Page 64 of Spies without a Face
I shook my head. “Gone, I think.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“I think he left Salem.”
“Why do you think that?” she asked. “Maybe we should have some guards protecting you.”
I had a protector right next door before I’d turned him away. Not that I wanted him to have to face Marius. Who knew how dirty he’d fight. But I didn’t think that was something we had to worry about.
“Because when Austin and I were at the Blondie concert in Boston, Marius was there. I made it clear that I was with Austin when I kissed him.”
A chorus of cheers and hollers followed and comments like, “I knew you’d be together.”
“I haven’t seen Marius since, so I think he got the picture that I’m not interested in rekindling our long-dead relationship and moved on.”
“What’s going on with Austin?” Nova asked.
I pressed my lips together, reluctant to share what Austin had revealed about us being mates but needing to talk to others who’d gone through it. I rubbed the stem of my glass. “It’s been nice. Great, actually. He’s so different from Marius. Considerate. Caring. I really like him but…”
Gianna groaned. “There’s always a but.”
“This is a big one.” I rolled my shoulders back and stared into my glass like it was a crystal ball providing insight. It didn’t; the alcohol might have dulled the sharpest edge of the shock, but it also helped me loosen my inhibitions and confide in with the ladies here—which could be a mistake. “I thought we could take things slowly, but Austin told me something that would knock the croak out of a frog.”
Lowering my hands to my lap, I straightened and raised my gaze to meet their curious ones. “He said I was his mate.”
Nova gasped. Cassandra said “Whoa.” Zoe sucked in a breath. Gianna said, “Hot damn,” and slapped her hand on the table. “That’s freakin’ awesome.”
I cocked my head and gave her a skeptical glance. “Is it now?”
“Sure.” She shrugged one shoulder and then gestured toward me. “I know it’s downright terrifying at first. Hell, I pushed Sebastian away after he told me.” Her lips spread in a conspiratorial smile. “I’m sure as hell glad I changed that tune.”
Zoe added. “It’s confusing all right. It might not make sense to us as we’re not shifters, but it’s pretty amazing.”
Cassandra’s expression turned wistful. “I was really rooting for you two, Pandora. But to be his mate?” She placed her hand on her heart. “That’s even more magical. I’m so happy for you.”
I chewed my bottom lip. “There’s a bit of a problem.”
“Why?” Nova asked.
I groaned. “I might have um… been overwhelmed when he told me.” Glancing at the floor, I admitted, “And I ended it.”
A chorus of “aww” and “oh” followed.
Gianna said, “Austin must be devastated.”
I groaned and met her gaze. “Thanks for making me feel better about it.”
She reached over and touched my arm. “I’m not trying to make you feel bad. Trust me, I did the same thing and freaked out. But I also know how much that hurt Sebastian. He’s such a good guy, and I never want to hurt him again.”
So was Austin. A terrific guy with a soft spot for cats. And he seemed crazy about me.
I groaned. “I made a mistake, didn’t I?”
No one agreed out loud, but their eyes spoke a resoundinghell yeah, you did.
I slid out of the booth. “I need to fix it.” If it wasn’t too late.
After I hurried to the exit, Cassandra caught up to me.
