Page 23 of Promised to the Satyr

“You once called Astra spoiled, but it’s you who is the brat. Now she’s run off in the middle of the night. I will promise you this, Nocturn. Should any harm come to her, I will make it my life’s work to destroy you. Go home.” I storm out of the house and start searching.

Ten

Astra

I’ve been running for an hour. I’m exhausted and dirty by the time I reach Cade’s house.

His mate Leona opens the door. The red and blond highlights in her hair catch the moon’s light. She cocks her head when she sees me. “Astra, are you alright?”

“I need help.” I’ve never said those words in my life. Tears pour down my face and I can’t catch my breath. “I don’t know what to do. I’m sorry.”

“Cade!”

“What the hell?” Cade’s voice is stern, but he lifts me off my feet and carries me inside his house.

“Put her on the couch. I’ll put water on for tea.” Leona is a blur through my tears.

I sob. “I didn’t know where else to go.”

Cade hands me a box of tissues and sits in the chair adjacent to me. “Of course, you should come here. We’ve been friends a long time.”

“But Leona.” I can only imagine what the pretty human thinks of me and my friendship with Cade. “I don’t want to cause trouble for you.”

Leona plops down on the couch next to me. “No trouble. I know you are old friends. Would you like to tell us what happened? If I make you uncomfortable, I can leave the two of you alone to talk.”

I take her hand. “You are very kind.” I knew she was the moment I saw her in the woods. I heard her sweet nature in my head. “Stay.”

Squeezing my hand she says, “How did you get here? I didn’t see a car.”

“I ran.” I take two tissues and wipe my face.

“How far?” Cade asks.

“From who?” Leona asks.

I sigh and shrug. “Quite a ways. My father struck Niko and it’s all my fault. He’s a good man and I can’t marry him.” More tears come. Never have I cried so hard or so long. I ache from the effort.

The teapot whistles in the kitchen and Leona gets up to make the tea.

“Astra, what’s going on?” Cade’s golden eyes are filled with concern.

“Who is Niko?” Leona calls from the kitchen.

“Niko is the satyr that your father arranged a marriage with?” He extrapolates from what I’ve told him in the past.

“Yes.”

Leona brings a tray with three mugs steaming with tea and a bottle of bourbon. “I thought we might need something a little stronger.”

I reach for the bourbon and pour a healthy dollop into my tea. “Thank you. I knew you were good the moment I met you.”

“Because you read my mind.” She sits on Cade’s lap and puts a little bourbon in her own mug.

I sip and let the warm tea and burn of whiskey distract me for a moment. “I can’t help it with humans. Your thoughts are very loud.”

Cade pours his bourbon into a Glencairn glass that Leona provided. The delicate glass looks precarious in his big hand and knowing that he can shift into a terrifying manticore makes it even odder. “Is the satyr trying to force you into marriage?”

It almost makes me angry for anyone to think badly of Niko. “No. He has been very understanding and patient.”

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