He needed to focus on his mission, but he also needed to talk to his mate.He didn’t know what Nymon would want or even if he was aware that they were mates.He had no idea how those things worked for demons.Nymon hadn’t given him the impression that he’d recognized him as anything other than a shifter—if even that—last night, but he could be wrong.
Texwantedto be wrong.He wanted Nymon to know they were mates and to try talking to him.Nymon never turned around, though.He continued talking to his friend, even when the friend started shaking his head.Tex was tempted to try to get closer, but he couldn’t leave the perfect hiding place he was in.He was pretty sure that a shifter suddenly appearing in the middle of town would freak people out, and he was supposed to be hiding and spying, not to make his presence public because his mate was standing there being all cute.
This was going to be harder than Tex had expected.He hadn’t thought he would meet his mate in Starhaven.How could he have?He’d been sent here on a mission, and now, here he was, too distracted to pay attention to anything that wasn’t the cute green demon in front of him.He didn’t want to call Gregory and admit defeat, and he definitely didn’t want to be pulled out, which meant he needed to find another solution to his mate problem.
Maybe he should talk to Nymon.He could explain who he was and why he was here, maybe ask him for his help.Tex didn’t think that his mate had anything to do with the reason he’d been sent here, and if he was wrong, he’d deal with it.For now, he needed to find a way to find information for Gregory.He also needed to warn his boss, as little as he liked that.This was something Gregory needed to know.Tex had no idea how his superior would take it, though.
He supposed he was about to find out.
Even though he wanted nothing more than to stay there and watch his mate, Tex turned around and trotted away.He went far enough away that he doubted anyone would walk up on him while he was on the phone, but he stayed close enough that he could get back to town quickly if he had to.He didn’t know why he should.He doubted his mate would get into trouble, although who knew?
He shifted as soon as he was sure it was safe to and reached for the pouch around his neck.He slid his phone out and turned it on, but once it was, he stared at it for a moment.
Gregory needed to know what was happening.Besides, if Tex didn’t call him, he’d try calling Tex, and he might get worried if Tex didn’t answer.Tex had to be careful, but he also had to report in.It would be suspicious if he didn’t, and the last thing Tex wanted was for Gregory to send the entire assassins’ team to his rescue, especially because he didn’t need it.No, what he needed was to stop obsessing over his mate, which was easier said than done.Maybe telling someone about him would help.
But maybe telling Gregory about it would make Gregory pull Tex off this job, which wasn’t what Tex wanted.Would he be allowed to stay here if he wasn’t working?It wasn’t like Gregory or anyone else could come to Starhaven and drag Tex away, but Tex stood to lose his job if he didn’t obey his superior’s orders.
It would be worth it, though.He wasn’t going anywhere, no matter what Gregory ordered.There was nothing Gregory would be able to do about it, either.If there was one council law that every supernatural being respected, it was the one about not separating mates.
* * * *
NYMON COULD FEEL THATsomeone was watching him, but by the time he turned to check who it was, the only thing he saw was the wolf retreating between the bushes.He took a step forward, eager to go after the wolf, only for Kael to catch his arm.
“What are you doing?”
Nymon hesitated.He wanted to tell his best friend everything, but he wasn’t sure how Kael would react to the news that a wolf shifter was hanging around town.
The wolf wasn’t supposed to be here.No one who wasn’t a demon was supposed to be here.There was no way anyone had agreed to allow the wolf into the shield, which meant that if people found out he was there, he’d get kicked out, or worse.Nymon wouldn’t put it past some people to hurt the wolf to keep the secrecy, and that wasn’t something he could allow to happen.
“What are you doing?”Kael repeated.
Nymon looked around.“There was someone there.”
He had no idea why Kael reacted the way he did.For some reason, his best friend blinked, then beamed.It didn’t make sense.
“There wassomeone?”Kael asked.
“Yeah.I saw them yesterday, too.”
“You didn’t tell me you were interested in someone.Who is he?Which one is it?”Kael asked, looking around.
It took Nymon a few moments to understand what Kael was talking about, and he groaned when he did.Of course his best friend thought he had his eye on someone.In a way, he did.That someone just wasn’t a demon.
“It’s about time,” Kael said.“You know I would never rush you or anything like that, but I don’t like to think of you all alone all the time.”
“I’m not alone,” Nymon grumbled.“I have you.”
“But youonlyhave me.You need friends outside of me, maybe a boyfriend, too.So?Who is it?Do I know him?”Kael glanced toward the forest.“You were looking at the forest, right?”
“That’s because there’s a shifter in town,” Nymon whispered.“You can’t tell anyone.I don’t even know for sure if they’re a shifter, but this wolf was behind my house yesterday, and when I went to talk to them, they stayed there and listened.I’m almost a hundred percent sure they’re a shifter, and I need to go after them.”
Kael’s expression changed while Nymon talked.He didn’t quite look horrified, but he did look worried.“What are you talking about?There can’t be a shifter here.”
“There can, and there is.”
“You just said you’re not sure it’s a shifter.”
“Have you seen many wolves in the area?”
