Chapter 92 Maddy
MADDY
The idea of being teleported anywhere was scary.
Like, how did that even work? Would she open up some kind of portal for us to step through?
Or would our bodies be broken down into atoms and then reappear halfway across the planet like a big giant fax?
My mind kept going back to that throughout the rest of our conversation.
Sinthy, her tea finished, set her cup down, and sighed. “I will need a couple of days to rest to be strong enough to teleport all three of us. I’m happy to stay at a place in town, but do you perhaps have a free room here? It would make things… less awkward.”
Nico nodded. “Yeah, I still have one more guest room that isn’t being used. You’re helping us out, which means you’re more than welcome to crash here for a day or two.”
The young woman smiled thinly. “Thank you. I always hate asking for favors.”
Nico stood and led her to her room. I watched them go, and the irritation built up inside me again.
The way Nico had acted when I told him weird things had been happening in the forest still irked me.
I went inside to put all the tea stuff away when Nico came downstairs, his phone in his hand.
He was probably talking to his friends, telling them to come over because he had new information to share.
“I’m going upstairs,” I said, walking past him.
Nico looked confused. “Uh, don’t you want to stay? Everyone will be here in a few minutes. I was going to let them know about it and…” He trailed off when he saw the look on my face.
“I really don’t want to stay, no. Okay? I think it would be better if I went upstairs.” I turned and started walking up the steps.
“Maddy? Please. I’m sorry.”
I ignored him and walked into the bedroom, slamming the door behind me.
The sound of wood banging into wood was nice.
Cathartic. It gave my anger some weight.
After a couple of deep breaths, I grabbed a smallish backpack from the closet and started looking for items I’d need to take along whenever Sinthy was strong enough to teleport us.
I’d begun opening my drawers when the bedroom door opened. A new, blazing flash of anger boiled inside me. Nico couldn’t even give me a few minutes to calm down? I shook my head, not looking at the door, and said, “I swear to God, you better get out of here before I throw a fucking shoe at you.”
“Me?” Abi asked.
I spun on a heel and saw Abi looking at me with wide eyes. My shoulders sagged. “Sorry. I thought you were Nico.”
She raised her eyebrows as she stepped in and closed the door. “Trouble in paradise?”
Rolling my eyes, I went about folding the clothes. “Just men being men. You wouldn’t think having all that extra flesh between their legs would drain that much of their brain power, but here we are.”
“Did those clothes also piss you off?” Abi asked, nodding to the pair of jeans I wasn’t so much folding as punching and slapping in anger.
I sighed and threw them into the bag. “Basically, he didn’t believe me about a thing I thought was really important. It turned out I was right, and he was wrong, but him not believing me really hurt.” I went on to explain exactly what had gone down out in the forest.
Abi’s eyes went wide. “You mean there’s a witch down the hall from me?”
“Oh my god, Abi. Yes, now let’s focus on the big thing.”
“The… the thing bigger than the real live witch in this house?” she asked, frowning.
I bobbed my head back and forth. “Okay, yeah that’s pretty crazy, but I’m trying to vent about Nico. We can do all the Halloween jokes later.”
Abi held up her hands in defense. “I get it, all right. I know everyone is on edge. Especially you, but I still trust your judgment. I’d never think you’d make up a story like that. I can see why you’re pissed. I would be too.”
My shoulders slumped. It was like someone had finally heard me. It was a relief to hear, but it made me angrier at Nico. Why hadn’t he listened? How come he couldn’t look in my eyes and see I wasn’t imagining things or making shit up? “Thanks,” I murmured.
“Now, that being said, you might want to give him a break this once. Everyone is wound tightly right now. It might be best to overlook this one misstep, right? There’s a lot more to worry about than being pissed at your boyfriend… er… mate, or whatever.”
“You’re probably right. Speaking of which,” I said, pointing at her. “Have you talked to Sebastian?”
Abi’s smile vanished, and she looked away. “I’ll talk to him when I stop having nightmares.”
“You can’t keep holding this grudge against him.
He fucked up, yeah. Even then, he’s not the reason you got kidnapped.
Christ, it could have been worse. What if he’d been there to protect you and gotten killed, and you still got kidnapped?
That would be way worse, wouldn’t it? I mean, if there’s anyone you need to be angry with, it’s me. ”
Abi’s head snapped back up. “Don’t you do that, Maddy. Don’t you dare try to put this on yourself. You didn’t make those assholes do this to me.”
I tossed a shirt into the bag and sat on the bed, suddenly exhausted. “I’m the reason you were in danger, Abi. Not Sebastian. If it wasn’t for me, none of this would have ever happened. That’s a fact.”
Abi shook her head vehemently. “No, no, no. It’s not your fault, and it isn’t fair for you to place the blame on yourself.”
“Then, how is it fair for you to place all the blame on Sebastian?”
Abi’s mouth was already open for a retort, but then my words sank in. Her lips closed slowly as some kind of realization set in. I could almost see it in her eyes. “I—” She frowned.
I nodded. “We’ve all got healing to do, bridges to mend, lives to get on with. You need to get on with your life by forgiving Sebastian.”
We sat there in silence for several moments. Abi twisted her fingers together, thinking and staring at the floor. Finally, I leaned over and put a hand on her arm. “Are you good?”
She blinked as though she was coming out of a dream. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m okay. I’ll work on things with Sebastian. I promise.” She got up to go, but I grabbed her and wrapped her in a hug first.
The sound of a throat clearing came from the door.
I glanced up to see Nico standing there.
He looked like a kicked puppy. Abi disentangled herself from my arms and left, giving Nico an awkward shrug as she passed him.
Nico, still not meeting my eyes, gave a cursory knock on the door frame. “Is it safe for me to come in?”
I groaned. “Don’t be an idiot. Yes, it’s safe.”
Without another word, he strode across the room, took my hand, and pulled me into a hug.
The feel of his muscled body pressing into mine, the smell of him, and the way his hand moved up and down my back tore all the tension out of me.
I sank into the hug, feeling all my anger give way. I was both deflated and relieved.
“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. I’m a stupid asshole. I can’t do anything right and… I don’t know. What else? I have a small dick? I need to lose a few pounds? Give me your worst.”
I laughed, despite myself, and looked up at him. “Well, you for sure don’t have a small dick. The other things?” I nudged his rippling abs. “Pretty accurate.”
He hissed through his teeth and shook his head. “I guess no more late-night ice cream binges. Oh well.”
We chuckled, but I wanted to get back to business. I put a hand on his chest and said, “I guess I know how it sounded. It did seem a little crazy, so I can understand your hesitation. Maybe I shouldn’t have blown up like I did.”
“And I should have given you the benefit of the doubt.”
“Still, we’ve all been on edge. A lot of stuff has happened in a really short time. Basically, what I’m saying is, you’re forgiven.”
Nico let out a massive sigh and collapsed backward onto the bed, pulling me with him. We crashed into the mattress, and I laughed as he acted like he’d just finished running a marathon.
“Was it that bad?” I asked.
“I was terrified. Not really… well… maybe a little.”
Changing the subject, I said, “How did everyone take the news about the witch?”
“Pretty well. Dad and Felipe came over, but my brothers, Sebastian, and Luis, were on a group call with us. Everyone is a little freaked out about the whole teleporting thing, but other than that, I think we’re good. I didn’t get to ask before. What do you think of Sinthy?”
“I feel for her. We sort of have that connection. Her parents were killed by the royals, and that’s what they did to my birth father and Kenneth. They hurt my family too. She wants revenge, and I can relate.”
Nico nodded. “Yeah, that look on her face when I mentioned it. Jeez, I would not want to be on her bad side.”
“Her life is totally different than it should have been. That’s a heavy burden to bear.
Always wondering what could have been. I love my parents, but I can’t help but think what my life could have been like had my birth father not died and if he and Gabriella had raised me.
It’s sort of sad and exciting to think about at the same time. She and I are connected in that.”
“Does that mean you trust her?” Nico asked, sliding a finger along my chin.
“I do,” I said. “I can’t give you any real reasons other than that my gut tells me so.”
“Good, because I also trust her. If she’s acting, she deserves an Oscar, and we deserve whatever comes for falling for it, but I don’t see any cracks in her story or her intentions. I think we’re good to follow her lead.”
Nico pulled me closer, and I rested my head on his chest. “Are you ready for all this?” I asked.
“I think so. Are you still worried about getting the vial?”
I gave a little shake of my head. “No. I know what I need to do now. I have to do what’s necessary to protect the pack. All the packs. I can’t hesitate anymore.”