Page 88 of Cryptic Dreams

“What the fuck happened?”

I hold my pipe in one hand and run the other through my disheveled hair before I start loosening the collar of the uniform I’m still wearing. “I wish I had an answer to that, but until our gentle breeze wakes, I fear I will not know.”

Orion’s brow furrows. “What happened before she passed out?”

“Clarify.” Because I somehow doubt Zephyr would appreciate my giving her cousin the specifics ofexactlywhat was happening before she fainted.

“Did anyone… “ His gaze shifts back to our bedroom door again as his body tenses. But the berk doesn’t finish his bloody question, to my immense annoyance.

“Did anyone,what? Out with it.”

“Did anyone touch her?”

I stop unbuttoning my shirt, slowly lower both hands to my sides and refrain from killing my mate’s cousin over what I hope he’s not implying.

“Not like that!” Orion quickly says as his eyes widen. “God, no, I didn’t mean… was she wearing her gloves?”

I nod.

“Z showed me her gown, so I know she had a lot of skin showing, but did anyone accidentally bump into her? Maybe pat her on the back? Or touch her shoulder?”

“Of course not, don’t be absurd. Zephyr was in my care all evening and I wasn’t about to let one of those disgusting beasts get close enough to touch her if they were daft enough to try. There wasn’t even a chance for it, we were together every moment of our time at the Hall. Everything was fine until… Damnit!” I resume my pacing as my anger spikes to a new high. “Atticus.”

“Atticus what?”

“Touched her!” I all but shout. “We had just… Zephyr was sitting in my lap during a portion of the meeting and before things shifted to more serious matters, Atticus came up to us and gripped her chin ingreeting.”

“Shit,” Orion grunts just as Aries breaches the top of the stairs. “She passed out with his hand still on her?”

I nod because I’m too angry, and confused, to say anything.

“Zephyr… “ He sighs as his eyes go skyward. “I can’t believe she still hasn’t told you.”

“Told me what? What is going on? I don’t understand any of this and since my mate is not awake to explain, I’m seconds away from forcing you to in her place.”

But my friend just shakes his head. “It’s not mine to share. She has to tell you, not me. I figured she would have by now but I’m not going to say anything if she hasn’t.”

In lieu of a response, or killing the male formerly known aspossibly one of mybest friends, I growl at both of them, spin on my heel and march into our bedroom. And I make sure to slam the door in their faces before I lock it, then cringe when my mate stirs from her place in our bed.

I did not intend to wake her, I’d rather cut off a limb than disturb my gentle breeze when she so clearly needs the rest, but my tantrum dictated otherwise and depending on how she feels, I will take this opportunity to ask some long overdue questions.

“Wraith?”

God, just hearing her voice after such an ordeal eases my tension some.

“I am here, my love,” I whisper as I move toward the bed.

Zephyr rolls to face me as I pull the lounger up next to her, my anger and confusion taking a back seat to the concern I have for my mate. She gifts me with a radiant, though tired, smile and I find my worry easing further.

Right up until her eyes widen, almost comically, and she immediately moves to sit up.

“Atticus. Atticus, he… Wraith, your father—”

“Is of no concern to you right now.”Nor will he ever be if I have any say.

But Zephyr shakes her head. “No, he isn’t, but also, he kind of is? I mean, Wraith, honey, that male… he’s a monster and he’s horrible and—”

“All things I’m very aware of, but again, they are of no concern to you at the moment because your health is my priority.”