Meena reached across the table for his hand. He grabbed hers, squeezing it to convey all the things he couldn’t say. She gave him a small smile.
Mysta passed him a tissue, which he used to dab away the moisture. “Thanks.” The single word came out hoarse, but no one acknowledged it.
He swallowed. “I tried to be there for her in between my jobs and sleep. She appreciated everything you did for her, even if you didn’t have to.”
Samuel cleared his throat, a suspicious sheen in his eyes.
Pain tugged at Viktor’s heart. “Mom never said anything about you. Never said who was helping her. I always volunteered to make runs for her, anything she needed. She always said she was taken care of, but we never saw you around.”
Mysta reached over and placed a hand on Viktor’s forearm, giving him a squeeze of reassurance that helped stabilize some of his emotions and gave him grounding. His fox chuffed in approval.
The anger faded further. “I came at night and during breakfast and lunchtime. She didn’t want me to miss work for her, so she made sure I could take her during those times. Any extra money I had went to her after the bills were paid. My mother taught me responsibility, and I never thought of you as beneath me. I just never wanted to get Mysta in trouble or to wake you up.”
Samuel chuckled. “Night shift, security for a big box store warehouse. I would’ve been up already.” His features relaxed.
“Boring. As. Fuck. All you do is stare at boxes and monitors and walk around every hour. ’Scuse my language.” Viktor nodded at the ladies.
“You’d think the higher ups thought raccoons would steal a flat screen the rules they set up. You couldn’t even take a piss without it being on the schedule. And we won’t talk about the pay.” Samuel shook his head.
“But there were benefits, insurance,” Viktor pointed out.
“Yeah, there was that. Saved us some money but not much.” Samuel let out a heavy sigh.
“Enough griping. Mysta,”—Meena turned to her daughter—“Tell us about what’s there to see in Evenfall? We’ve read the brochures a few times, but we’d like it from your lips, dear.”
Mysta chuckled. “What about the Evenfall forest hike trail? Or Sally’s Sundae Parlor? They have a lot delicious offerings. And there’s Evenfall Founding Museum. Just a few places you could go.”
“Why not the Goblin’s Prick? I’ve been wanting to check that place out for a while.” Samuel pouted. Samuel gave Viktor a look and rolled his eyes.
“Sam!” Meena slapped his bicep gently.
“I can take you,” Viktor volunteered. “Do you like home brews? They make some of their own stuff.”
“But is it good home brew? I’ve tasted stuff that will peel the paint off of a Harley.” Samuel shuddered.
“You like Harleys?” Viktor relaxed.
The conversation turned to types of motorcycles, dream bikes, and places they’d love to take road trips to, and Viktor began to relax a little. Mysta, Meena, and Lina talked around them about various things: recipes for both cooking and spells and books they’d read in the past few weeks.
The waiter arrived to take their orders. Everyone placed their meal choices, and then they began discussing local sights that Mysta’s family might enjoy.
“We could go to the Prick,” Viktor suggested. “It’s open mic night or as we like to call it make-your-ears-bleed night. Lots of laughs and cringe-worthy moments. We can talk more about that new line of bikes too.”
“Tomorrow night. I’m glad we could find some common ground. I can see that you could be good enough for my Mysta.” Samuel’s thick brow winged up in question.
“Deal. Ever been ice fishing? Cold as hell but great fun.”
“Never been. We’ll talk later. There’s a great spot on Arbor Town lake. Have you been back? Your father is doing work on the old Crawford place on the lake.” Samuel shook his head.
Viktor’s stomach dropped. “Did they at least get someone in there to clear it out?”
Meena sighed. “You know the Crawfords are stubborn. They swear it isn’t haunted. I’m lobbying the local covens to intercede before someone gets killed.”
“Mom, you know that’s not going to happen,” Lina interjected. “They take money from the Crawford family.”
“Um, so you’ve spoken to my father?” Sweat beaded on Viktor’s brow and his heart stuttered.
“Don’t worry, Viktor, now that your father has work he’s mellowed a bit. I think losing your mother made him realize just how angry he’s been. We have a beer every week and talk. He’s proud of you.” Samuel gave him a small smile.
They had a beer? Every week? The two sentences sounded foreign to his ears. The man he’d known his whole life who’d hated everyone and had only been around long enough to father and check in on his children had a stable job and a friend in town? If Viktor had been punched it wouldn’t have surprised him more than what he’d just heard.
“Proud…of….me?” Viktor hated that he couldn’t believe it and yet he didn’t.
Samuel chuckled. “I know how I sounded before, but that was to see how you would react. I didn’t always like or respect you, but now…”
“I understand. I-I don’t know how to take this new information. He was never really around growing up, either drunk or causing scenes and stressing my mom out. The rest of the family just ignored him and us.”
“I understand. I do. Maybe give him a call? Get the ball rolling? He’s got a lot to say. Just my two cents. Take it or leave it.” Samuel shrugged. The waiter returned to take their dessert order.
“So, you guys seem more relaxed.” Mysta nodded to her mother and father.
“Less stress means more time to spend with each other. Your mother has started a knitting circle, and I’ve got some great news.” Samuel reached over and took Meena’s hand. “Lina has found a family. First interview too.”
Mysta was out of her seat and around the table in the time it took to blink. She hugged her sister. “Oh my goddess, that’s awesome, Lina!”
Lina returned the embrace. “I didn’t think it would happen so soon. Once I take the exam and I pass I can move here. Mom and Dad are helping me find apartments.”
The waiter returned with their order and placed their choices before them.
Mysta beamed and released her sister. “That’s really great, Lina. Remember to call me if you need help.” She moved to settle down in her seat and dug into her cake.
Viktor frowned. “Isn’t that the norm? To be paired up on the first run?”
Meena shook her head. “No, it’s not, and the times have changed. In the past older, more prestigious families would bend the rules by claiming familiar families they’d dealt with as their own personal familiars, regardless of whether their sons or daughters were compatible or not.”
Viktor absorbed that information and frowned. “That’s not fair.”
“It wasn’t, but those were the rules back then, and that’s how the main branch of my family got first pick.” No emotion showed on Samuels face. “When it was time for other branches to have their turn for their testing there would be no one left.”
Sadness tugged at Viktor. It explained so much. His anger at the older, established familiar families grew.
Mysta put her hand on his. A calm, soothing energy flitted up his arm, cooling some of his ardor.
“A lot of time money changed hands to keep potential matches away from certain branches. This didn’t just happen in our family but others.” Meena gave him a sad smile. “For a long time that’s how it worked, but now there’s a new governing body, and rules are more flexible. We owe so much to the Roseways. They demanded that Mysta test with Bridget. The main branch had been trying to block their requests, but Bridget and her parents fought so hard for us.” Tears glimmered in her eyes.
“If Mysta hadn’t studied so hard and she hadn’t worked her butt off Lina wouldn’t have gotten the chance she did. By being paired with Mysta she showed other families that
lesser branches did have power.” Pride blazed on Samuel’s face. “She demanded the right to try even though it was her last testing. We wouldn’t have let her if she hadn’t pushed for it.”
Mysta’s face flushed a crimson color and she looked down. “It wasn’t a big deal. I knew I could do it,” she muttered.
“Yes it is, sugar, I’m so proud of you!” Viktor squeezed her hand.
“We are all so proud of you, dear.” Meena beamed. “We owe you so much for all that you sacrificed. Thank you.”
“Yes, thank you,” Samuel echoed.
Viktor tried to think of something to say, but nothing came up. What he’d known had been a lie, one he’d made up to conform to the truth he’d always believed. Mysta’s family was nothing like the familiar families he’d encountered in his youth.
Mysta scooted over to him. “Mom and Dad are much more at ease than when I grew up,” she whispered.
He wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
She continued on despite his silence. “I’ve never seen them so…affectionate before.” Awe filled her features.
“They were never this—” He gestured across the table to where Samuel was caressing Meena’s face. Lina ignored them, staring down at her phone as if it were a lifeline.
“No, no PDA of any kind, not even a small kiss. They were always so…” Her lips pressed together in a thin line. “They were always so distant to each other. As if they were just people, not married or in love or anything.”
“You know I can hear you?” Samuel chuckled and Mysta ducked her head.
“Um—”
“It’s okay, dear, your father and I lived with a lot of guilt, him for not being able to give me the life he thought I’d wanted and me for not being able to support him in the way I thought he needed. We didn’t talk about it until recently. With the money coming in we were able to go to a marriage counselor.” Meena grinned. “We got a lot of things out in the open.” Concern flashed on her face. “Things are better now, all around.”
“Good.” Mysta glanced down. “Let’s finish this before my ice cream melts. So, where do you want to go tomorrow now that you have some free time?”
“How about the Witches Wishing Well? Said to bring good luck if you throw in a penny,” Meena suggested.
“I can show you around the library if you want,” Viktor threw out.
“That’d be great.” Lina beamed at him.
Viktor and the family ate dessert. In between bites they exchanged news from Arbor Town.
“Mayor is trying to hike taxes again,” Samuel muttered.
“Of course he is, but at least he’s hitting the rich and not the poor,” Meena pointed out.
“Still a lot of money. And Lina may have a boyfriend.” Samuel turned his attention to his daughter. A teasing light filled his eyes.
Twin rose patches appeared on her cheeks. “Not my boyfriend, Dad. Stop trying to embarrass me.”
“Just your shadow,” Samuel continued. He finished off the last of his beer and put the glass down.
“Dad! Stop it.” Mysta shook her head. “He’s just being annoying, Lina. Don’t mind him.”
Viktor couldn’t help but grin and watch it. Any last traces of anger or irritation faded away at witnessing the family bonding and happy.
When they finished eating Samuel called for the bill. He held up a hand. “Dinner’s on me.” The waiter arrived and gave them their bill folder. Samuel put a few bills on the table and stood up. “Time to go. Early day tomorrow.”
“I’ll get the car since you’ve been drinking, Samuel.” Meena left before anyone could protest.
They exited the restaurant. Lina and Samuel milled around with Mysta while they waited for Meena to bring the car around.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Samuel.” Viktor actually looked forward to the meeting.
This time Samuel took his hand and shook it, his smile reaching his eyes.
The family’s beat-up station wagon pulled up to the curb. Mysta bid Lina good-bye and waved her family off before coming over to Viktor and taking his hand. “Ready?”
He accepted her touch, and led her to the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. “Yeah. We have a lot to talk about.”
“I know,” she murmured.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Mysta held on to Viktor’s hand. A weight had lifted off of her shoulders. Her father and mother were in a positive place. None of the stresses from the past had destroyed them. She had never seen them so affectionate in her life. Her chest felt full of emotions she couldn’t express. It hurt to breathe. As she and Viktor walked down the road toward her house she tried to figure out what to say, but her brain was a blank slate. Her heart hammered against her rib cage, and taking in air became difficult. She became light-headed as she labored to get enough oxygen into her lungs.
“Mys? Honey, you okay?” Viktor stopped and tugged on her hand.
“I was wrong.” The words came out in a rush. Dizziness assailed her, and she swayed on her feet. She clung to Viktor like a lifeline to keep herself upright.
“Wrong? You? Naaaah.” Viktor grinned and leaned down until their faces were close enough to touch. His humid breath fogged up her glasses.
“Shut up.” The wave of uncertainty passed, and she felt better. She removed her spectacles and used her shirt to clear them up. “I… Seeing my parents tonight, how happy they are and knowing that they were miserable because of the weight of the secrets they were keeping showed me that.”
Viktor pressed his lips to her nose. “Yeah…” Emotions rushed over his features: regret, confusion, love, adoration, happiness. For a moment her breath stalled in her throat.
“Viktor…”
He pressed a kiss on her forehead. “I loved you so much and I knew you were so special. You’d never been touched by life the way I had with a drunk for a father who drifted from job to job and was never there for you or your mother, or at least I thought you hadn’t. Knowing your family had gone through so much because of stupidity of the main branch… You put so much pressure on yourself. I’m so sorry.”
Tears slipped over her cheeks. “I wanted to help them so much. I didn’t have friends outside of Bridget. I met Sera and Lana later. I would only see Bridget during the summer when her family came to stay at their Arbor Town home. I wanted to be her familiar so badly.”
Viktor squeezed her hand. “From what I’ve heard you were lucky to have her. I didn’t mean…. Shit… It’s just that she sounds like a really good witch. Goddess, that sounds so pathetic.”
She laughed. For the first time she knew she could confide in him without any misunderstandings. “She is. Her family is wealthy, but she doesn’t flaunt it. Bridget treats everyone with respect and decency unless you’re an asshole.”
“Think she’d like me? I want your friends to like me because I’m going to be in your life, Mys. I’m not going anywhere, honey.” He stopped again and pulled her to him until she fell against him.
She exhaled as joy bubbled up inside of her until she let out a crystalline laugh that sent night birds flying and the creatures that hunted them scurrying away from possible danger. Ignoring what could be lurking out there, she stood up on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around him. “I don’t know why I thought you were leaving. I just got so panicked earlier. I’m happy that you’re not going anywhere.”
A thick blond brow rose. “That’s what you thought? Honey, why didn’t you ask me?”
She pecked his lips. “I was too scared. But now…” She shook her head. “Now I want to be with you, to try.”
He squeezed her to him. His erection pressed against her belly. “I love you. I always have. I’m here for you regardless, if you’ll let me. I know you haven’t experienced a lot in life. Some of it was fear, but you’re not alone now.” He dotted her face with quick kisses that only made her hungry for more.
“You’ve told me that a thousand times in a thousand different ways but I didn’t want to pay attention. I was scared. I
t was all so new to me, so different from what I grew up with. I didn’t want to disappoint you.” She whispered the last part. Hearing it out loud made her heart ache. Sorrow and regret filled her. She wanted to run from it, hide, escape. Instead, she buried her head in the crook of his neck and blinked back the tears of humiliation. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. The word looped through her mind, choking her.
Viktor tugged on her hair. She tilted her head up to look at his ear, refusing to gaze into those beautiful green eyes that would only hold pity.
Viktor kept pulling. “Honey, look at me.” His stare weighed on her shoulders. She continued to avoid his eyes.
He chuckled. “Fine, I’ll talk to the top of your head.” He released her tresses and smoothed them down. “You are not stupid. You are beautiful, intelligent, sexy, sweet, unique. You are my goddess. I worship you. I would go to the ends of the Earth for you.”
The words pounded at the shields she’d put up to keep from getting hurt and cracked through to the other side to sink into the depths of her soul.
“I love you, even though you’re a perfectionist who needs to understand everything for it to make sense.” He punctuated that statement with a kiss on the top of her head. “I adore you and all that you are even if you ran away because you were scared. I have an idea of what you thought you had to do and what you felt you had to give up for your family, and I love you for it. Do you hear me? You’re loyal, generous, thoughtful, and sexy. So very sexy.” He pulled a hank of hair again.
In the face of his words and the moment, Mysta forgot where they were or who might be watching. Cool night air brushed against her face. She allowed him to tug her head back until she could see into his eyes. Viktor moved his head forward, and he pressed his lips to hers. In a flash of understanding she felt home, safe, and accepted. On a sigh she opened her mouth to him allowing his tongue to slip in to duel hers. She pushed herself closer until her breasts were cushioned against his chest, and the ridge of his fly pressed into her abdomen. He nibbled at her lips, sucking the sensitive flesh until it was hot and throbbed in time with her heartbeat.
Outfoxing Mysta Page 14
