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“No, no, no,” I insisted, dropping my sandwich to take his hand. “That’s not what I meant! You’re drop dead gorgeous, smart, powerful, and have a sexy accent. Who wouldn’t want that?” My face heated again while a sinful smile crossed his face. “Besides, opposites attract, right?”
“I’m not sure we are so opposite,” Nigel smirked. “You’re drop dead gorgeous, smart, and have a sexy accent as well.”
I was surprised I didn’t ignite into flames on the spot. “Thank you,” I whispered, and he gave me a sultry wink. “What I meant about having trouble believing that we were fated…I never thought I’d have a mate. Because I don’t possess powers, I wasn’t sure if any magical perks would apply to me.”
“Oh,” Nigel said with a nod. “I understand now. But rest assured, I have been around for a very long time, and known mages of all types. While you don’t wield powers, you have magical blood inside you, so the ‘perks’ of immortality and a fated mate are granted to you.”
I asked a burning question and hoped I was prepared to hear his answer. “Does it bother you that I can’t perform spells?”
“Of course not,” he answered with a reassuring smile. “I don’t want you for your magic. And not to sound boastful, but I have plenty for both of us. I want you for your soul.” His face scrunched up. “Well, that sounded bloody terrible, didn’t it? Not in the same way Foras wants your soul.”
I laughed out loud, and Nigel gave a relieved smile. “I knew what you meant, and thank you.” In a heart-melting gesture, he kissed my hand before releasing it, and nodding towards my food, wanting me to eat more.
As I chewed, I let my mind wander, and thought out loud, “Micah talked a lot about finding his beloved.”
“He’d found them?”
“Not yet,” I replied sadly. “But he was always talking about what she might look like, or if he’d impress her or embarrass himself when they’d first meet. He wanted to find love so much, and it kills me that he never got the chance.”
“I’m so sorry,” Nigel offered solemnly. “But if a bright side can be found, your brother would probably be glad that they didn’t meet before his death.” When I tipped my head, he explained, “Bonded mates can’t live without each other. Once their souls are bound, their very existence depends on the other. If Micah had bonded with his mate, she would have died along with him. But now she has the chance of a long, happy life. She can still find love; granted, it won’t be as powerful as a mate bond, but it will be as a human love and marriage. Judging by what I know about your brother, I believe that’s what he would want for her.”
I had never thought of it in that way before, and his words brought me peace. “You’re right. He would want her to find happiness and fulfillment. If he couldn’t be there to make her happy and protect her, he would want someone else to be.”
“I’m sure he’d want the same for you. He would want you to live your best life while honoring and remembering him, but not constantly living in sorrow.”
Those would be Micah’s wishes. And though it would take time, I knew I could get there; especially with someone like Nigel by my side. “I wish you could have met him.”
“So do I,” Nigel said with a sad smile. “But I will do right by him; I’ll protect you, cherish you, and love you.” The word love sent a warm tingle down my spine. Maybe he didn’t feel it yet, and maybe I didn’t either, but I knew it wouldn’t take long. I was falling hard already. Whether it was because of our magical ties or just because Nigel was a good man, I didn’t know, and it didn’t matter.
“I know that Micah would give me one more piece of advice.” When Nigel raised his brows, I added, “He’d say that just because we’re mates doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t make you work for it; that I deserve to be wooed.”
“Well, it’s a good thing that I’m so romantic and sweet. I mean, I did get you dinner from the finest establishment.” Nigel gestured towards the break room, making me laugh again. I loved seeing his funny side.
“You did indeed,” I agreed, and he gave me a beautiful smile. I ate the last bite of my sandwich and requested, “Tell me about your life in London.” I wanted to know everything about him.
“There’s not much to tell. I have lived a fairly quiet life since I retired from the force after four hundred seventy years of service.”
“Four hundred seventy?” I repeated in shock. At only thirty-six, I was still young even in human years. Nigel had worked for nearly five centuries, and had surely been alive much longer than that. “Damn. You must have seen so much in that time.”
