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Braith nods in agreement. “That's not a bad idea."
She stands, ready to leave, then pauses. "Bambi, again, I don't want to pressure you here or anything, but I want you to know that Olwydd loves you with his whole heart, his whole being. I'm not sure humans have the equivalent of fated mates, but I can assure you that Squatches do. And if you reject him and leave,go back to the human world, he will pine for you for the next hundred and fifty years."
I can't help but laugh at that. "A hundred and fifty years? Come on."
But Braith's expression remains dead serious. She leans in and whispers, "We have long life spans."
As I watch Braith leave, I sit there amid a jumble of thoughts and emotions.
One thing is startlingly clear though. I need to go to Olwydd. Like, pronto.
CHAPTER 12
OLWYDD
"She hates me.” I lean my elbows on the bar and stare down into my stein as though the remaining Giir in it might offer some sage advice. Spoiler alert: it doesn't and neither did the three before it.
Ah, the cruel irony. One minute you're on top of the world, about to move in with the love of your life, and the next, you're drowning your sorrows in fermented fungus juice all alone and brokenhearted.
To top it off, my soulstone chooses this moment to sing. It sparks to life humming, glowing, and vibrating, hardening my cock as it picks up momentum. What the fuck?
“Great timing, buddy.” I smack my groin, growling, "Shut up, you defective asshole."
I'm so caught up in my pity party that I only barely notice as Huw, our grizzled old bartender, rounds the bar and places a stepladder next to my stool.
"She fucking hates me,” I lament to the bottom of my stein. “I fucked up and now she hates me."
"I don't hate you."
I swing around so fast I nearly topple off my stool. My eyes widen to the size of dinner plates. Bambi? Am I hallucinating?
No, she’s here. My Bambi climbs the stepladder and slides onto the stool next to me. I stare speechless.
Her gaze darts to mine and then back down. She laughs nervously. "These barstools aren't exactly built for humans.”
"You're here," I breathe, still not quite believing my eyes.
She nods, her expression contrite. "Yeah."
Say something you jackass. Now’s your chance.
My words tumble out in a rush. "Bambi, beautiful. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. Tell me what I can do to make it up to you. I'll do anything."
Bambi sighs, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Do you even know why I'm upset?"
I open my mouth, then close it again. I don’t know how to answer that. I could make up something, but what if I say the wrong thing? I could end up digging myself into a deeper hole. I've already screwed up royally once. Finally, I settle for honesty. "No... but if you tell me how to fix it, I will. What do I need to do?"
She sighs. “Just listen.”
For the first time since she showed up beside to me like magic, I glance around the bar. The other patrons are quietly shuffling out, giving us privacy. Even Huw has mysteriously vanished. I turn back to Bambi, giving her my full attention. "I'm listening."
She takes a deep breath. "First, I need to apologize. I overreacted."
I want to protest, to tell her she has nothing to apologize for, but I bite my tongue. She asked me to listen, so that's what I'm going to do.
"Seeing all my trauma displayed like that on your computer... it was a huge trigger," she continues. “Obviously you know what was in the tabloids and on social media, what the media reported. But I want you to know I had no idea he was married or that he was playing me. I was unwillingly and unwittingly thrust into a negative spotlight all because I thought I cared for a man."
My heart aches for her. Does she think my opinion of her is lessened because of what that that bag of dicks put her through? If anything, I admire my brave girl even more. God, my heat aches for her and my arms long to hold her.
