Page 72 of Finding Her
“Not as much as I’d like, but as you know she’s a busy lady.” He shrugged casually.
I considered saying that Ididn’tknow because Mykie disliked discussing her career, but I moved on. “How long have you known each other?”
Ragen looked up to the sky, considering. “Since we were young teens. She’s been my girl for well over a decade.” He hummed. “Well, I guess I shouldn’t say that. I don’t think that female needs anybody trying to claim her.”
“How did you meet?” I wasdyingfor more information. Did Graysen even know about their brief relationship?
“We went to school together.” He gazed at the increasingly overcast night sky. “She’s educated, you know. She was the top of our class. I always respected that about her. She actually used to tutor me.”
I tried to picture Mykie as a studious young academic. Not easy, considering that my memories of her included a lot of drinking and battling her inner demons. Something had gonewrong to take her from precocious to haunted, and I wondered if that was part of what connected her and Graysen. Maybe they both felt like life had derailed.
“She wasn’t always like this,” he continued unprompted. “I’ve begged her to take it easy.”
“When did she get like this?” I asked gently.
“Some things just started taking a toll on her.” He seemed to be intentionally vague. “It was better for a while. It’s gotten worse recently.”
“How recently?” I pried, a pit forming in my stomach as I realized that I might know the answer. Graysen said her house fell to ruin since he checked on her last. When had he stopped dropping by? Probably once he had someoneelseto take care of. Me.
“Who knows?” Ragen said noncommittally.
You. You know.I could see it in his face. He maintained that neutral-leaning-positive expression, but his eyes had lost their shine. He knewexactlywhen she had begun relapsing. Did he know enough about me to connect the timelines?
I had effectively brought the conversation to a screeching halt. Ragen’s silence was about as comfortable as a “shouldn’t have said that” regretful muteness could be. After some time, he began softly humming. His smooth rumble was soothing, and I couldn’t help but interpret it as intentional. Was he trying to ease my tension?
We reached the bar, which was visibly empty through the windows, just as Cassius predicted. “Thanks for walking with me.”Sorry I made it weird.
“It’s no problem. You’re good company,” he grinned genuinely. “Have a good night, and I’ll see you at cards in a fewdays.” He waved with an upper hand before turning on his heels and strolling into the empty streets.
Graysen
I made my way to pick up Faeryn, embroiled in the same mess of emotions I’d been processing all day. I had no idea her nightmares were that intense. I was aware that they were something she struggled with, but had managed to make it nearlytwo seasonswithout seeing the severity firsthand because she’d been sleeping on the fucking couch. Denial probably played a part as well. I told myself she was getting better because I needed her tobebetter. Those hopes crumbled when she had said “of course” she thinks about returning to “Earth”.
Mykie had told me once that Faeryn had awoken confused and terrified while under her watch. She had tried to flee the house to find “Earth”. When I returned from my errands to find my mate drugged into a deep sleep, I was… upset, to say the least. My primal violence was only assuaged by howanxiousMykie was about it. I seldom saw her without her armor of rage and indifference. She’d insisted on having had no choice but to drug her, and that was something I didn’t truly understand until this morning.
Had Faeryn risen today without her wits about her, I may have considered the same option. Should I be keeping sedatives on hand? I could discuss it with Faeryn, to make sure we hadan action plan if these night terrors proved dangerous again. I feared I wouldn’t have the strength to do what had to be done without her consent; it was fortunate Mykie had been the one there that day. The thought of what could have happened to Faeryn if she’d succeeded in leaving the house in search of thosevilewoods…
Distracted and motivated by the grim reality check, I made it to the pub in record time. The building was fairly empty, not surprising considering the new bar down the street.
“Graysen!” Faeryn beamed, sliding out from behind the bar and throwing her arms around my neck in a hug.
I enjoyed her increasingly public displays of affection; they signaled to everybody that we belonged to each other. Maybe I could dissuade her from such frequent baths in the future, allowing our scents to mingle for longer periods of time. When we weren’t physically together, the bar patrons would still be able to smell that she was claimed. Although grooming was a priority amongst our civilization, soaking in soap and water was hardly a daily ritual. You could usually scent who was and wasn’t mated, and I wanted that for us. A warning to anyone whose intentions weren’t pure.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, helping her wrap the scarf she had borrowed from me around her beautifully ribboned neck.
“I’m fine,” she laughed with exasperation. “Excited to get home and cozy up.”
“Leaving already?” Mitus’s nasally voice accused. “I thought you’d stay later since you took that long break earlier.” Faeryn stiffened. I wasn’t used to seeing her annoyed with other people.
“Just because I don’tnormallytake my break doesn’t mean I have to work late when I do,” she sneered, grabbing my hand and tugging me behind her towards the door.
Long break? So Faerynwasn’tfeeling okay? I should have insisted on taking her shift today. She needed rest.
“Next time, maybe don’t disappear without telling anyone how long you’ll be gone!” Mitus heckled as we exited the building, always determined to get the last word in.
Disappear? My muscles became rigid with concern. I’d worked hard to establish a safe network of locations for my Little Fae andalwaysensured she had an escort. Mykie was with me at the house this afternoon, so she wasn’t anywhere related to either of us. My heart rate increased as every other unscreened person and destination became a potential threat.
“Where were you today?” The words snapped out more aggressively than I intended. The surprised expression on her face made me realize she was mid-sentence. I hadn’t even noticed she was talking.
