Page 94 of Inked in Bloom
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I steady my breath,thinking about the curriculum, Radix meetings, and moldy cabbage. When you have to tamp your desire around a mate who rejects you, these tricks—I’ve sadly learned—come in handy.
There’s no use thinking about the future. For now, I’ll focus on my family. My girls need me, and while I may have failed Monroe as a prospective mate, I’ll never let my daughters down.
Turning the knob, I walk through the door to the sizzle of the griddle and giggles of four small sprouts. Mom is in the midst of serving the girls blueberry pancakes. Lily scoops up a heaping spoonful of lemon curd, plopping it on top of her stack. The moment she notices me, the spoon clatters against the wood and she runs into my arms.
“Hiya, Lily.” I kiss the crown of her head a few times, setting her down so Taylor, Juniper, and Millie can reach me.
“We missed you, Daddy,” Millie says, tugging me even tighter.
“I missed you, too,” I wheeze out my next breath. Taylor just shakes her head at all of us.
The girls step back and scan me over.
“Where’s your jacket?” Taylor asks.
Juni’s eyes widen. “Did you lose it in Wonderland?”
“I see someone’s been reading on without me.” I chuckle and shake my head. “No, sweetie. I let a friend borrow it for a bit.”
My eyes dart around the room, searching for Dani.
“Still at solstice,” Mom says. “Grandpa and I have been keeping everything in order.”
“Thank you for that.” I forgot Dani would need to replenish after being away all season. I’m so used to the two of us being here ever since we ascended to Radixes.Corrigan too, though I thought she’d be back early after taking the inhibitors.
“Why don’t you get in a quick shower before you join us for breakfast?” Dad says with a sly smile. He bends over Juni and cuts up her pancakes.
I sniff my shirt and grimace.
Yikes.
As I pivot and head up the stairs, I smile, full of a twisted sort of pride. Beneath the dirt and grime and sweat—there’s another scent embedded in my skin. It’s nutty, rich, and full of spice.
It’sher.
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
40
MONROE
Other than the extra stiffness in my joints, it’s as if no time has passed when I wake up in my bedroom. I don’t remember how I got back to the cottage, but everything is in its usual place, only now the forceful thrum of magic colors my veins. It’s stronger than the last time I awoke, though I suppose I am too.
Reaching for my glasses folded neatly on the nightstand, I slip them on and check the clock. It’s just after noon, but I have no idea how long I’ve been asleep. Rejuvenation can take anywhere from four to ten weeks depending on how much replenishment is needed.
Flashes from solstice replay unbidden through my mind. They have throughout my rest, my time in the Center feeling like a dream despite being certain of its reality. There’s no hiding the truth, not anymore. Briar’s my mate, he’s known all along, and the things we did… The glass separating us might as well have been tissue.
I sit upright, glancing around. Briar’s scent lingers in the room, though the jacket tucked at my side only carries subtle remnants of him. Climbing out of bed, I twitch my nose, snapping on a silky robe, and with each step toward the bathroom, my joints pop and crack. Steam wafts from the doorway, and when I push against the wood, there’s aflower-filled tub. The tension begins to melt the moment I sink into the water and I’m engulfed in fragrant vanilla, cherry blossoms, and cedar.
This was him all along.
How did I not see it before?
Easy. I didn’t want to.
