They sat around talking for an hour or two before Delphine had to head to the office to check on a few things before the meeting.
Things were moving fast now, and she needed to keep them in her view. It was time to take stock of her little empire.
Chapter Four
Bethany woke and felt rested for the first time in a very long time. She was also under a lot of blankets and was a toasty, warm cinnamon bun. She pulled her watch toward her and sighed. It was after nine. Time to get up.
She poked her head out of her cocoon and took in the comfortable room around her. Her clothing was clean and folded at the foot of the bed. Ah. They knew she had everything in her car. She looked around, and it was all set and tucked around the guest space.
Bethany got up and went to take another quick shower before drying and braiding her hair and putting her clothing on for hosting at the centre.
She could smell breakfast food, put on her shoes, and headed downstairs. She followed her nose to the kitchen, and a smiling brunette grinned and waved. “Morning. I am Mara. Ambera is around here somewhere, and I think Delphine is in her office. What would you like for breakfast?”
“Pancakes, waffles, and bacon, maybe fruit.”
“I can do that.” Mara smiled. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yeah. I made the bed.”
Mara paused. “That’s my job. It’s a fetish, really. Leave it to me in the future.”
“Um, future?”
“Oh, didn’t you know? Delphine is tucking you under her wing, or whatever she has going on when she flies. You deserve to be safe.” The woman poured a mug of coffee and set it on the counter with cream and sugar next to it.
“So, did they figure out who came after me?”
“Ah, yes. Lord Rez took a call on speaker, and there were interested mages listening in. He has taken care of them. They will not trouble you again.” An older woman with akind expression on her still beautiful face said, “I am Ambera. Delphine is my daughter.”
“Oh. Hello, ma’am.”
“Call me Amy or Ms. Kadabra. That was clever, by the way. Agreeing to have her name mean magic was an interesting clue.”
“I imagine there was some consternation at the hospital.” She stood and shook Ambera’s hand. “I am currently known as Bethany. My original designation is waiting until I feel safe.”
Ambera smiled. “I hope that it’s soon. Bethany is more cheerleaderish.”
“Yeah. It didn’t feel like me, so it worked as an effective passive concealment.”
“Why did you leave your family?”
Bethany sipped at her coffee. “Oh, they tried to sell me to the coven as a breeder. Since I didn’t manifest the stellar aura they were looking for, they wanted to know if it would show up in the next generation. They had an auction. I was fourteen. I ran, and I haven’t stopped.”
Ambera stared at her. “They tried to sell you?”
“Yeah. That was the point where they saw a bit of the star. I got away, and they got a show, but I ended up on the side of the road where I met Orvis. By that time, I had forgotten how to speak and was super skinny, but she got me to a shelter.”
Ambera gasped. “You have been on your own for a while.”
“Yup.”
“If you are out in the world as yourself again, what would you want to do? Delphine can help you accomplish anything you want to do.”
Bethany smiled. “I would like to finish high school or get a GED. Maybe get a house. I want my own space that no one can chase me from.”
“A partner?”
“Um. No. I have tried sex. It wasn’t something to pursue a second time.”
