Page 113 of Valpar

I gasped. “Mom, are you racist? I can’t believe it!”

Mom took a step back. “No, no, that is not what I am saying! It’s just…you are both completely different, this is… no, this is a mistake. You are so… and he is just…”

“Just what?” Valpar snapped

I snickered. “Aw, you talking about his junk being too big? Don’t worry, it fits!” I pointed at the club between his legs.

As Mom gasped for air, her eyes fluttered and rolled back into her head. The room filled with a tense silence, broken only by the sound of Dad’s knife slipping from his grip. He swiftly reached out, catching Mom just in time to prevent her from collapsing onto the cold, hard floor.

Birch sighed and shook his head, putting an arm under her legs and one behind her back. “Why don’t you both get dressed? Meet us in the living room.” Birch eyed us one more time and swallowed. “And please, take the restraints off of Calliope. I can only do so much with Theresa, and having you tied to her is going to throw her into a fit.”

Valpar grunted and jerked his jaw toward Dad in understanding. At least, I think it was understanding. Or maybe it was just an ’Okay, I’ll appease you for now, but I’ll tie up my mate later,’ sort of deal.

We dressed quickly, although. we didn’t have a leather loincloth to cover Valpar’s jewels, so we had to make do with some silk wrappings that hung around the walls. I picked the manliest color, a dark blue, but he had to use a bright pink to tie his pecker to his leg!

Please Mom, don’t ask why he has a tie around his leg.

By the time we walked into the living room, with Valpar’s hand tightly around my shoulder. Mom was coming to. She was still pale, lying on the ornate deep purple couch that Osirus gifted Birch for a mating present.

“It wasn’t a dream?” Mom groaned, and I fisted my hands into the extra fabric of Valpar’s cloth. A little of me was disappointed that Mom wasn’t happy for me, but the other part knew why.

She knew what was going to happen to me.She knew I was going to get my memories back.

“Don’t talk to my miresa that way,” Valpar growled, and the branches shook in the tree.

Birch didn’t turn around, just swiped a cloth over Mom’s head.

“The Moon Fairy gave her to me, and I will protect her—”

Mom sat up from the couch. “Ha!” She interrupted. “You, protect her? You think you can protect her from what’s coming? You do not know what you have done, what you have subjected her to. Now, she will be heartbroken because this—” she pointed between the two of us, “This cannot be a completed bond. Not on my watch.”

Before Valpar could growl or snarl, I did it on my own. I ripped myself from Valpar’s hold. Mom leaned back onto the couch and her eyes widened as she saw me approach her. I leaned forward, my lip curled.

“You will not separate us. You will not break us apart. You think you know everything when you don’t. I’ve grown up a lot since you have been gone. I should have grown-up years ago.”

Mom’s eyes softened. “Calliope—”

I shook my head. “No. I… I know you were trying to protect me. Whatever it is, I was trying to protect myself, too, and maybe I needed that break for a while. I know what’s going to happen if we mate.” I felt my throat closing up around me, then, I felt Valpar at my back. His warmth enveloped me when his arms wrapped around my waist and his jaw touched the top of my head. “But now, I need to make some decisions, and now that I have a mate—” I stared up at him, his face was void of any emotion and I knew it was because he didn’t care for Mom very much at the moment. “—I can get through it.”

Mom leaned her head back on the couch, her arms limp in defeat. “I just love you.” She sniffed. “I just remember seeing you—holding you when—” I jumped into her lap and she let out an oomph, wrapping her arms around me.

“I’ll be okay.” I nuzzled her neck. “It will be fine.”

Valpar’s throat let out a rumble, and I stood up and felt him pull me back to his body.

Birch stood and held out his hand, ready to grasp Valpar’s forearm. “We haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Birch. Calliope’s adoptive father. This is Theresa, Calliope’s adoptive mother.” He nodded to Mom.

For the next couple of hours, Dad took the lead in the conversation. Valpar was mostly quiet and answered questions in a gruff tone. I was able to explain how we met, how I deliberately disobeyed her, followed my Fairy Godmother’s advice and went to the mating ball, anyway.

Mom said nothing, but Dad had to hold Mom’s bouncing thigh still with his hand. He whispered to her,“It was the Goddess’ will for her to be there.”

Mom went to the kitchen and prepared us food. I offered to help but she waved me off and said she needed time to process. It hurt, but I understood. She was trying to protect me, but it was time for me to stand on my own.

Mom brought back the snacks and food, but Valpar ate little, his hand was on my thigh, my butt on his lap. On occasion, my Mom would let out a sad sigh, but dad would just pat her back in reassurance.

Mom was really upset. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was going to be leaving the treehouse for good, or what was yet to come for me.

After I explained to both Valpar and my parents about Starla’s visit in my dream last night, about what was going to happen, Mom started crying and Birch consoled her. Valpar, again, showed no emotion on his face but I felt his body tense. His arms tightened around me, his hand on my chest. He was reading me, just like in the tent, and after a while his eyebrows furrowed. I knew he wanted to take me away from my parents and have us be alone in our own little world, to discuss things on our own.

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