Page 23 of Mated in Flames

Around lunch, I find myself sitting with her in the shade of a large tree, watching as some of the animals roam around the field.

“You know, when I first came here, I did consider selling it all,” Luciana says suddenly.

I pause in the act of biting into my sandwich.

“Really?” I ask.

“Yeah,” she says. “It just seemed like way too much, you know? Especially when I discovered all these mythical creatures here. I was definitely in over my head. I even started looking up how much this place would sell for, and I was this close to calling a real estate agent.”

“What stopped you?” I ask.

“Well, I was actually sitting here on the second night,” she says, laughing. “I was feeling sorry for myself, and I was really angry at you.”

I cough, embarrassed. She grins at me.

“And while I’m sitting there, Jump comes up and just crawls into my lap,” she continues.

I follow her gaze. In the grass not too far away, I can see a tiny, white fox, a rare albino, napping in the sun. She’s a beautiful creature who loves all sorts of affection, and readily gives it out too.

“She just sat there and demanded me to pet her,” Luciana says fondly. “And that’s the first time it occurred to me that maybe I’m needed here. So, I decided to give it a shot. I was surprised to find how nice it was here.”

I glance at her. She’s staring out at the farm, a small smile on her face. This is the woman that I could fall in love with if I let it happen.

And I want to.

The thought doesn’t scare me at all. I always knew I’d find my mate in the world one day. But I also know that it’s far too soon to be talking about all that. Luciana is willing, it seems, but I’m not about to scare her off with talk of forever commitments when we haven’t known each other for very long.

I just need to wait and see where this goes.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I say.

She turns to smile at me.

“So am I,” she says.

* * *

Despite knowing how mad Dane is going to be at me, it’s evening before I enter my own home again. I’ve kept Dane updated via text all day, not wanting him to worry that I was dying somewhere, but I know my brother is going to be furious anyway.

I sniff appreciatively at the air. Though, it seems he cooked dinner, so he couldn’t be too upset.

Maybe I’ll just wait to tell him that Luciana is my mate until after dinner.

Dane is standing at the counter, stirring something in a pot, and I can see the tense line of his shoulders as he glares down at it. I clear my throat and he looks up, transferring the glare to me.

“Warwick,” he says stiffly. “You’re home in time for dinner.”

“Thanks for cooking,” I try.

It doesn’t appease him. Slowly, I sit at the table as he dishes up the food, a spicy curry that we both love with rice. He carries them to the table and sets my plate down slightly harder than normal.

“Thanks,” I say.

It takes Dane four bites before he cracks.

“Where have you been all day?” he asks.

“At Luciana’s,” I say.

---