Chapter 41 Briar
brIAR
I’m certain playing it cool doesn’t involve crouching behind a topiary, but that’s where I find myself after spotting Monroe sneaking out from Novel Nibbles’ tearoom. She backs out of the entrance, waving to Roxy with one hand while clutching a set of white teacups in the other.
Never a good sign with that one.
Releasing a shaky breath, she turns and tucks the dishes into her bag, eyes darting around the courtyard. I freeze. I’ll be damned if our first interaction since solstice is her catching me hiding a few yards away like a coward.
Coming here was risky, but I’ve been on edge ever since my mother left to dole out Monroe’s consequences from last spring.
As her mate, I wasn’t allowed to give input on her punishment.
During my interview with the other Radixes, though, I could share the facts.
Everyone else weighed those and determined a course of action.
Overall, I believe our system is fair, but that doesn’t mean I like it.
I still don’t know what the outcome was.
The moment the meeting ended, my mother left for The Fluffle before I could stop her and find out.
It didn’t take long for me to know whatever it was, Monroe wasn’t happy about it. Not one bit. And now, following her back home from a distance as teacups clink in her purse, it only confirms she’s pissed and preparing to take it out on the china.
Flowers flank her sides, the path winding for me so quickly I dive behind a bush to my right and wait until she enters her cottage, not wanting her to spot me.
Once she’s inside, I loop around the back of the row, grass crunching beneath my shoes with each step toward the ivy-laden ladder climbing up the siding.
It’s unhealthy how quickly I move around like this, having practiced it more than I care to admit. As I set my foot on the bottom rung, I’m tugged behind the house, coming face-to-face with Dani.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, glancing around to ensure we’re alone.
“I could ask you the same thing.” They cross their arms and shake their head at me. “Has the bond made you so desperate you’ve resorted to stalking your mate?”
Asshole.
I don’t give them the satisfaction of knowing the truth: I reached that point over a year ago. How many times have I watched her from beyond her windowpane? Maybe it was stalker-like behavior, but I preferred to view it as nurturing my mate. “I wanted to check on her after Mom left the meeting.”
“Oh shit. Yeah… It’s probably a good thing you’re here.”
“Why’s that? Does it have something to do with why you happen to be here as well?”
They glance toward the kitchen window. “Maybe…”
Trudging across the yard, I peek inside. Cherri stands on one side of the counter, gesturing wildly while Monroe’s spine is straight as a rod, like she’s bracing herself for something. I turn to Dani. “Spill it, dipshit.”
They slip their hands into the pockets of their leather jacket and rock back and forth on their heels. “I promised I wouldn’t say anything until she told Monroe.”
“She?” I look from the harbinger across the kitchen island to the one beside me. Dani doesn’t even notice, too focused on the rose-haired Bloom demonstrating pelvic thrusts for Monroe. My eyes snap to my sibling.
“No, no, no, no, no.” I shake my head at them. “You can’t be serious.”
“Look, big brother, it’s not like I asked for this.” Though the smirk on Dani’s face tells me they’re not complaining about it one bit.
I grip the lapels of their jacket and pin them against the siding, out of sight of the harbingers inside. “When did this happen?”
“You’re not gonna believe it, but right in the middle of her interrogation.
” Dani’s fingers splay wide in surrender, and I release them from my hold.
Shaking out their shoulders, they brush off and adjust their jacket, nodding toward the window.
“That spitfire starts clutching her shirt, and next thing I know, my chest is burning, we’re tearing off our clothes, and— You can probably guess the rest.”
My temple throbs, eye twitching beneath my glasses.
I’m not jealous. Not one little bit.
They shrug. “I wanted to tell you, but it seemed cruel…”
“I understand.” Though I hate that I do.
Just because my mate rejected me doesn’t mean I’m not happy for them.
I am. If only I could drown out the voice in the back of my mind saying I’ll never be good enough and I’ve already ruined things.
That rowdy fucker is all too eager to jump in and take the reins, especially when I see other mates together.
“So she’s in there telling Monroe right now?”
“Yep.” Dani presses up on their toes to get a better view and pops a piece of gum into their mouth.
“She panicked and came to me right after Mom notified Monroe that she has to plan the claiming ceremony. We didn’t want Monroe to find out we’d be partaking before Cher could tell her first.” They smack their lips together, then grimace, bubblegum wedged between their teeth.
“Your mate was pissed about her punishment.”
“Rightly so.”
No wonder I found her hoarding more trinkets to rage paint.
“Better than the punishment I got...having to go through that damn course again.” Dani blows out a breath and continues chewing. “Anyway, as you can imagine, the conversation didn’t go well. She even accused Mom of using it as a way to force you two together.”
The space between my ribs burns, the mate mark bubbling with heat. The thumping of footsteps grows louder and a door shuts above us.
Dani’s gaze trails up to the second floor. “Better tend to our mates.”
Their hand slips to their chest and they disappear.
Climbing up the rungs, I peek in at Monroe.
Her lips are parted, glasses resting low on the bridge of her nose as she concentrates on painting an ornate purple door on the mug.
On the next one, she pokes at it, creating uneven strokes and splotches.
My brows knit in concern, but with each passing moment, the burning anger begins to quietly simmer in our bond.
Thick clouds roll overhead, and when I squint toward the sky, a fat droplet breaks against my lens.
Shit.
The rain goes from a momentary murmur to a rush against the windowpane.
Monroe cranes her neck in my direction, and I duck, hair falling in thick, wet strands over my face.
My entire concern had been her, I didn’t consider the time.
Now that our matehood is no longer secret, I don’t want to startle her or scare her off. Not when there’s a sliver of a chance.
Plink, plink, plink, plink, plink.
I remain frozen a minute before straightening up.
Pursed pink lips and a mint-green stare pin me in place from across the glass. With a few clicks followed by a whoosh, Monroe lifts the window. She grips the top rung of the ladder, and a vein pulses at her temple.
For a moment I think she’s going to push it off the side of the house. Let me fall. Honestly, I wouldn’t blame her.
“Are you going to come in or wait for me to get soaked?”
I choke back my response.
She holds the ladder steady while I cram my body through the window’s opening, my shoes squeaking against the wood.
I’m about to use my magic to dry off, but I catch Monroe’s focus and follow it to the white shirt plastered to my torso.
I wiggle my nose, only erasing the droplets from my spectacles, then slip my hands into the pockets of my damp jeans.
If she wants to gawk, who am I to steal her joy?
The air sweetens with the scent of her arousal. I twitch in my pants but otherwise remain still.
After a moment, she pivots and sits down at her desk, shifting the partially painted teacups to the side. “You know, there is this wonderful contraption called a door.”
I shrug. “What would be the fun in that?”
“Did you know your mother was coming here?” The displeasure in her tone is thick.
“I did.” I sit on the chaise by the window clasping my hands together and resting my elbows on my knees. “However, I wasn’t privy to what the Radixes decided.”
“I’m apparently in charge of the claiming ceremony.”
“Dani told me.”
“Did they also tell you they’re mated?”
“Yes. But only just now, before I came up here.” I keep my expression neutral, though her frustration slams into my chest. At her assignment, at the news of the mate bond between her roommate and Dani. I’m not sure which she’s more upset about.
“You mean right before you snooped?”
“I wanted to make sure you were okay.” My eyes drift to the drying paint streaked across the teacups on her desk. “Clearly you’re not.”
“Painting is fun,” she says defensively. Heat sears along our mark.
“The angry face you made while streaking paint across the cup really sells the fun part.”
“It’s good stress relief.”
“It can be.” Though there are other ways I’d prefer to relieve stress. “Not sure that’s what I’d call what you were doing.”
“And what would you call it?”
“Rage painting.”
Monroe’s lips scrunch together. It’s unfortunate her anger makes her so damn kissable.
“I’m sorry you were punished and have to organize the ceremony.”
She cocks her head at me. “Are you?”
“Of course I am. I didn’t want you to be punished at all.” I try not to let the hurt come through my words that she would think I agreed with any of it. “They didn’t tell me what they were going to do. But I’m glad it’s nothing more severe.”
“Like making me go through the Conservatory again?” she teases.
“Actually, I’d be on board with that.” Means I’d see her every day, making going to work infinitely better. But I keep that thought to myself—I’m grateful to be on this side of the wall versus left out in the rain.
Monroe sighs. “I’m sure it could have been worse. And it would be interesting to learn more about Bloom customs and traditions.”
I try not to let her curiosity get my hopes up.
“What can you tell me about it?”