“Let me do that, honey,” Nia said, ladling some of the thin broth onto the soup plate. She set it in front of him, then helped herself to some. “You can eat it with buttered rolls. It tastes really good. Shall I make you one?”
He shook his head. “I think it’s one step at a time for me.”
“That’s fine.” Her lips curved in a tender smile, and she patted his thigh. Nia slathered a roll for herself and took a bite, her lips closing around it. All he could think was he wanted her luscious mouth on him again. But she was hungry, and he wanted their next time to be perfect, not have his body gripped in hellish pain.
A chair dragged. Lore looked up to find his former student dropping onto the seat next to Nia.
Echo leaned her arms on the table, her worried gaze shifting between Nia and him. “You both will be staying here from now on, right?”
Nia didn’t answer but glanced at him.
“Wherever Nia wants to live is fine with me.”
“Generally, Michael likes all the powerful psionics to live here on the island,” Echo said. “It’s safer.”
He was on board with that. Nia’s safety was the only thing that mattered.
“I’d like that. I mean, living here with my family,” Nia said. “We have so much to catch up on. However, I still have to finish my residency to get my veterinarian license. I have a few months left…” Her brow furrowed.
“I’m sure it shouldn’t be a problem,” Lore said. “We’ll revisit this situation once everything is dealt with and things are safe.”
Her eyes brightened, and she smiled. “Oh, good.”
As if he would ever stand in the way of what she wanted.
“Great.” Echo jumped up, beaming. “Let me get you something to drink.” She hurried to the kitchen.
Nia glanced back at him and bit her lip.I’ll have to get a job to pay for my studies.
He frowned.Michael did mention I’ll have remuneration from now on, so I’ll see that your studies are paid for.
Tears welled in her pretty eyes.Thank you.She grasped his hand. “Oh, I still have to go to New Orleans to pick up my puppies from the clinic and speak to my friends.”
“I’ll take you?—”
“Or I could teleport myself.”
“Not without me.” He used a tone that allowed no argument.
She rolled her eyes, her lips pressed together, hiding a smile, and his heart expanded at her playful teasing.
“Eat.” Nia nodded at his untouched plate.
Echo returned with sodas and a jug of golden liquid. “This…” She smirked and poured a glass, setting it near him. “Is a heavenly punch. It does taste good and helps us feel heaps better.”
“I would have thought you’d have your dagger at my throat,” he said absently.
“What?” Then she burst out laughing, eyes sparkling. “Just because I stabbed you once?—”
“What?” Nia’s eyes widened. “Why?”
“Well, he was being a, er…” Echo scrunched her face the same way he’d seen Nia do. “He was being his usual disdainful self,” she muttered, cheeks flushing. “I mean when he was my tutor. I like this version of him much better. So, great job, Nia.”
His mate laughed. “Well, any which way, I adore him. But I was there, too, faced with his aloofness in the beginning.”
Lore shook his head as Echo regaled Nia on how she flung her dagger at him and nailed him in the belly in the early weeks of her lessons. He finally tasted the broth. A concoction of flavors flooded his mouth…herby and…and he wasn’t sure how to describe it. But it was palatable.
“Good?” Nia asked with a smile.
