Valerie cleared her throat, not leaving anything to chance, seemingly knowing what the warm coat was for. “It was very nice of you all to be so thoughtful and think of Blake. But she has so much, so I think that’s enough for now. Like I said, she never gets to see her dad on the holiday, so why don’t we allow them some time?” She waved toward the front door rather than the kitchen, basically asking all of us to leave.
I felt my eyebrows rise and heard myself saying, “We are her family too.” This little tyke had captured my heart, and whether it was because she was blood, plain cute, or both, didn’t matter. A wild urge to protect her took over when it came to Blake, yet I looked to Tulya for guidance.
Blake might have stolen my adoration, but Tulya had become my guiding star, which was the opposite of what I meant to happen when it came to the latter female.
Tulya
“Let Magnum have a few minutes with Blake,” I said, noting Donovan’s gaze directed at me.
I began walking toward the door without a response from him. Truthfully, I needed a moment. My body was radiating so much heat, I decided this was what menopause must feel like…and I was a long way off from that juncture. It didn’t help that Cinder was a gigantic ball of stress and feelings. She was strung out more than anyone I’d ever helped, and the longer I waited, the more my own symptoms ratcheted. Except my stupid body had no idea what it was actually about to attempt; it only itched to take the suffering away from Cinder.
“Okay,” Donovan agreed, and his palm met my lower back. I reminded myself he was stepping outside and relished in the slight relief I felt on his touch, a cold chill taking over my sauna-like status.
Of course, I kept these thoughts to myself and remained moving.
Once outside, Cinder nearly collapsed onto the walkway, sitting down and burying her face in her hands. I had to shift my eyes from her as it was all too much for my internal system.
“If that’s how you feel,Cindy, what about me? Magnum is the father of my child.” Valerie opened her mouth—stupidly—saying Cinder’s name wrong.
I was in the middle of deciding whether it was purposeful or not when Cinder shouted, “Don’t talk to me, and my fucking name is Cinder.”
Donovan said, “Cinder, Valerie, enough.” He spoke both their names firmly.
“What?” The two women spoke in unison for what would probably be the only time.
“You need to calm down. Both of you.” That was all he said, and Cinder promptly dropped her head back in her hands.
During all this I’d lost the tiny bit of touch with Donovan, and my temperature was spiking. Cinder was nowhere near calming, and if I was honest, this wasn’t great for me.
“Valerie,” Donovan shifted his attention, “we need to talk.” He spoke quietly, moving his body close to hers so no one could eavesdrop. “You know Blake is special. And she’s certainly captured my love in a few days. She’s sweet and kind…and like us.” He stumbled through his emotions and explaining. “She’s not going to be able to stay here. She belongs in Rubia,” he finally spit out.
The bright sun beat off Donovan’s hair, casting a glow on him, and I could see a small sheen of perspiration forming along his brow. Despite his words being cool as a cucumber, or however that expression went, he was not relaxed.
“That’s why we were going there. To Rubia,” Valerie said as if that were still possible, or ever going to happen. I’d give her this, she was one stubborn lady.
“Listen, I know you’re not daft, so you have to know by now that’s not happening. It’s forbidden.”
“I don’t listen to you. Your brother makes his own rules.”
I turned to see if Cinder was watching the verbal sparring, and she was, her head rapidly ping-ponging between the two.
“My brother doesn’t make his own rules. Neither do I. We answer to the Minister, and this is not permitted. Over and out. I wish there was an explanation that would get through to you, but I can’t find it.”
Valerie stomped close and waved her finger in his face. “I don’t abide by your rules, and neither does Blake—”
“She will. The Minister will be sure of it, and the sooner you get that, the faster this can be resolved.”
“Lucky for Blake I don’t answer to the Minister.”
The pair continued to spar, likely drawing the attention of a few neighbors.
“She’s Rubian,” Donovan said, whispering the second word. “And my brother has already broken the law by telling you about us. There will be no saving grace here. Blake will need to be taken to where she is like others—”
I felt myself nodding, which was a stupid move, but he spoke the truth.
Valerie turned her attention toward me. “What the hell do you know? You’re the witch who was sent here to make things worse for me.”
“Hey.” Donovan’s tone turned sinister. “I’d watch your mouth, Valerie. She’s the Minister’s niece,” he followed up with, protecting me.
