Page 9 of Fritillaria

Finnegan stands, patting me on the arm as he straightens his chair. He says his goodbyes and leaves before I realize that he never asked me what he wanted to when he first came in.

He is right, though.

I was definitely too pushy with Ivy. I knew that anyway, but the context is certainly helpful. Shehadmentioned that she wasn’t interested in having a mate, not that she wasn’t interested in me. Ivy had also shown recognition, and maybe a little disappointment, when I mentioned Matilda.

I shoot Matilda a quick text.

Sorry if that was pushy. Just want to talk to you about something. If you’re comfortable, we could do tomorrow morning?

She responds before I even put my phone back down, agreeing to meet tomorrow morning before office hours.

I’m ecstatic that she still wants to meet, the end of my tail flicking the ground in excitement. I’m sure that if I think through exactly what I want to say, Matilda will be receptive.

I’m normally not this messy, but something about these two is really throwing me off my game.

I need to figure out what to do about Ivy now. I definitely can’t just text her like I did with Matilda. No, she would be the type to question how I got her number. Besides, I may have frightened her last night, my mind replays how she flinched when I tried to go into the studio. She deserves an in-person apology.

My tail is moving before I realize, guiding me back downstairs to the studio she was in last night. The scant remains of her amber and rosewood scent trickles through the door, and I can hear her soft singing.

Her voice is beautiful. Why didn’t I listen to her music last night?

That’s what I will do today while I work.

Once I steal my nerves, I gently knock on the door.

She is even more stunning today. She’s wearing a loose band tee and denim cut off shorts that leave her full tattooed legs on display. I try not to stare, but I want to know everything about her, every detail of her.

“I thought I was clear last night.” Her voice is firm.

“You were.” I run a hand through my hair. “Could I please come in so I can apologize properly?”

Chapter 9

Ivy

He’s fucking here again.

I barely had any time at home last night. A few hours of sleep and a quick shower before I was back in here. But a melody was forming in my head and I was finally getting somewhere with a song when Aspis showed up.

Sighing, I move aside to let him come in to speak with me. I leave the door ajar, just in case, but I don’t feel like he would hurt me.

He looks bedraggled today. His suit is polished, his hair immaculate, but bags have formed under his tired eyes. The bright green orbs are softened with kindness and remorse as he lowers himself onto the couch.

Keeping far back from him, I lean against the work desk and wait for him to speak.

“Listen,” his sharp fangs poke out from his mouth as he smiles. I feel betrayed by my own body when a warmth spreads in my chest at the sight. “I promise I wasn’t drunk last night. Even though it would be a great excuse for how rudely I barged in here. I wanted to apologize for interrupting you.”

I’m fascinated by the black slit pupils in his eyes that it’s hard not to get distracted. But he’s saying that hewasn’tdrunk?

“I was wrapped up in my excitement,” he continues. “I have been waiting a long time to find my mates—”

“Wait,” I cut him off. “You weren’t drunk? I thought that was all a weird joke, or that you had imagined it.”

“Ivy,” he lowers his voice and there’s a command in it that I can’t escape. “Let me be very clear. That wasnota joke, and I wasnotmistaken. You are my mate. Matilda is our mate.”

Fuck.

I don’t want this. I don’t want how my body responds to his voice either.

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