Chapter Six
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“UMM, NO.”
Tex blinked.He hadn’t expected someone else to answer.Hell, he’d forgotten that Kael was there, somewhere in the house.He hadn’t made his presence known the entire time Nymon had been arguing with Tex.Now that he was, he didn’t sound happy.
Nymon seemed to have forgotten about him, too, because he turned and blinked.Kael stepped forward, a stubborn expression on his face.He didn’t look unhappy, but he also didn’t look happy.Tex didn’t know him, so he had no idea what was going on.
“What?”Nymon asked.
“You’re not going anywhere with these people.You don’t know them.”
“I know Tex.”
“Just because you fucked him once doesn’t mean you know him.”
Tex choked on air.He didn’t know Kael, but he hadn’t expected him to be so crude.From the way Nymon talked about him, Tex had thought he’d run as soon as he saw them or something.
“Kael!”Nymon argued.
“No.You don’t get to do this when I’m right.I know he’s your mate and that you’re bonded, which, if you ask me, was a stupid decision, but you’ve made it, and there’s nothing you can do about it now.But you still don’t know Tex.You don’t know any of these guys, and you don’t know what they’re planning.You only know what they’re telling you, and they could be lying.”
“I promise that we’re not,” Tex said.He didn’t want Kael to be worried.He would be, too, if his best friend was putting himself in danger.
He glanced at Orlando and the others.Well, his best friendswereputting themselves in danger.The difference was that they knew what they were doing.Even though he’d worry about them, he knew they could handle themselves.As impressive as Nymon’s magic with his plants was, Tex didn’t think it would be enough to protect Nymon if he was attacked.
Nymon crossed his arms over his chest and set his jaw.Tex swallowed, knowing this wouldn’t end well.
“I understand where you’re coming from, but there’s no need to be rude,” Nymon told Kael.“There’s also no way you can stop me.You’re not my mother.”
Kael snorted.“Would it help if I called her?”
“You’re welcome to do it.”
“I could go to the elders.”
Nymon and Kael stared at each other.Tex hated that he was the reason they were fighting, and he wanted to fix it.He wasn’t sure if he could, but he could try.
“Hi, Kael,” he said.“I know we haven’t been introduced and that you don’t know me.I’m Tex, your best friend’s mate, and I promise you that the only thing I want is to keep Nymon safe.If it was up to me, I’d lock him up in this house and go do what I need to do, but I’m sure you know how stubborn he is.Even I can see that, and I barely know him.Do you really think that my telling him not to come is going to do anything beyond making him angry?”
Kael’s shoulders slumped.“No.If you lock him inside the house, he’s just going to sneak out a window and follow you.”
Tex had to work hard not to laugh.“That’s what I thought.I’m the last person who wants him in danger since he’s bonded to me and I can feel his emotions, but I don’t think I’ll be able to leave him behind.It’s probably going to be safer for him to be with us so we can keep an eye on him and intervene if something happens.If I leave him here and he sneaks out, there’s no way to know what he’s going to get himself into.”But Tex suspected it would be trouble.
“You promise to keep him safe?”
Tex pressed a hand over his chest.“With my life.I would sacrifice myself if it meant keeping him safe.”
“You’re not going to,” Nymon said, sounding harsh.“No one is sacrificing themselves.I don’t know what your plan is, but I won’t allow anyone to get hurt.”
Ridge chuckled, and everyone’s attention turned to him.His cheeks were flushed, but he looked happy.Tex didn’t understand why.
“I really like your mate,” he said.He winked at Nymon.“You’re going to keep Tex on his toes.I like that.”He stuck out his hand.“I’m Ridge.”
Nymon stared at Ridge’s hand for a moment before shaking it.“Nymon, and this is my best friend, Kael.”
Ridge stepped closer to Kael and offered him his hand, too.When he did, Kael was just as hesitant to take it, but he did, and Tex breathed more easily.Maybe they could find a way to make this work, after all.
