Page 30 of Ridge

“I can hear you. Everyone in this place can. I’ve been listening to what you’ve been saying about me since I walked in, and let me tell you—you’re rude.”

She gasped and looked around as if she expected the people around them to side with her. Maybe they would. Kael didn’t care.

He didn’t care about any of it anymore. He belonged here, and no one would make him change his mind about that, especially not a woman he didn’t know. His heart was racing and he was terrified, but it felt good to stand up for himself for once.

He got to his feet, sliding out from the bench. Ridge scrambled to follow, and to Kael’s relief, he didn’t move toward the woman. Instead, he came to Kael’s side, close enough to touch.

“You have no right to tell anyone where they belong, lady,” Kael said. “Also, you should learn to watch your mouth in public. I’m not going to do anything to you because that’s not the kind of person I am, but someone else might not be so patient.”

“Are you threatening me?” the woman asked, her voice rising. She was gearing up to cause a scene, but Kael wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

“I’m not. I’m just stating the truth.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” the waiter said, coming closer.

Kael shook his head. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause a scene.”

“You’re not the one in the wrong here, sir,” the waiter said, leaning in. “I’m a shifter, and as far as I’m concerned, you belong here more than she does.”

Kael gave the waiter a smile. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you, but really, I’m sorry. I think it would be better for me to leave.”

“I can ask her to go instead.”

Now that would be something. Kael almost said yes, but he knew it would only make things worse, and it wasn’t what he was after. “It’s all right. My mate and I will be back, and we’ll get our pizza then. In the meantime, thank you.” He paused and glanced back at the woman. “Good luck dealing with her.”

She gasped, but Kael was already moving toward the door, Ridge right behind him. His heart was still racing, but he was smiling.

The person he’d been a few weeks ago would have hated this interaction. He still did, in a way. He wished it hadn’t happened and that people weren’t like that, but in the end, they didn’t matter. The only people who did matter thought that Kael’s place was here, and he agreed.

He’d really made his decision, hadn’t he? He wasn’t going back to Starhaven or to any demon town. He wasn’t going anywhere. This was his home now, and nothing anyone could say would change his mind about that, least of all a woman he’d never met. He knew he would have to deal with a lot of nastiness going forward, and maybe eventually it would become too much, but for now? He was proud of himself. He’d made his choice, and he’d meant it. He’d done so in front of his mate, and even though they weren’t bonded yet, he could tell that Ridge was proud of him.

What mattered more was that he was proud of himself.

* * * *

RIDGE SCRAMBLED TO keep up with Kael. He hadn’t expected his mate to get up and leave the restaurant so quickly, but as soon as Kael started moving, he’d followed. He’d heard what the waiter had said, just like he’d heard Kael answer. He was proud of his mate for taking the high road, but at the same time, he wanted to go back and give that rude woman a piece of his mind.

She had no right to decide who belonged where. She had no right to tell Kael whether or not he should be there, and Ridge was glad that Kael had finally realized that.

They hadn’t talked much, but he’d been watching Kael. He knew that his mate was uncomfortable most of the time, and he’d seen how relaxed Kael could be when they’d been with the other demons. Kael had been nervous for other reasons there, but it had been clear that he felt like he belonged. He hadn’t had to watch himself. He hadn’t been aware of his surroundings the way he was now.

Ridge felt sorry about that. He wanted his mate to always feel like he belonged, but he wasn’t sure how to give him that. The only way it could fully happen was if Kael returned to a demon town, and that was one place where Ridge wouldn’t be allowed to follow him unless they looked into whether they could move into the town they’d just visited. The demons there had been open enough to welcome them and listen to them. They knew he and Kael were together. Maybe they’d make an exception to let Ridge in permanently.

It was something Ridge was going to bring up as soon as Kael stopped power-walking down the sidewalk.

“Hey,” he said, reaching his mate and gently catching his wrist.

Kael didn’t shake him off, but he also didn’t stop. “Where’s your place?” he asked instead.

“That building over there where I parked. We don’t have to go yet, though.”

“Why shouldn’t we? We need to talk.”

“We do, but after what just happened, I don’t mind waiting.”

That was enough to get Kael to stop moving. He came to a halt in the middle of the sidewalk and turned to face Ridge, squinting at him as if trying to read him. Ridge wasn’t sure how to make this easier on him. He wanted to give him the world, but the only thing he could give him was himself.

He wasn’t sure that would be enough.