Chapter 106

Chapter 0211

“Yup, dad’s somewhere I’m shocked he hasn’t come running yet,” mom says, dropping Jackson’s

hand and fluttering her hand at him. “Rafe’s right shower for you, and then Ariel is next. Because if

your dad meets your mate covered in your blood and your scent- he’s going to flip.”

Jackson, as freaked out as he should be, presses a quick kiss to my head and then stands up. I’ll

be right back,” he says to me, looking down at me with worry. And I grin at him, touched a little – but

what does he think, that I’m worried he’s going to run away or something?

“I know,” I murmur, reaching for his hand giving it a little squeeze. “Don’t worry. I’ll be okay.”

Jackson hesitates, I think fighting the instincts that tell him to stay absolutely by my side at all times,

but then he sighs when Rafe wraps a hand around his arm and starts to pull him away.

Mom and I both watch as the two head for the second door in the chamber, which I guess leads

somewhere else communal bathrooms? Who knows.

And then, when my mate and my brother disappear and the door swings shut behind them, my

mom turns to me with a grin.

“Well,” she murmurs, her eyes flicking over me impishly, “you’ve been busy, haven’t you,

daughter?”

And I just moan and put my head in my hands, sinking back against the pillows.

Mom just laughs, shoving me gently aside and coming to snuggle up against the pillows next to me.

“Oh, don’t pretend that you’re all tired now –”

“I am tired!”

“Not too tired to gossipthe women in this family are never too tired to gossip. Come on, baby! I want

to hear everything! I’m dying over here we haven’t had any news of you in

months-”

“Okay, okay,” I grumble, secretly pleased as my mom wraps an arm around me and pulls me close.

Because she is right – I am dying to talk to her, and the ladies in this family we really can talk. And

so I launch into my story, laying my heart out plain for her.

–

I start at the beginning, at the wedding, and I apologize profusely for bailing on it without even

saying goodbye-

even saying goodbye – but my mom is all warm support, saying that she understands, and

+15 BONUS

considering the horrible things those men said when they found out I’d fled… “Well,” she says,

tossing back her hair and lifting her chin, “they’re just lucky I let them walk away with their skins

intact.”

“You are a lady, after all, mom,” I say, nodding sagely.

“And a queen,” she adds, mimicking my tone and making us both laugh. But then she squeezes me,

urging me on.

So I tell her all about just wanting to be with Jesse and Rafe, my best friends, at first, but then as

time passed how much I really, really wanted to be at the school. How much my heart, genuinely,

sang when I was admitted as a cadet, how much I love my classes, the excitement I feel whenever I

think about becoming a spy and helping our nation.

“I really want to do it, mom,” I murmur. “It’s…it’s more than just escaping from the wedding now.

This feels like my life, like what I was…meant to do.”

“And it doesn’t hurt,” she says, her voice sarcastic, “that your super hot mate just happens. to live

down the hall.”

I squawk in surprise, sitting up straight and staring at her. “Did you just call my mate hot!?”

Mom bursts out laughing, shaking her head. “I mean, he is, Ariel –”

“That’s so gross!” I gasp, swatting her arm. “You’re my mother –”

“Your mother who has eyes,” she continues, laughing hysterically, “besides, I mean, it’s not as if the

two of us don’t have a similar type.”

“WHAT!?” I shout, appalled.

“Oh come, on, Ariel,” mom says, rolling her eyes as she tries to get the words out around her vivid

laughter. “Are you seriously trying to tell me that you haven’t noticed the similarities between your

mate and your dad? I mean, talk about daddy issues –”