Oh yes, Maxima and I like him!
I’m inclined to invite him in, but I don’t think he is the type of person who wants to go that fast. One step after another.
When we draw apart, he takes my face between his hands. “So, this means I can see you tomorrow?”
“Yes, I know we have a lot of work, but the offer is still up: I could pick you up from your pack, and then we can grab breakfast on the way.”
“I don’t want you to go through too much hassle.”
“I’m used to getting up early,” I reassure him. “And, I’m actually happy to see more of Paris. Or the suburban area around the Council.”
“Then, it’s a date,” he says, pecking my lips once more.
I watch him leave before finally entering my room. My first move is to my luggage and my phone. Everyone always says I’m a daddy’s girl, and maybe I am. My father and I are really similar, and he used to call me his mini-me, but Mom and I share a special bond. I’m her only daughter, so it’s only natural we bonded.
And some things you just don’t want to talk with your dad about!
We are a few hours ahead here in Paris, so at least I won’t wake anyone up. As usual, Mom doesn’t pick up her phone. I don’t think she even knows she owns one, so I call her gamma instead, who instantly goes to look for her. It takes a while for my mother to be found, which isn’t too surprising, either.
I hear a rustling sound and Gamma Aurel telling her that it’s me.
“Mom?” I ask.
“Aurelia.” She giggles. “Sweetheart, I didn’t expect you to call so soon, again. I was busy with your cat.”
“Titan?” I blink.
“Yes, something about him feels weird,” she mutters.
My alarm bells start ringing. “What do you mean?”
But Mom wouldn’t be Mom if she explained her weird sixth sense further. “Oh, nothing. So, you called! Is everything alright? Something happened, didn’t it?”
“Mom, are you sitting? I need to tell you something!”
“Now I know something happened,” she says, sounding curious.
“I found my mate,” I blurt out. “It’s one of Eric’s assistants, the one he always talks about.”
Mom lets out a squeal, making me pull my phone away.
“Goddess, I can’t believe it! How exciting! The boy’s name is Arden, right?”
“Yes,” I say. “I met him when we arrived at the Council.”
“How is he?”
“So far, he is nice, rather quiet but not shy, a bit awkward but honest!”
“Oh, I like an honest guy,” Mom reassures me. “Before your dad turned into this smooth sexbomb he was rather quiet, too. And now, he is such a sexy heartthrob!”
Well, thank you for that unnecessary detail about my father I never wanted to know.
“There is still so much I don’t know, but I think I already like him.”
“You have time to get to know him,” Mom reassures me. “No need to stress over it. The mate bond is just the first push. Everything else is on you. He is the young man Eric refers to as a genius, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he is said to be very intelligent,” I say. “But he doesn’t show off at all.”