Page 23 of Toward Immortal Ruin

Chapter Seven

Eden’s fingertips on hisskin were a spark to his barely controlled desire. Nero stilled, attempting to overcome his panther’s reaction, while she jerked her hand back as though she’d been caught stealing from the cookie jar. She looked away, blushing furiously.

“Guess I should’ve asked before I jumped to second base, huh?”

Nero wrestled down the predator’s reaction to her touch with transfiguration. There were some things he simply couldn’t help, and her touch—certainly one as intimate as this—had brought the cat to the surface.

When he finally spoke, he barely succeeded in keeping the coarseness from his voice.

“You have standing permission, professor.”

Eden covered her face in embarrassment.

She was so endearing, Nero knew he’d never be able to let her go. Even after spending less than a day with her, he considered the centuries of wait worth it. Fate had picked the perfect mate, and he couldn’t even stand the notion of sharing his life withanyone else. While the bond hadn’t yet materialized between them, it was only a matter of time.

There were some heavy and shocking truths he owed her when they got to his clan lands, but he hoped he’d manage to walk her through them without too much trauma. Now that he’d found her, everything would be right. He’d make sure of it.

Mating Raeths went through an intensely protective state, where separation was difficult to bear. Even going out for coffee had been almost too much. He’d teleported to Oahu just after she’d gone into the bathroom to grab a few personal items and maintain the pretense of having a hotel room in town. It had taken less than ten minutes, and most of that was waiting for her drink to be made at Starbucks. Once they got back to the territory he controlled, he’d breathe easier.

Beneath his skin, his panther prowled forward, as if intent to prove him wrong. There would be no relaxing of his protective and possessive urges for a long while. Every primal instinct screamed to capture her lips and taste the sweetness of his mate. He longed to feel her soft skin and coil her red curls around his fingers. The urgency of it drummed against his mind, and it was only his twelve centuries of practice that held him in check.

Instead, his psychic gift reached for her, gently cocooning her in peace. It was the only gift he dared give her. Influencing her emotions, even to encourage what he deemed the safest route to her, would be crossing a line.

As a Reader, he’d worked his entire life to help maintain the balance of those around him. If they started spiraling, Nero was there to pull them out. If depression snaked around them, suffocating and consuming their thoughts and abilities to pull themselves through hardship, he’d uncoil it.

Manipulating Eden’s emotions for his own personal gain would rob her of her free will. Not only would it impinge on his honor, but it’d be coercing the woman he’d vowed to place aboveanything else in his life—even himself. Nero would never allow his selfishness to steal her consent.

“You sleep okay?” he asked.

“Like a baby. Strange, all things considered.” She shrugged. “How about you? Was the couch comfortable?”

“The purring cat made it all worthwhile. Five stars.”

Though a part of his mind had been awake enough to listen for any threats, it had been the first time in ages Nero had gotten a decent night’s rest. Though Raeths typically only needed about four hours, last night, he’d slept almost eight. To wake up without the telltale signs of exhaustion was a gift.

“It really wasn’t too bad?” She frowned.

He could tell she didn’t believe him. “At home, I have insomnia. Too many things to do and think about. Here, I only had one thing to worry about.”

Eden brightened. Walking over to him, she folded her fingers into his. “Insomnia is no fun. I’ve had a few times and hated counting the hours I was awake.”

The slight weight of her hand in his was a potent reminder that his wait was over, and everything would fall into place now. Their eternity of bliss together was about to begin.

“I posted security around your father’s neighborhood. They won’t make themselves known or interfere with his life unless they absolutely have to, so I don’t think there is a need to alert him and make him worry.”

“I don’t know how I can possibly thank you enough,” she replied. “And yeah, I’d prefer not to distress him at his age. I feel so guilty for bringing this danger to his door.”

“TheCitizens’unhinged actions are no fault of yours, Eden. Rest assured, we’ll be getting daily updates on your father’s safety. Which brings me to the next issue: I managed to arrange a flight to Oahu last night—a colleague of mine is lending me her personal jet so we don’t have to fly coach.” He grimaced. “I don’twant to rush you, but I really think it’s best if we leave as soon as possible and not on a commercial flight that can be easily tracked.”

“Absolutely.” She glanced at the windows. “Seeing that guy here last night was enough of a wake-up call. I will rearrange my next few lectures once I’m away from here, and keep the dates out of the public eye for now. Besides, making you stay here and sleep on the couch would be torture.”

“It really wasn’t that bad.”

“It’s only a step above tarring and feathering, Nero.”

He chuckled. “Morbid.”

“I study fear as a professionanda hobby.” She raised her eyebrows. “Torture is kind of my thing. If you’d ever like the lecture on that special area of expertise, it runs about three hours and is exceptionally painful to listen to.”

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