Gaia finished mopping the floor behind the counters at work before Oliver arrived. He waited in his car outside the café for her to finish closing up.
Gaia was looking forward to going out to dinner with Oliver, but her intentions weren’t entirely noble. Bash had shown up anytime she was out with Ollie. She was internally hoping that going out with him would bring Bash out of hiding. If Bash was still secretly watching her, there’s no way his jealousy would keep him from making his presence known. Then, Gaia would get her answers from him.
After the last guest had gone, and she had dismissed the help, instead of going home, Matilda walked to Quin’s room and reached up to knock. Before her knuckles could touch the wooden door, it swung open. Quin stood on the other side, shirtless and still damp from a shower. His joggers sat low on his hips and Mads couldn’t help noticing he was bare beneath.
Gaia did as he instructed her. Bash guided her inside.“Okay. Open them.”Gaia opened her eyes and a smile spread across her face.“Do you like it?” Bash ask
Gaia knelt before Bash in the center of the room, her naked pale skin exposed to the cool air. She held her back straight and proud. Gaia was no longer weak and mortal. In the two months since her turning, Bash realized Gaia had inherited her ancient sire’s strength. She was much stronger than a typical fledgling.But Gaia would always kneel in submission to her sire and mate. It was a show of love and trust and not a show of weakness as many people believed. Bash would always be her master, her lover, her everything.
One Month After Gaia’s Twenty-Eighth BirthdayAren’t you nervous or scared?" Matilda asked as they watched the workers set up a tent in the backyard.“As strange as it sounds, no. I’m at peace and excited. This is the first step before Bash and I can be sealed as mates,” Gaia replied.
The June After Oliver’s DeathGraduation. They’d finally made it.
Three Weeks Since Oliver’s DeathIt was the first day of the fall session, the beginning of Mads and Gaia’s last year of college was about to begin. Gaia fought Bash the three weeks about dropping out of college. She had finally emptied her apartment and rented to someone Mads knew who planned to renew the lease in their name at the beginning of the year.