The Haunted Memories (Forgotten Series, #4)

Chapter 30

I slowly stroked Madeline's hair as she slept. I was uncomfortable on her small bed but she had wanted to curl up with me as she fell asleep. She had been so scared, hadn't liked that both Sorrel and I had left the pack without her. She also hadn't liked the fact we had been gone so long or that Sorrel had been so sick. I hadn't liked that Sorrel had been sick either. If I hadn't been holding her wrist the entire time, feeling for her pulse, I would have I had thought she had died.

Even then I had been concerned. Her bleeding nose hadn't stopped and neither did the blood leaking from her eyes. I didn't know how she would be affected mentally. I had carried her to the coven doors and had been greeted by a red haired witch. She hadn't been impressed until she had actually looked at me and then she had turned rather...flirty?

I shifted on the tiny bed. I didn't understand it, the females had seemed to fawn over me. It made me uncomfortable. I had only wanted to know about Sorrel and what they were doing with her. The witches had been far too odd for me. I had spent most of the time trying to avoid them and dodging them trying to touch me of all things. I didn't have much experience with mundanes but if they were anything like the witches then I felt for mundane males. They were tenacious.

Those females had been incredibly forward, several of them had openly propositioned me for sex. It had thrown me for a bit of a loop. I had never seen females be so forward with sex before. In Tenebris it had been subtle, small signs and symbols that let you know a female had been showing interest in a potential hook-up.

All done in secret as culturally it wasn't technically allowed. No one spoke about it and the Elders turned a blind eye to the behaviour as long as it was kept discreet. If it wasn't there was punishment, the female would be whipped for the indiscretion and then publicly shamed. The males had no punishment. It was seen as normal for us to find women to have sex with, however it was seen as weak for a female to give into our charms.

It was a rather poor tradition to punish one but not the other. I had become so aware of just how privileged the males of our culture were. They had the world handed to them from the moment they were born. The females had to sit on the sidelines in shame over the fact that they had not been born males. They belonged to their fathers and then they belonged to their mates. They had no freedom, no chances in life that did not revolve around providing a male with an heir.

I was glad I had removed Madeline from that. She was worth so much more than to be a brood mare for some cocky male. She was strong and she would be fierce. Any male should desire to be the father of her children, desire to be with her because she was such a wonderful female. I wouldn't allow any other types of males to be around her. I would not let my little lady bug be hurt like that, to be used in that way. She had more worth than the males that would try. I knew that for a fact.

Madeline made a faint whimpering sound and I gently shushed her, curling my arm around her. I had been surprised that Linnette had allowed me to stay. I think she had mainly been so worried about Sorrel she didn't think my presence was a big issue in the larger scheme of things. I didn't blame her. When I had brought Sorrel home Linnette had immediately came to her side and took over her care. It had left me to comfort Maddy and while I didn't like not having Sorrel close so I could see her and make sure she was okay, I was more than happy to take care of my little lady bug.

It had taken me a fair bit of time to get Madeline calmed down and to stop crying. She hadn't stopped worrying or asking or signing about Sorrel though. The entire situation had been severely upsetting for her and I didn't blame her. I had never wanted her to experience something like that, to experience that worry or fear. I never wanted her to live with the terror that someone she loved could die at any moment.

That was no life for her.

I didn't ever want her to be in the position I had been with Maggie. I never wanted her to ever feel like that, to live like that. I would do everything in my power to make sure she never would never have to experience that again. I slowly stroked her hair again, staring up at the dark ceiling. Glow in the dark stars made constellations all over it. I could tell they had been placed there with care and an exactness in their placements. They directly mimicked the constellations one could see im the night sky.