My Mate's Last Message Wasn't for Me novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: Margot's Turn

Margot came down the aisle with the ledger held out in front of her.

She stopped at the council table and set it on the wood, next to the scarf and the two grey threads.

Her hands were steady, which surprised me.

"This is Niles's field book," she said. "I broke the lock on it myself. I want that written down."

"It will be," said the thin elder. "Go on."

Margot turned to face the benches instead of the table.

"Last spring I copied Niles's notes for the north border survey. In the margin of one page he had written the word 'veil' next to Seren's initial."

Nobody on the benches moved.

"I asked him what it meant. He said it was family business, and I could take a day off."

She wet her lips.

"I took the day off."

"That's all you did?" the thin elder asked.

"No." Margot looked at the floor and then made herself lift her head. "Two years ago I put my name in for the field line Niles was writing for, without telling Seren. She had left the dance hall for the lab to be with him, and I knew she'd want the line too."

"Did you take it?"

"I got it the week she was moved to the glassware sink."

I had not known that.

Pip's fingers dug into my elbow.

"She was my best friend," Margot said. "She sewed my winter coat. And I let her believe she was slow, because I was winning, and it was nice to be the one who was quick."

Her voice shook, but she kept going.

← Chapter 19 · All chapters · Chapter 21 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend