“Damn,” Jackie says as I place the empty jug on the counter.
“Another,” I tell the bartender, who nods.
“Shifters drink A LOT of water,” he explains to Jackie with a wink that makes me want to growl.
I let Jackie lead the way as she walks through the open space, hips swaying with each step, before sliding into one of the booths, making herself comfortable. I want to sit beside her, feel her warmth against my side, but I know that might be too imposing. Instead, I slide into the seat opposite her, immediately missing her proximity.
The bartender approaches our table and places the fresh pitcher in front of me. “Would you like anything off the menu?” he asks. “Jabari here is one of our lead chefs, obviously on break, but he makes great cuisine.”
Jackie shakes her head. “No, thank you,” she says with a polite smile that somehow manages to be both professional and warm.
The bartender gives me a wink before walking off, which annoys me more than it should.
She sips her tea, her fingers wrapped elegantly around the glass. “So, what is it you need to speak to me about? What’s the urgency?”
“How much do you know about the lore of Wintermoon, and the fated scent?” I ask again, studying her reactions.
She shrugs, her shoulders rising and falling in a fluid motion. “If I’m being honest, not much at all. I’m exhausted from my own human politics, and I never cared to learn about the lore or politics of supernaturals. I just know you exist, nothing more.” Her directness is refreshing. “What does that have to do with me?”
I clear my throat and run a nervous hand over my chest. How exactly am I supposed to approach this? Do I just outright tell her that she’s my fated mate? My bear is clawing at me to do so,but how would that make her feel? Will she reject me? Maybe I should start with getting to know her better.
But when a familiar voice starts echoing through the bar, I realize this discussion is about to be cut short.
“Ah, Jabari, I told you I was going to check on you,” Kade says, standing confidently in front of our table, her long blonde hair with partial braids flowing over her shoulders. Her blue eyes sweep over the scene, sharp and curious.
Jackie takes one look at Kade, notices the sheriff’s badge on her fitted shirt, and gives her a nervous wave. “Hi.”
Kade sniffs the air slightly, then her eyes narrow. She looks at me, then back to Jackie, then to me again, and finally back to Jackie. Her expression shifts to one of absolute horror.
She clears her throat and draws in a sharp breath. “This is not fucking happening right now.”
I can smell the anxiety building in her scent. She’s about two seconds from losing it.
“Kade...” I start, but it’s too late. Kade literally has a meltdown right in front of us.
She starts pacing frantically, biting her nails, her blonde braids whipping around with each sharp turn. “This is not happening, this is not fucking happening right now.”
Jackie gives me a strange look. “What does she mean? What’s wrong?”
Kade stops, her face scrunched up in horror, eyes wide with panic. “You found your fated mate on the cruise? How did I know this was going to happen?” She throws her hands up. “I knew, I KNEW your pretty fated was going to walk right on this ship and tempt your bear!”
She tops mid-step and puts a hand to her chest, her breathing rapid. She looks at Jackie with wild eyes. “Can vampires have strokes? I think I’m having one right now!”
“Stop scaring my mate,” I growl, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
Kade glares at me. “Excuse me?”
“Excuse me?” Jackie echoes, her voice rising. “What’s happening here?” She lets out a nervous laugh. “There’s a mistake. I’m not fated to anyone.”
“I could smell the fated scent the moment I teleported on this ship,” Kade insists, pointing at Jackie. “You are, in fact, fated, honey.” She freezes, putting a hand to her forehead. “Honey. HONEY. That’s what you smell like. Fucking honey!”
I slide out of the booth, clearly irritated with Kade as Jackie stares at both of us like we’ve lost our minds. And clearly, we have.
I stand, towering over Kade, my presence filling the space between us.
Kade starts pacing again. “We don’t normally do this, but I’ll just have the captain dock on the tourist island, let the humans walk around for a few hours while I get you two off my ship.”
“You know what?” Jackie says, sliding out of the booth and standing with us. She looks directly at Kade, and we both see the irritation flashing in her eyes, her confidence unflinching even in the face of supernatural beings.
