Page 34 of Goldie's Grumpy Grizzly
“What do you mean she’s gone?”
Clayton crosses his arms. “I mean, she checked out early. Said she’d finished her book and was anxious to get it to her editor. We’re a digital detox haven, remember? No internet access. No dependable cell phone coverage.”
“Tell me exactly what she said.”
With a heavy sigh, Clay relays the conversation back for the second time, and I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on guard. Something’s not right. I know it.
It’s been hours since I felt Rae.
At first, I thought it was because she was writing again, but she wasn’t in the cabin when I went to check on her. Then, I found her packed bags, and Clay’s words came back to me.
If you don’t work this out, then you’ll definitely lose her.
I’m not prepared to do that. So I hunted for her, called out to her along the bond. Searched the holiday village, but came up empty. By then, alarm was making my bear anxious, and I’d reached out to my family, asking if they’d seen her.
Despite what Clay says, she couldn’t have left. The shiny sporty rental parked up by my cabin suggests she hadn’t left the grounds, so that only leaves one remaining possibility.
I turn and look out the window to the forest.
“What did you say when she asked where I was?”
Clayton straightens, alarm crossing his features. “I told her you were up the mountain.”
Then the door to the office flies open as Connor and Mama come running at my summons.
“What’s wrong?” My younger brother swipes away the sheen of sweat from his brow and loosens up his chef whites.
“Rae’s missing.”
“Missing? What do you mean, ‘missing’? Didn’t she just decide to check out early?” Mama looks to Clayton for confirmation. Then, with eyes narrowed, she points at me. “What did you do?”
“Nothing!”
Connor leans over and mutters, “He marked her, then told her he couldn’t accept a witch as a mate.”
“Oh, how could you, Cole?” She groans. “What the hell is wrong with witches?”
My eyes go round and I splutter. “What’s wrong with witches?”
“I wondered what in the hell was going on with you two, but Melanie, I said, it’s not your place. Those boys are grown, they don’t need you poking into their business and getting in between mates when they’re just tryin’ to find their way.”
We stare at her, agog.
“Since when have not you not poked into our business?” Clay asks, incredulously.
She glances at him, unamused. “Never you mind. I see now that my instincts are right and you boys still need your Mama’s guidance.”
Connor groans and I glance over at the clock.
“Ma, it doesn’t matter now. I’ve got to find her.”
She holds up a hand. “This is important, Cole, and you need to hear this. One witch killed your father. A whole host of witches tried to save him. So don’t go lumping all witches together like they’re all responsible for what happened that night. That poor witch caught in the middle had been compelled—not by choice—to yield her child to that sorceress. And that’s after Magen had cursed that child’s Daddy and drove him mad. If it weren’t for Magen, that baby would’ve grown up with two loving parents right here in Fable Forest. Goddess bless that child.”
“What did you say?”
“I said—”
“No, I heard you.” I close my eyes, shame burning through me. I’d been too focused on my own loss, my own pain. Never gave a thought to the fact that the whole reason Rae doesn’t know her history or her birth parents is because Magen robbed us both of family. We were victims then, but we don’t have to keep being victims now. I won’t let that witch keep taking from me and mine. “It’ll be dark soon. I need to find her. Can you help me?”
