Page 21 of Forsaken Dream
Chapter Ten
Tyler
“Are you alright, Echo?”
My mate squeaked like a bird where she was leaning on the side of her house, jumping around to face me. Her cheekbones darkened as she watched me wide-eyed, her light grey irises sparkling on her beautiful face like stars.
“I’m not hiding.” Her words came out in a rush before she collected herself straightening up and pretending she didn’t outright lie to me. She was hiding from the incubus, I’ve been keeping an eye on her all morning. “I mean, I was looking what you guys have done to the house so far.” Blowing out a breath she folded her hands in front of her in a very lady like manner.
My head tilted catching that particular behavior I’ve observed among many courts I’ve visited over my lifetime. Usually it was easy to spot a supernatural among the humans. Those of us that have made this realm a home were mostly rebels, or in my case a refugee from a dreary existence when you don’t have long to live. We were wild, untamed beasts that toyed with the mortals for amusement or survival, disregarding manners like they were a plague. It was easy for us…unless it was drilled from an early age.
My eyes narrowed in on her.
“Great job, by the way.” The little female kept talking adding fake enthusiasm while eyeing me warily. “The house is starting to look like it was just built.”
“I do try, my lady.” Going on a hunch I inclined my head in an informal bow and it paid off.
Echo’s knees bent slightly as she started to curtsy, her face tilting demurely to the side but she caught herself on time. Jerking up, my mate squared her shoulders giving me a glare that would’ve scared a lesser male. The broad smile that was stretching on my face gifted me a thin press of her lips, displeasure written all over her features. What do you know, our little mate lived in a court before coming to the human realm. I would have a lot of fun discovering everything about her.
“Is there anything you would like me to mend immediately?” when the silence stretched uncomfortably I decided to thread carefully in case I screw up more than I already had. “I’m fixing things as I see them. If anything bothers you I can do that first, before continuing with the rest.”
“Everything is more than enough, Tyler.” A shiver crawled up my spine hearing my name in her lyrical voice passing those lips. “All of you are doing this for free and I have no idea how I’ll ever repay you.”
“We do not expect anything in return, Echo.” Unable to stop myself I took a step closer looking down at her upturned face. “The best payment to me is the knowledge that you are protected and well taken care off.”
“Speak for yourself.” Vaser drawled rounding up from the front of the house. “I figured out my price and I’m planning on charging it every chance I get.” Coming next to Echo his arm snaked around her waist tugging her to his chest.
The protest she had was muffled when the incubus took her lips with his, his hand wrapping around the soft waves of her hair. Echo’s fingers gripped his upper arms as if to push him away but that contradicted with the whimper I could hear as clear as a day coming from her. My eyebrows crawled up my forehead when Vaser opened his eyes locking them on mine. The pointed way he was watching me was a full conversation on its own. What I read there was‘I made my move and I’m one step closer to claiming our mate. What are you waiting for?’
I held his gaze, my pants straining with the need to throw her over my shoulder and take her somewhere where we can be alone and I can ravage her. With each day it was becoming increasingly more arduous to catch glimpses of her without claiming what I knew in my soul was mine. She thought we didn’t know that she’s trying her best to avoid us and for a while it was amusing to play that game. Seeing her body pliant in Vaser’s arms assured that her little game was over.
The mate hunt has begun.
“You … you …” As soon as the incubus released her, her face turned as red as a blooming flower. “You oaf!”
“One installment down, but many more to go.” Impervious, Vaser winked at her with a shrug of his shoulder.
Fists clenched, Echo’s eyes narrowed to slits aimed at the incubus before her body relaxed, the smile curling her lips setting off alarms in my head. Vaser, oblivious to it, grinned back at her like a fool. My mouth opened to warn him, but everything I wanted to say got stuck in my throat when the demon gasped and stumbled back a few steps. Our mate held the sweet smile, rotating her wrist while Vaser gasped and choked. He moved further away, clawing at his chest. As fast as it started, Echo dropped her magic, her face paling when she saw the purplish tinge on Vaser’s face.
I personally found it quite amusing.
That was until I realized she was about to faint.
“Oh dear fates …” she breathed, her hand covering her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it … I didn’t know it’d do that.” Her skin whitened even further, if that was possible, and I couldn’t stand watching the guilt that was consuming her in front of my eyes.
“It’s fine, I’m good,” Vaser choked out, and I fully expected him to cough out a lung. “Just give me a second.”
Setting all doubts aside and ignoring the sputtering incubus, I took the two steps separating me from my mate and swung her into my arms. She stiffened when I cradled her to my chest, but I was lost to the feeling of rightness that blanketed my weary body. Nothing in my long life has felt so … so right, so destined. From the moment I saw her, my soul had recognized her as my mate, but I never made skin-to-skin contact until that moment—unlike the archangel and the demon. Warmth spread through me, the mating bond roaring to life and warming the constant chill I’d always felt at the center of my being. Light filled the gaping hole of loneliness that had been plaguing my existence, and my knees buckled. Burying my face in her hair, I breathed her in, and for the first time I felt peace. She was like the wind grazing my wings when I was flying, and like the steady, solid skin when my body transformed that assured I was untouchable.
Echo made me feel free and fearless.
“Don’t feel bad for the incubus, my mate.” The tone of my voice was barely recognizable to my own ears. “That will teach him to disrespect you with his foolish ways.” I filled my lungs with her fresh scent, my nostrils flaring like a starving male as I murmured in her ear.
Echo turned into stone in my arms.
Vaser cursed up a storm from somewhere behind me. “You dumb fuck!”
“Incubus?” Her softly spoken words snapped me out of whatever insanity had taken me the moment I had her in my arms.
