Chapter 106


    “Yup, dad’s somewhere I’m shocked he hasn’te 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?


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    “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 elsemunal 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 justughs, shoving me gently aside anding 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 thedies in this family we really can talk. And


    so Iunch into my story,ying my heart out in 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 ady, after all, mom,” I say, nodding sagely.


    “And a queen,” she adds, mimicking my tone and making us bothugh. 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 sses, the excitement I feel whenever I


    think about bing 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 outughing, 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,ughing hysterically, “besides, I mean, it’s not as if the


    two of us don’t have a simr type.”


    “WHAT!?” I shout, appalled.


    “Ohe, 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 simrities between your


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