“You’re not a freak or someone to pity. You’re too strong for either of those. And I’m very close to finding a troll to seduce into snapping Adira’s neck for making you feel like a project.
“One day you’ll realize how wonderful you are. When you do, Adira will see the same and fall to her knees.”
I withheld my exasperated sigh as I closed my eyes. I didn’t want anyone on their knees for me. Ever. Yet, even as I thought it, that dark thing inside of me preened at the idea.
“If you don’t want to come to the club, and you’re avoiding Fenris, and Megan is still out of town, what are you going to do for the rest of the day? I highly doubt Adira will make a day at the Academy enjoyable for you.”
“I called you to feel better.”
“You know there’s only one thing that will make you feel better, baby.”
“Why does everything have to be about feeding?” I asked, annoyed.
“I wasn’t talking about feeding. You called because you think you broke Fenris. The only thing that will make you feel better is to talk to him and reassure yourself he’s fine.”
I flopped back onto my bed. Leave it to my mom to forget one tiny, little problem in that plan.
“If I see him now, I’ll only make him worse. We both know it’ll take a few days for the effects to dissipate. It will dissipate, right?”
“Baby, he didn’t seem enthralled to me. He left your side, helped your father, alertly noticed his surroundings, and ate without needing to be prompted. I can’t imagine the level of obsession you’re talking about developing in twenty-four hours.”
I stared at my ceiling, thinking of the first time she’d played house with Dad. After almost a year with him, he’d had no chance to recover. He’d done all the things she said that Fenris hadn’t been doing. I didn’t know what to believe.
Even though I told myself that Fenris wasn’t human and I’d spent far less than a year in his company, I couldn’t forget the need and lust that had emanated from him in the woods. He’d stood there shaking like a mad man on the verge of losing control.
“I don’t know what to do, Mom. I’m just so tired of fighting what I am.”
“Then stop.”
I gave a derisive laugh.
“And destroy the people around me? Choose myself over them?”
“It doesn’t need to be one or the other. I’ve chosen your father over myself, and he chose me over himself. It’s not always easy but it’s working for us. We’re happy.”
Her ability to see real happiness versus the false contentment of a man enthralled by her was non-existent. She was as blind to what was happening to Dad as Eugene had been to his own actions after our dip in the pool. It took a kiss from Ashlyn to break him from that spell.
My eyes went wide as an idea took root.
“How much prep do you still need to do for tonight?” I asked.
“Just a bit of coordinating. Nothing too time consuming if you have something else in mind.”
“I might. Do you think you could talk Adira into allowing me out for a shopping trip with a friend?”
“Depends on the friend and where you want to go. I doubt Adira would be willing to portal us to Paris.”
“Jenna. She’s a werewolf and has proven herself safe around humans. And the closest city is fine.”
“I’ll speak with Adira. What time were you thinking?”
“Eleven? We could do lunch.” I hesitated a moment. “Tell Adira I want a dress for tonight. A real one. And I want to pick it out myself.”
“Are you sure?”
“No,” I said honestly. “But I know it will ensure the shopping trip. And that, I am sure about. Hopefully, Raiden won’t oppose.”
“He won’t. Adira will make sure of it.”
