“A little,” Rorik says at the same time Evangeline and Xander say, “Not at all.”
Despite the urge to punch the smartass vamp, my entire body relaxes.
She wants to move in with me?
“I know it’s the bond making this decision but okay. Yes. I’ll move in with you.” When I smile and lean in to claim a kiss, she holds up a finger. “But I’ll need my space. I’ve never lived with a man so this will be new to me and overwhelming.”
“Good thing I’m a gargoyle and not a man,” I say.
She rolls her eyes and continues. “If I don’t have a place to go when you’re being…” she waves ahand up and down my body, “too much, then I will lose my fucking shit. I won’t hesitate to move out.”
Rorik snorts, covering his mouth with his hand. Xander stands next to Evangeline, the two appearing impressed that she set boundaries with me.
I want to take her hands in mine and reassure her, but she needs me to be serious right now. Her raised brow also lets me know now’s not the time for touching.
I sigh, my shoulders sagging. “Of course, I want you to be comfortable. I have a guest room that you can have all to yourself.”
Farrah nods, allowing her tense body to relax. She grabs the glass of water from the end table and takes a drink.
“She’s totally not going to use that second room,” Evangeline says out of the side of her mouth to Xander, low enough that only supernatural hearing can decipher.
Xander chuckles in agreement. Rorik beams at me.
They’re all assholes.
Chapter 17 – Farrah
It's been a few days since Rorik read my thoughts, and I agreed to be a spy for the monsters. It’s now Friday, and I’m joining Locheran and his team of hunter trackers to discuss plans for my infiltration.
It’s been stressing me out all week. Everything is so overwhelming, and my energy has been sucked dry from packing up my apartment. I’ve also been sleeping like shit.
When I get home, I’m too tired to do anything. Locheran says it’s because we haven’t satisfied the bond. It’s why we didn’t move me into his apartment right away. It would be too hard not to give in to each other. It would have meant fucking all night, and I wasn’t going to put my career on hold because of a man. Er, gargoyle. I already had to take time off for my brother’s funeral. I’m not goingto use sick days or vacation days just to fuck my mate and sleep all day.
Locheran assures me it will get better after this weekend when I officially move in. It’s when we’ll have time to be together with no interruptions to finally solidify the bond.
Despite not physically seeing each other, we still hung out virtually. We’d video call each other to eat dinner together. After our meals, I’d curl up on the couch, and we’d watch the same movie or a TV show from our respective apartments. Our nights would end with me falling asleep about ten minutes into whatever we were watching.
Somehow, I’d always end up in my bed the next morning, and I have no doubt Locheran was sneaking in to carry me to my bedroom and tuck me in. How he got inside without a key, I don’t know, but I bet it has something to do with a meddling bestie named Evangeline.
I also wonder if I’m drained of energy because my hunter DNA is fighting with the mating bond. Growing up, I was taught that my urge to capture and kill monsters would grow the more I captured and killed. I’ve never taken a life, monster or otherwise, so I can’t understand why I’m suddenly on edge. Maybe because of all the monsters I’ve been around lately? As if my hunter side is in fight mode despite me not wanting to fight anyone?
Locheran knocks on my door ten minutes after the sun has set. A huge smile plastered on his handsome face greets me upon opening.
“Hello, my mate,” he says causing my heart to flutter and the butterflies in my stomach to take flight.
“Hi… my mate.”
It’s still strange to think my soul is now tethered to another being. Especially a monster.
Evangeline was destined to be Xander's mate. Life found a way to make it happen by creating a magical dating app to pair them together. It’s clear fate had more plans because I’m sure it’s no coincidence that the gargoyle king’s best friend and the best friend of the human/witch he matched with are also destined to be together.
Could my role in taking the hunters down be why I was chosen?
I shake off the consuming thoughts and offer Locheran a smile in return. He’s masked, as he always is when walking through my apartment building. He could have a modeling career with how gorgeous he is in his human form.
Perfectly messy dark hair, blue eyes, and sun-kissed skin. Muscles. For. Days.
And still six foot three—way taller than me.
