Page 126 of Game of Destiny
‘And in two days we will know the results,’ I said.
‘We will have some time to heal and decompress before the results and before heading home,’ Finlay told me.
‘My brother will help me get a meeting with James.’
‘And if James refuses?’ he asked.
‘Then Becky will let me know when he is out and about and I will just have to do it in public. I’m really hoping it won’t come to that. My first rejection was public, and I hated it. I would like my second one to be private,’ I told him.
‘It’s still your first one,’ he reminded me.
‘Yeah, but it feels like two.’
‘You are still okay with it?’ he asked.
‘I am. I’m looking forward to it. It feels horrible to say it, but I do.’
“Hey. Don’t say that. It’s not horrible of you. This thing has been dragged out far beyond what is reasonable. You have every right to feel you want it over with.’
‘How bad are your injuries?’ I asked. ‘And be honest.’
‘The kick to my side cracked a rib, he slashed my arm and then there are some small bruises from all the other fights. I should be back to normal later tonight,’ he told me.
‘Good.’
‘How about a nap?’ he asked.
‘I need to call my mother. She will kill me when she finds out what the last game was and I don’t check in.’ I explained.
‘Good thinking. Come along,’ he said and led me over to the bed. He was gentle as he lifted me up and placed me in the middle of it. He got comfortable against the headboard and patted the space between his legs. I sat down and leaned my back against his chest as he wrapped his strong arms around me. I felt myself relax into him. I took out my phone and dialled my mother.
“Armeria, I’m so happy you called, your brother is talking to your dad,” mom said.
“Hi, mom. Good. He was amazing today, he won his part of the game,” I told her.
“Your dad told me what the final game was. The council must have become senile. Making you fight each other like savages. I thought we left those days behind us,” she said. I could feel Finlay holding back his laughter at my mom’s indignity.
“Yeah, definitely not my favourite part,” I agreed.
“Did you get hurt? Elder didn’t answer when your dad asked.”
“A little,” I told her. Finlay nudged me. “I got a couple of broken ribs,” I confessed and heard my mother draw in a sharp breath. “But our healer says I will be fine by tomorrow.”
“You better be or you will give me the name of the wolf who did it to you and I will find them and show them what happens if you hurt one of my kids,” my mom growled.
‘I see where you get your temper from,’ Finlay mindlinked me.
‘I don’t have a temper,’ I told him.
“I’ll be fine mom. There are no more games, so I can rest up and have some fun. The formal dinner is tomorrow.”
“Oh, I had almost forgotten about that. It was always my favourite part. Have you got a dress?” she asked.
“I do. It’s an emerald green one with a full-length skirt and off-shoulder sleeves. You would love it. I’ll make sure to snap some pictures when I’m all dressed up,” I told her.
“Sounds wonderful. You will look amazing no matter what you wear,” she told me.
‘She is right,’ Finlay mindlinked me and kissed my shoulder.
