Page 63 of Ellie 3

“They have a whole bakery in the back,” I assured her before turning to the woman. “I have a large order picked up that I spoke with the owner about. It’s under Reed.”

The woman flinched at hearing that and mumbled she’d go get it.

“Charming,” Theresa drawled when the woman scurried off. “What drink did you make?” She seemed to ask more because we were waiting now and—I didn’t think she was one who liked silence.

Or maybe it was just awkward silence to me.

I snickered. “It’s like an apple pie latte actually.” I nodded when she glanced at me like she didn’t know how that worked. “Starbucks came out with a brown sugar cinnamon concentrate. I picked up some real fruit apple syrup and a bit of caramel creamer on top of the milk. It’s delicious. Ha-joon kept saying he was going to bounce around on the sugar.”

She snorted. “It’s half the fun of making your own coffee. That sounds delicious. I’ll have to check and see if we have that in the UK or have it picked up for me.” She held up her almost-finished drink. “I basically make their cherry chai latte with shots of expresso. They don’t have the milk I like in my lattes since I can’t have dairy.”

“You can’t?” I asked, frowning. “That’s very rare for vampires.”

Her lips twitched. “Yes, it is, Doctor. It’s genetic for us, not an allergy like humans. Aurora can’t have it either. At least we don’t have it bad. I would become a murderous wench if someone took cheese away from me.”

“I feel the same,” I teased, glad when she seemed lighter.

Someone else came out to help her and I pointed out what I liked best from the display cases. She asked about a few things I hadn’t, checking I didn’t think they were bad. One I hadn’t tried and the other two were fine but not to my taste.

She nodded and thanked me, giving me a nervous glance. “I’m not picking them because they weren’t your recommendations. Two of my interns are chocolate addicts. One I mentored through law school and—she’s had a rough go.”

“I’m not offended in the slightest, and we’re too old to be that petty,” I said easily.

She snorted. “I’m never too old to be petty, Ellie. There’s no such thing.” She gestured to the display case. “I could just never be so bored I’d be petty with this.”

Fair enough. She had a very valid point and I chuckled.

In another life, I could actually see us being best friends or at least tight.

I ended up adding a few things onto my order to try their seasonal options and Ha-joon loved everything matcha, so that would make him happy.

“I’m glad he’s good to you,” she said when we were done. “Truly. And I’m glad things are better for him with his family. I’m grateful he didn’t make a mess for me.”

“He was beyond furious anyone in his family intimidated you.”

She gave me a dry look. “You haven’t met Myung Clark, have you?” She chuckled when I shook my head. “We could chew him up and spit him out with our pinkies. He’s beyond weak—sheltered and entitled. I wasn’t intimidated. I didn’t want to have to explain why I broke the Alpha’s eldest son.”

I believed it. Studying her and feeling her absolute confidence… I believed it. “Where did you train?”

Surprise flashed in her eyes. “Several places. I learn from my mistakes.” She seemed to think about that a moment and gave a half shrug. “Also, the mistakes others make that affect me.”

Namely that Aurora didn’t have her trained to protect herself in such a harsh world. She’d made sure I had been and pushedwith Kenneth to have me safe… But she’d left her own daughter as chum in the water.

“How did it go?” Carla asked me when I walked into the hospital. It was by chance that we crossed paths, but I saw the genuine concern in her eyes.

“The good news is my half-sister isn’t a nutfuck like I thought.”

“The bad news?” she hedged.

I sighed and balanced the bakery boxes I was carrying as I faced her. “That I didn’t know the truth hundreds of years ago and we both went through unimaginable hell because of it. We could have run together or—I wouldn’t have turned her away back then. So much could be different.”

She gave me a sad smile and tucked my hair behind my ear. “I understand your hurt, but things work out for a reason, pup. You would never be standing where you are if the past was different and this is the place the world needs you to be standing in.” She shook her head when I argued. “You could have been easier to find if you were traveling together.

“Aurora’s family might have made a monstrous move if they thought they could get both of you. Kenneth could have gotten more backing if it was two daughters to sell instead of one.” She reached out and booped my nose. “I’ve looked into your sister and Theresa Reed isfierce. Beyond fierce, and that’s because of the journey she’s taken.”

“You don’t know the horrors she went through,” I rasped, heartbroken for what Theresa had told me.

“That’s for her to square up with the gods about when her time comes, not for you to carry, pup. Take your moment to grieve and process, but know that I thank the gods that the Ellie Reed before me is the one we got. She would have been different if her past had been.”

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