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She nodded. “I’m great. Promise.” She gave me a reassuring smile, and that was enough. For the moment.
I watched my mate in her element. She talked to the students like they were her friends, and she handled all of the parents with grace—including any who talked to her about concerns they had.
Her co-workers bombarded me with all kinds of questions. Where did we meet? Where was I from? How long had we been together? I kept all of my answers simple:
“My brother’s wedding.”
“A small town. You probably haven’t heard of it.”
“It’s been a few weeks.”
I hoped I was doing well, but I was a fish out of water. I wasn’t used to following someone else’s lead. Seeing her with her friends and her self-made family...it made me miss my own. I hadn’t spoken to Dymitri since leaving my home weeks ago. He was honeymooning though, so he was probably glad I wasn’t there to interrupt.
I wanted to actually see him in person— taking to the skies together like we used to. I desperately wanted to fly.
I assumed Dymitri was doing well. Someone would have come here to tell me otherwise if he wasn’t. And Damon... I was still getting to know him. Would our relationship take a step backward because I wasn’t home?
No, he’ll understand. This is my true mate, after all.
I still missed him though, and the odd family bond we’d begun to build.
My brothers, my home, felt like a place that only existed in my dreams now. It was a feeling that left me anxious. A lot about Katerina’s world did that. I was in a foreign land with only one ally.
I smiled my way through the event, being polite and keeping my grumpy dragon at bay while he screamed at me internally. For Katerina, I didn’t falter. I would never lose control of my shifter again.
We only stayed for an hour, but it felt an awful lot like five.
“Thanks,” she said as we climbed into the car. “I can tell you weren’t exactly comfortable there. You don’t have to come with me next time.”
I shook my head. “I want to be with you. I’ll get used to the crowds eventually. I’ve never been much of a people person.”
“Not surprised by that at all.” She laughed, turning the engine on and pulling out of the parking lot. “That brooding loner vibe you give off almost scared me away from talking to you at the wedding.”
“It did?” I glanced over at her.
She squeezed the steering wheel of the car a little tighter. “Almost, but I can’t stay away from you. Even if my head tells me none of this makes sense... I feel...”
“The bond,” I finished for her. “That’s our bond.”
“It’s something,” she murmured, then louder she said, “I like it, though. What we have. It’s different from anything I’ve ever experienced, and it’s nice to have it all feel easy.”
I nodded, showing I was listening, though I didn’t necessarily feel the same way.
Being with Katerina felt safe—like home. But it was far from easy. I don’t think she understood how much of my life was being changed or put on hold for her comfort. I didn’t plan on telling her any time soon, though. The least I could do was try and adapt for her. She’d already done the same for me. Lovers did that for each other all the time...
Didn’t they?
“When we get home, I want to show you what I’ve been doing,” I said, feeling a flutter of excitement inside my chest.
“Besides cleaning my house and cooking?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with light. “You know, I was starting to wonder how you didn’t die of boredom.”
“I’m making do.” I said, glancing out the window as the houses flew by.
When we got home, I put my hands over her eyes as soon as we were out of the car. “Trust me, I won’t let you stumble.”
She giggled and pressed her warm fingers into my hands. “I trust you.”
I loved hearing those three words.
