Page 76 of Ondine: Vol. 2

Shadow stomps over and pulls Jake out of his chair away from me. I’m surprised by this, but I’m obviously more surprised by Jake’s complete 180 on his mood.

I look to Sabbies for confirmation that Jake is acting way out of line. But I don’t get any validation. He actually looks…guilty.

Jake is frantic.

Shadow is worried.

What is happening?

I turn to Arnie who looks just as guilty as Sabbies.

“Someone explain to me what is going on right now.”

That’s when my bond sings, because Freddie comes running through the front door and into the kitchen. I can’t get out of my seat fast enough. He comes over with singular focus. He falls to his knees and I fall into him, halfway off my chair.

“Freddie,” I cry. My whole being is filled with light. Being apart was so fucking hard. I missed him so much. He holds me tight and I don’t even care that I can’t breathe. Or that we are on the floor. He kisses me once, twice, three times.

He grabs my face and looks me in the eyes. He’s all here. All of him. He tilts my head to the side and scents me, rubbing his neck into me. Fuck yes.

Once I’m good and scented we look up to find everyone pretty much where we left them.

“What’s going on?” He whispers to me.

“Something weird. I need to get something from my apartment and everyone is being really strange. Jake is very mad. Do you know what’s going on?”

Oh no. He gets that same guilty look that Sabbies and Arnie have.

“You know something?”

“Ondine,” Sebastian says but doesn’t go on.

“What? Tell me.”

“Jake, tell her,” Shadow says.

Jake runs his hand through his hair and takes a deep breath.

“I burnt your apartment to the ground.”

No.

No.

I look at everyone in this room. All of them. Everyone knew. Even Freddie.

Freddie knew.

“Oh, no, princess.” Freddie tries to comfort me but I rip myself out of his embrace and stand up. The chair I was in goes flying so I can stand up.

“Don’t call me that!”

I back away from them all.

“How long ago?”

Sebastian answers, “The day I picked you up from here to take you to Sky Nest. I’d just got done.”

He’d smelled like smoke and fire.