Chapter 28
Samantha dropped me off at my house and the first thing I do is make the quick potion to stop my period.
There’s a fluttering around my ear and I bat it away.
“Miss Ember, is everything alright?” Tabitha says, her tone far nicer than usual.
“No and yes.”
“The vampire isn’t keeping you captive?”
I turn as I crush up the flower with the mortar and pestle.
“No, and I don’t want anyone talking negatively about him. If you’re not okay with him coming around, you all can leave.”
I’m sharper tongued with her than usual, and I don’t know if Warin is rubbing off on me or having some time away from the cottage has shown me just how demanding the fairies are.
“Miss Ember. Are you of sound mind?” Domingo asks, and I roll my eyes.
“Yes, I’m of sound mind,” I say, though am I really?
The fairies are just a small taste of the pushback I’ll get with being with Warin.
“Feel her head. Does she have a fever?” Tabitha says.
“Stop, I don’t have a fever,” I reply, resting my hands on the table. “Warin. The vampire. He’s…he’s my mate,” I say. I figureit will be easier to test the reaction on the fairies before I tell Iris and Violet.
“Your what?” Tabitha shrieks, her wings flapping behind her. Today she’s wearing a Barbie minidress.
“My mate, okay. Fate. We’re meant to be together.”
“Oh, no. Oh, no. He’s compelled her. Someone call a priest,” Domingo cries.
“Priests are for demons, you idiot, not vampire compulsion. We’ll need to get one of the witches to help us,” Tabitha says, both of them ignoring me as I rub the bridge of my nose.
“But then we’ll have to leave the garden,” Domingo complains. Tabitha also agrees that it’s a serious problem to leave the garden.
“Stop it you two. I’m not compelled, I’m completely me. I know you are afraid of him, but he wouldn’t hurt you. He wouldn’t hurt me,” I tell them.
“He said he was going to pop our heads off and drink us dry,” Tabitha says.
Well, that adds an extra layer to me assuring them.
“I’ve made a vow with him for your safety. I promise you’re fine. Warin wouldn’t hurt me or anyone who means something to me.”
“Oh no, Tabitha. I think she loves him,” Domingo says, Tabitha’s hands are on her face in horror and I clear my throat.
“It’s too soon for that, right? I mean, these feelings are intense, but that would be crazy, right?” I say, trying to rationalize all of this with the fairies.
They both blink at me like I’m insane. I dump the mixture into water and chug it when there’s a knock on my door. I take a deep breath and go to answer it.
Violet and Iris stand on my stoop. Violet looking beautiful, radiant, and happier than ever. Meanwhile, Iris looks like she’s anxious and like she could use a good night’s rest.
“I didn’t realize you two were coming here first?”
“Where have you been?” Iris demands, walking past me into my house, looking around the cottage like there’s some sort of mystery, before facing me. “You’re alright?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I ask her with a tilt of my head.
