Page 48 of Shiny Things

I snorted. “Yeah, she did. But you didn’t need to send Ryan over to babysit me.”

“Yes I did. I was stuck in a meeting, or I’d have come myself.”

“I thought we weren’t telling people.”

“Had to. Dean busted us kissing in front of your house and ratted us out to Ryan, who tried to give me an intervention.”

“Really? He didn’t seem upset about it. He was sweet even,” I confessed.

“True mates are important to my family. It’s why I know that once my mother gets through her inevitable shock and maybe even a bit of mourning, she’ll be fine.”

I sighed. “Maybe. Look, Ryan told Gia you sent him to babysit me and now she’s demanding I follow her home for a talk.”

“It’s cool.”

“No, it’s not.”

He laughed, and it warmed my soul and eased my nerves.

“She’s going to figure it out. She already knew I was pestering you to let our ravens meet because I thought we were true mates. Really, she can’t be all that surprised to hear it. So just tell her. It’ll be fine.”

“I don’t think she’s going to give me a choice,” I admitted as I pulled in behind her in front of the large two-story home with a full walkout basement she and David had bought. It wasn’t nearly as big as her parents’ house, but it was enormous compared to my humble, tiny home.

We didn’t talk until we walked inside, and I plopped down on her couch. I’d been here dozens of times and was completely comfortable at her place, even though my anxiety was spiking in preparation for the talk we were about to have.

David walked in and leaned down to kiss his mate.

“Done already?”

“Yup. Mom and Kim had it all handled by the time I got there.”

“Great. I have the smokers going and everything’s on target here too.”

“Perfect. Now, Kim was just about to tell me why Elias sent Ryan to babysit and run interference with our mother.”

“Be nice,” he warned her.

“I am being nice. I just want to know what’s going on.”

“He’s crazy about her. You already know this.”

“Yeah, but did things escalate? She was still fighting him and refusing to let their birds meet the last time I talked to either of them about it.”

“Maybe she finally caved. And maybe you should just ask her.”

“Yeah, because it’s not like I’m sitting right here while you two are gossiping about me.”

I grabbed a throw pillow and hugged it to my chest as they both looked over and laughed.

“Kim, has your raven met Eli’s yet?”

“Yes.”

“And . . .”

“And what?”

“Don’t be a bitch. Is he your true mate or not?”

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