Page 33 of Monster's Heart

“Let’s go home, Luna,” I told her, unable to deny myself her touch for another minute.

“Yes. Oh, one minute, do you mind if I find Dr. Childs first? She was supposed to meet me by the rides,” Amrin said, and I nodded.

How could I deny her anything?

Draugr and Serena turned back toward us, offering their congratulations, though only the women hugged. No self-respecting male who valued his own life would touch the mate of another. I bowed my thanks, and they left to enjoy the festival.

“I like them,” Amrin said, and I smiled.

“I am glad. Draugr—”

“I thought his name was Raven?”

“Yes, Draugr is more like his title. I would not feel right calling him that. Anyway, he is a worthy male, and we are from the same realm.”

“Maybe we could double date or something sometime?” she asked, and I grinned.

Who would have ever thought I would go on a double date with the Draugr?

Still, I could not say no to my sweet Luna, so I simply nodded as we walked toward the rides where her doctor was supposed to meet us. I did not like the idea she was ill, and my senses told me there was nothing wrong with her, but she’d asked, so we went.

My eyes narrowed as we approached a woman in a green sweater and horn-rimmed glasses. She was standing with another female I did not recognize, but judging from the way Amrin froze, I assumed she knew the stranger. My suspicions were confirmed the second she opened her mouth.

“Mother?”

CHAPTER 13

Amrin

I could not believe it. Tonight had turned into some sort of fantasy or fairy tale, and I was so happy I thought I might burst. The dress, the ambiance of the festival, the new friends I’d just made, and most of all him, it was all just perfect. More than I’d hoped, and everything I’d ever dreamed.

Sten—no, Menon, he was Menon now—had claimed me and I him with words, and I was hoping for more than that once we got home. I said home, but I meant his rooms, which I would definitely be moving into ASAP. There was simply no way I was spending another night away from the man I loved.

My body tingled with anticipation, but there was something I had to do first. The insomnia that had plagued me all my life, that I looked at as a curse, apparently wasn’t. It was my body’s way of preparing to be mated to the Premier Celestial Guardian of Asgard.

Hmm, maybe my magic’s way, too.

I’d called Dr. Childs thinking I needed some potions to help with sleep, but what I really needed was to change my schedule. Nocturnal classes would suit me far better, I was sure of it. These were all things I intended to discuss with Menon later, but first, I had to thank the doctor and tell her I was wrong.

I didn’t need potions, I just needed my mate.

My heart was pounding inside my chest, and that buzzing, sparking feeling I’d been getting ever since I met him seemed to be growing with every step I took. Like my magic had just been simmering under the surface, and I wondered maybe if he was the trigger I needed to get going. All I knew was Menon made me feel good when I was with him. And that was a vast understatement. He completed me in ways I could hardly describe.

Just think, this is only the beginning.

Had I imagined what had just happened?

Did this beautiful creature really just claim me as his mate?

I shivered with emotion, and he tightened his hold, reassuring me that this was real, he was real, without him even knowing it.

He didn’t seem to mind I was not powerful and didn’t share the same history as him. And if he didn’t mind, then I wasn’t going to sweat it either. I mean, I was still young, still learning and discovering what made me tick. I was not exactly sure what his title meant, or what his position entailed in Asgard, but he would explain it all. Of that, I was certain.

We cut through the crowd, his firm hand in mine as we made our way to the area where various carnival rides sat tall and bright against the night sky. I spotted my childhood doctor standing with someone else.

No.

It couldn’t be.

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