Page 96 of Inked in Bloom
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BRIAR
I’m certain playing it cool doesn’t involve crouching behind a topiary, but that’s where I find myself after spotting Monroe sneaking out from Novel Nibbles’ tearoom. She backs out of the entrance, waving to Roxy with one hand while clutching a set of white teacups in the other.
Never a good sign with that one.
Releasing a shaky breath, she turns and tucks the dishes into her bag, eyes darting around the courtyard. I freeze. I’ll be damned if our first interaction since solstice is her catching me hiding a few yards away like a coward.
Coming here was risky, but I’ve been on edge ever since my mother left to dole out Monroe’s consequences from last spring. As her mate, I wasn’t allowed to give input on her punishment. During my interview with the other Radixes, though, I could share the facts. Everyone else weighed those and determined a course of action. Overall, I believe our system is fair, but that doesn’t mean I like it. I still don’t know what the outcome was. The moment the meeting ended, my mother left for The Fluffle before I could stop her and find out.
It didn’t take long for me to know whatever it was, Monroe wasn’t happy about it. Not one bit. And now, following her back home from a distance as teacupsclinkinher purse, it only confirms she’s pissed and preparing to take it out on the china.
Flowers flank her sides, the path winding for me so quickly I dive behind a bush to my right and wait until she enters her cottage, not wanting her to spot me. Once she’s inside, I loop around the back of the row, grass crunching beneath my shoes with each step toward the ivy-laden ladder climbing up the siding.
It’s unhealthy how quickly I move around like this, having practiced it more than I care to admit. As I set my foot on the bottom rung, I’m tugged behind the house, coming face-to-face with Dani.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, glancing around to ensure we’re alone.
“I could ask you the same thing.” They cross their arms and shake their head at me. “Has the bond made you so desperate you’ve resorted to stalking your mate?”
Asshole.
I don’t give them the satisfaction of knowing the truth: I reached that point over a year ago. How many times have I watched her from beyond her windowpane? Maybe it was stalker-like behavior, but I preferred to view it as nurturing my mate. “I wanted to check on her after Mom left the meeting.”
“Oh shit. Yeah… It’s probably a good thing you’re here.”
“Why’s that? Does it have something to do with why you happen to be here as well?”
They glance toward the kitchen window. “Maybe…”
Trudging across the yard, I peek inside. Cherri stands on one side of the counter, gesturing wildly while Monroe’s spine is straight as a rod, like she’s bracing herself for something. I turn to Dani. “Spill it, dipshit.”
They slip their hands into the pockets of their leatherjacket and rock back and forth on their heels. “I promised I wouldn’t say anything until she told Monroe.”
“She?” I look from the harbinger across the kitchen island to the one beside me. Dani doesn’t even notice, too focused on the rose-haired Bloom demonstrating pelvic thrusts for Monroe. My eyes snap to my sibling.
“No, no, no, no, no.” I shake my head at them. “You can’t be serious.”
“Look, big brother, it’s not like I asked for this.” Though the smirk on Dani’s face tells me they’re not complaining about it one bit.
I grip the lapels of their jacket and pin them against the siding, out of sight of the harbingers inside. “When did this happen?”
“You’re not gonna believe it, but right in the middle of her interrogation.” Dani’s fingers splay wide in surrender, and I release them from my hold. Shaking out their shoulders, they brush off and adjust their jacket, nodding toward the window. “That spitfire starts clutching her shirt, and next thing I know, my chest is burning, we’re tearing off our clothes, and— You can probably guess the rest.”
My temple throbs, eye twitching beneath my glasses.
I’m not jealous. Not one little bit.
They shrug. “I wanted to tell you, but it seemed cruel…”
“I understand.” Though I hate that I do. Just because my mate rejected me doesn’t mean I’m not happy for them. I am. If only I could drown out the voice in the back of my mind saying I’ll never be good enough and I’ve already ruined things.Thatrowdy fucker is all too eager to jump in and take the reins, especially when I see other mates together.
“So she’s in there telling Monroe right now?”
“Yep.” Dani presses up on their toes to get a better viewand pops a piece of gum into their mouth. “She panicked and came to me right after Mom notified Monroe that she has to plan the claiming ceremony. We didn’t want Monroe to find out we’d be partaking before Cher could tell her first.” They smack their lips together, then grimace, bubblegum wedged between their teeth. “Your mate was pissed about her punishment.”
“Rightly so.”
