“Interesting,” he said, smiling suggestively. He was probably having flashbacks to their earlier activities, much like she was. It was almost tempting to forget about the Skyler issue and initiate something else between them to distract him. Hell, it would distract her.
“What’s happening?” she asked, tears welling up in her eyes as she considered the various answers to the question. Something was definitely off about the Skyler situation, but she couldn’t put her finger on what.
“Maybe he saw you with your familiar, or out picking cabbage leaves under the full moon or something.” He shrugged.
“I don’t think cabbage leaves would get you very far,” she quipped, trying not to let the stress overtake her or else she’d never recover, and she couldn’t return to Bex’s wedding clearly upset, it would raise too many questions, especially when her Mum had just been introduced to Felix and correctly guessed that he was her mate. Eurgh, she hated that word. But there wasn’t another one that was widely used by witches, and she knew even less about dryad mating habits. She guessed she’d find out later.
“Well I know next to nothing about potions. Maybe you can teach me.” He nuzzled his lips into her hair, distracting the pair of them again.
“Stop,” she said, pushing him away firmly. He looked hurt, but he obeyed, taking a step back and putting some much needed distance between the two of them. “We need to figure this out, Felix. If there’s something dodgy going on, then I want him away from my family. Bex has enough to deal with today as it is, and don’t get me started on Faye.”
“Faye and the dark haired guy she was with?”
“Reese. Yes. I’ll explain later.” Maybe she could even enlist his help in trying to figure out the best way to help Faye and Reese move past the not being able to touch thing. Dryads were renowned for their work with natural remedies.
“Okay. Have you considered that he might have had you under some kind of enchantment?”
“Like what? A love potion?” she threw back, only for the two of them to stand in complete silence as her words sunk in. The way she’d been acting was almost exactly like someone had been using a love potion on her. “That rat bastard,” she muttered.
“Meeting me must have broken through it,” Felix said softly and she looked up at him, meeting his eyes and seeing the pain and hope that was there.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice cracking as tears threatened. He smoothed his thumb over her cheek again.
“You’re welcome. But don’t worry, we’ll figure it out.”
Chapter Twelve
As little as he wanted to, Felix knew that he had to go and find Robert. With his growing obsession over one of the bridesmaids, he’d almost completely abandoned his role as the best man. Not that much needed doing. Unless making sure that Robert hadn’t gotten too drunk that he couldn’t stand anymore. There was always a chance that could have happened.
He exited the reception room and made his way outside, something telling him that his friend would be about. If he was honest, he quite wanted to be outside and close to nature as it was. It’d been a hectic day, and being inside so much, not to mention away from his tether overnight, had taken it’s toll on him. No dryad should be away from nature for that long. He couldn’t regret it though, not when it was the exact turn of events that had led him to Mia. Felix smiled to himself. Despite the worrying turn of the day, and the concerns he still had about Bex and Robert’s marriage, it had been a good one. Which was definitely a good thing considering this was the day he’d be telling his future children about when they asked how he met their mother.
He spotted a lone figure sat under a tree, and started to make his way over. He’d bet most of what he owned that it was Robert under the tree, though he had no clue what he was doing. Normally, Robert would be busy drinking or hitting on someone. Though the latter was probably a little difficult at his own wedding.
“Robert?” he called out, and the figure looked up, proving Felix right. He quickened his pace and soon found himself stood under the tree with his friend next to him looking a lot worse for wear. In fact, it almost looked as if Robert had been crying. Which was odd to say the least.
“What are you doing here Felix?” he slurred his words, at least Felix had got the drunk part right.
“Come to find you, it is your wedding day after all.”
“Huh. Some day that turned out to be,” Robert muttered, turning Felix’s curiosity up a notch. Something was going on, and he suspected it was bigger than he’d originally suspected.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” Robert spoke quickly, waving a dismissive hand as he did.
“No, not nothing Robert. It’s your wedding day, you should be inside celebrating with your wife.” To Felix’s surprise, the last word came out as a hiss, and he had to wonder what had happened to him. He didn’t think that he’d ever spoken to Robert that way before. Maybe he was just on edge with the whole Skyler thing.
A rustle sounded from some bushes that were off to the side and Robert glanced around uneasily, peeking Felix’s interest even more. Something was definitely off with his friend.
“You need to go Felix,” Robert said, his frantic tone betraying far more than his words.
“What?”
“Go, now, don’t let him see you.” Well that was odd. But Felix listened, backing away slowly and going a few feet before realising that if he hung around a bit more, then maybe he could find out more about what was going. He crept up to another nearby tree, suddenly very thankful to the gardeners who’d designed the garden all those decades ago. Pulling on one of his dryad powers, he merged into the tree. Well, not merged, more like camouflaged. He was still a separate entity to the tree, but anyone looking his way would be clueless to the fact he was there. Except perhaps Mia. She’d probably be able to see him, or at the very least feel he was there. He strained his ears, wishing that he had some shifter blood, that would make this far easier he was sure.
“I don’t know what you want Skyler.” Robert’s voice shook, which was probably to do with the other man, even Felix was a little wary of Skyler. But how did they know each other? And what was Skyler doing here?
“I want proof. That’s the whole point of you being here isn’t it?”