Page 79 of Finlay

“Exactly.”

I bit my lip. “You care about me?”

His gaze softened. “Aye, m’eudail. I would’ve thought that was obvious by now.”

I fidgeted with one of my leather bracelets. “I care about you too.” Was Finn holding his breath? He was so quiet. I glanced up to see him smiling, but he was very tense. “Are you okay?”

“Aye.” His chipper response was at odds with how he was holding himself. “I’m grand, m’eudail.”

“Then why do you look like someone just shoved a poker up your bum?”

A laugh burst from him and he finally relaxed. He shot me a rueful look. “Just trying to keep my hands and mouth to myself. Hearing you say you care about me…it just makes me want to touch you.”

My chin hit my chest as I grinned, turning his words back on him. “I would’ve thought that was obvious by now too.”

“Maybe. But it was nice having it confirmed.”

His pinkie brushed mine again. The simple touch had all my nerve endings firing, and the walls around my heart crumbled a little more.

And, for once, my brain was completely silent about it.

Chapter 23

Finn

“Are there other types of supes?” Chester asked.

“There are,” I said. “There are different types of shifters for a start. Reid’s clan shift into jaguars.”

“Jaguars,” Chester murmured, his eyes distant. “The man who came into the shop—that’s what he shifts into?”

“Aye. And heisReid’s father. Supes stop ageing when we hit our mid-thirties.”

“Wait, so how old are you exactly?”

I held his gaze as I answered.“Four hundred and thirty-three.”

Chester made a noise that was half wheeze and half laugh. “Same age as me then…give or take a few centuries. Does that mean you’re immortal?”

I shrugged. “As much as any supe. I can be killed, but most of the time I reincarnate.”

“Youwhat? Who are you—Jesus?”

“Fuck no.” I snorted. “Definitely not saintly enough for that. Mind you, I know several angels who are more sinner than saint, so I’m not sure that matters.”

“You come back to life,” Chester said, bringing us back on topic. “But there’s a chance you might not?”

“If I’m killed by a more powerful being, then yes.” I reached out to smooth away Chester’s frown lines. “Hasn’t happened yet though, m’eudail, and it’s not something you need to worry about. Trust me, I’m more than capable of handling myself.”

“If you say so.” Doubt filled Chester’s voice, and my heart warmed at the fact he was worried about me. That had to be a good sign, right? “How did Evan know for certain it was Reid’s father?”

“From the card he left. His scent was all over the shop, but strongest there given he touched it. Evan’s met him before and recognised his scent immediately.”

Understanding dawned. “That’s why you were both sniffing the card. Not gonna lie, I thought that was a bit weird.”

My little finger crept over his until they were hooked together. “Scent is a potent sense for any supe, but shifters in particular. I think it’s connected to our animal halves.”

Chester tilted his head to the side inquisitively. “What do I smell like to you?”

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