Page 26 of A Lesson in Obedience

I let out a little laugh with no happiness in it. I really didn’t know what to say.

“Let me talk to Ike and Samia.” Samia was one of the main witches in the bay area that helped produce dampeners. She did basic jewelry with simple metals, or she could make custom pieces that were fancy. The kind that you saw on celebrities or high-profile people. Her wife was a metal magic user and if you wanted the piece made in-house, then it tended to cost more. Most people I knew, based on what River had told me, had jewelry made somewhere else and only went to Samia to turn the piece into your dampener.

“You don’t have to. I’m fine.” I heard a bark which startled me. Beau was looking at me, his big dopey eyes narrowed.

You are not.He sounded concerned and just a little pushy.

I kissed his head. “If you feel inclined to talk to Samia, then fine. I’ll give you whatever money you need to pay for the dampener.”

Corrin’s mom waved me off, her voice going soft. “Have you spoken to your mother?”

My breath caught in my throat as I digested her question. My brain didn’t have time to short circuit the way it wanted to because a car door slammed from outside. We all shifted our attention to the front door.

Mateo went to the window. “Ah, your knight in dashing good looks and artful tattoos is here.”

Corrin shuffled to the front door, throwing it open and letting River walk in. I shot up from the couch, walking around it and taking a few steps toward him. My boyfriend looked around the room, throwing a few casual nods towards the people around me.

“Maybe you should just stay here. You seem to have a whole army of people.” He chuckled softly.

I shrugged. “I was considering it.”

He cleared his throat. “Actually…” He stepped closer, bringing his hand up to caress my cheek. “I came here to pick you up, if that’s what you want. We don’t have to go to your house, but I was thinking you could stay with me. Your mom knows you're safe and I know she’ll want some kind of proof of life from you, but I just…”

“River —” I started, but I felt Beau shove his face into the back of my calves so that I would step closer to him.

“No matter where you go, the wolves will look out for you,” Mateo offered, giving me a reassuring look.

“And since your boyfriend texted me for my address, I now have his number just in case you go radio silent again.” Corrin let her phone swing back and forth from her fingertips.

River pulled my phone from his back pocket. “Here. You might want this back.”

I had wondered where it went, but that didn’t matter at the moment. I sighed, letting my body do what it wanted to do the minute he walked through the door. I fell against him, feeling his large arms wrap around me. He pressed his face into my hair, kissing the top of my head. “I’m happy they were able to keep you safe.”

“Yeah, but…” I pulled back, looking up into his green eyes. “I do want to sleep in your bed tonight.”

“Whatever you want, gorgeous.”

Corrin reached out for my hand and squeezed. “Call me and let me know you’re all squared away, okay?”

I nodded, heading up the stairs to Corrin’s room to double-check that I didn’t leave anything behind. I did a once over and sighed, closing her door to head back to the main room. Mrs. Hayes was waiting in the hall. She had a melancholy look on her face.

“I’m sorry if this sounds like overstepping, perhaps my daughter gets it from me, but I do hope that you give your mother a chance.”

I moved a few of my braids over my shoulder. “It’s not that. I just did something, and I can’t really face her right now. What she kept from me was a lot, but I don’t know how to deal with my emotions and these powers simultaneously.”

“What you did can’t be that bad?”

I raised my eyes to the ceiling, not wanting to cry.

Corrin’s mom ran a shaky finger over her eyebrow piercing. “Oh honey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. Just, as a mother, I know there is nothing my children could do to make me neverwant to see or hear from them again.”

I sniffed. “I know you’re right.”

“Then maybe think about what I’m saying. Just think about it.”

I let out a small cough and gave her a helpless smile. “I guess, I just don’t know what to say when I do see her.”

Mrs. Hayes grabbed my shoulder and slid her hand down my arm and over my hand. “I think seeing you is the most important thing to her. Whatever you say after that is secondary.”