Fire Moon, Miss CrazyPlantLady [free romance novels .TXT] 📗

something flickered and I almost believed it was concern.

"Be careful" the words came out in a hoarse whisper, almost a hiss. It had indeed been concern that swirled in his eyes.

I didn't say goodbye to anyone else.

It was colder than usual outside, the sun was merely warming the air around us but my breath still came out in tiny puffs of fog.

We pulled up to the house and I made a move to exit the car when Sam's hand grabbed my elbow.

"I don't think anyone is supposed to know he is missing" his hands were down near his cup holders, hidden from prying eyes.

I noted the smallest amount of fear showing in his eyes and I smiled at him, "Don't worry, my father won't hurt me."

Sam didn't come in and it was properly a good idea. The atmosphere of the house was different, the silence was so loud. The house used to rumble with feet hitting floorboards, growls and laughs from other members. I could hear the creaks under my feet as I walked further into the house.

To my surprise, my mother was sitting at the kitchen table. Her dark hair bundled behind her in a tight bun, a long cardigan was wrapped around her as she was staring at a cook book in front of her.

Her dishevelled amber eyes met mine as I walked into the kitchen, a small forced smile painted on her face and she sighed, "You can probably help me sweetie, I don't know what to cook for dinner."

My mother and I's relationship has never been close, never warm hugs and wise advice. She stayed majority of her life in her room, away from everyone. She lived in a constant state of anxiety.

I mimicked her small smile and I looked down at her book, "That looks good" I pointed to a random recipe and grabbed a water bottle from the fridge.

A sigh escaped her lips, "Okay then."

The air between us was awkward, almost uncomfortable and she always looked like she wanted to tell me something but she never did.

I left the thick awkward atmosphere and I tried not to rush up the stairs.

I need to see Wren's study. Maybe he left something for me. Anything.

Sam was right.

The room was different.

Almost as if it belonged to someone else. The desk was cleaned of any mess or books. The books were strangely put back in order, on the shelves that covered the walls. Someone had even dusted. Someone had covered something up. Something had happened here and someone wanted it covered up.

The air was different.

The scent was different.

It was a different room and I was convinced that they had swapped all of Wren's items with someone else's.

I felt sick.

I wanted to vomit.

I backed out of the room and headed to my own room. This wouldn't have happened if I just kept Wren out of this mess. I felt sick and dirty.

My mother had dinner ready an hour later and this time Alice joined us, mother also stayed to have dinner and that was a rare occurrence. She had cooked a chicken Mediterranean dish and it smelt good but the side look I got from Alice; I don't think it tasted any good.

My father was in a light mood, smiling and joking. His eyes were flickering with ease and warmth.

My mother was sitting next me to, across from Alice and despite the warm atmosphere, she was silent and never shifting from her straight cold face.

Father's large hand reached across and covered mine, "I wanted to say, Eden" he used his other hand to rest on Alice's arm, "That I'm sorry for the way I have been acting, this Burn Notice has really gotten to me and I shouldn't take it out on you two."

I smiled and gave his hand a squeeze, "We understand, dad" my heart pounded in my chest as I let out a breath, "Hey, I haven't seen Wren anywhere today, has anyone see him?" I kept my voice as casual as possible.

A flicker of a finger and a shift of the warmth in his eyes, "He got called for border duty."

My mother frowned, "Since when did they need a Gamma at the border?"

A simple shrug, "No idea but he left yesterday without saying anything else."

Annoyance was the emotion I saw in my father's eye as they rested on my mother's and I smiled, bringing his attention back to me, "Oh okay, do you know when he'll come back?"

A shake of the head and he stood up to leave, "I'll send Sam to find out."

My blood froze. He had said it so casually that it couldn't come off as a threat but when he turned to meet me in the eyes, I saw it. I saw the deadly threat that swirled in his dark eyes.

I locked my door that night.

I felt my eyes open to the darkness of my bedroom. Something had woken me but there was no sound or noise. I could see the slight outline of a figure in the corner. My heart pounded in my chest as the figure moved towards me.

Soft hands grabbed my shoulders and gave me a light shake, "Eden, it's me."

My mother.

I let a sigh of relief, my heart still pounding, "How did you get in here?"

"Your father did something to Wren" I couldn't see her face but I could hear the panic in her voice, feel the fear seeping from her bones as her fingers grasped me with white-knuckled strength.

I went to turn my light on but she stopped me, "They mustn't know I'm here, they're watching us" her mouth so close to my ear so no sound escapes, "He knows you have the books."

The blood in my body stopped. My heart pounding in my ears and I shook my head. There's no way. How could he know?

"You can't stay here" she pulled me out of the bed and opened my window. My body recoiled from the freezing air that pushed into my room, "He is too dangerous, something has happened to him and there so much to tell you but you can't stay here or you will die."

"What about Alice?" my voice coming out in a hiss of a whisper.

The smell of her rose water scent circled us as she shook her head, "He wouldn't dare hurt his fullblood."

His fullblood? Was I not his blood as well? Why would he hurt me but not Alice?

She proceeded to help me climb through the window. With a small push, I landed in the soft snow and my bare toes freezing instantly as I hit the ground.

Bain walked outside and lit up a cigarette, took a draw and stopped as he noticed my car parked in front of the house. The small red glow of his smoke danced as he waved with a frown. Observing me as I turned off my car and sat there, staring into the surrounding woods.

He was still frowning when he disappeared inside. Minutes later and August was at my door, his eyes full of concern and confusion. He wasn't wearing a shirt. He opened my door and kneeled beside me, resting a warm hand on my knee. His ring was warm from his skin.

'You do not kneel for anyone' repeated in my head.

He hissed, "You're freezing."

"How long have you been out here?" his voice croaky from sleep. I didn't answer but merely looked at him and his eyes were wild with worry.

Reaching across me, he unclipped my seat belt and pulled me out of the car.

The Oracle was still standing on the stairs with his arms crossed, "Is she okay?"

August didn't answer as he took in my thin pajamas, no jacket or shoes with a mutter of a vulgar expression. He led me inside the warm twisting building and my body rejoiced as my frozen feet defrosted in the warmth of the hearth.

I couldn't speak or think. My own father held such a threat to my life. If he even was my father, 'his blood' was all I could remember from the conversation. My mother held all the secrets. This felt like a dream. A nightmare that I couldn't wake from.

He led me to the same hallway that led towards Sara's studio but instead we went through the last door at the end of the hallway. The warmth hit me first and then the scent. Cedar and jasmine were swimming around us, suffocating but intoxicating at the same time.

The room was dark but I could see the used side of the bed, where August was sleeping literal minutes ago and he helped me climb in to that very spot. A warm and soft spot. The tug between us was still so tight.

He kneeled again beside me and a hand rested on my hair, "We'll talk in the morning, rest my pup."

I watched him leave the room, my body absorbing the scent that lingered, the look in his eyes and I let the surrounding night swallow me whole as his words replayed in my head.

My pup.

My pup.

My pup.

4

 

I WOKE UP to the sound of Sara's violin sounds pouring through the cracks of the door.

The bed was still as soft as the first time I got in, August's scent was covered in it and in the morning light, his room came to life with the warm rays of the winter sun. Sunlight streaming through the sheer curtains. August's room was chaotic. Not messy or clean. He had items here and there, paper stacks sitting on the ground but no array of clothes or rubbish. Everything was here for a reason. There were two other doors, one was opened and led somewhere dark. I assumed it was a closet of some sort and I could see the sunlight slipping under the second door, a bathroom I guessed.

With the help of the warm hearth, I stepped out of the bed and I reached the door as it swung open.

Quinn stood there with an armful of clothes and a pair of canvas sneakers hanging off her shoulder by the laces. Her curly blonde hair was pinned back into a small bun, her eyes still holding her cold glare and she rose her eyebrows at my pajamas, "Gus told me that you stayed the night."

I felt the heat creep up my neck and I nodded, "He stayed somewhere else."

She sighed with an eye roll, "Here" I took the pile of clothes as she dropped the shoes at the door and she turned to leave, "Training starts in 15."

I closed the door behind me and examined the pile of what I assumed were Quinn's clothes. As I searched for a preferred set, I wondered if my father knew I've gone yet and if he knew why. Did he care that I was gone? I wandered into the bathroom and I was shocked at how bright it was. Half the room was separated by glass panels, inside was a large bath and a large square shower head. The roof above the bath and shower was completely glass. Showering the area in bright winter light. The floor was the same polished cement that curved and continued as the walls. It was heavenly.

After taking as much time as I could in the blissful shower. I ended up choosing black pants and a