After putting in the order and paying, I wait outside. I suddenly feel eyes on me. Looking across the street, I see nothing out of place, no one is anywhere near me, yet I have this strange sensation like I am being watched, and can feel their gaze.
Feeling creeped out, I am about to walk back into the café when I notice him. Thaddeus is leaning against the wall near the alleyway. I stare at him, shocked, thinking I have lost my mind and started imagining him. Yet , when he moves off the wall towards me, I have no doubt it is actually him.
Just the sight of him makes my heart beat faster and I suddenly get nervous. Thaddeus walks over and stops in front of me.
“Hello, little one,” he says as he reaches his hand out and cups my face with his warm hand, his thumb rubbing along my cheekbone. I lean into his touch, sparks moving against my skin.
“I missed you,” I tell him. Thaddeus drops his hand, stepping back, and I reach out for him, but he steps away from me. My heart clenches at his rejection.
“Why are you alone?” he asks, looking up the street.
Instead of answering his question, I ask my own. “Are you coming back with me?” I ask, hoping he is going to say yes. Thaddeus says nothing.
“I will walk you back,” he says when the woman behind the counter calls my name.
“I don’t need a sitter. Are you coming home or not?” I ask, as she places the order on the counter for me.
“You’re better off without me. I won’t be coming back, Evelyn.”
“Then why are you here? Don’t bother if you plan to disappear for months and then pop up out of the blue. Just choose to be with us,” I tell him.
“I just needed to see you; I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“You thinking you can just pop in and out is disturbing. Either come home or don’t come back, Thaddeus,” I tell him, turning to grab the coffee and bag off of the counter.
When I turn back around, he is gone. I look up the street in both directions but can’t see him anywhere. I guess he has made his choice, then. I felt his leave deeply; he didn’t say anything, just poof and he is gone, like a figment of my imagination. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I walk back to the office.
Imogen looks up as I enter and darts over to me. “What happened?” she asks.
“Nothing.” I smile, but I feel it falter as my eyes burn with unshed tears.
“You look on the verge of tears, dear. You smell like…” she shakes her head.
“Thaddeus,” I answer, and she nods.
Tobias rushes out the door. “Thaddeus, did you see him?” he asks. I press my lips in a line, trying to fight the overwhelming feelings seeing him has conjured up.
“Where is he?” Tobias asks, looking around the foyer just as Theo rushes out of his office.
I shake my head. “He’s not coming back,” I tell him. His eyes move to Imogen, and I can see the hurt on her face. She longs for her son, just as much as I long for my mate.
Evelyn
Orion comes to pick me up; Imogen must have called him because I know I didn’t. As I get in the car, he looks at me.
“Are you okay?” he asks, but I can tell he misses Thaddeus just as much as I do. He is simply better at hiding it, yet I can feel how badly he wants him through the bond.
“Where is Ryland?” I ask instead of answering. I know he already knows I don’t feel okay.
“Went looking for him,” Orion answers, and I turn to the window.
Ryland doesn’t come home till late that night, waking me as he climbs into bed. As I feel the warmth of his skin pressed against mine, I roll over and nestle into his chest, inhaling his scent as he wraps his arms around me, pulling me closer.
“You didn’t find anything?” I ask.
He says nothing, just pulls me closer, resting his chin on my head. Orion hops out of the shower. I didn’t even realize he was gone from the bed; his side always feels colder. Pulling the covers back, he hops in, his cold hands make me shiver. Not even the heat from the shower makes him warm. He props himself up on his elbow, looking at Ryland.
“Nothing?”
I feel Ryland nod. Orion sighs as he rolls away and I feel Ryland’s hand move. He grabs Orion’s chin, pulls him towards him, and kisses him. I love seeing them together; I love the feeling through the bond.
“I will find him,” Ryland tells him, and Orion nods as he lies down.
“We should go to bed. You still want to see Lana in the morning?” Orion asks.
“Yes, I promised I would meet her,” I tell him, and he leans over, turning off the lamp as he lays back down and snuggles against me.
All night I toss and turn. I even hear Ryland grunt when I kick him in my sleep, and he sits up.
“Do I need to restrain you?” he asks, and I yawn, fighting to stay awake. I hear Orion chuckle behind me but he just climbs over me to hop in the middle.
Then, Ryland’s phone rings on the nightstand. He hops out of the bed, muttering something. Sitting up, I rub my eyes and yawn. He answers the call and walks out of the room.
“Where did he go?” I yawn and drop my head in Orion’s lap, wrapping my arms around his waist.
“He will be back; he just went inside to see Amara,” Orion says.
“Did something happen?” I ask.
“Go back to sleep, Evelyn,” Orion tells me, and I feel the fog creep over me, but I am too tired to fight it, so instead, I give in and go to sleep.