Page 21 of Knot the Witch Next Door

When my phone buzzed, I ignored it for a few minutes until it vibrated again. Sighing, I flicked the screen and saw missed texts from my sister.

Rosemary: Get over to the Rookwoods right now.

Rosemary: Where are you?

Rosemary: Carmilla’s in heat and hurting!!! And you left her to deal with it alone.

Rosemary: Asshole.

Rosemary: If you don’t get over here right now, I will come to the house and drag you here.

Shit. My heart was immediately racing. I shouldn’t have left Carmilla alone last night. No matter her protests, I should have stayed in the tree house with her. I really was an asshole not to realize her heat would only get worse.

I jerked up off the couch and startled Kat.

“What’s the matter?” She stared up at me with worry in her eyes.

The last thing I wanted to do was let anyone else know what was going on, and I especially didn’t want to scare Kat as she adored Carmilla. I gave her a small smile. “Rosemary and Carmilla need me to help carry some heavy stuff for them. I’ll be back in a little while, okay?”

Kat stood and hit pause on the film. “I’ll come with you. I’m happy to help too.”

Dammit, she was such a sweet kid. I shook my head. “Nah, it’s okay. You relax and finish off the popcorn and movie. It won’t take long.”

I didn’t give her another chance to say anything else. Rushing out of the room and up the stairs from the rec room, I nearly ran into my mother.

“Slow down,” she chided and then motioned to me. “I was just coming to get you so we could talk. I was just on the phone with Selina Kent, and we want to arrange a dinner atBistro de Margotfor our families. You and Octavia hit it off—”

“Mom, I don’t have time for this right now. I need to go.” I stepped to go around her, but she didn’t allow me room. Sweat beaded on my forehead as my phone buzzed again. Fuck.

“I want this arranged right now, so we can make reservations. I was certain you had no definite plans, but I’m scheduling it around Kat’s ballet practice. Thursday would be the best night.” Mom tapped her phone looking like she was already making the reservation, not caring what my answer would be.

“That’s fine. I’m going—”

“Good.” Mom clicked a few more things, still not moving out of my way. Her gaze rose to meet mine. “It’s important you make a good impression. Did you feel you were compatible with Octavia? You make a handsome couple, and with her family connections—”

Fucking hell. “No, we’re not compatible. Stop pushing it. Octavia is nice enough, but she’s not for me. Now move out of the way. Carmilla needs my help next door.”

Mom folded her arms and frowned. “Are you certain you aren’t compatible? Sometimes it takes a little while. Maybe if you shared a kiss—”

“No.” My temper flared. My mother never knew when to quit. She might run my sisters’ lives, but she wasn’t in chargeof me. “I’m not interested in Octavia. Let it go. I’ll find my own mate.” The gorgeous Omega next door. Every second I wasn’t there for her was another second she was in pain. I pushed past my mom and headed to the front door. “I have to get next door.”

“No, you stop right there.” Mom marched after me. Her voice grew hard and sharp. “We’re having a conversation. Carmilla can find someone else to help her.”

“There’s no one else,” I snapped and stuffed my feet into my boots. Carmilla wasmine.

“Let her conjure up a helper or something.” Mom rolled her eyes with her snobby snark. “Carmilla is unimportant. You need to start thinking about your own life. A match with Octavia Kent—”

Red painted my vision, and I slammed my fist against the wall. “Unimportant?” She fucking didn’t say that. I hissed through my teeth. “Iamthinking about my own life, and that life includes making Carmilla my mate. I don’t care if you like it or not. I want nothing more to do with your matchmaking or any of your interference in my life.”

“Deacon, how can you say that?” Mom raised her chin but there was something in her eyes I’d not seen before. No cold confidence or calculating anger. “Carmilla Rookwood? You can’t seriously… You must think of your family’s future. What would your father have felt about this?”

“Don’t bring Dad into this.” I hated when she tried to manipulate Rosemary and I by bringing up our father. His memory was precious to all of us, and it always infuriated me when she used him as a tool to get us to do what she wanted. “That’s you and you alone. If you don’t like my choice, you don’t have to be a part of my life.”

And before I said something I’d really regret, I stormed out of the house. My phone was ringing now, but it didn’t matter. I had to get to Carmilla.

Rosemary had the front door of the Rookwoods’ house open when I came racing up the driveway. She scowled at me. “Why the hell haven’t you been answering your cell?”

I didn’t want to get lectured by Rosemary either. Bursting into the house, I started looking in rooms. “Mom was trying to play matchmaker again, and I told her I’d already chosen Carmilla as my mate.” My Omega wasn’t in the living room or kitchen or the office where all of Carmilla’s packages were. “Where is she?”

---