Page 27 of The Stone Curse
It was obvious she wasn’t comfortable talking about it, so I let it slide.
Levi returned alone. His cheeks had a little too much color in them. He’d had an argument with Curi.
I pulled myself to my feet. “What happened?”
“Mason is a little upset. But he’ll be fine. He understands how important this process is.”
“Where did he go?” Shar asked before I could.
“He said he was going to take a walk. We’ll pick up again tomorrow.” Levi held out his hand. “I’ll need the lockets back for now.”
I quickly took mine off and handed it to him before beelining for the exit. “I’ll see you guys for supper.” Supper…Shit. I ground to a halt and turned back to the room. “Levi, I’d love for you to join us tonight.”
His brows flicked up slightly as if to sayreally?But then he smiled and nodded. “I’ll be there.”
I ducked out and hurried into the night. There was only one place that provided a decent walking route, but I had a quick pit stop to make before I headed to the woods.
CHAPTER 9
I’d barely made it onto the trail when I spotted Curi walking toward me, hands in the pockets of his pants.
He looked up, frown melting when he saw me. “Can’t stay away from me?”
The shadows in his eyes belied his light tone.
I matched his tone. “You know me too well.” I held out the cup as he drew closer. “And I came bearing gifts.”
He sniffed the air. “Caramel latte?”
“Your favorite,” I sing-songed.
He took it with a wistful smile. “Dammit, Cameron, you make it so hard not to fall in love with you.” He laughed softly and took a sip of his drink to defuse the moment.
But although his words were uttered in the same light tone of earlier, they sliced into me, leaving me aching with regret and sadness because it would be so easy to be with Curi. He was like the ray of sunshine that weathered any storm, finding the cracks in the shroud of gloom that surrounded me to touch me with his warmth, asking for nothing in return. No demands. No expectations. Being with Curi was comforting and freeing.
“I’m sorry I left. I needed some air,” he said.
I fell into step beside him. “You don’t need to apologize for taking a time-out, Curi. I just…I was worried about you.”
He bumped me with his arm. “Thanks.” He held out the cup. “You wanna sip?”
I took a swig. “Damn, that is good.”
“Why didn’t you get yourself one too?”
“Why? You don’t wanna share?”
He chuckled. “I’ll always share with you, Cam.”
I bumped my arm against his. “Good, so…you wanna share what upset you earlier?”
“I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”
I stifled the pang of guilt and forged on. “You don’t have to tell me, just know that you can. I’m here for you.”
We trudged in silence for a couple of minutes handing the cup back and forth before he spoke.
“It was a memory I’d forgotten…or tried to. It was so vivid. I think I must have been eleven or twelve. Living in the omega nest with my mother. We were in the kitchens baking. Ginger snaps, our favorite…at least they used to be. I was rolling out the dough, ready to cut the cookies, when my sire abruptly arrived. We weren’t expecting him. If we’d known, Mother would never have allowed me in the kitchens. But…he was there. His face filled with rage at the sight of me in my apron dusted with flour. The way he looked at me…with such disgust and disappointment…” He exhaled. “That was the last time I saw my mother.”
