Page 30 of Whisper Woods

I chuckle at his annoyed grunt.

“I need to talk to my friends about yesterday.” An anxious knot tightens in my chest. It’s so out of place, not because I don’t get anxious, but because I don’t get anxious with Rafe. But I feel guilty. Conflicted. I need to go see my friends, but it’s probably not cool to bring Rafe with me for the Very Big Talk I know we’re all about to have. But then, leaving him here feels wrong too, leaving an achy pit in my stomach.

Rafe’s frown relaxes somewhat, but he still looks disgruntled at my leaving. His arm is heavy and possessive around my waist, making my heart skip every third beat or so. All these little things make me feel less like a doofus for the sappy kind of way I’m feeling about him. I still haven’t put my finger onwhythis time is different for us, I just know it is.

I stare at him, in the shadowy morning light of the room, fingers tracing the lines of his stomach until I reach the mess there, swirling it together.

“If you plan on leaving, I very much suggest you do it now.” Rafe’s soft growl as he arches his hips in the air, his spent cock already half full again has me chuckling.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” I promise sincerely. Unable to resist, I lean down and bite at his nipple, eliciting a deeper growl from him.

“Seriously, now, or I’m not letting you out of this bed for the next year at least.”

I laugh loudly, slipping from the bed, letting Rafe’s hands drag along my body.

“Ugh, don’t tempt me. But I gotta go. You know that right?” The conversation echoes one we’ve had before, only it was him leaving me on the floor of theWoods.

His face softens, and fuck if the ghost of a smile on his lips doesn’t make me wanna crawl back on the bed and lay myself out for him to use for his every filthy desire. But Ireallydo have to go, and so I reluctantly haul my ass into the shower.

When I finally make my way downstairs—my clothes from the club kindly refreshed by the tavern staff while we searched for Theo—I find Mauvy and Caelan arguing with Edith and Tor.

“That’s my brother! I have a right to go see him!” Tor is raging, his purple skin flushed with pink, the back of his shirt moving oddly as he gestures wildly. Shit, if his wings have popped he must bepissed.

“No one’s said he isn’t your brother, Tor. But let them come to you. They deserve some privacy.” Caelan tries to reason with his bonded mate, throwing me a frustrated nod in greeting. Mauvy is physically restraining Edith, a solid grip on her friend’s hand, despite the witch balling up power in a way that I know has to be burning.

“Morning all. What’s going on?” I wave to everyone, plastering a cheery, sleepy smile on my face, scratching at my stomach under my shirt to give a little flash of skin. Just like I knew it would, it distracts Edith enough to stop her hurting Mauvy—the little faun mouthing a thank you behind Edith’s back.

“Morning Seff. Look, now that we’re all here, why don’t we have a quick coffee andthenhead on over?” Mauvy eyeballs Tor and Edith as she stands, her hooved feet loud on the wooden floors.

“Coffee sounds perfect, Mauvs.” I slide into the seat she just vacated, bumping my shoulder into Edith. “We can’t crowd him.”

If looks could kill, I would be a bloody mess on the floor, with the way her violet eyes snap to me.

“Weren’t you the one that was pouting last night? All ‘we can’t leave him alone again?’ Hmmm?”

Wow. Edith ismeanwhen she’s angry. “Yeah, but he isn’t alone is he? He’s with his mate. And the sun’s not even up yet. Let him sleep.”

Edith softens slightly, whether it’s my flirty smile, or thereminder that Theo needs rest, I don’t know. I’m just glad she’s not directing her pissiness at me anymore.

“Mates?”

Fuck me dead. Now Tor’s mad. I give Caelan a pointed look, but he just shakes his head like a man defeated. He’s probably born the brunt of it all since these two chuckleheads woke up. If they even slept.

“If those two aren’t mates I’m the Queen of Carconnois. Let it go Tor. Your baby brother is all grown up.” I’m saved by Mauvy returning with a tray of steaming coffee.

“Seff’s right. Now, everyone be quiet and drink this.” She places the mugs down in front of us with heavy thunks. And we all take our first sip. And it’s good. Really good.

“Damn, Mauvs, you make this every morning? Mate me already!” I laugh, slurping down a large mouthful. Mauvy just chuckles under her breath, flicking a long brown braid over her shoulder before crossing her arms over her chest. Her cheerful round face is oddly calm as she watches us drink through her gold-rimmed glasses.

“Oh, not every morning, Seff. It’s an old family recipe. I only save it for special occasions.”

***

Mauvy drugged us. There is no other way to explain it. And I’ll take it to my grave, but she one hundred and ten percent spiked that coffee with something. There wasnoother way we could have gotten Tor and Edith to wait as long as they did to go down to Roan's little house. I’m kind of pissed that I got spiked too, but I understand.

And at least it took the edge off the raging anxiety tearing me apart. I feel itchy on my insides as we all crowd around the table, overflowing with food. I gave Mauvy a questioning look when she carefully put a plate of bacon in front of me, but she just winked. Call me an optimist, but I took that as the all clear that she isn’t dosing our breakfast. And if she is, it’s for our own good. Orsomething.

The conversation flows around me while Theo explainseverythingfor the first time. Detailing his history with his ex-boyfriend and recent kidnapper, Darius. It turns out, not only was the guy abusive as shit, he was also running a giant money scam among Theo and Tor’s rich friends and families back in Loqueaur City.

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