I followed Nolen into the kitchen, deciding that I might be the best help to him if I just collected what he needed to cook, so I got a chopping board and a knife first to cut the chicken. Neither of us spoke as we moved around each other, him doing the cooking and me helping where I could without being in the way.
“You okay?” he asked, eyeing me with his concerned look.
I shrugged. “It’s just weird.”
“What is?”
“Everything? I feel like my life has turned around so fast and I still can’t truly believe it.” Or felt like I deserved it. But if I’d said that, I knew what Nolen would’ve said, that I deserved the world, thathewas the lucky one getting a mate like me. Sometimes, I simply felt less than, and it would take years for me to change my self-view. I knew as much.
“It has. I can see why you’d feel unsettled by it. But promise to talk to me if you need to. I know I could never even begin to imagine everythingyou’re going through, with your father and with Aiden, but I promise I’ll do my best to listen and comfort you whenever you need it.”
I melted where I stood. How could he be so damn perfect?
“I love you,” I said, finally saying the words I’d felt ever since we met. I knew Mates loved each other instantly, but for me and where I grew up, love came gradually, so it felt wrong saying it too soon, but now? Now he had to know.
He smiled, the cheese forgotten, and soon his arms came around me, holding me tight.
“Whatever happens tomorrow, just remember that I love you, too.”
How was I supposed to fall asleep?! Our bed was amazingly comfortable, I had my mate next to me, and still, all I could think about was Aiden. I was both nervous and excited about tomorrow. At one point I considered asking Nolen if we could have sex, but it would only be because I wanted a distraction and not because I was in the mood. To be honest with myself, I hadn’t felt the need or want for sex since we mated. Maybe that would change once Aiden was with us and I’d healed more. It didn’t seem to beon Nolen’s mind either, or maybe I just couldn’t feel arousal through his emotions?
Nolen’s raspy voice startled me from my wandering thoughts. “What are you thinking about?”
Better to just be honest. “I was wondering if we could feel arousal through each other’s emotions or not.”
I turned to look at him and found him blinking sleepily at me. “Huh?”
I laughed. “Never mind. I guess I’m too wired to sleep.”
“Want me to help?” he asked, and it sounded like an innocent offer, which meant it likely wasn’t sex.
“Please.”
He wrapped me in his arms, and before I could protest that that wouldn’t help, I fell asleep.
Chapter Twenty- Two
Nolen
Seeing the bags under Derek’s eyes made it easier not to feel guilty over using my magic on him. It was something I would normally tell him about before using it, but I knew he would just ask me a hundred questions about it, and he really needed the sleep.
“Good morning,” Alec greeted us in the portal room. It was way too early to be so chipper, but somehow, Alec managed it.
“Good morning,” we both replied back.
“The others are on their way,” he informed us, moving so he stood next to the portal. “And Derek, if you should feel anything unusual, please either call us, or come back through immediately. We still don’t know how your body will react to leaving our world.”
Derek nodded. “I promise to tell Nolen if I feel weird or anything.”
“Good.”
Trise and Henriette came in then with Grovar and Mia trailing close behind. “Good morning,” they all greeted us. And after we’d made some small talk, it was time to leave.
“You each have enough clothes for a week?” Trise asked, sounding so much like my own mother, I felt guilty over not calling her this morning.
“Yes,” we replied in unison.
“Perfect! Here’s a map of his last known location.” Trise handed me the map where they’d written his address and full name. “He was adopted by two men and that’s all we know about his life.”
