Nymon’s throat tightened.“You make it sound so simple.”
“It is.”Tex moved so they were face to face, their noses nearly touching.“Maybe we’re overthinking it.Fate chose us for each other.We should trust that.”
“Demons don’t believe in it.”
“Then maybe it’s time you started.”Tex’s smile was gentle.“Wearebonded, after all.You chose me.”
“I did choose you,” Nymon whispered.“Unknown future and all.”
They settled into comfortable silence after that.Nymon could hear Tex’s heartbeat under his ear, steady and strong.Through the bond, he felt his mate’s happiness, and he shared it.
His emotions were complicated, though.He was excited and scared.He felt grief for what he’d be leaving behind, mixed with anticipation for what he’d find when he left with Tex.But whatever else happened, their bond was right.Texwas right.
“What will Kael say?”Nymon murmured.
He felt Tex’s amusement through the bond before his mate spoke.“Probably that you’re insane for bonding with a strange shifter.”
“He’s not wrong.”Nymon smiled despite himself.“He’s going to be so worried.He’s already afraid of the outside world.Me leaving with you is going to terrify him.”Nymon wanted to ask him to come, but could he?And would Kael say yes?
“We’ll make sure he knows you’re safe.That you’re happy.”Tex’s fingers drew patterns on Nymon’s back.“And maybe he’ll be brave enough to visit.”
The image of Kael venturing beyond Starhaven seemed impossible, but maybe impossible things happened more often than Nymon thought.
“I’ll tell him tomorrow,” Nymon decided.“We need to start planning how we’re going to do this, and I need to do something about my plants.”
“We don’t have to rush this.You can take time to—”
“No.”Nymon pushed up to look at Tex.“I don’t need to take time.I know you can’t stay in Starhaven for much longer, and I want to go with you when you leave.”
Tex studied Nymon’s face for a long moment, then nodded.“Okay.”
“Your investigation into those demons is over?”Nymon didn’t want to create trouble for Tex.
“For now.I wouldn’t be surprised if Gregory sent me here again, but there’s not much else I can do until our people use the information I already gave them.Hopefully, they’ll be able to identify the people I heard talking and find out who their contacts are.”
“I’ll help you if I can.”
“You don’t have to, but thank you.”
Nymon settled back against his mate’s chest.Outside, he could hear the night sounds of the forest.He would miss them.Tomorrow night, he might hear different sounds.The thought should have terrified him, and it did, in a way.But with Tex’s arms around him and their bond steady in the back of his mind, it felt like the beginning of an adventure.
“Thank you,” he whispered into the darkness.
Tex’s arms tightened around him.“For what?”
“For giving me a chance.”Nymon yawned.
“Always,” Tex murmured against his hair.“Sleep.Tomorrow’s going to be complicated.”
Nymon hummed.For the first time in his life, he was truly excited about the future.
Chapter Five
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WHEN TEX OPENED HISeyes the next morning, he was surrounded by plants.He blinked, wondering if this was what would happen every time he and Nymon were together.He didn’t have a problem with it, but it was a lot.
Some of the plants on the nightstand had reached out and covered part of Tex’s shoulder, as if they were trying to keep him in bed.Since the plants were linked to Nymon’s magic, maybe they were.
