Page 31 of Hot in Witch City
An hour later, my mother called me. I was starting to wonder if she would. Knowing her past, I wouldn’t be surprised if she had left town already.
“Why don’t you come and meet me here in the club?” I told her. It was less personal than my townhouse, my safe space. Although my emotions bubbled and my thoughts jumbled, at least the familiar setting would provide some security.
It was early evening and not at all packed or loud as it had been close to midnight on New Year’s Eve. The music played at a lower volume as those who stopped by were often looking for a drink or a bite before they headed home. It was different from the late-night crowd who were eager to drink and have a good time. I asked my bartender, Kylie, to let me know when my mother arrived.
“She looks like me,” I explained with a grim expression.
Kylie squinted at my reaction, but I didn’t want to get into why I wasn’t thrilled about this, so I left it at that and waited in my office.
I texted Nova.Mommie not-so-dearest is coming by.
Good luck!she replied.Keep me posted.
An hour later, Kylie texted me that my mother arrived. I took a deep breath and gave myself a pep talk before I went to face her.
Stay calm,I reminded myself.Focus on your questions rather than lashing out accusations.
Once I stepped into the club, it didn’t take long to notice her with her tall stature and dress that was the colors of the ocean. She smiled and walked over to me. Every guy in the bar gaped as they tracked her.
Maybe I should have chosen somewhere with more privacy.
We were here now so we might as well get this uncomfortable conversation started.
I greeted her with a tip of my head but didn’t mirror her smile. She didn’t deserve it. “Celine.” I addressed her by her first name. She also didn’t deserve the title of mom.
She turned the smile even brighter as if making up for the lack of mine. Even I was dazzled for a flash, as if she’d entranced me with magic. I wrung my hands as a bout of insecurity churned.
Screw that, I was in my mid-twenties. I’d built up my life without this woman. She would not intimidate me. I raised my chin. “Come, sit down.” I led the way to a booth.
Once she sat opposite me, she said, “Gianna, I'm so glad you agreed to meet with me. We have so much to catch up on."
"That's because you haven't been part of my life.” I couldn’t hold back my resentment. "If you had, we wouldn't be having a conversation like this."
She pouted. "I know this won’t be easy for you to understand, but we don’t live the way you’re used to with humans. We don’t need to be constrained by these monogamous bonds.”
Then the wolf shifter idea of bonding to a mate forever would also be ridiculous to her. This wasn’t time to think about Sebastian, though, so I pushed an image of him out of my mind.
“Where have you been the past twenty-five years?” I asked.
“Moving around. I don’t like to stay in the same place for too long.”
“Does that mean you haven't been back here since you had me?”
“Right.”
“Why would you return now?”
She gave me a sweet smile. “It was time.”
That explained nothing. Her answers were more elusive than informational.
I leaned back on the seat and rubbed my forehead. “Are you here alone?”
She shook her head. “I joined up with a pod. We rented a house on the shore to give us access to the sea.”
“With other sirens?"
“Mostly.”
