Page 136 of Mate Me

“But you acted like I didn’t belong here . . .”

“I’m an immortal being, and it’s my job to keep my king safe. Skepticism runs with the territory, but regardless of my abrasiveness, I’ve always been a good judge of character. It would seem, according to Reagan—” Nog barked around the toy in his mouth— “and your brother, you historically have not. Maybe try something new. You might find you like it.”

Clara’s arms dropped to her side, and for once, she was speechless. He leaned in, just hovering over her lips, and I was about to start screaming for him to kiss her. But he didn’t. Instead, he whispered, “I would take all your ire and all your curses. I could give you what you desire; everything you’ve been missing.” Then he lightly brushed his lips over hers. “Try me.”

“If you hurt me, I’ll put your soul in a doll and give it to a dog,” she said through stuttered breath, but there was no conviction behind it.

“For you? I’d risk it.”

Clara nodded, giving him the okay with a coy smile curving upward. Pol smirked, brushing his lips over hers slightly.

“Also?” he added, winking at her. “Your family loves me.”

“Wait, what?” Clara and I said in unison.

Nog tossed the doll, and it smacked into the wall where he chased it. We all turned our attention to him when the thud echoed in the room. He pounced on it, growling and arching his back as he hovered over it and began humping its face. If you listened carefully, you could almost hear a soul crying in agony.

“I’ve been waiting millennia for that weasel to get his just deserts, and I never imagined it would be so incredibly satisfying to watch a dog fuck him in the ear for eternity,” Pol said, a wide grin on his face.

Chapter43

Reagan

When I arrived at the ceremonial circle, my heart skipped a beat. If I’d thought the crowd for the primal hunt was big, that was nothing compared to the attendance of their king’s wedding.

A warm presence cloaked me, and I knew my love was near.

“My queen,” he whispered, nipping my ear ever so slightly.

I turned around, wrapping my arms around his waist and tilting my head up to look at him.

“Not a queen yet,” I said, half smirking. “I thought I was supposed to go there and wait for your grand entrance into the circle while the shamans did all their chanting.”

“Change of plans,” he said, kissing my nose and taking my hand. “We’re walking in together.”

“But I thought . . . tradition?”

“Fuck tradition. We’re doing it our way.” He paused, tilting his head to the side momentarily. “Unless you want me to go ask your dad for ten goats as dowry?”

I smacked his arm playfully.

The throng of people parted as we walked through, heading to our appointed spots within the circle. The shamans smiled, each of them inclining their heads to bow in respect. My dad stood next to Sin and Tía Celeste. Tío Amos had even made it. We kept the list small for my family. I’m not sure Tartarus was ready for that.

Standing before each other, Clara and Styx approached silently, each holding a tray of paint.

“Again?” I whispered.

“This time is slightly different.”

A beautiful, shapely woman with a cascade of braided red hair and emerald-green eyes approached, tracing her fingers down the curve of my jaw, and placing her other hand on Caius’s biceps.

Her eyes flashed, and a bright smile appeared on her face. “I see a baby in your future, Reagan. The love you feel for them is otherworldly. They will bring you great joy.”

My mouth fell open, and Caius’s gaze shot to mine. “Are you?”

“Uh, no. Definitely not. I’m not saying never, but just ... not right now, and kind of a weird place to talk about this,” I whispered, turning to the seer, and snapping while I spoke. “Seeanythingelse there?”

“I said what I said.”

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