AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Maybe. Or you could just let the mate bond do its thing and worry about the rest afterward.”
I pulled away. “You know about that?”
“Wolves have something similar.”
I thought on that a moment, before deciding to pick Jax’s brain about all things mate and supernatural. “What can you tell me about it?”
“The mate bond?”
I nodded and settled into the loveseat.
Jaxson let out a long sigh. “Nothing from personal experience, obviously, and there are bound to be differences in the way it works between wolves and vampires. But, essentially, a mate bond connects two souls on the deepest level.”
“And it’s never wrong?”
Jaxson shrugged. “I suppose it’s possible, but I’ve never seen a mated pair separate for anything short of death.”
My shoulder sagged and I leaned into Jaxson.
He put his arm around me. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s just I’ve never had so many conflicted feelings about anything until I met Julian. On one hand, it’s a comfort to know the mate bond doesn’t get it wrong. But it also seems too much. Too big.”
“Yeah, I can see how it might.”
We stayed like that, enjoying the courtyard and each other’s company for quite a while.
“Thanks again for covering my shifts for me.” I said while gazing at the pure blue sky. “I’m going to be stuck here for a while.”
“Eh, I can use the extra spending cash.”
“So, I’ve been meaning to ask, how come you don’t live with the pack? Why are you slumming it with a vamp in the bad part of town?”
A low rumble reverberated in Jax’s chest. “The pack and I are taking some time apart. And, once again, I thought you knew that, Eeds. I figured we were both two outcasts trying to find their way. Little did I know you had no idea I was anything but fabulous.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry I snapped at you about that, by the way.”
He squeezed me closer. “Totally understandable. You were getting your whole world turned upside down. Believe me, I’ve been there, babe.”
I snuggled even closer and we sat like that, silent and enjoying the courtyard for who knows how long.
We might have stayed that way longer if stuff didn’t start getting weird. The breeze stilled, birds of the courtyard quieted. Jaxson and I shared a puzzled glance.
I felt it before anything. A wave of anger, then blinding possessiveness.
“You cannot be here,” Julian growled from the door. His voice was tight and delicious, and I hated the zing of pleasure that ran through me in response.
Uh, hello, what happened to three days?I shot to my feet, matching his over-the-top energy. “Well, too bad. Jax is my best friend, and I needed some clothes. He was kind enough to bring them to me.”
Julian stalked closer, and Jaxson stood as well, a protective arm around my shoulder which didn’t escape Julian’s watchful eye. A low growl rattled in his chest. “Sunny would have sent someone for your things.”
“Yes, she offered. I declined. I don’t want one of your goons going through my underwear.”
The outside of Julian’s irises blackened as power ebbed into his eyes. “Youcannotbe here,” he repeated, staring down Jax.
Jaxson didn’t flinch. Not so much as a muscle under the weight of the king vampire’s glare.
“And why can’t he be? He’s my friend, and I invited him.”
