Page 3 of Pocket Full Of Posies (Snowberry #2)

Sunshine is fucking annoying. Now I don’t have anything against sunshine normally, but right now there’s a particularly diabolical ray of the piss golden light blinding me while I’m trying to sleep. I shift, trying to reposition away from the light, and immediately roll off the edge of whatever it is I’m sleeping on and land hard on the floor, almost crushing my tail and scuffing a horn.

“Mother fucker. God damnit.”

That’s right; I crashed on the couch last night after I got home from Blue Moon . This town is seriously lacking in proper nightly entertainment. At least there’s a bar with adequate liquor and bartenders. Sadly, most of the females in town know who I am, and I returned home alone. Which is probably why I only made it as far as the couch.

Small towns are the worst. Though coming into town early for the equinox did serve to entertain more than I expected. Helping Hunter beat down the elf and his posse was the most excitement I’ve seen in this town in years.

Coming to stay at my family’s place a few weeks early had been unplanned. My mother had called and all but commanded me to attend the autumn equinox. Originally, I was going to refuse to attend but after ending the conversation the idea kept nagging at me. Something told me I should go, so I booked a first-class ticket on the next flight out of Greece and headed home.

When I arrived there was an influx of shifters and even a few humans for the full moon. I met a visiting female shifter and happily assisted her through the blood moon. Then I got to beat the shit out of a few non-human scum, which was just as thrilling.

But now? Now I’m fucking bored out of my mind. There’s still another almost two weeks until the equinox. My parents, and the majority of my siblings, won’t arrive until closer to the day. Until then I’m on my own with no one to distract me from the sheer boredom of this small town.

Sure, there’s the lake. I could go swimming with some friendly mere’s, and have some fun but that would only fill one day. What would I do with the rest of my time?

Growling in frustration I crawl to my hands and knees and sit back on my heels. Rubbing my eyes with the palms of my hands I clear the sleep from them.

The living room is dark—except for the bright ass sunshine beaming in through the slits in the curtains. There are a few items of clothing strewn across the back of the chairs and couches. Dirty cups and empty take-out containers clutter the kitchen counters, the trash can overflowing where it sits against the wall because I’m too fucking lazy to take it out. To be fair I’m used to room service taking care of things like trash and laundry.

There has to be someone in town my parents usually hire to work for them while they’re here. Maybe I should text them to find out. Though if I do, my mother will know I’m here and probably show up way earlier than planned. And I definitely do not want that to happen.

Fuck. I’m going to have to clean up myself, aren’t I?

I stand and survey the space trying to gather enough energy to actually clean. My tail flicks behind me in agitation and brushes against a pile of something I’ll no doubt have to clean up as well.

“Guess I should get started,” I grumble under my breath. “Maybe just the trash.” I wrinkle my nose as I get closer to the mountain in the trash can. “It is starting to smell.”

I manage to force myself to take out all the trash and at least start a load of dishes in the dishwasher.

“Look at me, being all domestic and shit.”

When that’s finished, I shower and slip on a pair of loose jeans remaining shirtless, slipping my tail through the custom-tailored slit in the back so I don’t have to cram it down the pant leg. Not that any human can see it anyways. Why hide it? I’d rather be comfortable.

Strolling through our spacious and professionally decorated vacation manor, I find myself in the kitchen rummaging through the fridge searching for edible leftovers in the remaining takeout containers. Thank fuck they have Dottie’s here. Her food can rival any Michelin star restaurant in the world.

Looks like there’s some bacon and cheese fries left. I pull it out and transfer it to a plate placing my hand flat on the bottom. I generate heat in the palm of my hand. Not sparking a flame, just infusing my hand with heat like a hot plate until the cheese is melted and gooey once again. Sometimes having fire abilities is awesome.

I’m halfway through my breakfast of champions, when I hear the front door slam and then the voice of my younger brother call out through the house.

“What the fuck man? Can you at least pick up your dirty underwear? Gross.”

I laugh around a mouth full of fries and wait for my little brother to make his way to me in the kitchen. He strolls in moments later glaring at me with false indignation.

Endo is the youngest of all my siblings, and the one I’m closest to. We’re the black sheep of all the kids. The ones that give our parents the most headaches. I’m rather proud of that fact. They’re so uptight and snobby I’m glad I’m not like them.

Both Endo and I possess a lot of similar traits, thanks to our mother passing on her animal magic abilities. She’s an animal and water nymph with more sea-like attributes, but without her blood we wouldn’t have our own animal traits. Not to mention our ability to speak to animals and sense their presence.

Although we both possess physical animal attributes they differ greatly between us. Where I have crimson hair and tiger stripes across my body with a tail to match, Endo has short russet suede fur with white deer spots along his neck and chest, his hair almost golden. I know he also has a deer tail too, but he keeps it tucked away. It was a source of teasing from the boys growing up.

Endo is cute, like an adorable little doe, with soft features and attributes of docile animals that tend to be prey. I, however, have attributes of predators, giving me sharper, harder features. We may be physically different but extremely similar in our dislike of family status and forced socialite behavior. Being the cream of the crop is neither of our preferences. We’d both be completely happy never participating in social events ever again.

“What the hell are you doing here so early? Whenever mom does manage to force you to attend, you usually show up hours before the celebration,” he says in greeting.

Leaning my elbows on the kitchen island, I shrug and go back to eating my fries.

“No reason, just felt like it.”

Which is true. I have no idea why I’m here or why I came nearly a month before the equinox. If Endo knew how long I’ve been here he might die of shock.

“What are you doing here so early?” I retort.

“Mom tasked me with getting the house ready, which I thought would be an easy task since it has supposedly been empty for months. I see now we’ve had a squatter who doesn’t know how to use one of the multiple washing machines.”

Endo picks up a piece of clothing, a shirt I think, between his fingertips and flicks it onto the pile on the floor.

“I was gonna get to it. Be happy I just cleaned the kitchen.”

He looks around the kitchen, the flattening of his lips telling me he doesn’t believe me. I may not have mopped or wiped down the counters, but the trash can is empty, and the smelly take out containers are gone. I call that a win.

“Sure you did. Anyway, back to why you’re here.” Glaring at me he raises an eyebrow and waits for an explanation.

“Told ya, just felt like it. Was getting bored partying with horny water nymphs and meres in Greece and thought I’d spend a little quiet time in the middle of the forest in Montana, with no night clubs and where half the town is related.”

“Very funny. You’re fucking hilarious.”

“Thank you. Next time you should come with me to Greece. Nude beaches everywhere.” I sweep my hand wide emphasizing my point.

Endo sits on a stool on the opposite side of the white marble island and smirks.

“Maybe I will. I could use some time away from the family.”

“Mom been pressuring you lately?” I ask.

Our mother can be quite demanding sometimes, and as the youngest he sometimes gets the short end of the stick. Especially when I’ve practically amputated myself from family affairs. I still get sucked in, case in point my current presence in Snowberry. But I’m older, pushing ninety, and have had plenty of time to manipulate and strategize my freedom.

Compiling my own money, separate from the family accounts I have access to, allows me to slip away when our mother tries to nail me down. I still use the family money for a good number of things. I’m not built for day jobs. So, I continue to assuage my parents by attending events here and there, showing up and doing my duty just enough to keep in their good graces and under their radar.

Poor Endo is barely twenty-five. He hasn’t managed to put strategies into place yet to escape our parents’ control. At least he has his own place so he doesn’t have to live under the same roof as them. If he were within reaching distance, he may not have any freedoms.

We’ll eventually get him there. With my help he’ll be as free as me by thirty.

“Yeah. She’s been on a mission lately.” He narrows his eyes at me, his tone turning curious. “Have you spoken to anyone in the family recently? Heard about what she’s been up to?”

“No.” I shake my head but am feeling nervous now at the seriousness in his tone. Standing up straight I stare down my younger brother who is now giving me a look that says you are not gonna like this.

“I hate to ask, but what did she do now?”

Taking in a deep breath Endo releases it in a long exhale. Not a good sign.

“She’s on a mission to get you and Keiko mated. She’s been sneaking away and plotting. I’m pretty sure she’s made her picks but hasn’t told anyone who they are yet.”

The heat that is always present in my veins, thanks to my fire magic, chills to an icy frost. She’s nagged me about finding a mate for years and has been relentless about it at times, but she’s never gone so far as to pick out a mate for me. If she’s to the point where she’s gone in search, and found, a female she believes will be my perfect mate, I am well and truly fucked.

Mom arranged my older brother Ren’s mating to a well-bred female with a pristine pure-blooded heritage. My older sister Airi managed to pick her own mate but received mother’s approval first. Now it seems me and my younger sister, Keiko’s time has run out.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

“How much time do I have?”

“I think she plans on revealing her at the equinox.”

“Shiiiiit.”

My elbows smack down hard on the marble countertop, and I drop my face into my hands.

“If I leave now do you think I’ll be able to outrun this?”

“Probably not,” Endo says with obvious defeat. Which means even if I leave, she’ll probably still announce my future mating ceremony with whichever female nymph she has deemed worthy.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

“Because you never talk to anyone. Plus, it’s all hearsay. Gossip from eavesdropping and conjecture. We don’t know anything for sure, other than she’s been sneaking away and has been heavily hinting at wanting you mated.” Endo reaches over and snags a french fry from my plate and chews, waiting for me to break down.

“Why does she care so much about me being mated? She already has two mated children and they’re happily fulfilling her weird obsession with bloodlines by having the exact number of children she tells them to. Why does she need me?”

Removing my face from my hands, I step away from the island and begin to pace the massive kitchen, appetite gone. I run my hand through my long hair and stroke one of my curving horns absentmindedly, trying to devise a way out of this.

Is there a way out of this? Once mom makes up her mind, there’s usually no getting out of it. There’s a good possibility that if I were to publicly snub her mate choice for me, I’d no doubt be disowned and lose all access to the family’s money. And as much as I hate the family “business” I do appreciate the family money. I can only sneak by for so long.

“What do you think I should do?” I ask Endo, continuing to pace and coming up with nothing.

“Not a clue man. Short of bonding yourself to someone else before she can announce it, looks like you’ll be finding out who your mate is at the equinox.”

I scoff. “Yeah right. Like I’m gonna find a female, let alone a full-blooded nymph, because you know she won’t accept anything less, to agree to form a permanent mate bond with me in a week, in Snowberry.”

Endo shrugs and eats another fry. Yeah, just wait till it’s your turn, you won’t be so disinterested then.

“I need to clear my mind. I’m gonna go for a walk and get some fresh air. Maybe the answer will come to me then.”

“Whatever you say bro. I’ll be here, but I won’t be cleaning up your dirty underwear. You’re gonna have to do that yourself,” Endo calls to me as I make my way to the back doors leading to the acres we own behind the house.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll do it later,” I call back over my shoulder as I slip on my shoes.

“You better!”