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And instead, they were all just pretending it wasn’t real.
Theo glanced over to the cabin that had been empty yesterday. A young couple were loading their bags into their SUV. No Lena in sight. But the man must have heard Theo’s question to Rafe because Theo caught him staring. Theo scowled and turned his back not wanting to go deeper into the trees for fear he’d lose the connection.
Rafe was chuckling like an asshole. “What happened in the past two days, Theo?”
“I. Don’t. Know,” Theo ground out. “But I feel like I’m about to crawl out of my skin.”
More obnoxious chuckling. Theo wasn’t sure he liked this version of Rafe any better than the grumpy bastard he used to be.
“And have you talked to Phoebe about this?”
“No.” Not really. Not directly.
“What was that, I didn’t quite hear you?”
“I said no, Rafe. I didn’t talk to her about any of this. Nymphs don’t have Mates anyway.”
Rafe scoffed. “And this from the man who was appalled when I didn’t tell Ruby, my human Mate, right away. I believe your exact words were ‘You should let her decide.’”
“Fuck off, Rafe.” He didn’t need his words thrown back at him. He remembered what he’d said, but it was a lot easier when it was Rafe’s problem and not his.
“Alright, well, I gotta go anyway. We’re questioning some of Lena’s old friends today.”
“Don’t eat them.”
“Ha. Funny.”
That reminded him. “Did you hear about the attack in Brownville?”
Rafe sighed. “Yeah, it’s been all over the news. Whoever that was, he’s really fucking shit up for us.”
“Highlanders.”
“Yeah. I don’t know why they’re attacking humans, though. Doesn’t make sense.”
“Encountered one yesterday.”
“And…”
“And he got too fucking close to Phoebe, so I made it clear that wasn’t acceptable.”
“No wonder you’re all keyed up.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Theo glanced over his shoulder. The nosy neighbor was still listening even though he was pretending to load the car. “I gotta go. We’re heading home today. Is Ruby okay?”
“She’s worried.” Theo could hear the pain in Rafe’s voice, like anything that hurt Ruby hurt him, too.
“We’ll find Lena.”
“Damn right we will.”
“Thanks for … uh… Thanks, I guess.”
“Good luck with Fee.”
Rafe ended the call and Theo felt the urge to bang his head against the nearest tree, but a concussion probably wouldn’t help matters.
