Page 55 of Toward Immortal Ruin

The barest spark of hope flickered behind his eyes. “Aidan, the werewolf alpha. I wanted to give you the option of meeting one of your kind. The full moon is only days away, and he could tell you things I can’t.”

“Where would we meet him?”

“Aidan lives in Iowa.”

“Same as Jeremiah?”

Nero nodded, rubbing the back of his neck in a move that had the thick muscle in his bicep taunting her. “Yes, they live in the same city: Paracel. It’s the home base of the Elementals.”

“And a werewolf lives there?”

She felt like she was behind the eight ball. She shifted uneasily on her feet, once more moving Marianne away from the doorway to ensure she didn’t escape. Everything about this conversation was awkward and stilted. After what’d happened between them, it made her feel off-kilter.

“Yes. Aidan’s mate, Lucy, is an Elemental,” he explained. “They met a few years ago after she became immortal.”

“So they didn’t mate while she was human. I’m beginning to think our situation is extremely rare.”

“Aidan rescued her from theCitizens.” Nero frowned as he explained. “I believe they finalized their bond after her Elemental abilities awakened, but I don’t know the exact details.”

As the wheels in her mind turned, Eden breathed, “Nothing about this makes sense. From the moment we met, my life has done a complete one-eighty. I’m struggling to figure out howeveryone else has mated with another immortal, but you’ve developed a bond with me, a mortal.”A spark of anger surfaced, not at him, but at herself. “Seriously, how could this have happened?”

The man simply stood there in silent shock, still holding the cappuccino she hadn’t yet taken it from him. She hadn’t meant it as an accusation, but it certainly had come across as one.

Nero looked away, but he wasn’t able to hide the churning emotions through their mating bond. Despondent and hurt, he managed to say, “I’m sorry, Eden. It was never my intention to hurt you. If you’d prefer, I can teleport you to meet with Aidan and leave.”

A stab of hurt echoed through their bond.

The otherness Eden had sensed earlier was suddenly snarling. Where it had been mostly docile before, the thought of Nero in pain had awakened her. It was so sudden and all-consuming that Eden jolted half out of her skin.

Something wantedout.

Chapter Nineteen

Her words had absolutelygutted him. He pivoted away, partially to avoid her gaze and partially to hide his hurt. A part of him had shattered. The hope for the future he’d give up.

Eden had been right: since the moment he’d stepped into her life, it’d been one attack after the next. If it wasn’t a rabid wolf, it was a future she’d been blindsided by, and a mate she hadn’t seen coming. She didn’t deserve any of the pressure he’d introduced in her life.

“Nero.”

Her soft voice stopped him.

“It sounded like I was blaming you for all of this, that I’m angry at you. But I’m not. I just don’t want to hurt you.”

“I know. You didn’t ask for this. I understand.”

“Nero.” The urgency of her tone had him frowning. “Youdon’tunderstand. I discovered that the beings I’ve studied my entire life are realyesterday.I found out that I have a fated mate only a few hours after that. I’m not asking you to give me your house and deliver me to the wolves, while you make yourself scarce.That isn’t at all what I was implying. I just needed time to process the turn my life has taken.”

He couldn’t say anything.

“I’m glad you came here this morning, and I’d love to go to Iowa together.” Reaching for him, she took the cappuccino. “And thank you. I appreciate you reaching out to this Aidan and setting up a meeting. Why don’t you come in while I get ready?”

She opened the door wider in welcome. His feet had already taken a step before he resisted further movement. It felt odd to stand outside his own home, but he wouldn’t intrude on her when she needed time and space.

“I can wait out here, Eden.”

She sent him a bland look. “Now who’s being reluctant? Get in here before Marianne escapes.”

When the woman turned her back on him, bumping the door open with her hip, Nero quietly followed. The cat attempted to dart out underfoot, but fortunately his reflexes were far too quick to allow it.

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