“Yeah, that cat’s out of the bag.I can’t stick it back in, but I promise that Kael won’t tell anyone.He’d be too scared of someone using it against him.”
Tex frowned.“How?”
Nymon shrugged.“I don’t know.He’s always been a bit high-strung.”
“And you’re not?What would happen to you if someone were to find out you know I’m here?”Because it was something Tex worried about.He could defend himself, but could Nymon?
“Well, people wouldn’t be happy.They never are when shifters are involved.They wouldn’t hurt me or anything like that, though.I’d probably be given a stern talking to, and I’d have to give you up, but I wouldn’t do that.”
“Why not?I’m not supposed to be here.I’m invading your home.”
Nymon smiled.Tex wanted to kiss him.
“I wouldn’t call it invading since there’s only you, but I don’t care.I don’t think that demons should isolate themselves and each other the way we are.I think we should live with everyone else and talk to them just like I’m talking to you.”He frowned.“Although maybe I shouldn’t be talking to you.I don’t know if I can trust you.”
“You can,” Tex said in a trembling voice.He knew that his word wouldn’t be enough for Nymon to believe him, but he’d show him.He’d show Nymon that he could be trusted and that he could be a good mate.
* * * *
NYMON WAS PRETTY SUREthat Tex wasn’t telling the entire truth.He wasn’t surprised or offended.Tex didn’t trust him, but then, he didn’t have a reason to trust him, just like Nymon didn’t have a reason to trust Tex.Whatever reason Tex had to be here, Nymon didn’t think it was a bad one, or rather, he didn’t think that Tex was here to hurt anyone.He could be wrong, but he didn’t think he was, and that could be a problem.His mother had always told him that he was too trusting.He hoped he wasn’t about to get killed in the woods, but maybe it would be better if he kept a careful distance from Tex, just in case.
But he wasn’t going to miss an opportunity he would probably never have again.He’d never met anyone who lived outside of Starhaven.He couldn’t leave the town, so he’d probably never find out what it was like to live outside of it, but maybe he could ask questions.Maybe he could live vicariously through Tex.Tex wasn’t here just because he was curious about demons, but if he wanted to keep up the pretense, he might tell Nymon about shifters and how life was outside of Starhaven.Besides, he’d probably need Nymon’s help.He’d never be able to continue hiding around town without it.
How long had he been here?Had he been sleeping in the forest in his wolf form?As comfortable as that might be, Tex wasn’t only a wolf shifter.He was also human, and he probably wouldn’t say no to a bit of human comfort, like a shower and hot food.That was something that Nymon could provide.
It would mean letting Tex into his home, though.Was it something he was willing to do?
Yes.Kael would yell at him if he found out about it, but he wasn’t here right now.No one else was.No one else knew about Tex, and Nymon intended to keep things that way.
He crossed his arms over his chest and considered his problem.It would be safer for both of them to have their conversation in Nymon’s home where no one would overhear them or walk in on them.They weren’t anywhere close to town, and people didn’t usually come this far into the forest, but someone might.
“I think we should go to my house,” he said.
Tex cocked his head.“Why?”
“Because this conversation would be more comfortable for both of us if we didn’t have to be careful of our surroundings.”
“You said people don’t come out here.”
“They don’t, but someone still might.Besides, don’t you want food?”
“I don’t need you to feed me.”
Nymon made a show of looking around.“Are you hiding food with your non-existent clothes?Because I don’t see either of those things anywhere.”
“I’m not hiding food.I’m a shifter.”
It took Nymon a second to understand what Tex was saying, and when he did, he was horrified.He probably shouldn’t be.Like Tex had pointed out, he was a shifter.When he was in his wolf form, it made sense for him to hunt.“Hot food,” Nymon offered.“Maybe even a shower.”
“That’s tempting,” Tex agreed.
“It would also be safer for me.I don’t need to tell you what would happen if someone found us talking.”
“I’m actually curious about that.I didn’t realize that you guys weren’t allowed to leave your towns.I thought it was something demons didn’twantto do.”
Nymon snorted.“Oh, I very much want to leave Starhaven.Trust me, if I could, I’d be on my way out.We shouldn’t talk about it here, though.”
“All right.I’ll follow you home.”
