Page 16 of Solar Shadows

Once again, he offered me arctic energy in his response. “I’m leaving now.”

Every time I tried to shake him off, I went right back to pining for him again. Which irritated me to no end. I didn’t understand why I wanted him so much. Because I couldn’t have him? Because rejection got me hard?

Or because you’re in need of so many slaps upside the head?

Erin appeared, dressed in blue jeans and an adorable white sweater with silver snowflakes embroidered into it.

Ollie smiled, his entire face lighting up, transforming into something sweeter, more joyful. It made my breath hitch and my feet move me up another step.

How I’d love for him to smile at me like that.

His eyes sparkled as he hugged his mum, Erinalmost half his height. What was he? Six-two? Six-three? He was definitely a good few inches taller than me.

“Are you sure you can’t stay the night?” she asked him in her warm, motherly tone.

“Not tonight,” he answered.

New witchcops were required to stay in the HQ barracks for six months as part of their initiation. After that, they were free to find their own accommodation or stay there.

Would Ollie return to the mansion in August when his six months were up?

You really need to stop giving a fuck,my inner voice scolded. It was a wise sage I should listen to more.

“Well, take care,” Erin told her son. “I’ll message you with the details about this meeting.”

“Thanks, Mum. See you for breakfast.”

“I’d better.”

He chortled, the deep timbre a rumble.

Yummy.

“And make sure Dean comes, too,” she added. “I know Jake won’t like it, but he’s an ally we need on board. Or am I causing upset?”

Ollie’s eyes briefly darted my way. “I’ve already had this conversation with Jake. He agrees. He wants Dean on the team. Especially after the fae woman stuff.”

Their hug ended, Erin offering him a quizzical expression. “Really?”

“Yep. Well, he put it a bit differently. You know, ranted about Dean for ten minutes.”

Jake and Dean were once a thing but broke up under mysterious circumstances. At least to everyone not named Erin or Ollie. Now they were back in each other’s lives and, well, it was pretty tense.

However, Dean Tseng’s fae magic fixed things, like my broken solar diamond, and he would be a valuable ally to have on our team.

Erin laughed. “I’m sure it was an extremely blue rant.”

Why was I standing here listening to their conversation? What a nosy prick. I went to move, Erin’s glance stopping me.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Nothing a cheeky glass of bubbly won’t cure,” I answered, eyes not going in Ollie’s direction.

“There’s some on ice for you in the living room.”

“You know me so well,” I said. “Thanks.”

I left mother and son to it, joining Drake, my brother, and the Bramble triplets.