134
Lucy
My heart was hammering. I knew before the car had pulled to a stop who was in the car. The vision of myself pressed up against a window in the Blue Moon Estate, dead-eyed, pregnant in nothing more than that white dress flashed through my mind. I heard the Moon Goddess’ voice and my stomach lurched. I couldn’t breathe. My heart raced, and a surge of panic threatened to overwhelm me. I tried my best to push it away, to push through it, but I couldn’t.
Tony came around the side of the car. His eyes nearly glowing. His face flushed and pinched tight in anger. He reminded me of my adoptive father when he’s come home in his worse moods. I stumbled back until I felt someone behind me.
I turned back and looked up at Duke. He wrapped his arms around me.
“Take her to the greenhouse. Now,” David said.
Duke pulled me away from the sidewalk and further away from the opening in the gate. I heard Tony growl as I struggled to breathe, stumbling after Duke toward the greenhouse until a wall separated us, yet I could still see Tony’s face in my mind. I could see that vision flashing through my mind. I smelled his cologne. I smell Matt’s skin and sweat. I smelled the sheets of their bed. My stomach turned. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t breathe.
I felt Duke’s hands on my shoulders, but everything seemed like it was echoing and fading around me. Duke drew me close, burying my face in his chest and getting me to the ground, crouching beneath the window.
“I’ve already notified Hecate’s patrol,” David said, his voice calm and firm. “Leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere without her,” Tony growled. “And if you think the Council won’t be on my side when you’re clearly interfering with a bond, you’ve got another thing coming.”
The Council.
“I don’t have a bond,” I whispered into Duke’s chest, desperately trying to get the words out. “I don’t. I don’t. I don’t.”
“Deep breaths, Lucy,” Duke said, rocking me slowly.
“Back off,” Matt said. He sounded calm. “We know she’s here in the city. That’s enough for now. All right?”
They knew where I was. How long would it take for them to find me? How much longer would I be safe? Tears pricked at my eyes. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. It was all too much. I twitched, smothering a scream of panic in Duke’s chest as I heard Tony growl. I heard other cars coming. Duke pressed me closer. I heard him talking to me. I felt his chest vibrating with his words, but I couldn’t hear any of it.
“This isn’t over,” Tony growled. “You won’t keep our mate from us.”
I couldn’t. The scream of that was coming was bubbling up.
Then, I heard David’s voice. “One day, I’m going punch your fucking lights out.”
There was quiet and silence for a long time as I could focus on the sound of Duke’s heart beating. I heard everyone outside still working outside. I heard cars leaving, but it wasn’t until David came into the greenhouse that I felt the bubble of terror pop. Tears bubbled up and I clung to Duke, sucking in breath after breath. David kneeled beside me and pressed a hand to my back. I felt it like a warm weight on my mind, easing the panic and making the tension in my body fade away. I slumped against Duke, taking in deep breaths, a little dazed. David stroked my cheek gently, looking at me with a clinical and watchful gaze.
“You’re safe here,” David said. His voice rumbling through my mind like a soft soothing, growl. I didn’t know how to describe it, but it felt good and safe. I nodded shakily and he tucked a curl behind my ear.
“I’m going to call Stacy to come get you and settle things with Hecate’s Enforcers, okay?”
I shook my head.
“What do you want to do?” David asked.
“Stay,” I said softly. “Amy… I want to help.”
He narrowed his eyes but he nodded. “I’m going to bring you something to help with the shock. Rest for another fifteen then you can go back to work, okay?”
My jaw trembled. “Duke is going to stay with you, okay?”
I nodded again. David stood and walked out of the greenhouse around to where the shed was. He came back with a lunch kit before leaving. I heard him address an enforcer before silence enveloped us. Soon, all I could smell was the fresh soil and the green humidity of the little greenhouse. I smelled fresh paint and Duke’s cologne.
He stroked my hair and opened the lunch kit. Then, Michelle walked in. She froze in the doorway and closed the door behind her.
“Are you all right?” Michelle asked.
I nodded shakily. “I just… had a scare.”
Michelle nodded. “Spiders suck.”
I laughed a little. I wish it was just a spider. Michelle plopped down with us with a grin. Duke opened the lunch kit and passed me the snacks and a drink from inside. We sat and ate for a little, and I felt myself calming down.
Soon, David popped back into the room.
“How are you feeling?” David asked.
I nodded. “Better.”
He narrowed his eyes at me before nodding. “I’ll leave you all to finish the inside the greenhouse.”
I frowned, wondering why, but as I stood up, I realized why: Tony and Matt’s car was still in the parking lot. They were outside. Tony was on the phone, and while the Hecate Enforcers were around, it didn’t seem like they could make them go away.
Michelle turned me away from the window. “I’ll handle these. You handle those.”
I nodded and tried to shake off the memories that haunted me. But they clung to me like shadows, flickering in the corners of my vision. Images of my visions flashed before my eyes, fragments of a future I could feel drawing me in.
I heard her again. I saw her eyes flashing red. “One way or another, you will learn your place.”
I pulled out of the vision, sucking in breath and focusing on the plants that needed to be replanted. David didn’t come back, but that was okay. Duke and Michelle stayed with me.
As I busied myself with the plants, arranging them carefully in their designated spots, I could feel a sense of calm washing over me. The rhythmic motion of my hands, the earth beneath my fingertips, grounded me in the present moment. It was a welcome respite from the turmoil that threatened to consume me.
With each passing minute, my anxiety began to wane, replaced by a renewed sense of determination.
I had to be strong enough to face them one day. They weren’t going to give up, and until the on Goddess gave us, they wouldn’t give up either.
I grabbed the tray of plants to take outside. Michelle looked nervous, but Duke grabbed another tray and grinned at me, walking out with me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tony turn to stare and watch me. My stomach churned, but I kept breathing and walking. I followed Duke to the other side of the garden and kept working.
Sarah and Amy came over to join us, and soon, I completely forgot they were there, caught up in the energy of everyone there.
As the sun began to set, David rallied everyone with the leaders of Helping Hands.
“Picture time!” One of them said. “Squeeze in tight. I know we all want a shower!”
We gathered together for a group photo. David and Duke pressed us closer together. Sarah nudged me to stand beside David. I smiled forcing myself to focus on the guy setting up the camera timer and the camera lens instead of Tony’s figure standing outside the gate staring me down.
My heart was racing as he set the camera up and rushed to join up.
“Jake!”
He tripped over a watering can. Everyone flinched as the water went flying but we laughed. Jake grumbled and went back to the camera before he grinned.
“I think this one is probably the worst one yet.”
I laughed as we disbanded and started to put things away. I didn’t leave the sanctuary of the barrier, instead helping bring things to the edge to be loaded up on the trucks. Tony got as close as he could between the Enforcers and the barrier, but I didn’t look at him.
Soon, I saw Stacy’s SUV drive up as well as the Blood Moon escort vans.
“I’ll take the girls home,” David said to me. He cupped my face. “Get some rest. Eat something, and don’t fret, okay?”
I nodded. He pulled me close. “You know how to reach me if you need me?”
I nodded and hugged him back. “Thanks, David.”
He pulled back and stepped in Tony’s way as Stacy ushered me to the car.
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