The plants couldn’t tell him much about the person, but whoever was there wasn’t doing anything, just watching him.He should probably feel creeped out by that, but he was mostly curious.
He carefully climbed down the porch steps.It meant that he was lower and couldn’t see as well, but he wasn’t planning on just standing on his porch and looking out at the forest.To be honest, he wasn’t planning anything.He just wanted to get closer to whoever was there.He opened his gate and peeked out.He could tell that the person who was there wasn’t far, so he expected someone to be standing there.In a way, there was.It just wasn’t someone he’d expected.
He blinked at the wolf sitting under a tree.The wolf stared at him, and even though it obviously couldn’t speak, Nymon had the feeling that the wolf was anxious.It was as if it had been caught doing something it shouldn’t.In a way, Nymon supposed the wolf had been, but this was a wolf.It wasn’t supposed to be feeling that way or any way, really.
Nymon cocked his head.The wolf mirrored his gesture.It looked almost human, and Nymon gasped at the thought.
Surely, this couldn’t be a shifter.
How would a shifter be in town?How would they even know about Starhaven?Why would they be in Nymon’s backyard, watching him?
He took a step forward.He was too curious not to try talking to a shifter.He might be about to make a fool of himself if it was a real wolf, but if that was the case, no one would know.It wasn’t like the wolf would go around talking about it.
“Hi,” he said.
He took another step forward, but he made sure not to go too far away from his gate.He wanted to be able to retreat quickly if he had to.The wolf wasn’t threatening, but if it was a wild animal, that could change in seconds.
The wolf didn’t say anything.Of course it didn’t.It was a wolf.
“My name’s Nymon,” he said, feeling like an idiot.“I know you’re a wolf, but I was wondering if you were actually a shifter.It’s okay if you are,” he quickly continued.“I won’t tell anyone you’re here.I don’t know how you managed to get in, but it’s okay with me.I don’t think that you’re dangerous just because you’re a shifter.”He paused and licked his lips.He couldn’t see that well in the darkness, but he could see well enough.“I think you’re gorgeous.”He felt his cheeks heat.“You know, as a wolf.Your fur looks very fluffy.”
The wolf made a sound that reminded Nymon of laughter.Maybe he should stop humiliating himself in case this was actually a shifter.At least whoever it was seemed to find it funny.
He took another step forward.Something cracked under his weight, causing the wolf to perk up.For a moment, they continued staring at each other.Nymon didn’t know why, but he desperately wanted to move closer and touch the wolf.He wanted to see if their fur was as fluffy as it looked.He wanted to continue talking to them and maybe find out who they were under the fur.If this was a shifter, they wouldn’t attack him.If this was a real wolf, he might be about to turn into wolf kibble, but it was something he was willing to risk.
Maybe.He’d still be careful.He was alone, and while it wasn’t that late, it would be complicated for him to find a healer if he got bitten.
“I’m really feeling like an idiot,” he explained.“Part of me wants you to be a shifter, but another part hopes that I’m not making a fool of myself in front of someone who can understand what I’m saying.”He rubbed the back of his neck.“Anyway.My name is Nymon.Are you a shifter?”
The wolf stared for a few moments longer.Nymon wasn’t sure what he expected, but it wasn’t for the wolf to huff and get to his feet.The wolf turned, and by the time Nymon realized what was happening, the wolf had disappeared into the darkness.Nymon took a step forward to go after the wolf, but he stopped.
He had no idea what just happened.The wolf’s behavior had been odd for an animal, but if they were a shifter, why had they left?Why hadn’t they stuck around and shifted to talk to him?
Why were they in Starhaven to begin with?
Chapter Two
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TEX WAS STILL THINKINGabout the encounter with Nymon the next day.He wasn’t sure what had possessed him to get so close to the demon when he was in Starhaven for a specific reason, but Nymon wasn’t just a demon.He was Tex’s mate, and Tex doubted that anyone would blame him for what had happened last night.It wasn’t like he’d talked to Nymon or anything like that.He hadn’t even gotten close to him.He’d kept his distance, had watched him and listened to him, and now, he wanted more.
Every fiber of his being wanted him to go back to Nymon’s little house.He wanted to get into the backyard and find his mate, to roll to his back and expose his belly, and have his mate scratch it.He wanted to shift, introduce himself, explain who he was, and what they were to each other.
He snorted.Yes, he was sure that would go down well.What was he supposed to say?Hi, Nymon, I’m a council assassin and a wolf shifter, and you’re my mate.Why am I here?Oh, it’s to spy on you and your people and find out more about those who are selling magical services to humans, including services that cause harm or death.
Tex didn’t even know if his mate was involved in this mess.He hoped Nymon wasn’t.He hadn’t struck him as the type, but what did Tex know?The only thing he knew for sure was that the man was his mate, but he had no idea what Nymon was like.There was a chance he was one of those demons selling their magic.He might be killing people for money.
Not that Tex could say anything about that.He hadn’t become a council assassin, but he’d trained to be one, and he’d known what that would entail.He would’ve gotten paid to kill people.Hehadkilled people as part of that training.He understood why the council needed those demons to be kept under control, but at the same time, it felt hypocritical.They paid people to kill others.Yes, they had their reasons for each killing, and he was sure that, usually, they were good reasons, but they still paid people to end lives.
He shook his head and tried to focus on what was happening in front of him, but it was hard when his every thought wanted to go back to his mate.Even the sight of so many colorful demons, with their tails and bright hair, wasn’t enough to distract him for more than a few moments at a time.
How could it be when his mate’s green hair and sweet face had been present in his mind since he’d first seen Nymon?He wanted to go back to the house where he was pretty sure his mate lived, but instead, he forced himself to stay where he was and people-watch.
The edge of the forest was a good hiding spot.It made it a little hard to see what was going on, but it gave him a hiding place.People hadn’t looked his way once since he’d sat in the bushes.They were going on about their days, doing grocery shopping, meeting friends, and being normal people.This wasn’t any different from the town where Tex lived, except that the people here were more colorful and clearly not human.It made him wonder if the people who’d decided that demons shouldn’t mingle with the rest of the world knew how similar they were.It also made him wonder if there were demons who wanted to see what was outside of their little towns.He doubted that all of them were happy about being prisoners in their town.As far as Tex knew, they couldn’t leave, and no one was allowed in.
Tex found his attention pulled toward someone.He cocked his head as he watched the demon’s back.He was pretty sure they’d just come out of the coffee shop, and they were talking to another demon and gesturing at them.The demon turned, and Tex groaned.Of course his mate was here.There was no way Tex would be able to focus on anyone else now.How could he?
What was he supposed to do?He already knew that this mission was going to be fucked up.He was having a hard time focusing on anything or anyone who wasn’t his mate, which defeated the purpose of his presence here.Should he call Gregory to explain what had happened?Or should he try to push through?But if he did, there was a chance he’d find out that his mate was involved, which wasn’t something he wanted.At the same time, could he ignore that possibility?
