AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sure?” I eyed the clothing in his arms, frowning as I tried to work out what the strange smell was.
Mitchell placed the bundle on the chair in the corner. “Wyatt and I went over to your place in the early hours. We thought you’d want your own clothes.”
“I appreciate your thoughtfulness.” I smiled, feeling my cheeks warm.
“Can’t just say thank you, huh?” Mitchell joked.
“Don’t thank the Fae,” I warned. “It implies a debt.”
“Oh, I fully intend to collect on this debt.” Mitchell’s dark eyes sparkled as he waved to the clothing. “I saw your leftovers in the fridge.”
“I’m guessing my fridge is empty now.” I joked.
Mitchell winked.
“A Fae debt isn’t a laughing matter,” I told him, picking at the threads on the blanket. “It’s a tangible thing. It can make you do things you don’t want to.”
“Don’t I know it.” Mitchell shook his head indulgently. “Fae bargains, debts, and boons are the bane of my existence. Besides, you didn’t answer my question. You cook?”
“I cook.” I agreed. “I like... Making things. Putting the ingredients together and seeing a finished project that people can enjoy. Cooking allows for a bit of flare. Some margin for error. Baking is a whole different ballgame, but I can cook. The same goes for sewing and knitting. Cleaning. It’s gratifying to see the results of your labor, you know?”
“I’ll take your word for it, Doll.” Mitchell perched on the edge of the bed. “Did you sleep well?”
“Well enough. I’ve been worried about Kaleb. And the house. The window was broken, and I half expect Joel to come back and trash the place.”
“Wyatt stayed back and boarded up the window,” Mitchell told me. “You should really get an alarm.”
“I have wards.” I hedged. “Blood and bone. Blood and runes for the thresholds and bone buried around the perimeter. Anyone that wishes harm can’t cross the line.”
“Those men certainly wished you harm last night.” Mitchell’s fist clenched, though his expression remained clear.
“I don’t know what happened,” I murmured.
“I’ll tell Wyatt to look for a break in the wards.”
“Joel wouldn’t know about wards,” I argued.
“And the others? Would they know?” Mitchell parried back.
I shook my head, pushing my fingers through my tangled dark hair. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “Ever since he started going to those meetings, he changed.”
“Dean mentioned some of your difficulties,” Mitchell admitted.
“After I lost the baby,” I took a shaking breath, “he found comfort in God at the First Baptist. I couldn’t find comfort in agod that let me carry a child for four months, only to take them from me before they were born.”
Mitchell inhaled a sharp breath.
“I blamed God. Joel blamed me.” I told Mitchell. “But what happened, happened. There’s no changing it. Joel got his wish in the end. He will have a new family with Faith, and I’ll just...”
“You’ll just what?” Mitchell prompted.
I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth, trying to will away my stinging eyes. “Look at me, being all pathetic. One little break-in, and I lose all my sense.”
“They had guns, Mallory,” Mitchell said sternly. “I’m glad you decided to stay here instead of returning home.”
“I’m a right state.” I wiped my eye with my wrist. “I didn’t even have time to leave a sign on the store.”
“People will understand,” Mitchell assured me. “Besides, Dean asked me to tell you the meeting is in an hour.”
