There is no need to. He is clearly fully recovered from whatever the attempt at breaking the bond did to him. But the thought of leaving and going to my own empty bed, is making my chest ache.
“I’d like that,” grins Sammy sleepily as his eyes flutter closed.
I watch him fall asleep. And then I watch him sleep. His peaceful, even breaths remind me of the waves. It’s a deeply soothing sound.
I can’t remember the last time I was this happy.
This pile of books looks very daunting. I still can’t wrap my head around how Pink’s mage managed to steal them all from the Old Blood library. I have to assume magic was involved and leave it at that. It’s not like I’m going to see the man and be able to ask him.
Pink’s mage is very elusive. He has been living in his campervan in the bottom of the garden for months now, but I’ve only glimpsed him once or twice.
Pink says he is extremely shy and very fixated on his alchemy studies. It’s still a bit odd that we never see him. But then again, the original deal was that he was unobtrusive. The idea was that Pink would pop into the campervan when his magic needed emptying, and that would be that.
The fact I’ve seen Pink sneaking down to the bottom of the garden, far more than he needs to, makes me smile. His secret is safe with me.
Just like the secret of how to undo a mate bond is safely locked away in these books. I sigh heavily and pick up another one.
“I’m making a cuppa. Anyone want one?” asks Pink as he gets to his feet.
Ned, Jade and I all put in our requests. Pink swoops around and gathers up the empty cups from amongst the towering piles of books strewn over the dining room table. Then he heads off to the kitchen.
Ned and Jade are deeply engrossed in their respective dusty tomes. I want to ask if they have found anything, but that wouldbe ridiculous. It’s not as if they are going to find the cure and then just continue to quietly read.
I try to look at the page in front of me, but it is just a word salad. My mind has had enough, it’s refusing to digest any more information. I rub my eyes and try to gather my thoughts.
Pink returns with tea. I thank him and take a sip of the hot, sweet goodness. Hopefully, it will revive me.
“You can read that?” Pink asks Jade. Surprise is clear in his voice.
Jade looks up and blushes. “Yeah, I was taught all seven of the arcane tongues.”
Pink sits down. “Oh, I thought the high tongues were kept amongst Old Blood only.”
Ned quietly shuts his book. His eyes are flicking between Jade and Pink. He looks worried. What is going on?
I know that Old Blood is what Pink’s people call themselves. Humans with magic. The British Nobility. But Pink is nice. I can’t imagine him being snobby or outraged that Jade knows one of their secret languages. So, what’s the problem?
“I was raised by Old Blood,” says Jade quietly. “My parents were bred like dogs to create me. I was a little experiment.”
“Hey, that was nothing to do with Pink!” interjects Ned.
Pink is biting his bottom lip. His gaze is fixed on the floor. His shoulders are slumped.
“None of us can help who we are born to,” I say in Pink’s defense.
I’m surprised none of this has come up before. But maybe it has. I’ve spent so much time brooding alone in my pool, I wouldn’t have known. I’m a terrible friend. Sammy would say I suck.
Jade exhales heavily and rubs his hands over his face. “I know that. I do. I’m sorry I’m being an ass.”
Pink looks up. Relief is clear in his eyes. “If you ever want to talk about it…”
“What is there to say?” interrupts Jade. “I was created in an attempt to make a pure blood fey. I was born a slave and then sold to Ritchie. This is the first time I’ve been free in my entire life.”
Pink flashes me and Ned a worried glance. His hand reaches out and rests on Jade’s arm. He makes touch look so easy. So simple.
I wish there was some comfort I could offer Jade. I had no idea about his past. Or that he was suffering so much. I’ve been such a self-absorbed asshole. We were all in the harem. I didn’t have it any worse than the others. There is no need for me to feel so sorry for myself.
“That sucks,” I hear myself say, parroting Sammy’s tone and inflection.
