Everything that could bloom did so.Normally, Nymon would have to push his magic into the plants for them to behave like that, but not this time.This time, he wasn’t doing anything but holding Tex’s hand.
Tex gasped and glanced around.The flowers were of all colors, from yellow to red to pink.Seeing them made Nymon feel slightly better, but he still couldn’t forget what Tex had told him.
“So demons are hurting people?”he asked.
Tex turned his attention back to Nymon with a sigh.“They are.I guess that in the end, demons aren’t that different from humans and shifters.There are good and bad people in all species.”
“And you’re here to stop them?”
“I’m here to find out who’s part of this network.I heard a conversation earlier that will help me.I’m not supposed to do anything about it, though.It’s not my place.I’m just following orders, and they’re to find more information.”
Nymon slowly nodded.He supposed that made sense.Texhadsaid that he worked for the council.“Are you a spy, then?”
Tex rubbed the back of his neck.“Not exactly.”
There was a story there.Nymon could tell by the way Tex carefully avoided looking at him.It made him want to push.Everything about Tex made Nymon want to push.
He wanted to learn the man’s greatest fears and what made him smile.He wanted to know what comforted him when he needed it.He wanted to be the person who would do that.“Will you leave now that you have this information?”
Tex hesitated again.“I should.I’m supposed to.”
“That makes it sound like you won’t.”
“I would have if I hadn’t met you.”
That didn’t make sense.“What do you mean?”
“I was never supposed to stay here more than a few days.I just needed time to find information that would lead us to whoever’s behind this operation.”
“And you said you found that.”
“I know more than I did when I arrived, enough to know where to start looking.I’m not ready to leave, though.”
“Why not?”Nymon asked in a whisper.
Tex swallowed.“Because you’re my mate.I don’t want to leave without you.”
Nymon closed his eyes.He’d suspected something like that, but he hadn’t wanted to hope, so he hadn’t allowed himself to think about it.It was the only explanation for what he felt about Tex.He’d seen enough movies and read enough books to have an idea what it was like to be a shifter’s mate, but he hadn’t expected it to be so overwhelming.He hadn’t expected his entire being to yearn for Tex and to be desperate to find a way to keep him here.The books hadn’t done enough to prepare him for what it really felt like.
He opened his eyes.“You’re sure?”
“You know how this works for shifters.I wouldn’t be telling you if I wasn’t sure.”
“I’m your mate?”
Tex smiled.“You are.”
“And you’re okay with that?I’m a demon.I’m sure you’d rather have a shifter or even a human as a mate.”
“Why would I?You’re as good as anyone else.I realize we don’t know each other, and that things are a little complicated, but I’m sure we’ll find a way to make this work if it’s what we both want.”
They would because Nymon wouldn’t have it any other way.He was ready to sneak out of town and push through the sensation of illness he’d feel when he did so.If Tex had managed to come in, Nymon would manage to leave with him.
But was that what Tex wanted?
Nymon opened his mouth to ask when he heard his front door open in the distance.For a second, he and Tex stared at each other.Nymon didn’t want Tex to leave, but if someone was there, he couldn’t stay.
“Nymon?”Kael called out.
