“I own the hotel. We don’t fucking pay here,” I remind him as I roll my eyes.
TWENTY-THREE
Astra
I decide it’s time for action. So when Fabien offers to help me in any way that he can, I ask him to track down Sandra. I’m surprised at how easy it is for him. It literally takes two phone calls before he has a number he can reach her at.
She seems very interested in meeting right away. Fabien tells her the name of a place, and I’m just sitting here in the background with no clue what’s really going on.
Despite knowing Donovan is going to flip his lid, I let Fabien call Torrin to let him know we were meeting up with Sandra.
Donovan quickly takes over the call and, sounding very pissed, tells me I’m not to leave until Andre gets here. I want to ask where he is because it doesn’t sound like he’s off… taking out the trash or whatever, but it’s only out of curiosity. I want to know if he’s done and how he did it so quickly. But I let the curiosity pass because he sounds very focused on this idea of me having some kind of watcher. When he explains it’s to keep me safe, I give in without argument, even though I had been ready to tear him a new one because I thought we were past these little trust issues.
Since I don’t want to think about how these feelings for the monster are growing, I let Fabien distract me by getting him to talk about his research. The more he talks, the more I learn howbig of a witch nerd he is. It’s absolutely adorable how he lights up when talking about his work. I might not follow along with it, but that’s not the point. I get the feeling he doesn’t get the chance to share these things very often.
A little while later, Fabien declares it’s time to go. While Fabien says the cafe we’re meeting at is within walking distance, Andre insists on driving.
The sky is overcast, but since it isn’t raining, I suggest we sit outside. I tuck myself in a corner with the wall to my back and a line of shrubs to my side. I can see everything going on this way.
Since I’m not trying to hide anything from Donovan, I tell Andre to sit with us as he goes to grab a table a few feet away. He shakes his head, making me wonder if he’s still leery of me. He seemed very shaken yesterday when myabilitieswent haywire. I respect his need for distance, so I let him do his thing.
I try not to laugh at how his deep green dress shirt makes him blend in with the huge potted plant behind him.
“Do you think you can trust her?” Fabien asks as he leans close to me. The cafe isn’t too busy, and the courtyard only holds two other full tables. It seems a little silly that he’s trying to share secrets when there’s no one around.
I shrug and try to keep the expression on my face light.
I want to trust Sandra, but I’m not sure who Icantrust anymore.
My thoughts instantly drift to Donovan. He’s never lied to me. He’s never tried to hide who he truly is. As scary as that is, I actually respect it. If I’m being honest, it’s the one thing above everything else that makes me trust him.
Glancing at Fabien, I can’t help but feel like I can trust him, too. His face is too honest. It’s almost precious how his eyes are wide as he looks around, and his finger taps against his knee as we wait. If he chews on the side of his bottom lip any harder, I’m worried he’s going to chomp right through it.
“It’s okay, Fabien,” I tell him as I place a calm hand on the top of his.
“Yeah, sorry.” He nods and reaches for the glass of water in front of him. “I think I’m more spooked by the break-in than I want to admit. My already frazzled nerves are shot, and it probably doesn’t help that I feel like we might be doing something dangerous.”
“Not a fan of danger?” I lightly tease with a raised brow.
Fabien snorts as he shoots me a look that says ‘of course not.’
“I suspect that’s why Torrin and Donovan stopped hanging out with me,” he tells me. “I’m not quite cut out for… that kind of life.”
I blink at him. Again, I sense there’s more to it, and I would bet that’s not why they pushed him away. I don’t know Torrin well, but I can read him like a book. And Donovan has a heart under all that concrete in his chest. My guess, they wanted to protect Fabien and keep him away from a life that would either change him or get him killed. Probably both.
Donovan has a reputation to maintain, and I’m sure the same goes for Torrin. As much as I want to say something, I don’t think it’s my place.
I catch sight of Sandra walking across the cafe in our direction. Her body language says she’s trying to go unnoticed, but the look in her eyes says she’s not afraid. I’m not sure what to make of it, but I am positive it puts me on edge. Remembering what Donovan said, I try to hold back any and all emotions. I’ve already warned Fabien not to say anything about my abilities, so I just need to focus on not letting them reveal themselves.
“Hello, Astra,” Sandra says as she pulls out the seat across from me. “And you must be the one who called me.”
“Fabien Beaumont,” he introduces himself to her again her. His tone is tight, but he smiles easily enough. My gut rocks asshe looks at him. She already knows who he is. I can see it in her carefully crafted expression. What game is she playing at? “I know all about you. Sandra Perkins of the Northern Border Coven. Though it seems your coven has presented formal documents calling your loyalty into question.”
Well played, Fabien.
I’m proud of how he held his ground. Head high and not an ounce of fear in his tone.
I don’t ask how he knows this off the top of his head or why he didn’t tell me this information earlier.
