Page 50 of Rejected Mate

She lifted her fork, as if she was pondering the question. I was frightened that our plans, and what we needed to do with her help, weren't an option. There was no way we could face off with her father and his pack without her. Even if she had convinced her mother to stand down, magic was too volatile not to have a witch in our corner.

"I know you're worried. It's all the pressure. It's just too much for me. I mean, Winter and you are like,let’s click our fingers and everything will fall into place."

She stuffed the contents of her fork into her mouth.

"If we thought it was that easy, then we wouldn't have told you to go away with him. The whole point was to take time away from me and Winter so you and Husk could have time alone together." I cut off a piece of the omelet, wrapping the cheesiness around my fork before taking a bite.

It made perfect sense, but seeing the stress lines on her face, she didn't return to the casino right away because she wanted to see Mayia, but because she didn't want to spend any more time with Husk.

"How about we finish eating and head to the black room together to sort out the mess? You can hang out as if you're my secret spy."

She sighed. "Yeah, but everyone knows me down there."

"What if you put on some kinda disguise to stop that," I whispered, as if I were playing a game, just so we could lighten her mood.

She nodded in agreement. "I could use my blonde wig; no one recognizes me in that."

I chuckled. "You got a deal. We'll do that."

And then we finished eating, without the pressure of talking about Husk, and not worrying about bringing SmallHeath down. I knew we would need to discuss it at some point, but for now she needed to relax because never had I seen her so restless.

* * *

"What the fuck?" I screamed out as I saw Fagua, who was wearing a short silver dress that emphasized every part of her body. My mind should have been on the job but it was too focused on admiring her body.

I pulled her away from the client as he wrapped his arm around her waist while she blew on the dice he was about to throw.

"You're supposed to be observing and maybe throwing a little bet, not acting as if you're the prize token on the floor."

Her eyes cast over me as she yanked her arm away.

"I'm having fun," she slurred. "Men want me for my body, not because I have powers or they need me to do something for them. They see what they like."

I cupped her face, wondering what the hell was going on with her. I'd never seen her behave and lash out like this.

Then she sobbed in my arms, like she did the night Husk locked her in the room.

"You think this is all we need you for?"

"It feels like it," she bit back.

I shook my head because I couldn't believe that she'd forgotten how precious she was to us.

"For a minute, I felt like me. Desired. Wanted. And not just some tool that could be used to wipe out my parents and everyone who stands with them. All my life, someone has wanted something from me. Winter wanted me to mate with him so that you wouldn't all die. You wanted me for the same thing. And now Husk wants me to help bring down my parents. It's just too much pressure," she said hotly.

I pressed my lips gently to her forehead. I didn't say anything, not a word. I wasn't going to tell her how much she meant to me. I was going to show her.

"Let's go upstairs and I'll give you a massage," I offered.

"You're not going to say anything?"

I chuckled. "My dear Fagua, you don't know us at all. Especially me. I just want to please you. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than making sure you're happy. Right now, you're not, and that worries me. Not because of the plans, but because I love you."

Her eyes grew wide. I'd drowned out the noise of the casino, as I felt it was just the two of us as we headed up to the suite, and I knew I would have to get my magic fingers back into action to convince her of what I'd said. I would convince her with my mouth, with my tongue, with everything I had. I would worship her. Even if all she wanted was a foot and back massage. I would do anything to prove how I felt about her.

18

Winter

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