Page 20 of Midnight Whispers (Forbidden Entanglements #1)

Chapter Twenty

R iley had texted Cass three times and called him twice with no answer. Going through the morning without a word from Cass left Riley with nothing else to think about besides the reasons for not answering. Was something wrong? Did he not want to talk to Riley? Did his dad say something? So many unanswered questions.

The worst part was his muffins probably tasted like worry. He pictured his negative feelings falling into the dough, making them bitter or, at the very least, tasteless.

Riley had worked under worse situations. Every time Riley had left his mother to her own devices, he worried. What if she got drunk and tried to cook? What if, in a drunken stupor, she drowned in the bathtub? What if she fell and hit her head? The list of what-ifs was long. His imagination muscle had grown until he had conjured all sorts of scenarios. Some were realistic. Others weren’t.

It seemed his job was to worry and stress. Maybe it was what he was born for as though the universe had plans even before he was conceived. Or maybe it was a superpower, although it felt more like a curse. It could be a warlock thing.

He’d have to ask his dad or Griffin if they stressed over things beyond their control.

When the back door opened, he expected it to be Griffin. He didn’t even glance away from measuring out the next muffin ingredients.

When his dad spoke, Riley turned in his direction. He held his breath as he hoped Cass was with him, but Dad stood alone. He stiffened.

“I need your help.”

Dad walked up to him and pulled his sweater away from his neck, but it was on the opposite side from where Cass had bitten him.

Riley stepped away from him with a frown. “What the hell, Dad?”

“Did he bite you?” If it bothered him, he didn’t show it. His tone was hopeful.

Riley sighed and pulled his sweater away from the wound Cass had left.

Dad nodded. “Come with me.”

Dad headed toward the back door.

“Where are we going?” Riley followed him out the back door.

“Grab your coat, Riley. It’s cold out.” Dad scowled at him. He didn't remember if Dad had given him the parental stare before that moment. But it was there when he met Riley’s gaze.

“Yes, sir.” Riley went back inside and got his coat, which hung on the rack inside the door. He put it on before joining Dad again.

Iven met his gaze and shook his head but turned, heading for his car. He’d parked on the side of the road.

“What?” Riley was pretty sure he knew what his dad would say, and none of it would be pleasant.

“Now isn’t the time to get into it.” Dad was probably right, but it would eat Riley alive if he didn’t know what the problem was. Too many other uncertainties were rolling through his mind for him to be comfortable with his father’s disappointment.

“Then when is the time?”

“Not now.”

Riley sighed and made sure he was loud enough for his dad to hear him.

They got in the car and pulled onto the road when his dad finally spoke again. “Do you even know what the mating marks mean?”

“He explained it.”

“You made a lifelong commitment to a man you barely know.” Dad’s jaw muscles ticked.

“He’s your best friend, Dad. Are you saying I shouldn’t trust him? I trusted your judgment.” Riley could tell he won that part of their argument.

“You’re not ready for it, Riley. You just lost your mom. You’re starting college.”

“And seriously considering starting a business.” It had been rolling around in his mind since Griffin put it there. He first had to decide if he wanted to bake as a profession. He loved doing it but wasn’t sure if he wanted to do it for a living. He feared it would become a chore after a while. He wasn’t sure if that would be the case. He fell into the task, allowing it to empty his mind. His thoughts could flow freely.

“That’s a conversation for another time.”

“Agreed. But you brought it up.”

Riley wasn’t sure what he said, but something made Iven chuckle and shake his head. “I need to change my argument points, don’t I?”

“I don’t see why you even want to argue with me.” Riley stared out the window as the town disappeared behind them. “It’s not your decision. It’s not the rest of your life. It’s the rest of mine. And honestly, I’m lucky.”

“How so?”

“First tell me where we’re going.” Riley dreaded the answer. Panic formed in his chest.

“To find Cass.”

“He’s missing?” Riley’s stomach twisted in knots, and he sent silent prayers that nothing was wrong but deep down he knew what his gut was telling him.

“No. Not really. He went after a suspect alone. Which was a stupid thing to do. You’ll be able to help me locate him.” His dad was worried too. Riley could tell in the way he white-knuckled the steering wheel.

“Is he in danger?”

“Hopefully not, but I won’t lie to you. He could be.”

“How will I be able to help you find him?”

“Through your mating bond. I’ll show you when we get there.” Dad took a deep breath and let it out as if attempting to not panic. “Now tell me how lucky you are?”

Riley appreciated the distraction, although it didn’t help that much.

“Cass is…he’s protective. And that has kept us from bonding up to last night.” Riley wasn’t sure how much he should say, but he wanted to be honest. “Neither of us planned it. We just wanted to be together. We were caught up in the moment.”

“He put you at risk by bonding with you.”

“Yet here we are with the potential to face danger.” Riley would have gone, regardless of who needed him, but it was Cass. His mate. His life partner. He had a whole new level of fear he had never experienced before.

“How else are you lucky? Besides Cass’s protectiveness.”

“He’s not impulsive. I like that he’s a little wiser than me. He’s thoughtful. He asks my opinion. He asks me to do stuff with him. He doesn’t take me for granted.”

Iven sighed, but he smiled. “None of that surprises me.”

“Because you know him.”

“Yes, I do.” Iven sighed. “I want to find the mistake.”

Riley smiled. Finally, Dad was being honest with himself. “I know.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“You’re my kid. And he might be my best friend, but there’s a big age difference. I don’t know what you have in common with someone so much older than you.” And there it was. The last argument he had and the one that would have mattered if they hadn’t bonded. But they had, so Riley knew exactly what they had in common.

“You don’t really want me to answer. Trust me.”

Iven shook his head. “Beyond sex.”

“We’re compatible, Dad.”

“Well, I don’t think you need to move in with him immediately. Go slow on that.”

“We haven’t discussed it.” And it wasn’t like Cass had brought it up. In fact, Cass hadn’t even answered his text or calls.

At least Riley knew why.