But giving in to temptation may lead to disaster, so I continued to resist the urge.
Kastiel leaned back in his chair, giving me a little more space, though it did nothing to dim the tug of the mate bond. “You look like you have questions. Ask them.”
I hesitated, tracing the rim of my mug. “How old are you?”
“Two hundred and seventy-seven.” His mouth curved at my wide-eyed reaction. “Does that bother you?”
“You’ve been alive longer than some countries have existed.”
A low chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Yet you’re the one who makes me feel like I’m learning everything for the first time.”
I looked down at the table, suddenly shy. “I doubt that since I’m only twenty.”
“Doesn’t matter how old you are, you’re the only fated mate I’ll ever have, which makes you fascinating to me.”
Heat crept up my neck. “What do you like to do when you’re not protecting the hotel?”
“I read, too,” he admitted with a shrug. “Mostly horror. The darker the better. Stories where the monster wins sometimes. It reminds me the world isn’t always black and white.”
I couldn’t help smiling. “Horror? I would have guessed military strategy or ancient demonic texts.”
“Those too.” The corner of his scarred mouth twitched. “But horror lets me turn the page when the nightmare gets too real. What do you like about cozy mysteries?”
“They feel safe.” I gestured vaguely between us. “Unlike real life right now.”
Kastiel’s eyes softened. “You deserve to feel safe, Isolde. Even if the rest of your life isn’t predictable.”
Doubt still gnawed at me. “But what happens when my aura sparks again, and I accidentally?—”
“I’ll be right here,” he cut in gently but firmly. “I’ve survived worse than a few sparks from my mate.”
I searched his face, looking for any sign of hesitation or fear. There was none. Only quiet certainty that made the mate bond tug even harder.
“You make it sound so simple,” I whispered.
“It might not be easy, but we have time to figure it all out.” He lifted the covers off the plates. “And plenty of food to keep us fueled.”
The crepes with strawberries and whipped cream, peppery bacon, and scrambled eggs were among my favorite things to eat for breakfast. As we continued getting to know each other over our meal, Kastiel watched me as if I were worth every risk.
And I began to hope that maybe I didn’t have to keep running from the bond.
6
KASTIEL
Focusing on work with my fated mate under the same roof was nearly impossible.
Every report I tried to read blurred into the memory of Isolde’s emerald eyes and the way her aura had sparked against my shadows. I’d enjoyed sharing breakfast with her, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted all of her time and attention.
I finally gave up on the background check that should have been finished hours ago and headed to Adan’s office. I found him seated behind his desk with a glass of demon-fire whiskey in hand.
He glanced up as I entered, one brow arching at whatever he saw on my face. “You still look like you’re fighting a war in your head.”
“Because I am.” I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, crossing my arms over my chest. “Isolde’s aura is still unstable. Every time I get close, it crackles like lightning. She’s convinced that if she lets go even a little, she’ll accidentally seduce or manipulate me. She’s never fed. Not once. She’s been suppressing her succubus side for years because she’s afraid of taking away someone’s free will.”
Adan took a slow sip of his drink, his eyes thoughtful. “I wonder how much her father actually learned about succubi before he decided to have a child with one. Thalvor always struck me as the type to focus on the political advantages of hypnotic allure rather than the realities of raising someone with those powers.”
This was why I came to Adan when I ran into a problem I couldn’t solve on my own. He had a way of looking at things from a different perspective.
