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“Blaze?”
“Yeah, Neeta’s mate.” Jessy barely took a breath before starting again. “Oh, Des, there is so much we need to catch up on, and we will. But if you had any doubts about Seff, just know that he’s totally forgiven, and I feel awful about his exile. Heisan honorable and worthy male. I’m so glad you found each other, and I’m so happy for both of you.”
I leaned back against the candy store window and sighed. “Jess, I have no doubts about Seff. I’m just so...torn. I can’t seem to find a middle ground with all that’s happened. I’m either extremely sad or crazy happy.”
“Oh, honey, I can imagine. I remember feeling the same way for totally different reasons. Either way, it’s okay. You’re going to grieve, and Seff will be there to help you through it. I hate to put it this way but take advantage of his bond with you. He’s yoursakana. It wouldn’t be a mistake to mate, to seal your bond, as quickly as possible. Don’t be like me. I made Dain wait two freaking years. You need Seff. And he needs you.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
After collecting twosmall bags full of saltwater taffy, a bag of assorted chocolates, and a bag of pralines, we met up with my parents in front of my regular hair stylist’s salon.
“Girl.” Cari grinned as she removed the cape from Nereida’s shoulders. “You rock that kick-ass pixie cut!”
Nereida’s smile glowed as she hugged Cari first, then my dad for treating her.
Arteisma bounced up and down on her toes until it was her turn to hug her sister. “You look so cool! Do you like it? I love it!”
“Yes, I love it. Do you want to get one, too?”
“Jump up here.” Cari motioned to her chair. “I’ve got time to do another cut.”
“No, thank you,” Arteisma said as she twirled her thick brown braid between her fingers. “I’m fine.”
We all piled back into our trucks and traveled the freshly plowed road up the mountain. My dad must have paid a bundle to get one of the busy snowplows out our way so early.
Decker had been busy, too. He’d used the snowblower to clear the narrow road leading into our colony, as well as a path to the underground larder and a parking area under my yurt.
I unlocked the larder door and stepped inside while my dad backed up the supply-laden trailer. Once down the stairs, I stood where I’d been the night before, sorting and rearranging leftover canned goods we’d laid up from the early spring and late summer months—peaches, pears, plums, cherries, green beans, corn, jams, jellies, juice, along with jars and jars of eggs. Still, we were definitely low on supplies.
All my reorganizing efforts had been a distraction. A way of staying occupied. I’d told myself I wasn’t hiding. I didn’t have anyone to hide from. Then, Tillman had sought me out. Blamed me for his exile, among other things.
“You never trusted me. You never loved me.”
At one time, I had. Or, thought I had.
I was no longer that blind, infatuated, young female.
And then the rogues had come.
“Damn, kinda humid in here, isn’t it?” Seff took the stairs down into the larder.
“We have to keep it that way, or the vegetables would shrivel up or spoil. This one is for canned goods, fruit and vegetables, and such. We have another larder where we hang the smoked meat.”
His grin fell away when he looked at me. “Des, darlin’, what’s going on in your head?”
