Page 45 of Hellfire

“Not bad.” I squeezed it.

She laughed and said, “I can’t stop thinking about a dirty euphemism for our magic wands or cock.”

I smacked my sex-mad friend’s arm and laughed back. “You’ve got cock on the brain, romance queen.” That could only mean one thing—she wasn’t getting any. “How’s vanilla mage?” Her name for the guy she took to the Winter Ball.

“Single,” she said, ending the discussion.

I wrapped my arm over her shoulder and patted her arm. “There’s a harem of morally gray shifters, warlocks, and superheroes out there just for you.”

She sighed and then groaned. “Hope so.”

CHAPTER 16 - COLE

This was finally happening. After sixteen fucking years, I finally got the opportunity to meet with my mom. The woman I trusted with my life to protect me from the monsters under my bed. The woman who said she loved me. The woman I resented for so long when some dicks at the foster agency made me believe she and my father died in a car accident and left me at the mercy of predators and abusers. When all this time, they served in the Guild of Guardians until my father passed, and they never let my mother contact me to contradict that lie. Those bastards! I wanted to know who took me away from her and why.

I glanced out the windows atPantanos Bar and Grillfor the twentieth time in the space of a minute. Cars and a bus waited at the traffic lights for their turn to proceed. Pedestrians crossed the intersection, oblivious to the magical town in which they resided. Pop songs played out of the speakers inside the restaurant, combined with the bumble of patrons, making me twitchy.

Mom and I agreed to meet here after a second phone call requesting we meet offsite from the Guild. Why didn’t she wantto meet there? Was she avoiding someone? Someone who put her away?

Luna and I came here for dinner on some weeknights to get away from the Academy, the cozy atmosphere, warm fireplace, and hearty food attracting us when we managed to get away for a few hours.

My stomach was a mess, roiling like a stormy sea. Sweat bunched in my armpits. I was so fucking nervous, my body trembled with jitters. I didn’t know what to say to my mother after all this time. I had too many questions and wasn’t sure if we had enough time together to answer them, or if she was able to, given her position in the Guardians.

I swiped at my beer, gulping it down, trying to dull my nerves.

Luna squeezed my thigh. “Are you okay? You don’t look like you’ve taken a breath in a while.”

The burning in my lungs confirmed her statement and I sucked in air.

Relief injected into my veins that she came with me today. I didn’t know what I would have done without her. Likely turned into a crazy mess.

“Hey, look at me.” Luna twisted to face me, her knee bumping into my thigh, her palms coming to brace my face. “This is good. There’s no reason to be nervous. Just breathe and relax, my knight.”

I gave my girl a quick smile to stop her from worrying.

“Thank you for coming with me.” The words rushed out.

“You don’t need to thank me. Ever.” Luna’s warm fingers banished the doubt and fear circling my head. “We’re family. Lovers. Best friends. We have each other’s backs, always.”

She stretched up to kiss my cheek, the action blasting the nerves from my body. I cupped the back of her neck to hold her close, staring into the gold flecks of her kind, hazel eyes.

The door opening, letting in the sound of traffic, snapped me from the moment. A woman entered the restaurant door, dressed in dark slacks, a cream scarf, and woolen coat. The knot in my gut turned upside down as our eyes met. Amber eyes like mine lit with feelings that I told myself long ago were not a part of my life—love, hope, and solace that beat in my chest. My mom was really here.

Serena Mathieson wore her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her features, though strong and vibrant, were creased with lines earned over a multitude of years and a long list of cares. More lines than a person blessed with long life ought to have. The Guardians obviously lived a hard life.

I stumbled out of my seat, fumbling with my hoodie, suddenly conscious that I spilled beer on it. Everything I wanted to say vanished. My throat dried. My palms felt even sweatier. Shit. I was a mess.

Mom hurried past the server asking to seat her, striding through a set of three tables to ours. She was taller than Luna, but a good foot shorter than me. Fit as hell by the muscle beneath her tight jeans.

“Baby?” Her expression of pure determination broke into a warm smile. “Look at you all grown up!” She took me all in, absorbing every detail, from my height, brawn, and face, sliding across to Luna for a beat, then back to me.

“It’s good to see you, Mom.” I bunched my hand in my hoodie, unsure what to do. Reach out and hug her? Shake her hand? Stand like a dumbass? I waited for her to initiate contact.

Her overjoyed smile launched me into her waiting arms. It felt strange and natural to be held by her, a part of me never forgetting the comfort of my mother, another part dulled over with heartache.

She pressed her hand to the back of my head, cradling me, something clunky bumping my skull. “I’m so sorry, baby.” Theshaking in her voice said she barely held it together, and fuck, I began to lose it too, bittersweet tears cramming my eyes. “Your father and I never wanted to leave you. They took you away to punish us.”

“Why, Mom?” I croaked, sniffing into her hair.

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