Page 78 of Claimed

“Good. Sweet little thing. Needs protecting. Sense she’s omega and the sort that needs to nurture to feel right in her own skin.”

“I think that’s spot on,” I tell him.

We make our way back to the yard.

Mimi, who I know is my late maternal grandmother’s twin sister is looking at us when I step into the yard. She turns away to face Rye as he speaks up to everyone about the plan for the meeting tomorrow, wanting a strong show of support from the council and previous council members.

When he stops talking, Mimi says, “I’d like to speak to you.” She turns to give me her unnerving silver gaze, adding, “And you.”

I feel the tension rolling off my father as I pass him to follow her and Riley upstairs to one of the bedrooms.

She begins to fiddle with a small dish of potpourri, lighting a tea light and setting it into the dish while Riley and I wait, Riley sitting on the end of the bed, me leaning against the wall.

“We’ll talk once that gets going. It just needs a moment.”

“What is it?” I ask.

“It’s a spelled herbal blend that’ll ensure no one outside this room hears what we discuss. Not even if they have wolf shifter super alpha hearing and have their ear pressed to that door over there.” She points to the door and the gemstones on her fingers catch the light and send a prism of color that feels like it hits me hard. Something flutters in my gut. Behind my eyes. Something strange. Familiar.

“I’ve been looking forward to having a talk with you, Greyson Blackwood,” she says ominously.

She said as much in the dry cleaners’ back when Riley found out his mate wasn’t dead.

I wait for her to elaborate. She looks at him instead for a long moment.

“We’ll talk, the three of us, then I’ll ask to be left alone with my nephew so he and I can have a delicate conversation.”

“Fine by me,” Riley agrees, looking unfazed by the exclusion.

We wait a moment as Mimi watches the dish of potpourri. As the fragrances permeate the air and the scents climb, she sits in the rocking chair in the corner of the room, and I plant my ass on top of a long dresser.

“I was made coven leader just a couple of years ago when my sister Lyrica died. I knew as coven leader that I was supposed to notify the SCC when the time came that Erica was to reveal herself to you.Beforethe reveal. I chose not to do it. I knew they’d want to intervene, take the lead on managing Erica’s powers instead of letting her discover things organically. It would’ve affected the way you two came together, worked out your issues, and not in a positive manner. See, I also knew the way Vivica knew it was time for her sister to move thingsforward with you because of your council’s mating order, that it also needed to happen with minimal interference. I didn’t know details of all of the interference by my nieces in your relationship and your reunion, but I knew they would get involved and I trusted them as I always do… to do their work based on the facts they have, based on their strengths, and based on their training. I saw that there would be more pain for you both, but it would help you two move forward, forging an unbreakable bond that comes from the pain you both endured. Now, there may be consequences for me. The council could sentence me to those consequences tomorrow.”

I straighten up. So does Rye.

She keeps talking. “My nieces don’t know this, and I don’t want them to worry about it in addition to everything else. I made decisions based on what I know and what I believe. The witches coming here tomorrow have been waiting for this meeting for a very long time.”

Riley sighs.

“Have they indicated how they’ll sanction you?” I ask.

She shakes her head in the negative. “They haven’t reached out, but I don’t doubt it’ll come up tomorrow. Some would say I could lie and say Lyrica didn’t tell me. Feign ignorance assuming they’ve followed the birth order news with your council so would know it was time, but I don’t play that way. I own my decisions, always, and frankly after all they’ve done…” She shrugs. “Erica’s enhanced powers are nobody’s business but Erica’s. She’s a fully trained witch. Nobody has the right to question her when she’s done nothing to earn suspicion in seven years. She already answered for her previous perceived crimes. I haven’t even asked her questions about her strengths. It’s up to her to seek guidance if or when she decides she needs it. It’s her choice togo to the SCC or not for assistance. There has been more than enough interference in my niece’s life and yours, Riley Savage.”

He makes a sound of agreement.

She continues. “Yes, I could have tried to manage her expectations more closely, prepare her for the fact her powers would change, but I trust in the organic experience for her. She’s trained. I trust her. And I know to my core that it’s time for the two of you to choose your path forward together.”

“I agree,” Riley says gruffly. “More than agree.”

“She’s already paid too high of a price for doing what she was destined to do. Which was simply to love you, to be your partner. It’s good that you realize this. It demonstrates you’re who she needs.”

Riley flexes his fingers and his jaw muscles. He’s ready to do battle.

I do not blame him one bit.

Mimi continues, “I have every faith in her ability to manage her own magic and after today, faith in you to be the partner she needs and deserves. It needed to happen naturally, though we had to nudge a few things because of how deeply Erica has been wounded. She was truly terrified of facing you.”

Riley nods solemnly. “Wasn’t pretty. Not real proud of some of my actions.”

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