“Because I didn’t care. I chose you, and it didn’t matter to me if you were my predestined mate or not.”
“But if I am, you can stay?”
“I assume so.”
“Test it.”
“But—”
“Please, baby. Do it.”
My heart began pounding. I’d never wanted to know because what if he wasn’t? Most angels didn’t have mates at all, so the chances weren’t in our favor. And what difference did it make? I could love Hayden without us having some supernatural bond.
But those were just excuses I’d told myself so I wouldn’t have to find out. In reality, I was terrified of learning the truth, and I’d let that fear drive my decision.
“Okay,” I whispered.
“What do we do?” Hayden asked.
“I’ll be right back.”
I left him on the bed while I retrieved a dagger from Nate’s training room.
“Give me your hand,” I said when I got back.
He placed his hand in mine, and I turned it so it was palm up. I loved his hands, loved what they could do to my body. The idea of what I was about to do made my stomach churn. Fear and dread mixed together as I stared at Hayden’s open palm.
“Dani?” he asked. “What now?”
I positioned the dagger over his hand. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Yes, baby. I’m positive.”
If this didn’t work and I cut him, I could just heal him again, I reminded myself. I dragged the blade over his skin, bracing myself for his pain. But it didn’t come. His aura stayed exactly the same, full of nervous anticipation, and my hands didn’t so much as prickle with the need to heal.
Holy shit.
I stared at his unbroken skin for a full minute before Hayden’s voice broke me out of my trance.
“Danielle? Baby, what do we do now?”
“Nothing.” I blinked and tore my eyes away from his hand. “You’re my mate.”
“Really?” The biggest grin broke out over his face. And then he was pulling me into his arms and covering my face with kisses. “Fuck, I love you.”
I laughed as his mouth roved over my neck, and then he flipped us so I was underneath him, his body stretched out over mine.
“You’re mine,” he growled against my skin. “And I’m never letting you go.”
“Who said I wanted to go?” I threaded my hands through his damp hair. “I don’t want to be anywhere but with you.”
He lifted his head from my neck to meet my eyes. “Does this mean you’ll come back home?”
“As long as you want me.”
“I’ll always want you. There hasn’t been a day since I woke up to your face in the hospital two years ago that I haven’t wanted you, even when I tried to convince myself otherwise. I’m yours, Danielle. You’ve owned my heart and soul since the moment you saved my life.”
“Technically it was a joint effort. I couldn’t have saved you if Beelzebub didn’t save you from the wreck.”
