Page 24 of Pretty Little Shadow
I let out a long breath. "Alright. I'll come up with another plan. If you figure out where she is, I'll send someone to deliver her phone and some takeout food, so I at least know she's okay."
Grayson agreed, stepping into the other room to make a call.
"Are you okay?" Merrily asked, studying me.
A flashed her a grin, though I didn't feel a fucking shred of humor. "Yeah. Great. Callum's probably on his way over to babysit me some more."
"I can take his place."
"I think we'll all be better off if you and Darke aren't involved in this situation for a while. No matter which side you and Grayson take, Rae's going to feel some way about it. If Darke is the onlyperson she trusts, I don't want her to feel like that's at risk because of me."
Merrily grimaced. "I get it. I know it's not what you expected, but?—"
"Mer, I haven'texpectedto find my soulmate for at least a couple of decades. I've been searching just so you guys don't lose me to the apathy."
"Right. I hope you're not disappointed, though."
"No. She's fucking perfect. I just don't know anything about how to make her feel that way about me. People usually want me by default."
Mer bit her lip, clearly trying to hide a smile. "In her defense, I think she does want you. She just never pictured her life going this way. It's a big change."
Grayson stepped out of the room, and my phone buzzed with a message. When I glanced down at it, I found the name of a motel, along with a room number.
"Thanks," I said, rising to my feet.
"Take it slow," Grayson warned me. "Don't scare her off."
"She's already been scared off. Now, I have to lure her back," I called over my shoulder, on my way out."Luckily, luring people is my specialty."
"GL," Merrily yelled after me, and I laughed.
Grayson did too.
A few hours later,I was sitting on Rae's ancient, unstable couch again, waiting for a message to come through. It had taken a shitload of effort to wait until I heard from her.
Callum and Kat were sitting at the flimsy kitchen table, working quietly, while music played next to them. I'd tried to convince him that I was fine now that I had Rae’s shadows, but he'd refused to listen to reason.
I wasn't fine, so I hadn't tried all that hard.Losing myself to my magic right after finding my mate would be a shitty way to go.
Rae didn't textme until dinner time, after the second takeout food delivery had gotten there.
Rae
I'm perfectly capable of ordering my own food
A relieved breath escaped me.
"She texted?" Callum demanded, from where he was now sitting on the other side of the couch. The thing was seriously straining beneath both of us, but it hadn't given up the ghost yet.
Sable was curled up at his feet, her head on his knee and his fingers buried in her fur.
"Finally," I agreed.
"Thank fuck." Callum relaxed just a little, looking over at my phone. He wasn't even trying to be discreet about his snooping.
I showed him the message.
"What are you supposed to say to that?" he asked me. "Shut up and let me feed you?"
