Page 7 of Veil of Shadows

But my ears were fully trained on the conversation happening inside of the building.

“So, the case Delilah mentioned,” Merida said softly.

I heard water being poured over something before Bexley spoke. “Please, don’t.”

“I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do, Bexley. I just want to know if you?—”

“I never want to talk about that case, so stop.”

I winced at how harsh her tone of voice was when she spoke. But Merida took it all in stride.

I swear, that healer of ours had the patience of a fucking saint sometimes.

“Well, whatever happened, I’m sorry,” Merida said.

Bexley sniffled again, and it took everything inside of me to stay rooted to the grass. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you. I just… can’t think about anything else right now.”

“I completely understand,” Merida said softly. “But, if you change your mind, please know that I’m always willing to listen.”

I felt myself gravitating around the bath house to the front door as they continued speaking.

“I miss him so much,” Bexley said breathlessly.

“Your partner?” Merida asked.

Water poured over something else as I eased my way up the steps to the bath house door.

“He wasn’t just my partner,” Bexley said with another sniffle. “That man was my brother. He single-handedly helped me pullmyself up by my bootstraps. Had it not been for him, I would’ve never had the career or the life I had up until… well, you know.”

“Up until she chased you into the woods?”

“Pretty much,” Bexley muttered.

Merida sighed softly as water poured over something again. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it? Because I’m good at just listening if you don’t want advice.”

“I’m sure, but thank you.”

And before I knew it, I eased that bath house door open and relished the smells of the herbs and spices coming from the bath Bexley sat in.

“Uh, excuse me,” Merida said as she whipped her gaze to mine, “but this is a private affair.”

I ignored her as my gaze fell on my mate in the bath. “You could always talk with me, if you want.”

Merida cocked an eyebrow. “Dom, get out.”

“Actually,” Bexley said as she turned her reddened gaze to mine, “could I have a few minutes with him?”

Merida looked down at her. “Are you sure?”

Bexley nodded but her gaze stayed hooked with mine. “I’m sure.”

A grin splashes across my face. “I’ve got her, Merida.”

The red-headed woman clicked her tongue as she stood. “I’ll be just outside if you need me, Bexley, okay?”

“She won’t,” I said with a soft shake of my head.

“Dom,” Bexley warned. “This is just a bath. Nothing else is happening right now.”

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