Page 49 of Mate
My mind is blank for a moment. “Oh, right. No gratitude. My bad. Wait— can I say ‘my bad’?” I produce my most angelic smile. “Are apologies okay?”
He sighs. “Just go to bed, killer. You’re going to have a long and unpleasant day tomorrow.”
“Am I?”
“Yup. It’s hybrid parade time.”
“Please, tell me it’s not what it sounds like.”
He folds his arms. “It’sexactlyit. You want to lure the Vampyres to you, we’ll have to make sure they see you with me. Which means that I’ll have to show you off a little.”
“How, though? There are no Vampyres walking around the Den.”
“They gather information in other ways. Vampyres and Humans fly drones over our territory all the time.”
“And you let them?”
“Yup. It’s how we manipulate them into thinking that they know more than they do. It’s highly offensive, how inept they think we are, but since it’s to our advantage, I’ll give it a pass.” His smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “They probably already suspect you’re with me. We just want to give them proof.”
“Why would they suspect it?”
His stare is level. “Becausewith meis where I would keep my mate.”
I lower my eyes. He’s right. So right, I change the topic. “About the necklace . . .”
“I told you.” His voice hardens. “It’s probably just some ten-year-old trying to impress his friends with some dumb prank.”
“Still— ”
“Still, I’ll investigate the package and the note and then return it to you.”
“Are you . . . Do you think there’s any way that my mother could really . . . ?”
A knock at the door stops me. Jorma peeks inside. He nods politely at me, then says, “I have been calling you, Alpha.”
“Must have missed it.”
“Actually, you hung up on me. Twice. As soon as I mentioned the paperwork for the killed Vampyre.”
A deep, irritated growl rises. From Koen’s chest, I believe.
“I can help,” I offer. “I kinda like paperwork.”
“Go to bed, Serena.”
“But— ”
“Now.”
He glares at me like there’s little he wants more than having me out of his sight— a less than auspicious start to our cohabitation. I sigh, wave goodbye to Jorma, and stalk off like I really am an unruly toddler.
MY NIGHT IS DELIGHTFULLY DULL, IN THAT IT INVOLVES LOTS OFsleeping and no puking. True to his word, Koen skulks outside the cabin in wolf form. My eyes catch his through the window when I sneak into his room to steal more pillows.
Andhis duvet.
They keep me warm. Smell good. Are soft. With a few additions, my bed feels like sinking into a hug, and I have no regrets.
When I get up in the morning, he’s already awake. I spot him sitting on the porch, bare chested, like he just shifted back to human form and only pulled up a pair of sweats to spare my delicate sensibilities. Since I’m not allowed to verbally express gratitude, I decide to repay his hospitality by scrounging around his cupboards to make coffee. When I bring him a mug, I realize that he’s not alone.
