Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“That one.” I pointed to Kenzie. “That last one. Just ignore the rest. I know you’re not a Martian.”
If he was, though, he should probably tell me that in private and not in the diner.
No one in the diner at the moment could keep a secret that big.
My mate was back to looking like he wanted to laugh, but he kept it to himself. “I’ve just been having to follow the compulsion and it finally led me here, but every time I got close, you moved.”
Oops.
“He’s been fidgety because you hadn’t shown up yet.” Kenzie gave my mate a disappointed look and shook his head. “He’s been anxious. You need to fix it.”
I had no idea what to say to that but my mate’s brain worked faster than mine. “I think whatever happened made us both anxious, but I’m willing to help him as long as that’s what he wants.”
“He does.”
Nearly the entire diner answered at once and I just crashed into the table. I was ready to be dead. I’d found my mate, so I could die of embarrassment a happy human with a dragon mate.
“Kenzie.” Deputy Talon’s voice coming from the doorway of the diner had Kenzie groaning.
“You guys shouldn’t tattle so fast.”
My mate made a rough noise like he was trying not to laugh, but I wasn’t ready to look yet.
“Would someone like to explain why I’m supposed to punish Kenzie?”
Someone really had tattled fast this time.
“Well, the happy chattery one here…who seems to belong to you…is being very helpful, and along with most of the customers, trying to kill my mate with embarrassment. Possibly because of the spell they put on me? I’m not that vengeful, though, so I think the punishment can stop now.” My mate was really good at getting to the point.
That was a skill that would definitely come in handy.
“For fuck’s sake, guys. He thinks you’re punishing Alick.” Talon sounded offended enough that I almost looked up. “Think about that. He’s saying you’re not being nice to his mate.”
Mumbling something about morons, Talon huffed. “Kenzie, say sorry to Alick and then ask him if he needs us to stay with him while he gets to know his mate.”
“He’s not a serial killer.” Kenzie seemed very sure about that. “He was very polite and didn’t even get too close to Alick.”
Well, he was right about that part.
My mate cleared his throat, almost making me want to look up again. “I’m not a serial killer. I’m an artist from Canada.”
He was quickly learning how to deal with Kenzie too.
“See, Daddy? He’s Canadian. They’re all weirdly polite and not allowed to kill you. The news said so.” I didn’t want to know what he’d been watching online either.
“I’m fine.” Waving at Talon, I sighed. “Just trying to decide if dying of embarrassment is a thing.”
Kenzie’s Daddy scoffed. “Not around here.”
Just my luck.
Magic was a pain in the ass sometimes.
Chapter 4
Grady
Part of me wanted to soak up the sense of accomplishment I felt at having found my mate.
Part of me wanted to soak up the way the magical compulsion had popped like a soap bubble.
Part of me wanted to pat my mate on the head and tell him that I’d keep him safe from his friends.
And part of me wanted to check and see if we were on some kind of show where they put hidden cameras everywhere.
But before I could do any of that, I had to handle my mate’s insane friend and get us away from the ancient audience that wasn’t even pretending not to stare. “Um, my mate’s apology?”
We weren’t going to forget that because he seemed like he was trying to sink under the table.
“Thank you.” The Daddy who seemed to be in law enforcement didn’t even pretend not to be the Dom in their relationship as he turned to the chatty troublemaker.
“Kenzie?” His low tone had the cheerful drama queen sighing.
“I’m sorry, Alick. I forgot my manners because I was very excited for you.” He should’ve stopped there, but he didn’t. “And I was excited for Lorne that his idea worked and then I got excited because Carrick hadn’t accidentally killed your mate. And then I remembered how hot he is.”
The naughty little whose name seemed to be Kenzie would’ve kept going but his Daddy groaned. “Come on. Let’s leave Alick and his mate alone so they can get to know each other better without an audience.”
It was a very good plan, so I nodded. “Thank you.”
My mate, Alick, waved a hand without looking up. “Thanks for saving me.”
“You’re welcome.” Kenzie’s Daddy was trying not to laugh, but that quickly faded as he turned to focus on me.
“Let’s get a few things straight. I’m human, but I’m a damned good shot and I could hide your body where no one would ever find it.” It was an impressively delivered threat with nearly dead eyes, but he wasn’t done and gestured between the two friends. “Their best friend is mated to one of the strongest mages I’m pretty sure has ever existed, and we have enough lunatics in this town that I could get someone to eat you without too many questions.”