Chapter 12 #3
“How do you know that? Every other picture in this book has a description explaining who and what they are. This Matilda doesn’t.”
“Because she is never written about, and when her name is spoken, it is whispered. Her secrets are only given to those who need her.” I closed the book, and he frowned again. “I’m telling you, Fender. She’s not part of this.”
He nodded. “Okay, peaches, you know this stuff better than me.”
Music filled the room, and I looked across the clubhouse. There were hounds scattered around now, drinking and talking, a few females as well. “I didn’t realize how late it is.”
“You want to stick around, have a drink?” Fender said. “Everything’s been so fucked up lately that we decided to get together tonight and have a few drinks. Only family and those close with the pack.”
I scanned the room. I’d had a drink with Magnolia once before and enjoyed it. Today had been hectic, the idea of letting go of everything, just for a short time, greatly appealed to me. “I’d like that. Thank you for inviting me.”
We packed up the books and papers and I slid the ones I needed to look into further into my bag.
Fender took my hand and led me across the room to one of the tall tables where Roman, Warrick, Brick, and Relic stood.
Relic was mated to a female named Fern, and she stood beside him now, his arm wrapped tightly around her.
We’d met before. She was a good female, a witch with demon blood, who had been through a lot in her life.
I didn’t need anyone to tell me that. The female had suffered severe abuse, and as a Matilda, I could see it.
The wound of that trauma marked her and was something that only I could see.
She smiled at me when I reached the table.
It was obvious to see just how safe she felt with Relic, more than safe.
“Hey, Tempest,” she said and slid a bottle of beer in my direction.
“Hi, Fern. It’s so nice to see you again.”
She smiled wider. “You here with Mags?”
“No, I’m working with Fender on something,” I said.
She glanced up at Fender and back to me. “Cool.”
The female was at ease with herself and, despite what she’d been through, confident.
She was also stunningly beautiful. Petite with delicate features and thick, blood-red hair.
Relic towered above her, and she wasn’t afraid at all.
I could see the aura around her. It glowed with love, trust, joy, and desire while she leaned against her mate.
An ache stirred in the center of my chest. The great goddess, the fates, had rewarded her with a male like Relic, and she’d deserved it.
It was wrong of me to feel jealous, selfish, but there was a small part of me that wanted what she had.
All I could hope for, if I was lucky, was several lovers through my life who cared for me a little, but never anything permanent.
“How’s our boy doing?” Roman said to me.
I turned, looking up at him. My belly didn’t flutter the same way it did when I looked at Fender, but there was no missing his attractiveness. I assumed he was talking about Fender. “He’s doing amazing. We’ve had a few bumps in the road, but he’s been working really hard.”
“Thanks, peaches,” Fender said. “But I couldn’t do it without you.”
My chest warmed. “I’m not so sure that’s true.”
“It’s true,” he said.
“Our brother can’t sing your praises enough,” Roman said, grinning at Fender.
“He was in rough shape there for a while,” Warrick added. “We appreciate your hard work.”
“Especially ’cause he’s such a giant pain in the ass,” Relic added, smirking.
Brick chuckled and Fender gave the younger male a friendly shove. “That’s enough about me. Talk about something else.”
The teasing continued, but it wasn’t only aimed at Fender now.
I studied Brick. He was attractive, but he was also incredibly big, and his rough voice was a little disconcerting.
He was also very young and probably not a good candidate.
I sipped my beer and turned back to Roman.
No, he didn’t give me the belly flutters.
Fender did, but did that matter? When looking at a male as a potential casual partner, maybe the lack of flutters was a good thing?
I needed this to be easy to walk away from when it was over.
Roman was big, yes, but he had kind eyes like Fender. He also had long hair and a beard as well, but his was a rich brown.
“You good?” Fender asked, and I spun back to him.
“Oh yes, absolutely.” My phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out. Adrenaline instantly washed through me.
We need you, Matilda. Please help us.
“You okay, Temp?” Fender said, dipping his head low.
“Yes, everything’s fine,” I lied. “I need to leave now, though. It’s a work thing,” I said lying again.
Please forgive me my white lies, great goddess.
“I’ll go through everything we found among Brigid’s things and get back to you in a couple days,” I said, forcing myself to move slowly when all I wanted to do was run.
“Tempest, hang on a minu—”
“Sorry, I have to go,” I said, then grabbed my bag and rushed from the clubhouse.