“You’ve heard,” Angelle said.
“And delightedly so. That girl has needed some comeuppance for a very long time.”
“Indeed,” Murder said. “And, by the way, it was very nice of you not to kill her. It’s my understanding you could very well have done so.”
“I didn’t want her to die. I just wanted her away from my mate and my home,” Angelle said honestly. “And being human, I knew I offered little to no threat, so I employed other means.”
“Objective achieved,” Murder said.
“I’m sure Bliss will want to meet you. Saige has really only been someone’s friend when it suited her best. It’s a shame really because she wasn’t always like that. As a little girl she was bright and funny, and witty. I’m not quite sure at what point she turned a corner into the person she is now, but hopefully she’s learned a thing or two since you’ve stood up to her,” Lucitari said.
“I’m actually really sorry it came to what it has,” Angelle said.
“Don’t be. You didn’t take it there. Saige did. You simply protected what’s yours. And good for you.”
Angelle nodded.
“Ah, Terrus! Come and meet Angelle,” Lucitari said when she saw her brother enter the house.
Angelle turned toward the door, stepping a few feet away from Lucitari and Murder to allow Terrus and his mate to join them. When she did Simone came up behind her and whispered in her ear. “Don’t be startled, Maura looks a little different if Terrus let’s go of her hand.”
Terrus and his mate approached them, but Terrus didn’t let go of his mate’s hand as he extended his other to hold Angelle’s and bow over it briefly to kiss her hand. “Angelle, my dear. We are charmed.”
“Thank you, Mr. Terrus.”
“Oh, no. No. Just Terrus.”
Angelle nodded and smiled.
“And this is my mate, Maura. She is the light of my world.”
“Maura. I am so happy to meet you. Thank you for coming to my get together.”
“I was very happy to receive the invitation when Carnage stopped by,” Maura said. “I didn’t have time to make you a personalized gift, so I brought you one of my personal pieces,” she said, offering Angelle a small, four by four inch canvas. On it was painted a beautiful, bright red peony.
“Maura!” Angelle exclaimed. “Red peonies are my very favorite! This is beautiful! Did you paint this?”
“I did. It’s a favorite pastime of mine,” Maura said.
“It looks like a photograph it’s so realistic! You are gifted!”
Maura smiled, but somehow managed to make it look humble. “I’m so glad you like it. I wasn’t sure which to gift you. I have dozens and dozens of them. I paint all the time.”
“I will treasure it,” Angelle said, hugging the small painting to her breast. “In fact, it reminds me of a book that Boon gave me. I believe that you wrote and illustrated the book, Terrus.”
Terrus seemed a little confused at first, but then he nodded as he remembered. “Do you mean the book I gave him when he was a boy? The one that identifies all the flora and fauna in Whispers?”
“I do! I love that book. I took it out with me yesterday as I went exploring. I treasure it.”
“You do my old heart good, Angelle. Thank you for appreciating my work.”
“I treasure it. I won’t even let Boon touch it anymore. It’s very fragile, and he’s… not.”
Terrus laughed heartily.
At just that point, Avaleigh walked back in and Angelle seized the moment to hand off her guests. “Have you all met my mother, Avaleigh?”
Angelle allowed the smile she’d worn since people started arriving to slip for just a second as she tried to decide the best place for a momentary break.
