CHAPTER NINE-YOU'RE EARLY

Looking back over her shoulder at the tall white-haired man following her, Gretchen rolled her eyes away and shook her head. "Why the fuck are you following me?"

As his blue eyes stared into the back of her head, the beautiful specimen of man spoke in his arrogant way. "I am Agamori. Lord Commander of the Darke's army."

Gretchen stopped walking and turned to face the statuesque witch who wore the leather armored chest gear of the Darke Riders. "That doesn't answer my question there Casper. Again, why are you following me?"

Raising his pale white eyebrow, Agamori spoke down to the spirited woman. He’d become used to the often-mouthy female members of Gretchen’s clan and he’d become quite smitten with their fiery tirades, often pushing him to engage them in playful banter. He knew that the one thing Hexom ladies hated more than anything was to be treated like they were powerless. "I'm under orders from his Majesty, King Daniel, to protect you, my lady.”

Gretchen rolled her eyes and crossed her arms as she stepped up to the towering man. "Oh, right. I know what this is. I finally figured it out. I'm in my own personal hell and every week a new member of the Darke family is going to come harass me. So, who's turn is it next week big guy? I like being prepared."

Smirking at the woman, Agamori was happy that she’d taken up the challenge of good-humored word play. "I'll have to check the schedule, my lady."

Gretchen chuckled and slapped Agamori's shoulder. "Alright then, Agi. Keep me updated."

As they reached the cottage, Agamori opened the door for Gretchen and waited for her to go through before closing it and standing watch outside the house.

The smell of sage and lemon swept over Gretchen again and her heart sank as she turned the corner to see an auburn-haired woman

instead of Damien looking at the old photos that lined the living room tables and shelves.

"That's a very sweet picture of you.” Queen Rosemary tilted her head and rocked back and forth dreamily as she gazed at the people frozen on the shiny paper.

"That was my fifth birthday. My parents hired a clown and everything.” Coming to her side, Gretchen smiled at the memory.

"That must've been so much fun," said Rosemary as she smiled and glanced to Gretchen.

Narrowing her eyes suspiciously at Damien’s mother, Gretchen nodded. "It was, yes. You know, you're too early.”

Rosemary pulled down her brows in confusion. "Too early? Whatever do you mean?"

Counting on her fingers as she explained to Rosemary, Gretchen recounted everything she understood to be true. "Well, last week Damien stalked me and this week that albino fella outside is here to follow me around. You aren't due for a few more days. I just want to be sure we’re all on the same page.”

Rosemary gave an amused grin when she realized Gretchen was being comical. Although she’d lived on Earth once as well, it was centuries ago, and she didn’t always catch the Earth born sarcasm. Since meeting and befriending Tessa, she’d started to catch on more. "I'm Damien's mother, Rosemary, I just want to talk to you if you’re feeling up to it."

"Oh, I see," said Gretchen as she swept her hand towards the couch. "Well, please sit down, your Majesty."

"I came to check on you. How are you doing?" she asked as she sat down beside Gretchen.

"You know, some days are better than others. Thank you," said Gretchen as she leaned back against the cushion.

Looking around the familiar architecture and style of décor, Rosemary grinned before she glanced back to Gretchen. "You know, I grew up right here in this city.”

"Yes, I'd heard that you were Nicholas's daughter," said Gretchen. "Why'd you ever leave? This is paradise."

Rosemary smiled and looked down to the brand on her finger. "Love. I was hopelessly in love with my husband. Our bond called out to me and I couldn't refuse it, although, I tried for a very long time to do just that."

"Fate beat you into submission. Sounds lovely," Gretchen said as she rolled her eyes away.

"Something like that," laughed Rosemary before she looked at Gretchen. "It was for the best, I assure you. I'm very happy now. Daniel is a wonderful man. I know what people say about him, but they just don't know him like I do."

"You know, I bet the wives of all murderous tyrants say the same thing," said Gretchen before she could even stop herself.

No one had ever dared say something like that to Rosemary, but she understood wat Gretchen was saying. "Yes, that's true and they're right. Fate never promises to give us who we want, only who we need. If no one else ever understands how we can love each other, it doesn't matter."

Her mind wandering back to the human she’d nearly forgotten, Gretchen looked at her own hands.

"I was supposed to be getting married soon, but...I don't even know what happened to him. I can't remember." Chuckling to herself, Gretchen swallowed the truth about herself down hard. “Some fucking wife I would have been.”

Rosemary pressed her lips together and thought about what to say for a moment. "I'm very sorry, Gretchen. It's a horrible thing to be separated from the people you care about as you have been.”

"Thank you," said Gretchen before she looked out the window with teary eyes. "My poor parents, I can't even imagine what they must be going through right now. They were the absolute best parents and they didn't deserve this."

Rosemary put her hand on Gretchen's. "No one deserves it dear. I promise you; you'll see them again."

"That's what everyone keeps telling me," said Gretchen as she wiped her tears off her face.

"Gretchen, Daniel and I would like to invite you to come stay with us. Whenever you're feeling up to it," said Rosemary.

Gretchen glanced into Rosemary's eyes then stood and faced her. "I'm sorry your Majesty, but I think that's probably about the worst idea ever. Your son and I don't get along well. We...it would just be a disaster."

Rising off the couch, the gentle queen clasped her hands to her chest as if to plead for her son’s very life. "Damien, he's just beside himself with worry for you.”

Closing her eyes, Gretchen shook her head. "Rosemary, I don't want to be disrespectful to you or anything, but I just don't want to ever see him again."

Rosemary blinked away, wishing she could just explain away everything, but it wasn’t her place. "Someday, when…when you have children of your own, you'll understand how much it hurts to see them suffering and not to be able to help them. It's just awful. I know that he did things to upset you, and he's just beating himself up over it. I hope when you're ready, you'll give my offer consideration. We'd just love to have you and your family stay with us."

Gretchen looked over the petite woman and felt a bit bad about the things she said. "Thank you, Rosemary. Maybe someday.”

Rosemary sighed and threw her arms around Gretchen. "That offer has no expiration. Anytime you want to come home, the door is always open to you. I hope that you will just give us a chance. I know you'd be happy if you'd just open your hearts to us."

Shutting the door behind the queen, Gretchen trilled her lips and walked into the kitchen where Logan was sitting at the table. "Is everything alright, Gretch?"

"Yes, it's fine. Rosemary invited me, us, to come stay at their castle, " she said as she sat down across from him.

"That's a hard no for me," said Logan.

Tessa slapped his shoulder. "Logan! That's not helpful. They're wonderful people Gretchen. A little eccentric, but who isn't? They're just very serious about the safety and welfare of their family. Considering everything that's happened in our lives, I'd expect you of all people to understand Logan."

"I do understand," said Logan as he pulled Tessa onto his lap, "but I'll be damned if I'm going to just let the women in this family get sucked into their craziness. I don't care who Daniel is."

Tessa grinned as she scratched at the grumpy alpha’s chin. “Calm down, killer. We got our own crazy right here. What makes you think he wants any part of this mess?”

Gretchen smiled because she knew on some level, that was true. "Did you all know when you met? Did you know instantly that you were mates?"

"Absolutely," said Logan. "Jacob and I knew the minute we saw Tessa."

Tessa scoffed at Logan and pushed him playfully on the shoulder. "Hell no. I didn’t feel sit. Logan forced my ass into submission.”

"Forced? Come on! All these years and you still get this story twisted," said Logan. "The thing about witches is you're all fucking hard headed, arrogant malcontents that don't know what's good for them. You knew we were your mates and you fought it every step of the way because it's just the kind of person you are. You thought you didn't deserve happiness so you made everyone's life as miserable as yours was just so you didn't have to suffer alone."

Tessa laughed a snorted chuckle. "You're definitely not wrong, Logan. I love seeing you two suffer. You know, Gretch, I was too messed up over my parent’s death and…everything else to even acknowledge that they might be my mates. It doesn’t mean that I don’t want all this now. I’m happy.”

Logan sighed as he rubbed Tessa’s belly. "So, are you going to visit them?"

Gretchen scrunched up her nose and shook her head. "I don't think so. I can't see any good coming from that. There’s nothing between me and Damien. They just need to let it go."