Page 67 of Chasing Savannah
She knew they were her mates, but she’d go to her grave denying it if it kept her family safe, and out of trouble. Naomi rolled over and gave her a bear hug. They both held on for longer than normal, taking comfort in the touch.
Naomi cleared her throat. “Enough of that, let’s at least make sure you’re hot if this is the only date you get to have with your mates.”
She nodded and they went back to her closet.
Thirty minutes later they were talking out hair options when the doorbell rang. They gave each other nervous looks and rushed to the living room. She gave one final look to Naomi, who was wringing her hands and opened the door. Charlotte came in first, a baseball cap pulled low on her face, a crop top and tight jeans. She gave Savannah a hug, rubbing her cheek against hers in a prowl greeting, which brought a little bit of Savannah’s power alive. She frowned, it had been happening more often, which was confusing. As far as she knew, nothing had changed with her. She thought about that small bite Carlos and Derrick had given her days ago. It wasn’t enough for a mating bite, but could being around them heighten her power?
The Seer came in behind her. A petite woman, her caramel hair was down around her shoulders in a riot of big curls. She wore a black knit tank top and blue jean bellbottoms. Her makeup was understated, and gave a glow to her copper skin. Savannah held out her hand for a shake and the woman smiled.
“You don’t remember me, do you?”
She shook her head, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m Joelle. I was apprentice to your aunt Antoinette.” Joelle studied her.
Savannah’s smile froze on her face.
Joelle patted her hand. “Don’t…I promise you, it’s not like what you’re thinking.” She rubbed her cheek along Savannah’s.
Savannah cleared her throat and walked them into the kitchen. She waved them into the stools around her kitchen island and turned to the range. She busied herself making tea, her hands shaking as she set the kettle onto the stove.
Joelle sat at the kitchen island and looked around. “You have a beautiful home.”
Savannah looked around to keep from staring at Joelle. The soothing gray theme she had throughout the house, carried into the kitchen. Her cabinets were all painted in‘smoke’a color Jamie had rolled his eyes at when she’d picked it. Subway tiles filled in the space between the counter tops and ceiling, the white color stark against the gray. She’d brought in color by making the cabinet doors glass and having all the dishes inside bright red and yellow. She cleared her throat and gave up stalling.
Savannah turned and gave Joelle a smile. “Thank you.”
She passed them all cups and stood, awkward as they waited on the kettle to finish. The teakettle whistled and she made a show of fixing tea.
Joelle didn’t take a sip, she simply warmed her hands on the mug. “Let’s just get rid of some of this tension. Were you aware that your aunt was kicked out of the prowl?”
Both she and Naomi shot looks to their cousin Charlotte and nodded.
Naomi cleared her throat. “It doesn’t change what she’d done. I still wouldn’t have come back.”
She agreed with her cousin. The fights still continued after Toni left, so obviously her aunt leaving wasn’t enough to change anything.
“Why was she banished?” Savannah asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Joelle sighed. “I went to your grandfather and told him I thought she was lying about having visions.”
Her knees weakened and she grabbed the edge of the counter. Both Naomi and Charlotte gasped.
“Are you serious?” She asked between numb lips.
Joelle nodded. “When my mother joined the prowl, I was a few years older than you were when you left. It took Antoinette months before she gave into my mother’s request to mentor me. I had already started showing my seer powers and both the Felix and my mother thought it best I learn to control them. I studied under Antoinette and she used me. She gave the Felix visions from me as her own. I didn’t find anything strange about it, since apprentices weren’t allowed to give out prophecies. It took me until I was eighteen to figure it out she was changing the wording on my visions.” Joelle sighed and finally took a sip of her tea. “I was so brainwashed that even after I knew, it took me a while to get the courage to speak up about it. I want to apologize to you. To you both. I wish, more than anything, that I had spoken up before. You were so young…”
Savannah waved her hand and shook her head, unable to speak. Naomi put her head on the table and her cousin’s shoulders shook.
Joelle’s eyes met hers, entreaty glistening in them. “I need you to understand, anything your aunt told you was probably false.”
She really had to sit then. She grabbed a stool and sat limply into it. “I don’t understand.”
“Antoinette didn’t have any power. She’d been faking it for years. I think, using those who apprenticed under her.”
She felt nauseous, and couldn’t breathe. Naomi sobbed next to her sister and Charlotte held her in her chest.
“I don’t know what she said to you, and I’m sorry it took me so long to say anything.” Joelle reached her hand and put it over’s Savannah’s.
