The girl’s mouth falls open. “Who did you bribe? There’s no way God choseyouforher.She’s so pretty, and you’re… a man.”
Hazel doubles over laughing, and I’m deeply offended.
“Okay, first of all, God has nothing to do with fated mates. And second,she’sthe lucky one. Do you not see all of this?” I gesture to myself. “You might need glasses. Humans have poor eyesight. Maybe that’s why you can’t appreciate the fine specimen standing before you.”
“If you’re the best your kind has to offer, I’m afraid you’re all doomed.”
I can’t fucking win with this girl.
Hazel is laughing so hard she has to grip the edge of the hospital bed to stay upright.
I clap my hands together. “Alright, that’s all the bullying I can take for today. Time to go, little one.”
In a flash, her bravado crumbles, her shoulders sagging as she twists her hands in her lap, suddenly avoiding my gaze.
“Will it hurt?”
“Not even a little bit, kiddo.”
I don’t give her time to think, or her fear to take root. I round the bed and tap her forehead three times. Before I can blink, a bright light swallows her soul, carrying her where she belongs.
My chest tightens as the incessant beeping of machines speeds up, doctors and nurses flooding into the room, trying to save the host body left behind.
I grab Hazel’s hand and pull her out of the room. She’s seen enough.
“Do you think she’ll be okay?” Hazel tugs on my hand, stopping us in the middle of the empty ICU hallway.
“With that sass? She’ll be more than okay.”
Hazel still looks worried, and it tugs at something deep in my chest.
I step closer, letting go of her hand to cup her face, my thumbs brushing over her soft cheeks. Her eyes widen when I squish them, forcing her lips into a pout.
“Look at you, worrying over a stranger. You’re adorable.”
Hazel narrows her eyes at me and smacks my hands away. “I’m mean and scary.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” Before she can pull away, I lean in and press a loud kiss to her forehead, grinning at the way she turns red. “Mhm. Adorable.”
“One of these days, I’m going to stab you.”
“Hazel Seagrave, I did not realize you were into knife play. I should’ve guessed, though.”
“You—”
Her threat dies as a commotion nearby pulls our attention.
A guy leans against the reception desk, trying to take pressure off his broken leg while asking the nurse on a date. She’s pretending to look busy, but it’s obvious she’s uncomfortable and irritated.
“Can we take him next?”
“Hazel…” I click my tongue. “There are rules.”
My hellfire pouts, and that’s it. I’m done. She can have whatever she wants.
I have no rules, no morals when it comes to her. Never did.
“But we can break them.”
