Page 17 of His Fate
And I will not be without my mate while I avenge our loved ones and take back my throne.
It's quarter of six and I am so determined to try to control one part of my life, set in motion the gears that roared to life the second I saw Josephine Timmons, that I become resolute in my plan.
I grab my keys from the table and head toward the attached garage, ignore my brother's protests as they call out from the shared living room. As soon as the door is open I tear out of the garage and down the dirt driveway—the mile long trail that leads to the gate. The iron rails part and my bike shoots down the road, adrenaline and anger, longing and need buzzing in a lethal cocktail under my skin.
I need to see Posey.
Need the calm her presence brings, the clarity and completion I feel when she's near.
She is mine.
My mate, my fate.
My heart, my future.
And if I intend to plan my attack and reclaim my crown then I need to be thinking clearly, sharp, and on alert or else we will fail. I need to claim my mate or else I won't be able to do that and I may as well stay in this stagnant, suffocating state of living.
I park right outside the back door and note there are only two other vehicles in the lot next to where the hunk of junk my mate drives should be, the one I intend to replace as soon as Posey allows. Running my hands through my hair to push the unruly strands out of my face I feel a ripple of pleasure race up my spine and scatter across my skin, goosebumps that are so foreign but always appear when my mate is close by.
The back door swings open and Ronny walks out before coming to a halt with a shocked expression. Kady, the tiny round woman who owns the shop, crashes into him but I don't see Posey.
I arch a brow as Kady locks up, concern and worry turning my blood to ice.
"Where is Posey?"
Ronny shifts uncomfortably. "Uh..."
"Out front," Kady says with a smile. "Walking home, I suppose. Too proud to take a ride from either of us and said she didn't have anyone to call." Then she cocks her head to the side, looks me up and down before giving me a firm nod. "Guess she was wrong, eh?"
Kady and I stare at each other a moment longer and that's when I see it. The glimmer of white that flashes briefly over her chocolate brown eyes. My dragon returns the gesture and her nostrils flare the faintest bit before she imperceptibly gives me a nod and bow then drops her eyes for a split second.
Kady is a shifter.
And by the way she just acknowledged my status as an alpha and station as a king, I'd wager to bet she's bear or wolf. Big cats don't have dark eyes and any other shifter wouldn't have picked up on who I was since only bears, wolves, and big cats travel in groups and follow a similar hierarchy.
My money is on bear.
Shifters can't scent each other unless we are of the same species, but there are other tells and unfortunately for me, dragons exhibit more obvious ones. Obvious if you know what you're looking for anyway.
"If you hurry you can probably catch Posey. Should only be about a mile down the road by now."
I nod my thanks and start my bike but let it idle as Kady walks a little closer.
"You and your brothers should come on over to my house sometime. I could make you a home cooked meal and I know my husband would love a little male company." She arches a brow and gives me a pointed look. "There are a few other couples, local folks you may like to meet. We could have a small gathering, a barbecue maybe, welcome you to town proper and fill you in on a bit of history and current events you'd surely be interested in."
Taking her less than subtle hint, I nod. "We would love to. Just let me know when and whe—"
"As soon as possible, highness," Kady says quietly, a touch of fear lacing her words. "It would mean a lot to us if you took time to hear what we have to say."
"Very well. If tomorrow works for you, my brothers and I would be more than happy to accept your kind offer."
Kady sighs her relief and nods. "Thank you. We're on Old Plank road, about ten minutes from Posey's place. You'll know the way once you're in route. Thank you, highness."
She bows and I return it but say quietly, "Please, call me Kai. I am a king but in a foreign kingdom, no need for formalities."
With that I roll out of the lot, a sour feeling in the pit of my stomach and an urgent need to see my mate throbbing in my chest.
My brothers are going to shit once I tell them what just transpired.
