Page 57 of Stitched Up in You
“Hello, Frank,” Odette says with a short wave, as if her presence isn’t cause for alarm.
“Odette, what an unwanted surprise.”
The witch shrugs. “Spontaneous pop in, I couldn’t resist when I heard the news of yourlittle fiancée. I’m so glad to see that you’re getting along.”
My lip curls in disgust even as I take in her attire and begin to frown. Since when does the witch queen wear something so casual. Jeans and a white blouse with simple brown shoes make up her outfit, when typically she’s dripping in expensive outfits and sporting her favorite footwear, heels.
But more importantly, what the hell is she doing here?
I glance at Bernadette, slack-jawed at her side and staring up at her as most humans do. Odette’s glamour and charm spells are as potent as they are powerful.
“Bernadette, come here,” I say, my gaze not leaving Odette as my mate makes her way to where I stand waiting at Brom’s side.
Bernadette’s gaze widens but she moves to obey for once in her life, as if sensing whatever strife lies between myself and Odette. She steps off the sidewalk and walks toward me hurriedly, but glances behind her as if she can’t resist.
“Who is she?” Bernadette asks when she reaches me in the street. I smooth a hand down Brom’s back and motion her closer.
“A bitch,” I answer, and grab her by the waist, picking her up easily and gently pushing her onto Brom’s back.
She grips Brom’s mane tight, not that she need bother. He stands still, allowing Bernadette to get settled, his flanks bristling with what I know to be a deep-rooted desire to get away.
It would take weeks to unpeel the levels of disgust I have, and why, for the witch queen.
“I heard that,” Odette calls out.
“She’s no one of importance,” I tell Bernadette, not wanting her to get the wrong idea. Humans are flighty and for all her hundreds of years in age, Odette still looks young. I’d mate with Bernadette a thousand times over and let my balls shrivel to dust before I’d ever deign to touch the witch queen.
The storm that same night after she dubbed me Frankenstein was much like the one brewing above us now, only this time, I’m neither powerless nor her servant. Frank Nathaniel Stein was born that same night, and he answers to no one.
“Aww, Frankenstein. You wound me. Here I am just trying to check in on why your magic is so erratic these days, but it looks like congratulations are in order. Anna would be so happy for you,” Odette calls out sweetly from the bookstore steps.
“Frankenstein,” Bernadette gasps at the moniker, and rage boils beneath my skin.
I’ve dealt with the name ever since one fateful visit to her friend’s drawing room.
All it took was her calling me Frankenstein after a visit with Mary Shelley, and the name stuck like glue because of my reaction, I’m sure of it.
I’d been in this world too long to count, and far longer than the tale of a misled doctor and his scorned creation, but Odette saw how I hated the name after hearing the story and delighted in my hatred of it.
“Who’s Anna?” Bernadette asks.
“Old girlfriend,” I answer without thinking, trying to control my rage.
The wind picks up as my hands form into fists. The witch queen smirks, and orange clouds my senses.
“I’ve not yet wounded you Odette, but I’d like to,” I bite out, and start toward her.
I’m well in my rights to deal with her as I see fit since she’s stepped foot in my territory, and she knows it. The supernatural has only one true law that’s upheld, that we remain hidden from humans, but no laws have been broken. Bernadette’s status as my mate trumps all else, whether I allow the bond to solidify or not.
“I actually don’t have time for this, and have places to be,” Odette snaps.
A smirk plays on my lips as I stalk closer, a ball of lightning crackling in my palm.
“You should’ve thought of that before coming here,” I say, but the moment I open my hand to grab her, she vanishes, no doubt using her magic to whisk her somewhere to safety.
“Holy shit,” Bernadette breathes behind me.
I glance back at my new mate where she sits wide-eyed on Brom, staring where Odette stood moments ago, and my gaze narrows.
