by Sadie Sears
When I turned back to Sophie for an answer, I nearly lost myself in her blue eyes. I wanted to pull her into my arms and tell her everything would work out. We’d find a way. But that would’ve been a tad inappropriate at this juncture. I held my arms stiffly at my side and bit my lip.
“She is. It must’ve been passed down on my side of the family. I have a psychic gift as well.” She fluttered her eyelashes so beautifully that it was once again hard not to pull her close. “It’s actually how I’ve been able to build a business around tarot readings.”
She stepped close. The smell of lavender washed over me and I bit back a groan. “Listen.” She glanced around and whispered, looking paranoid. “If you happened to go into Shae’s room, don’t mention it in front of Shae, okay?”
I nodded, but what an odd request. Maybe Shae didn’t like me for some reason? Though I couldn’t recall having done anything to offend her. Perhaps it was another child thing I didn’t understand. If I intended to pursue things with Sophie, which wasn’t even a question in my mind, then that would have to be remedied. I just wasn’t quite sure where to start.
“I won’t say anything, but I already checked it out. Everything looked perfectly normal. No blood, nothing weird. There were a few rings and necklaces on the floor, but I picked them up. There were empty spots in her jewelry box, so I just stuck them in there. And I got the stuff in the hallway picked up.”
Sophie gave me a grateful look. It was hard not to puff out my chest, but what I’d done hadn’t been anything major. “Do you think it’s safe to go back in the house?”
“I’m sure it is.”
When she flicked her hair over her shoulder, it glittered like spun gold and I caught myself before I could make a lame joke about old-fashioned dragon hoards. Her smile illuminated my world, the most dazzling thing I’d ever seen. I noticed she had a habit of playing with the rings on her fingers, especially one bluish-purple opal in a gold setting that looked very old. Something about it caught my attention more than the rest.
She walked around me to the other side of the big porch and peered around the corner. She must’ve been content with what she saw, because she walked back to me and sat in one of the rocking chairs. I took that as my signal that I could sit as well. “Do you mind telling me about your tarot business? How’d you get into reading cards?”
“I get feelings.” She waved her fingers in the air and widened her eyes mockingly.
“Really, though?” I wanted her to keep talking. I could die happily listening to the sound of her voice.
She chuckled and tucked her golden hair behind her ear. “Yeah. Sometimes I see signs and I’ve gotten good at interpreting them, but I’m sure that’s nothing compared to what an ether dragon must be able to sense.”
I couldn’t help being pleased by her light praise. I ducked my head and muttered a thanks, but I didn’t want to talk about me. I was eager to know more about her. “Do you have other gifts?”
Sophie opened her mouth to talk about her abilities when Shae stomped around the side of the house. “Mom,” she said in a loud, kind of obnoxious voice.
Snapping her mouth closed, Sophie turned her head. “I’m in the middle of a conversation, Shae.” She smiled at me apologetically again.
“It’s okay,” I whispered. This wasn’t going to be an easy transition, but it would be worth it in the long run.
Shae crossed her arms and screwed her face up at Sophie. “What, you’ve got time for this freak but not your own daughter?”
Even I was starting to get irritated by her demeanor, not to mention her calling me a freak. I kept my mouth shut, though. It was really not my place.
“Shae Riley. You apologize to Mr. Charles right now.”
Sophie stood and put her hands on her hips, glaring at Shae who ignored her and stomped as hard as she could across the porch. She jerked open the screen door, then went inside, yanking it closed behind her as hard as she could. The wooden frame snapped shut with a piercing crack, bouncing a couple more times against the doorframe as if to accent her dramatic exit.
Geez. Shae seemed to not just be uncomfortable with me, but to actually hate me. This was going to be a more difficult transition than I originally thought. There probably wasn’t anything left for me to do here anyway, so I decided to leave before I made things worse.
I stood and gestured down the driveway. “I can go.”
“No, wait, please. I’ll just give her some space.” Sophie seemed worried about her daughter but sighed and closed her eyes for a second. She sucked in a deep breath before speaking again. “Will you come inside for a cup of tea to discuss what else you found?”
Given the vehemence of Shae’s reaction to my presence, I wasn’t sure it was a good idea for me to go in. I glanced from Sophie to the door, uncertain.
“Please.” Sophie opened the screen door and gestured inside. “I insist.”
Well, Sophie knew Shae better than anyone. If she thought it was okay, who was I to argue? We walked through her entryway and across the living room into the kitchen and I froze.
Shae whirled around in the act of pouring juice into a glass and glared at me. Sophie casually walked over and picked up a towel, wiping up the juice Shae had spilled as she turned. She set the glass on the island and Sophie put her arms around her daughter.
Her glare softened and they murmured together while I pretended that I couldn’t hear the words of affection Sophie said to Shae. I looked out the window with my hands in my pocket. The kitchen was actually very nice, with a rustic vibe. The appliances were more modern, and the white countertops on dark wood cabinets were the opposite of my own. It suited the place, and part of me wondered what it would be like to make pancakes here one day.
“So,” Sophie said in a cheery voice, turning back to me. “What did you find?”
“Well, I did detect witch energy.” That had been a real shock. Not that I’d questioned what she’d experienced, but when Leath had said it was a haunting, and after what she’d described that morning, I’d come in with a different mindset. I had enough experience with that kind of magic to detect the difference in energies. “It was subtle, but really advanced. Do you know any witches who practice in the area?”
She shook her head, but then her jaw dropped. “No, wait, I do. But she’s a good witch, through and through.”
That remained to be seen, and I wasn’t about to take any chances where her safety was concerned. In my periphery, I could see Shae watching us warily from the end of the island. Even if she didn’t like me, I wouldn’t risk her safety, either. “Can I meet her? I don’t mean to accuse, but if it’s not her, then at least maybe she could give us a lead in the right direction.”
Sophie nodded and pulled out her phone, tapping out a quick message. “I’m sure she’d be more than happy to meet with you. I can tell you for certain that she’s not the one, but I hope you’re right about that lead. Shae and I would both love to be able to sleep in our own beds again.”
Yeah, I couldn’t blame them there. In fact, it might have been a contributing factor in her daughter’s, uh, less than pleasant attitude today. Trying to keep some of that positive mindset from that morning, I let that thought bolster me.
When she was done texting, she pulled out two more cups and poured us some juice as well. I accepted it with a smile and let my fingers brush hers as I took the mug. Sophie jerked her hand back as if I’d scalded her, but her facial expression told me that, though she’d been surprised by the electricity between us, she wasn’t upset about it.
As soon as I picked up the mug, Shae slammed her hands down on the table. “No!” she yelled, stomping in my direction.
Sophie jerked back and looked at her daughter in shock. “Shae! What has gotten into you?”
“That was Dad’s cup! He can’t use it!” Shae grabbed the cup of juice out of my hands and slung the liquid into the sink, which splashed back all over the countertop, then she took the glass with her as she ran from the room.
Her footsteps echoed through the house as she made each one as loud as possible on the stairs.
At first, I was irritated again at her actions, but then I consciously opened myself up to feelings in the house. The pain coming from upstairs was nearly strong enough to taste. Guilt washed over me for being aggravated. Just my presence alone triggered so much pain for the little girl who only missed her father.
As much as I wanted to accept the fact that I was already well on my way to being in love with this mystifying, amazing woman, I didn’t think I could court her. Not with how much it would hurt Shae. How much it was already hurting her, even though I’d done nothing more than show up in her life. It was unlikely she’d ever approve of a relationship between us, and I didn’t want to cause her any more pain.
Sophie sighed and looked at me, once again apologetic. Before she could open her mouth to say she was sorry, I held up my hands.
“It’s okay. She’s hurting, and I know you’re worried about her. I’m going to go let you two work this out.” I pulled one of my business cards from my pocket and set it on the island, careful to keep my distance. “If anything happens, paranormal or otherwise, don’t hesitate to call me any time, day or night.” I wanted to grab her hand and express how much I meant my words, but if I touched her, all bets were off.
Walking out the door was physically painful, but I did it. My dragon roared with regret as I got in the truck and drove away. I hated to do it, but it was for the best.
I drove straight to Sprucie’s. If I ever needed our Sunday afternoon drinks, it was now. I walked in to see a relatively busy bar for the pre-dinner rush. The local wolf pack, who we’d come to be on good terms with, had taken over the back corner with the dartboards. Sam and Dominic were playing pool with Taurus and Mitias. Only Vince’s and Theo’s heads swiveled around to me from where they sat at a table near the bar. They sensed my mood right off the bat, of course.
“Hey.” Theo kicked out the chair beside him with his big foot. “Sit.”
Though Mitias was the local dragon elder, Theo was the elder of our clan, and I wasn’t about to argue. I sank into the seat and took the beer Vince held out, guzzling it without a second thought. He blinked at me, then signaled for the waitress to bring more.
“What a day,” I muttered. It was difficult to shake emotional impressions as strong as the one Shae had given off, and that profound depression was sticking to me like glue. It was the main reason I kept myself holed up in my huge house and away from people. Emotional feedback was a pain, sometimes literally, and Theo would understand that better than even me.
Ben and Leath, always desperate for gossip, overheard my words and joined us at the table, crowding me in. “Spill.”
I trusted these guys more than anyone else, so I didn’t hesitate to tell them what I’d gone through today. “Turns out, Sophie is my destined mate.”
Their faces brightened and each of them opened their mouths to congratulate me, except for Theo, who waited for the rest of the explanation.
Vince nudged me with his elbow. “Guess that’s the end of your most eligible bachelor days? No more one-nighters on your so-called business trips?”
Leath and Ben chuckled and joked around about it. Anyone else, any other time, I would’ve made a big to-do about the whole situation myself, but I held up a hand to forestall their celebrations.
“No. Her daughter hates me. Or maybe ‘loathe’ is a better word for it. And I can’t make that poor girl suffer any more. She still hurts from losing her dad, and I wouldn’t feel right just walking in to replace him, or whatever it is she thinks I’m trying to do.”
“She’s young,” Ben said, flipping his hand nonchalantly. “She’ll get used to it.”
Leath nodded. “I agree. Go for it.”
They didn’t understand. “No, I’m not even in a good place to start something serious myself. And starting something with Sophie would be the most serious thing I’ve ever done. Dealing with a teenager in pain on top of that?” No, thanks. “Ultimately, I don’t want to push myself in when it’ll just cause more pain for everyone.”
Theo’s hand nearly engulfed my forearm. “Healing takes time, but sometimes you need to pull the thorn out, or else you’re just trying to heal around it and leaving the source of pain there. It sounds to me like you all need to pull out that thorn, so that you can heal together. Trust me, you’ll be stronger for it.”
It sounded good in theory, but I refused to be that guy, the persistent asshole who kept butting in where he wasn’t welcome. I would give them space and leave them alone until Sophie called. If she called.
And nothing they could say would change my mind.
4
Sophie
My heart broke for my sweet girl. I found her on her bed sobbing and clutching Shady-bear, her favorite teddy. It was old and worn now, but she’d had it her entire life. Riley had given it to her when she was just a baby, and when she got older and grew attached to it, Shady-bear became her nickname. I sat down on the edge of her bed, running my fingers through her tangled blonde curls.
“Oh, honey,” I whispered. She gave me a watery look and I drew her into my arms, rocking her back and forth as she sobbed into my shoulder.
“I miss Daddy so much,” she said through her broken sobs. She curled her fingers into my shirt and climbed halfway into my lap. I held her tighter to me, hoping she would feel the love I radiated for her.
She hadn’t had an outburst like this—storming off to the garden, bickering with me in the driveway, talking back, and then being annoyed about me using Riley’s cup to give juice to Cam—for at least six months. I suspected this must have been triggered by seeing me interacting with another man. A very sweet, handsome, and incredibly hot dragon shifter.
But no matter the trigger, I knew what to do. Shae needed my love and support to get through this, though we’d talk about her reaction to her stresses later. Hurting or not, some behavior was unacceptable, and we would need to have a discussion about healthier ways to express herself. But until then, I continued to hold my daughter, reminding her she was never alone in her grief.
The situation tore me up inside, for my baby girl, for the loss of the love of my life and her father. For all the experiences she was going to have to live through in her life without her father by her side. She wouldn’t have Riley there to see her high school or college graduation, wouldn’t have him there to walk her down the aisle or hold her first child. It fell to me to make her feel secure and loved enough for the both of us.
“You’re safe to feel however you want or need to feel in this house. You’re not alone, sweetheart. I’ll always be with you, right here.”
I knew all too well how she was feeling. My parents died when I was fourteen, barely older than Shae. My grandparents on my dad’s side raised me, and though I did love them, they didn’t always do it well. Now, as a mother, I could see that. They didn’t give me the space to grieve in the way that I needed. They always said they were old-school and expected me to emulate them: steel my spine, chin up, and get on with things.
To this day, I still suffered from the hurt their coping methods caused. I refused do the same to Shae. While her responses could definitely use some polishing, whatever she needed to get through it was exactly what I’d give her.
After several long minutes, Shae’s crying finally started settling down into occasional sobs. I kept rocking her and waited, intuitively knowing the right time to speak. “How about some ice cream?”
She stayed silent for a beat, then nodded against my shoulder. “Yes, please.” Her little voice was muffled from being buried in my shirt, but she didn’t sound quite as miserable. Sometimes all it took was a good cry. I’d sure had my fair share of them since Riley’s death.
“Under Dad’s tree?” I asked. It was her sacred space, a place to be close to him, and I knew it would cheer her up to be out there for a bit longer.
Shae pulled her head back. Her eyes were red and puffy, but she sti
ll managed a weak smile. “That would be nice,” she whispered.
“Go mop up your face and meet me out there. I’ll get the ice cream.” I booped her nose and ushered her out of the room and toward the bathroom.
As I walked downstairs, I pulled out my phone and used the time to call Glenda. It had been a good suggestion on Cam’s part, and I was surprised she hadn’t texted back yet. Though it was possible she just hadn’t seen my message yet. Not everyone lived glued to their phones, and she was probably busy with important witch things.
“Sophie,” Glenda crooned through the mouthpiece. “So glad to hear from one of my own.”
I smiled at her inclusion of me. Being able to read tarot didn’t make me anything like a witch, not really. I was just blessed with intuition and a healthy respect for spirits. “You’re sweet.”
We passed a few moments talking about our grand opening in town and her plans for the winter while I pulled out a pint of Bill & Jimmy’s ice cream and toppings. I didn’t want to just jump right into the subject, but I was anxious to get any information I could to get my life back to normal.
“Glenda, I was wondering if you got my text earlier? I had hoped you could tell me if you’d felt or heard of any nasty witch behavior going on in the area.” I opened the carton and waited for her to reply, but the line had gone silent. Pulling my phone away from my ear, I checked to make sure I hadn’t lost the signal, but the call was still going. “Hello? Glenda? Did I lose you?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry, I got it.” She sounded a little shaky. Her voice had gone very quiet, and that made me worry. “I think you were right; we should talk about this in person.”
Weird. I mean, that was my intention in the first place, but her reaction was throwing off major vibes that felt like I wasn’t going to like the answer. “Sure, yeah. When is good for you?”
“Can we do Friday?”