“I think that’s definitely a logical way to approach things. You wouldn’t marry someone that you just met, so mates shouldn’t be any different. Dating and slowing stuff down a bit so it isn’t so overwhelming I think sounds more than fair, all things considered.”
Ian presses his lips into a flat line, like he can see right through my words to the sad acceptance beneath them. Still, he nods, breathing easier like he expected me to scoff at his words, to leave him behind and move on. And it’s exactly why I know that he’s right; he doesn’t know me well enough to realize I’m not that kind of person, that I’d never intentionally make him suffer.
Especially not when he does such a spectacular job of it himself.
Resting my cheek in my hand, I turn to face Rheyas, bracing myself. “And you?”
He runs his tongue over his teeth, choosing his words carefully. “I’m…torn. If you’d allowed me to find someone better suited for you, I could rest easy. But if you’re accepting the mage as your potential mate, you’ll stay here. As clearly demonstrated, I can’t trust him or the men in this town to protect you. I can’t bring myself to leave, but I don’t want to stay.”
A lance of pain hurts my heart, but I nod. “Don’t knock yourself out on my account. If you don’t want to stay, I’m not going to try and make you. I’m not your problem to worry about.”
He narrows his eyes at me, a warning growl twisting his lips, showing just how borderline feral I forget that he is. “You didn’t let me finish.” I wave my hand, gesturing for him to proceed, and he slaps a palm on the counter before rocking back on his stool, looking up at the ceiling in frustration.
“Me not wanting to stay has nothing to do with you. I…don’t do well around people. The place I brought you to after hauling you from the river has been my home since I was a cub. I’m not built for places like this, hate dealing with people. I don’t want to be here.” He releases a heavy exhale that ends on a defeated groan.
“And yet I can’t seem to stay away from you. Can’t bring you back with me in good conscience either.” He finally meets my eye, looking stricken. “So I remain torn, because I don’t want to give you up even though I should.” There’s a heavy beat of silence as stupid hope flares in my chest that I promptly punch in the face.
The sweet moment is broken as he clearly has had enough of being so open and glares daggers at Ian. “So now I’m forced to stay and guard you since you chose this pathetic soul.”
“Oh, fuck off,” Ian snaps. “You don’t want to be here then go. Nobody’s stopping you.”
“I’ll go when my mate doesn’t need me.” My heart stutters at his words, and by the curious tilt of his head, he picked up on the sound.
Rolling my water bottle between my hands, I do the hardest thing I think I’ve ever been forced to do. I look both men dead in the face, refusing to feel embarrassed, and put myself out there knowing it could result in devastation.
“I don’t particularly like either of you right now. I don’t like how things have been going.” Steeling my heart at the hurt that flashes across Ian’s face and the way Rheyas clenches his jaw, I rush out, “But I do think I could love you, if you let me. My first few days with each of you proved that things could begoodif you quit overthinking shit and got out of your own way.”
Shoving through the raw exposure, I look between them. “It’s not fair of me to expect love at first sight, but I’d at least like to hope that if you both decide to stick around, you’re doing it because you honestly believe in this.”
I’m not as worried about Ian, so I turn towards Rheyas and raise an eyebrow in challenge. “Don’t stay because you feel obligated to keep me alive. If you’re hanging around, I might not expect insta-love, but I do expect you to have a genuine interest in me. Date me. Put in the effort. If you’re not willing to actually try, then there’s no point in pretending for either of us.”
Nostrils flaring, he leans closer, looking absolutely furious. “Obviously I have an…interest, if I’m still here.”
Refusing to back down, I take another bite from my plate, never once breaking the stare off. “Could have fooled me. Guess you’re just going to have to prove it.”
Seventeen
Esmerelda
Glancing up, Rheyas is a constant distraction while I work. He refuses to sit at a table, merely leaning against the far wall with his arms crossed like a silent sentry. It has my magic on edge, torn between him and Ian, in a constant state of push and pull that just feels itchy and annoying.
I’m not the only one dealing with the awkward development either. All of my regulars glance at him uneasily, the dominance emanating off of him barely kept in check with as unhappy as he is to be in such a public setting.
“You’re looking better,” my customer notes, and it’s only when I hear his voice that the fever-dream memories flood back and I place him as the guy that saved me from splitting my skull open.
“Thanks to you.” I give him a small smile. “If your reflexes weren’t as good as they were, I’d likely have needed stitches.”
He grimaces. “Would have been a bit of an issue since the nearest hospital is a town over. We’d have had to slap some duct tape on it so you didn’t bleed out.”
“I look like a girl that’s got insurance? Pour some glue on that thing and give me a lollipop, we’ll call it a day.” I start grabbing his regular order automatically and he gives me a sheepish grin.
His hair is a few shades darker than mine, mussed up from the wind howling outside. Bright blue eyes smile right back at me as he passes over a few folded bills to pay. “Pretty and a sense of humor. And here I thought Shady Grove had nothing to offer beyond a killer donut.”
A low growl rumbles that cuts off the chatter in the room, Rheyas stalking closer. Biting my tongue in amusement, I gesture to my self-designated bodyguard.
“May I introduce my mate-in-waiting.”
The man before me busts out a laugh. “Bring your boyfriend to work day, I take it?”
