Page 184 of The Seven Rings
In the kitchen, Cleo took the first mug off the machine, added Sonya’s preferred dollop of milk.
“Just what I need.”
“I’m scrambling eggs. We’ll have eggs and toast.”
“Sounds great.” Trey set Sonya on a stool at the island. “Just let me make a call and reschedule.”
“No, don’t. How long was I down there?” Sonya grabbed the phone she’d left on the counter. “It’s still early. You have time to eat, and hear me out, before you leave for work.”
“Let’s take step one. On my list that’s hear you out.”
“Same as my list.” Cleo got out eggs, then a bowl before turning to get Trey’s coffee.
“I wasn’t down there nearly as long as I thought.” Sonya set her phone down again. “As it felt. I came down, got coffee, let the dogs out. They’re still out. Maybe we should—”
“They’re fine,” Cleo assured her. “I just let Pye out with them.”
Trey took the stool beside Sonya as Cleo whisked eggs in the bowl.
“You went down to the gym.”
“Right. Yoga, stretch out yesterday. It felt great. The instructor—the blonde, ponytail, flowing white outfit.”
“Yeah.” Cleo nodded as she poured eggs into the melted butter in a skillet. “She’s got a voice like warm cream.”
“Exactly, and I was sort of floating on that, into the Warrior poses. Then that voice said I wasn’t a warrior. I was weak and pathetic. That I was nothing, had nothing.”
She took them through it while the coffee warmed her inside and out.
“I was scared, really scared, when I realized I’d left my phone right here. When I couldn’t get the door open. And I don’t think I’ll ever use exercise bands again in this lifetime. All I could think was Trey would go on to work, and Cleo wouldn’t be up for at least two hours. And I’d be alone in the dark with her, with that hissing.
“Then Clover. She took my hand.” Sonya looked down at her hand as Cleo set a plate of eggs and toast in front of her.
“She said Dobbs lies. That I wasn’t alone, and I was stronger than Dobbs. I had to be stronger. So I turned around, and I just started spewing insults.
“God, these eggs are good. I’m starving.”
Cleo set a plate in front of Trey, then brought her own to sit on Sonya’s other side.
“I said things like, ‘Is this the best you’ve got?’ Did she think I was afraid of the dark, of her? Of some crazy, dead, half-assed witch who’d had to drug a man to get him to fuck her? I let my crude flag fly. She thinks I’ll jump off the wall because she wants me to? Oh, hell no, because I get off watching her jump night after night. Gives me a thrill almost better than sex. Which I can have when I want, no drugs or spells required.”
She shoveled in more eggs. “Then I dared her. Jesus, I was wound up. I dared her to turn on the light, face me.” Sonya balled her fists. “I was ready to punch her in the face, kick her in the crotch. Give her a goddamn beatdown. ‘Turn on the lights, you fucking coward, and we’ll settle right here, right now, who’s mistress of Poole Manor.’”
Revved, she bit into toast. “And I heard Clover laugh, but more… I think they were all down there with me. I heard them laugh. I heard them laugh, and it was mockery extreme. It was the whole damnroom, full of laughter. Maybe, I think maybe, not just the brides, but more. Like the manor and everyone in it was making her a joke.
“Then the lights came on and I was ready, God, so ready, to take her on. But she wasn’t there. I think I said, really snotty, ‘Yeah, that’s what I thought.’ Then I opened the door. And you were right there,” she said to Trey. “You were right there.”
He gave her a long look, his deep blue eyes full of everything a woman in love needed to see. He flicked a glance at Cleo, said, “Me first.”
He rose, then plucked Sonya from the stool. He wrapped around her, and with her feet inches from the floor, kissed her as if both their lives depended on it.
Head swimming, Sonya gave Trey a dreamy smile. “Maybe you should reschedule after all. For several hours.”
“What you did? It was ill-advised, risky, and not just a little crazy. And I love you. I love everything about you. I freaking adore the ill-advised, risk-taking, a-little-bit-crazy woman.”
He kissed her again, then set her on her feet.
“Your turn, Cleo.”
