Swigging back wine, I wondered what realm my mother existed in. It wasn’t reality. “I don’t know about that. Her grandmother seems pretty formidable,” I mentioned in some sort of desperate attempt to soften her.
“It doesn’t matter. Magnum made a catastrophic mistake, and we will fix it. Do what you need to do, Tulya.”
She disconnected the call, and I knew it was the end of our talk.
My needs, worries, or concerns didn’t matter.
Donovan
Ifound Tulya sitting on the chaise outside on the balcony, a bottle of wine and an empty glass resting on the table, her head tilted back, eyes closed.
I’d wanted to talk or maybe be close to her. She was equal parts soothing and forbidden; I had no idea what to do when it came to this woman.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, not wanting to disturb her peace.
Opening her eyes, she spoke, her voice raspy. “It’s fine. I was just thinking. Come, sit,” she beckoned, pointing at the chair next to her. “You doing, okay?” she asked me while running a hand over her cheek, before leaning forward and snatching her glass and pouring a little more wine in. “I’m not, which is why I’m hiding out here with this.” She waved the bottle in front of me.
I felt myself nod. “I spoke with Magnum. He is going to arrange for us to meet with Valerie.”
She raised an eyebrow, and I watched a small piece of her red hair fall in front of her eye. More than anything, I wanted to brush it away, to touch her with my finger…to kiss her again. And again.
“I don’t know if I believe that,” she said softly.
I couldn’t help but smile. I secretly adored how she didn’t mind challenging me.
“He isn’t the type to roll over like that,” she went on.
“I know, that’s reserved for me. I’m the family pushover,” I replied.
“Hardly, but you know that you’re not. You do what is expected, when you know it’s the right choice.”
“Or the only one…”
“Tomato, tomahto,” she quipped. “I’m under strict orders to transfer the pain. My mom expects you to bring Blake back and I’m guessing your mom has made it known Magnum and Cinder will raise her.”
I nodded. That was the plan our mothers had concocted. “It’s my best guess that Magnum thought he’d bring Valerie and Blake back to Rubia, and with their daughter there, no one could say a word to him. But we certainly blew that by coming here and discovering his secret.”
Leaning forward, Tulya touched my knee. I was sitting in the straight-backed chair kitty-corner to her, and this slight touch wasn’t enough. I wanted more, to move closer and run away all at the same time.
“Is this all right?” Of course she asked if her gesture was okay, because she was Tulya, and she did mostly everything right.
I gave another nod.
“I’m worried for that little girl. I don’t want them looking into her power or capabilities too much, pressuring her, or anything that will take away her spirit. She’s going to have enough change coming to Rubia, you know?”
Swallowing all the emotions lumped in my throat, I searched for the correct response. Only Tulya would consider the child’s feelings. I suspected hers were typically overlooked, like they were being now.
“You will be there,” I said.
“We don’t know. I’ve never done this type of transfer…and to a human.”
“Why? It’s not like our powers don’t work on regular people. They do. We know but choose not to use them…often.”
She just stared at me as if this was information to her; she truly believed we never tried our magic on humans.
“I don’t know. I’m worried. That’s all.”
I’d wanted to mention the kiss in the car, but now we’d gone to this dark place, and I wasn’t sure what to say—
