Page 87 of Red Fire

He rarely goes out anymore. Especially since he discovered that he can order everything he needs online.

I hear Star press a few buttons. Then she says, “Ready. You can dial his number now.”

I go and do as she says. It rings a couple of times and then goes to the answering machine.

“Can we try his cellphone, instead?” I ask.

Star nods. We go through the whole thing again. Once again, it goes to voicemail. There’s no answer.

I make a small noise of disbelief. “He leaves it on silent half the time,” I tell Star.

“Do you want to try him again on the other number?”

I shake my head. “Can we try again later?”

She nods. “It’s probably better we get those forms filled in first, anyway. I have to say, it was touch and go for a while. We didn’t think that they were going to let you leave.”

“Who exactly are ‘they’?”

“The Council. They report to the royal family. There are those who wanted to keep you on Mistveil. In particular, the department responsible for growing our female population.”

“You have a whole department for that?”

“Of course, it is a major concern for us. They were saying that we shouldn’t send a perfectly good unmated female away.”

“It isn’t up to them to decide.” My voice gets a hard edge.

“I think they were afraid of what you might do or say.” She laughs. “I heard what happened with the colonel. Everyone is talking about it. I think you’re amazing.”

“That’s sweet of you to say.”

“No, really! To survive the jungle with all those ferals and then to stand up to that asshole like that. No one likes him,” she whispers. “Anyway, I suggest you get on that airplane as quickly as you can before they change their minds. It can happen.”

I nod.

“I’ll be back a little later with supplies, and you can try your father again.” She smiles. “Meanwhile, order some food. The remote control is over there.” She points at the desk. “There is a guard stationed outside. Her name is Ember. We have an indoor swimming pool as well as a gym inside the castle. Ember will escort you if you would like to work out.”

“You’ve been very helpful.”

Star waves her hand and leaves. I sink onto the bed, trying hard not to cry. Instead, I pick up the phone, I dial three, and I order my weight in ice cream, cookies, and chocolate. It’s going to be okay. My mother always said that time heals all.

I hold on to that thought.

30

Creed

My heart sinks as I leave the castle. I feel defeated. I hate leaving Octavia there. It feels wrong somehow, even though I know it is what she wants. She’s made that very clear from the start. But it’s too soon. I had hoped to have more time.

I reach the turnoff that would take me to Aspen’s apartment, but I don’t take it. I don’t even slow down. I continue home.

Home.

It’s weird that it doesn’t really feel like home anymore. The jungle didn’t feel like home, either. I feel completely out of place. Completely off-kilter. I hate it.

I will cut myself some slack because I know I’m still processing everything that has happened. It’s a lot. I’m not sure what to feel. I lived in the jungle for three long years. I held onto so much guilt for what I had done. For hurting that male, Chase. So much anger and pain that Aspen would try to bring another male into our relationship. Hurt over the thought of her with Chase, with other males. Of her pregnant and holding a baby inher arms. Of her moving on without me. I hated thinking about it. I tried not to.

Now I am home, and I find out that Aspen isn’t mated. That she’s been waiting for me. Waiting all this time. That she still loves me. I spent long nights dreaming of her. Dreaming of an outcome where she didn’t end up in a mating circle with other males, and here it is…she’s available, waiting, she wants me, and yet I can’t bring myself to go to her.

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