Page 17 of Protected By Her Mate

“Don’t know. I just know she’s extremely important to the humans, could stave off annihilation, avert the apocalypse, that sort of thing.”

I sit up straighter, prepared to demand a better answer when she waves her hand in the air, summoning a pool of green glowing light against the wall. Before she steps through the portal, she adds, “Oracle says it’s best for Charlie if you protect her.” Her eyes dim with sadness, “But don’t mate with her. The curse could kill her before she does what she’s supposed to do.”

“Save humanity,” I say grimly, glaring at my witch sister-in-law. “What am I supposed to do? Ignore the mating instinct?”

Magdalene knows all about the mating instinct, having experienced it at the hands of my brother, Rush.

“I’m sorry,” she says. “I’ll do what I can to help you, but for now, make sure Charlie stays safe.”

As she steps through the portal, I fall back on the bed, covering my face with my hands. Keep Charlie safe. I’m not off to a good start. A few hours ago, I watched from next to her hospital bed as her forehead was patched up. Then I was forced to say goodbye, leaving her to return to Wolf-Haven so I could update the King.

“Charlie.” I say her name, experimenting, calling her up in my mind. Closing my eyes, I relax and reach out to her, hoping I can touch her through our mating bond.

She’s there! I follow the wisp of orange-red tendrils as they lead me to her. She’s sleeping, her breaths puffing evenly in and out of her. I match my heart rate and breathing to hers, close my eyes and follow her into oblivion.

Chapter 7

Burning problems require cool solutions

CHARLIE

“Mom, you haven’t talked much lately.”

Frowning, I reply, “What do you mean? I never stop talking.”

Luke snuggles into my side where we sit on pillows on the fire escape outside my living room window, a blanket wrapped around both of us, a bowl of popcorn between us.

We’re not supposed to use the fire escape for anything other than escaping fires, but I’ve known the landlord since I was five when I used to play with his granddaughters, so he lets me have my Friday night ritual.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Luke points out. “Normally you never shut up, but you haven’t been acting like yourself.”

I watch him as he shoves a handful of popcorn into his mouth, side-eyeing me while pretending to keep his gaze on the apartment opposite ours. Well, not really the apartment, but the massive TV currently playing a Transformers movie.

Yes, we have our own TV and yes, we could watch the movie from the comfort of our own apartment, but instead choose to sit on our fire escape sometimes and watch our neighbours TV. Rituals aren’t supposed to make sense.

“Oh sweetie, it’s just the case I’m working on,” I assure him. “It has me preoccupied.”

He’s been sensitive to my mood shifts since we lost his father. I struggled with depression when he needed me most and probably left him with my parents too often. I’m here now though and his worry tugs at my heart. I wrap my arm around him and hold him closer.

“Is it the shifter case?” he asks tentatively.

I don’t give him all the details of the cases I work on, but I do tell the cooler ones, like when my new partner is a wolf shifter. Nothing can pique a child’s interest more than a person who can turn into an animal. In fact, it piques my interest too.

“Yes, the shifter one.”

“Is it because you got hurt?” His voice is small.

I sigh and tug the blanket closer around our shoulders. “Not because I got hurt, but because other people did.” One person died in the blast and three were injured. Thankfully, the bar hadn’t been open for business yet and there were no customers inside.

Luke is thoughtful for a moment, then says, “You wish you got there earlier so you could’ve saved them.” He touches my face as I nod, gently brushing the bandage on my forehead. “But then you might have died.”

Tears fill my eyes and I hold him as tight as I can until he squirms against me. “I won’t die, sweetheart. I promise. I’m right here.”

He nods, his head settling under my chin. After a moment, I set him back on his pillow, rearrange the blanket and we finish Transformers, adding our own commentary to the blockbuster movie and laughing until our sides hurt.

The next morning, a knock on the apartment door has me juggling my tea and Luke’s lunch as I answer.

Tall, blond and wolfy is standing on the other side looking sexier than any man… or shifter… should. My heart pounds, my throat goes dry and my hands sweat.

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