Page 64 of Enchanting Her Monsters
They’ve somehow deepened their mate bonds. I sense Jade’s and Arran’s joy, and realize I should give them some time to be alone and revel in their full bond.
It’s the least I can do since I had an entire night with my Heartstone, making love to her. By the end, she had no doubt of my utter devotion to her.
She is my center.
Without her, I would lose my mind.
I stare at Calder, wondering if he will heal and find the peace and comfort to soothe his broken heart.
Finally, Calder stirs, still out of his mind. He mumbles unintelligible words until one rings out clearly, over and over. “Jade.”
I cannot say if it’s because he wants her there or because he’s having a nightmare. I glance over at Maxum to see if he can understand with his mind reading abilities.
His lips are pressed into a flat line. That doesn’t give me much to go on. I’ve never been great at reading expressions, especially the subtle ones. It’s why I love my Heartstone so much. Jade doesn’t make me guess because she is so open with her emotions. She doesn’t seem to understand how precious that is to someone like me or in the supernatural world.
All supes seem to mask their genuine needs and feelings. I hear humans and witches are much the same. I often wondered why, until over the centuries, I witnessed many times how a person can turn that knowledge against another. Then that injured person turns wary and guarded.
It breaks me to think Rob could have done that to our Jade, but she is strong. Stronger than she realizes for still being able to be vulnerable with us.
“Do you feel that?” Raithe asks.
“The room has grown warmer,” I answer. “That’s all.”
Raithe pulls his gaze away from Calder, and it lands on me, then Maxum. “I believe, on top of everything else, that he’s entering a mating fever.”
I can deduce what that means from context, but I need to know more, “What does that mean for them?”
“If he doesn’t consummate his mating bond with her, he may die…” Raithe pauses and frowns deeply. “With how weak he is, it could be the final one.”
Maxum jumps to his feet and hits his horns on the low ceiling. “Are you sure?”
“You must pick up from his mind that he’s craving Jade.” Raithe eyes Maxum, waiting for confirmation.
“Yeah.” He rubs his hand down his face. “I just thought… he’s been that way for a while now.”
“But his fire… it touched her? Tasted her?” Raithe asks. “It should have consumed her?”
“Yes,” I say. “I tried to block his attack, but I don’t think it was an attack per se.”
“It was a call to be close to her,” Raithe says. “I had something less dramatic, but similar when I met Amira.”
“But he was out of his mind because he just had his soul fragments returned to him.” Maxum sits back down, his shoulders slumped. “We thought…”
“He’s out of his mind because of the tortured soul pieces, but he’s also out of his mind because he’s been denying his mate,” Raithe explains.
“I should let Jade know how he is,” Maxum announces. “Warn her what to expect.”
Raithe explains how the phoenix bonds work and says, “Go. Both of you. I can keep an eye on him.” He nods to the hatch’s stairs.
Maxum and I are quiet on the short walk over to the cabin.
Before we enter, I hold out my hand to make him stop. “Whatever happens, whatever Jade decides, I cannot allow her to be harmed. I don’t want Calder to suffer or die, but Iwill notlet Jade die.”
Maxum turns, facing me head on. “I love that grumpy bastard, but I will kill him myself if he hurts her. She is our heart now and her death means we’d all die.”
I give him a curt nod and a grunt of agreement.
Maxum opens the door for us to see Jade naked and snuggled into Arran’s lap at the table. He’s feeding her chocolate, and she’s licking it off his clawed fingers.
