“What do you want?” I croak.
“If you reject them a seventh time, Ronnie, it’s permanent. Seven is a powerful number. You declare that you will never be their mate. Be certain that’s what you want before you do. If you have any doubt, any feelings for them at all, at least hold on to the stone for a little longer. It won’t hurt to keep it, but it could hurt for a lifetime to throw it away.”
“How do you know that?” I ask huskily. My voice is raw from screaming at the wind and the sea, and all I want to do is cry and scream some more.
Bill turns to me and anguish covers his face. “When you’ve lived as long as I have, you see things, pet. You also lose more than you could ever imagine.”
A wave of exhaustion crashes over me and I am too tired to fight anymore. With numb fingers, I take the Matestone back from Bill and shove it in my pocket. I’m shivering but I’m not ready to go back yet. I’m not ready to face them.
Bill waves his hand and a warm hoodie drapes over my shoulders, instantly warming me. It smells strongly of stale tobacco but I don’t care. Bill seems to sense my need for silence so he just walks alongside me.
When we hear the rumble of motorcycles, he ducks us into an alleyway to shield us from the searching eyes of the Pod.
I am surprised when we end up in front of Fortuna’s door.
“Come,” Bill holds out his hand, “Let us greet my old friend.”
I don’t want to greet Fortuna again. She freaks me the hell out. Literally. But with nowhere else to go, I allow Bill to pull me inside. The raven is missing from the birdcage and an extra layer of dust seems to have settled over everything. Something feels wrong. Very wrong.
When we round the corner, I am shocked to see Glenda and Asha drinking tea at the long countertop. Two men are standing behind Asha, hovering in a way that shows me they are very, very, invested in her safety. They must be her mates. Both of them look like they could do some serious damage to anyone who threatened her.
Timoteo stands in the corner with an ancient looking old woman and they are making lots of gestures and muttering in some language I can’t understand. No one seems remotely surprised to see me, or Bill. Figures.
“Ronnie!” Glenda gets up immediately to wrap me in a warm hug. I want to weep and hold on to her and then moan about the endless unfairness of Fate, but I don’t.
Scanning the room, I don’t see the old cat and I raise an eyebrow to Glenda. “Where’s the HellKitty?” I ask, innocently.
Asha just looks forlorn and fidgets with her teacup.
“Fortuna passed on from this plane to the next early this morning.”
Bill sucks in a deep breath and I could swear I see a tear glimmering in the corner of his eye. He nods at Asha stiffly before turning to Glenda.
“Bilexphiles, come to play with the mortals, have you?” she asks sharply, her eyes drifting to me and then back to him again.
“Ms. Meryn and I have an agreement. I took care of a little wolfie problem for her, and she will help me with something in the future in return.”
Asha and Glenda both look horrified, even Timoteo looks appalled.
“Child, do you know what you’ve done?” Glenda asks gently.
I look up at Bill and then back at everyone else. “Made a deal with a demon of some kind?” I say sheepishly. Bill laughs and conjures me a flaming rose out of thin air. “You are the most delightful creature, pet.”
“Besides,” Bill continues, moving away from me to the overcrowded shelves, picking up random knick-knacks and setting them down, “I wanted to be here when you heard the news.”
“What news?” Five voices echo around the shop in stereo.
“Our little Ronnie here isn’t just a Fated Mate,” he pauses for dramatic effect and I punch him in the arm.
“What are you talking about?” I hiss.
“She’s a Guardian.”
Everyone starts talking at once and no one bothers to explain anything to me. Asha’s mates are shouting over the top of Bill. Glenda is getting increasingly agitated and shrill. Timoteo and his ancient looking friend are perusing books and chanting in another language.
I just feel tired.
I slip out the door while they are still shouting and walk aimlessly down the street. When I see Betsy parked on the side of the road, I run to her. My spare key is still in the wheel well where I always keep it. I don’t have my wallet or anything else but it doesn’t matter.
All I can think of is driving towards something less terrifying. Shifting her into gear, I pull away from the mechanic shop and the Clubhouse and hit the road.
Tears are falling from my cheeks before I even make it out of the city limits. A storm is gathering off the ocean and it mirrors the storm inside my soul.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: RONNIE
I CAN’T DRIVE ANYMORE. The pain in my chest threatens to rip me open. Tears stream down my face in thick rivulets, matching the downpour outside. Even with Betsy’s windshield wipers going full blast, I still can’t see much of the road. The scenic overlook turnoff glows blue against my headlights and I cry harder, my memories with Earl coming back. Clicking my hazards on, I pull in to the closest parking spot and I let it all out.
I cry for the absurdity that Fate would choose me of all people to be part of an adventure with the supernatural community.
I cry for the terror that I felt when I thought my pod wouldn’t be able to rescue me when the wolves tried to steal me away.
I cry for the look on each of their faces when I said goodbye.
Most of all I cry for me. I
