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I drummed my claws on the tabletop. “It’s probably a combination of the two.” My gaze drifted to Monstera’s. “The Heechus are inherently non-violent, so overall, they haven’t been much of a challenge for the witches since the first battle centuries ago.”
My Honeybee hummed and adjusted her glasses, staring into the middle ground. I groaned internally. She was so godsdamn irresistible when her mind worked through a problem, her eyes shining with intelligence. “Would it be possible to create a pocket realm within the Fairytale Realm?”
“Sure, with enough witches it could be done,” Monstera responded, tilting her head. “Why?”
Miko smirked. “I know what we need to do.”
My mate’s bestie cackled, bouncing in her seat.
I tuned out the rest of their conversation, absolutely absorbed in the pull of the bond tugging on my sternum. I missed her so much.
Monstera flicked my ear, grabbing my attention, and I growled. “Are you even listening, Bane?”
“Mpmh, of course.”
Miko groaned, rubbing her temples. “So, this plan essentially hinges on the cooperation of the Heechus, volunteers from your coven, and the aid of as many fairytale…” her brows furrowed, “characters…er people, as we can manage.”
“That's correct,” Monstera chirped, beaming at Miko.
“That doesn't sound difficult at all,” my mate replied flatly, her eyes finally rising to meet mine.
A grin burst across my face. “You have a little something right here,” I informed her, gathering foam from Miko’s upper lip with my thumb and sucking it into my mouth. I stiffened, in more ways than one, as her tongue traced where I touched, a familiar, carnal heat returning to her gaze.
“All right, so everyone has their duties do as you have been watching over the Heechus Miko. There's not really anything you can do except stay within the library or your apartment.”
Miko coughed and muttered, “It didn't help yesterday when a bitch from the HHC walked right through the library’s front door.”
“Excuse me?” I growled, squeezing my teacup so hard it shattered, sprinkling shards of porcelain over the table.
Monstera glared at Miko. “I agree with him. What the fuck?”
“Oh. Did I forget to mention that?” Miko mumbled, rubbing her temples.
“Yes, Koko,” Monstera scoffed, rolling her eyes as if she didn’t believe a word of her bland statement. “Are you okay?”
“Surprisingly, yes,” Miko responded, then proceeded to explain how the HHC witch walked right through the library’s entrance, dropped her glamor, revealing the hag beneath, and tried to attack her. The best part of her story? The damn ducks. Apparently, they were far more than just a sweet inside joke between friends. I nodded at Monstera with respect.
My eyes bore into Miko’s, watching her expression carefully. An unusually ferocious growl radiated from Huff as she finished explaining, then rolled over to her, outrage dappled with guilt pouring from his puffed-out fur. I forced myself to stay in my seat, clutching my tail to my chest in an effort to keep it from whipping around and destroying the tea shop while allowing Huff to comfort her by gripping her fingers with all three of his tails.
Monstera slapped a hand to her chest. “Jesus-motherfuck! I am so glad the protections helped. I’ll have to recharge them all before I leave. This was last night?” Monstera asked.
Miko nodded.
The witch turned her body to Huff. “Where were the Heechus?” I bristled at the insinuation, causing her eyebrow to rise. “I’m not accusing them of anything, Bane. Calm your tits.”
Huff climbed onto Miko’s palm. “We’re so sorry, Meeky. We should’ve been there to protect you. It’s worrisome that the library didn’t alert us to the intruder at the very least, let alone grant her access to the building. Our magic must be dwindling quicker than we thought.” He dropped his water-lined eye to the table. “The Heechus were all on the roof celebrating. Spill finally made a potion that worked and managed not to make too big of a mess in the process.”
I vibrated in my seat until I couldn't hold back any longer. I jumped over the table and dropped to my knees while scooping Miko into my arms, my tail winding around her back and squeezing her to me. “I could've lost you,” I whispered against her cheek, horns tangling in her hair. For a moment, it seemed she forgot about everything that happened between us and melted against me. “Why didn't you say anything, Honeybee?”
She shrugged. “I didn't think you'd care.”
“Not care?” I muttered a string of creative swears under my breath, placed her next to Monstera, then paced before the table, my tail coiling around her hand. “That is utter bullshite and you know it, Mate.” I regretted my outburst immediately, her metaphorical walls rising once more behind her eyes. My arms crossed over my chest as I forced my body to inhale and exhale steadily through my nose.
“You're my mate,” I whispered, and it sounded broken even to my own ears. “I know you don't fully understand what that means…”
“For fuck’s sake,” Monstera scoffed, “give the woman some credit, grotesque. She might be a human but she’s far more intelligent than you and I put together.”
My teeth clenched as I dropped heavily to the colorful mosaic formed of tiny floor tiles. “That's not what I meant.” I rolled my eyes to the ceiling, issuing pleas to whatever mythic deity would listen. When no sign of divine intervention occurred, I sighed, laying my head in Miko’s lap. “Mates are incapable of harming one another, physically, mentally, or spiritually. Do you see now?”
