Page 45 of Inked in Bloom
But Monroe wasn’t waiting with anticipation. I should have known better, but the bond goes beyond logic. That admiration of her mate mark fizzled into punctuated panic. She was terrified. She didn’t understand what it meant, and I was certain that once she did, she wouldn’t want it.Me.
After all this time…all this waiting…I was fated to be alone.
I’d been right—thiswasmy chance, but not in the way I once believed.
To atone for my part in her death, I’ll do everything within my power to make things better for Monroe. It just so happens that my penance includes never claiming the bond...or her.
20
MONROE
I’m grateful Cherri doesn’t greet me with questions when I arrive at the cottage. Her door is shut, and before she notices I’m home, I head straight for my room.
According to my new pamphlet, twice a year, when Blooms return from their seasonal duties and need to replenish their magic, the entire burrow of The Warren becomes a sexual haven.
During solstice, the time when we are ravenous to sate our carnal needs, harbingers will turn to their mates or their fellow Blooms. Once one mate feels the effects of solstice, the other will follow, even if they haven’t been earthside for spring.
Some effects include: dry, cracked, or flaky skin; extreme thirst; “cottontail” mouth; dizziness; headaches; nausea. Clothes may feel scratchy or abrasive. You may experience a sudden and intense need to be near your mate.
The Solstice Center is set up to help any mated or unmated Blooms who wish to suppress these effects or get through the two-to-four-day window with their custom specifications.
Newly mated Blooms will notice physical changes when engaging in sexual activities with their partneror partners. These changes are determined by your combined and personal preferences and will manifest themselves to heighten pleasure and intensify recharging.
I try to imagine myself clouded by lust like this pamphlet seems to think I’ll be.
My sex life was pretty vanilla. I mean, who had time for all the crazy shit? I sure didn’t. Get in, get an orgasm, get out. Leave the elaborate escapades to the fictional characters in my audiobooks. That wasn’t real life.
Was it?
At the Solstice Center, we’re able to suppress your symptoms, keeping you safely isolated. If you don’t wish to suppress them, you’ll find many alternative options below, depending on your comfort level and how involved you’d like your mate and/or our volunteers to be.
Fill out the questionnaire below and return before your next spring.
I cross and uncross my legs as I begin to skim the list…
By the time I reach the end, my face is tight and I’m certain if I looked in a mirror, everything from my chest up would be flushed a rich rose.
Blowing out a breath, I set the pamphlet on the corner of my desk across from the paints and still-sealing teacups. I frown up at the blank canvas set atop the easel. There are about a dozen more resting on the wall behind it. All empty.
I can’t even bring myself to find out if there’s something akin to a newspaper here that I could collage with like I would my pieces back home. It’stabula rasa—like my entire mortal existence now that I’m in Florezca.While that probably appeals to many Blooms, it doesn’t appeal to me. Not one bit.
A tear streaks my cheek, wet and unwelcome. I wipe it away with the back of my sleeve.
Allowing my grief to drag me under won’t solve any of my current problems. It won’t help me get my magic. It won’t erase this mate mark embedded into my skin. It won’t get me any closer to returning home.
Out of the corner of my eye, light dances against the wall of my bathroom. The door’s cracked open. My body stills and I sniff the air. Vanilla and a faint floral scent filter into the bedroom.
Is someone in here?
My eyes dart around the room, but I don’t see anyone. Summoning some courage, I creep over, uncertain what I’ll find, and slowly push the door open. I hunt for a silhouette, but all I’m met with is the flicker of candlelight from tapered candles set along the wall. Tiny tea lights float across the tub between silky flowers and petals. My nerves dissolve with each passing moment while I stare at the opaque water. It’s a creamy shade that smells like cherry blossoms and vanilla, with something woodsy carried on the tendrils of steam wafting into the air.
The water’s still warm. Must have been done recently.
A thick plank of wood balances across the tub, set with a plate of my favorite macarons from Novel Nibbles as well as an ornate copy ofAlice in Wonderland. The cover is illustrated with Alice reaching for the white rabbit with his pocket watch, red roses, and various playing cards falling with them. I trace over the gold foil embellishments, something familiar among so much I still don’t understand.
I smile. I think it’s the first time I have today. Cherri is beyond thoughtful, considering she was almost eaten by amagic table today. I can’t believe she went to all this trouble for me. She must have coordinated with Roxy and Kendrick to get this together. As shitty as this all has been, I am lucky to have such thoughtful roommates. I’ll have to thank them all later.
I quickly undress, my clothes disappearing before they touch the ground. It’s still a mindfuck, and I grimace, knowing I’ll have to bother Cherri after she did all this so I have some pajamas to wear. I lower myself into the tub, delicately avoiding the candles. They bob along the water, weaving between dark-pink and red rose petals and fat white peonies. I reach for the big glass of water set next to the treats and chug it halfway, following it up with crème brûlée and lavender macarons, humming in appreciation.
