Page 71 of Mate
“It’s more like community service, Anneke,” the older woman murmurs, and we exchange an amused look. I wonder what her name is—
“Karolina,” she tells me, lips curling. “And this is Xabier. We are three-fifths of the Assembly.”
“Serena. I’d shake your hand, but . . .”
“Understood.”
“Now that we’ve exchanged friendship bracelets,” Koen says, “can we move on with our day?” He makes to stand, but I push him back down with a firm hand on his shoulder.
“Not until I’m done, buddy.” I step around to work on the other half of his face but stop when I notice the way they’re all regarding me.
Well, notall. Koen is just his habitual, long-suffering self. The others, though, watch us open-mouthed. I smell a surge of panic. Sudden alert. Sphincters clenched tight enough to make diamonds.
“Are we . . . are we being attacked by the Vampyres?” I switch my hold on the razor to use it as a weapon, ready for an invasion.Soready. They don’t need to know that earlier I pulled a muscle while combing my hair.
“It’s hardly evidence that you two are not in a relationship,” Xabier points out, “the way she takes liberties. Gives you orders.”
“Is it?” Koen sounds bored. “You three just showed up to my house to tell me what to do, and last I checked, I’m not fucking any of you.”
“Stop moving,” I murmur, going back to shaving him. “Or I’m going to nick you, and they’re going to think I’m pregnant with your triplets.”
Koen stills, but the corners of his lips twitch. “She’s nottakingliberties, she isgiventhem. If anyone here is questioning my authority, it’s you.”
“We are not,” Anneke says. “But weareconcerned. Must we remind you— ”
“No. I don’t need to be reminded of shit. But if you want to anyway, go ahead. I know it’s a cherished hobby of yours.”
“Koen knows why the rules are there,” Karolina says, diplomatic. “Better than anyone. He has never given us reason to doubt him.”
“He hasn’t,” Xabier agrees. “But he did not have a mate before.”
Koen grunts. “When the pack reunited, I promised that if I found her, I’d immediately inform you, and I did. The day I met her.Iam the reason you can be on me like stink on shit. Unfortunately, she’s also a hybrid in need of protection, whichI won’t withhold just to convince the Assembly that nothing is happening.”
“Plus,” I ask, “wouldn’t you be able to smell it?”
Karolina quirks her head. “What do you mean, Serena?”
“Well, two of the seconds are together, and last night I could easily tell that they regularly exchange bodily fluids.” I finish running a warm cloth against Koen’s cheeks and step back, searching for missing spots. I’ll be sad, if he ever holds me again, without the scratch of his beard against my skin. I was . . . yeah. Into it.
This was a fun activity, though. My favorite in a while. There’s something nice about being close to my Alpha. Taking care of him, as he does of me. Breathing in his soothing scent, preparing for what’s to come, comfort for—
Whoa.
Whoa, whoa,whoa.
Where did my brain go just now? How long was I silent?
“I guess my point is”— I clear my throat— “that your nose would tell you if something was happening between us.”
“Maybe they have a cold,” Koen drawls. “Maybe that cold made their brains leak out of their ears.”
“Koen, given your history— ”
“Myhistory?” He stands, suddenly towering over all of us. The little strands of chopped hair still clinging to his shoulders silently slip to the floor. Xabier, who spoke last, takes a step back. “Do tell me more aboutmyhistory. What have I done to warrant these doubts?”
“Your— ”
“Thinkvery carefullybefore you finish that sentence.”
