“Hux thinks I’m ready to try taking off the amulet again.”
Selene’s fair complexion turns even paler. “Already, really?”
I feel my brows lower in concern. “What, do you not think it’s safe?” Selene’s been part of my demon lessons too. If she doesn’t agree with Huxley’s assessment of my progress, then I want to know.
“No, it’s not that. You’ve done an amazing job getting to grips with your power. If Hux says you’re ready, then I’m sure you are. Despite what happened the first time, he knows what he’s doing, and he’s a good teacher.”
“That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about. I know it’s unlikely I’ll have another power surge, especially since even with the amulet I’ve still had access to a small amount of my power, but I’m nervous,” I confess. “I was hoping you could be there when we try again. There’s nothing I can’t face with you at my side.”
“Of course. I’ll be there.” Guilt flickers in her expression—she must still feel bad about what happened last time, even though it was nobody’s fault. “But for what it’s worth, I don’t think you need to worry.” She nudges her plate away and stands. “Would you mind grabbing me another drink? I’m just going to the ladies’.”
“Sure.”
I leave my jacket on the back of my chair to show our table’s still occupied—with it being a Friday night, it will be snapped up in no time if I don’t—then make my way over to the bar.
“Hey, can I get a Tom Collins and a beer, please?”
“Sure thing. You here with Selene again?” Mav asks.
“Yeah, why?”
He shrugs, then sets about mixing Selene’s cocktail. “Just surprised I guess. Selene’s always made it clear she was waiting for her mate and wasn’t interested in dating around beforehand.”
“Her mate?” What the fuck is a mate?
“Yeah, her fated mate,” Mav replies like I’m dumb. Maybe I am because I have no clue what he’s talking about. This wasn’t in the handbook or the library books Giles gave me, and it’s not something Hux, Garrett, or Selene have mentioned.
Slapping the cash for our drinks on the bar top, I snatch them up and head back to our table. Spotting Huxley chatting up a guy on the other side of the bar, I ditch our drinks, knowing they’ll be safe here, and stride over to him.
“What the hell are fated mates?”
The attractive redhead who’d been leaning into Hux immediately backs up. “Sorry, but I don’t want to be in the middle of whatever this is.” He darts away with a final longing look at Hux.
“Great, now I need to find another meal,” Hux grumbles. Being a lust demon, he needs to feed on, well, lust, as well as normal food to stay healthy and keep his power levels up.
“Fated mates. What are they?” I say, not letting the cunning fucker distract me.
“You should really be asking Selene about this.”
“Is it like soulmates? Is there some other guy out there literally destined to be with her?”
Hux looks pained. “It’s not like that, man?—”
“So Mav was what? Playing a trick on me? Does he know I used to be human?”
“Keep your voice down,” Hux hisses. “And no, Mav doesn’t know anything about your… life before moving here. He’s just jealous because he likes Selene, and she’s always shot him down.”
“So mates aren’t real?”
He shifts uncomfortably. “Er, no, they’re real. But you don’t need to worry about that.”
Is he serious? How can I not be worried that the woman I’m falling in love with apparently has some mysterious pre-destinedperfect man waiting for her? It’s obviously not me because if it were, she would have said something.
“How can I not be worried about this?”
“Just… talk to Selene. This is between the two of you.”
“But—”
