur asked. “Do you not like it here?”
I looked around at the other warlocks. Each of them wore puzzled expressions. “Yes, I do. Everyone has been incredibly kind and welcoming. This is where my mate is happy. But I made horrible accusations against one of your own.”
“Matthew, you’ve done nothing wrong,” Patrick said, coming to sit on the other side of me, pushing Constantine aside. “You’ve only reacted to something that you’ve been told since you were old enough to listen and understand.”
I nodded.
“I do have a question,” Master Arthur said. I nodded, waiting. “If you were told to fear warlocks, why not fear the rest of us? You’ve lived among us for three months now.”
“My mate is a warlock. And I did question fate’s choice at the beginning, and have a couple of times since.
I’ve never heard of a fae and warlock. The few of us that get to leave, we’re almost always paired with shifters.
But we don’t know much about your world.
How it works. Just that it’s the shifter and human world. That’s it.”
“So you don’t fear the other warlocks here? Just me, then?”
I looked at Edison and shrugged. “I’m uncomfortable around them, and I’m always ready to flee if Cornelius isn’t with me.
But he’s been slow to introduce me to everyone, and you’ve all shown nothing but kindness.
The complete opposite of what I had been told to expect.
I knew that Cornelius would protect me, and that was enough to allow me to wander about. But I don’t do it often.”
“And only when I suggest it,” Cornelius added. I nodded again. If I had my choice, I would stay in our suite, away from everyone.
“Yes, but not only because I’m a fae without magic right now in a coven full of powerful warlocks. You can feel the power emanating from this place, and that is overwhelming too.”
“Then why?” Patrick asked, squeezing my knee.
“Because I finally have peace and quiet. I’m the middle of…no, it’s fifth of ten siblings now. I’ve spent the past forever helping raise my younger siblings because I hadn’t yet found my mate. I like the quiet. I love watching the snow fall, and now the trees bud and flowers bloom.”
It was true though. I craved the solitude while I could get it. But I also was anxious for our son to be born. I wanted to hold him, comfort him, care for him. He was my gift from my mate, and I would cherish him always.
“I’m trying…I can’t even imagine ten kids. Not even any of the shifters I’ve known have that many,” Master Arthur said.
“Forest is from a large family. How many does his family have?” Wallace said. We all watched as Edison nodded his head from side to side.
“Seven. There are four boys and three girls. Most have moved away though. Jude has nine siblings though,” Edison said, looking pointedly at Cornelius.
“Jude? You mean Chief Harrison? That Jude?”
“The same. Larger families are more common in shifters. Except for bears. It’s usually more difficult for them to have more than one,” Edison said.
I tilted my head, thinking. Aspen had three. And he’d had them all at the same time. From him I knew that there were others in the den that had more than one cub.
“Maybe things have changed. Don’t many of the bears in Honey Creek have more than one?
” I asked. I’d not gotten a chance to go over and visit like I’d wanted.
The plan had been to meet all of the wolves, then move on to the den if I hadn’t sensed my mate.
But I’d found Cornelius, and it no longer mattered if I went to the den or not.
“We got way off track. What I’d like to know is if you want to stay here with us, Matthew. As Cornelius’s One, you’re welcome here. But I hate the idea of you feeling uncomfortable around any of us,” Master Arthur said.
I looked to my mate and saw the concern on his face as well as felt it. “I’d like to stay if I’m welcome. This is Cornelius’s home, and I know we can’t go back to mine. They wouldn’t be accepting, I don’t think.”
“Then we’ll stay here. But only as long as you want to. I cannot ask you to stay somewhere you don’t feel safe or welcome. Even if it is my home.”
“And I’ll be talking to Thomas about the fae. I’m not sure if he is aware of what they believe or not, or how much they fear us,” Edison said.
“Cornelius? Can we go? I really need to pee, and I don’t want to be rude.” My mate quietly snorted, and it drew Wallace’s attention. He raised an eyebrow as the others were talking about what needed to be done.
“Umm, if it’s okay, I’d like to take Matthew back to our suite. I want to make sure he’s fed and all that,” Cornelius said, standing up.
“Of course. If you wouldn’t mind, please join us for breakfast? If you’re feeling up to it?” Master Arthur said. I nodded because he was looking at me so expectantly. I didn’t feel I deserved the easy acceptance they’d offered. Especially when I’d said such horrid things about his father.
“Thank you. For…everything,” I said quietly as I let my mate lead me out of the room.
When we were in the hallway, he had us immediately in our own suite, and I broke down. Cornelius swept me up into his arms and carried me into the bedroom, whispering reassurances to me as he went.
“Shh, everything will be fine. We’ll work through it, and there is nothing that will make me love you less. Nothing.”