Page 24 of Heir

Taking a deep breath, I exhaled out a big puff of smoke, making him cough and step back. “I don’t, actually. Because although you may be bigger than me. I am smarter than you. I am kinder than you. I am older than you. I am more dangerous than you. Let’s just be honest here. I’m just better than you.” I stepped toward him, snapping my fingers again to bring up green flames this time. “The people on this beach just want to sit, have a drink, and enjoy some cheap—albeit incredible—entertainment. Don’t deprive them of that. Sit down, shut up, and enjoy the show. Or fuck off.”

He eyed my green flames with as much caution as curiosity. “What the fuck are you, dude?”

My smile was nothing short of evil. “I’m your worst fucking—”

Crack!

Lightning flashed through the sky, illuminating the entire beach. A giant, jagged fork crashed down from the stars and plunged directly into my chest, knocking me backward onto the sand.

People screamed.

I was still conscious, but rattled, and when I looked up from where I was on my back, a crowd formed around so tight I couldn’t see the sky.

Jai and Busaba pushed their way through, telling everyone to get out of the way.

Jai crouched down. “Max, my friend, are you okay?”

Busaba’s hand landed on my head, but I instantly flinched and shook her off. Her face turned sad, but she didn’t try again.

I knew what that lightning strike meant.

I’d seen it happen to others.

My mate had come of age.

And now, until we mated, to be touched by another woman would cause me pain. My heart, mind, body, and soul belonged to only one person now. And I had to get to her. I had to find her.

“Can you get up?” Jai asked. “Or do we need to call the ambulance?”

“I’m fine,” I grunted, my mouth tasting like ash. “Just help me up.”

Jai offered me his hand and yanked me to my feet, steadying me when I wobbled a little.

“Look!” A woman from the crowd pointed to the sand I’d landed on. “Glass.”

I turned around where, sure enough, the heat from my body and the lightning had melted the sand and turned it into glass.

A kid bent down and picked up the big, oddly shaped, clear piece. “This is so cool.” He glanced up at me. “Can I keep it?”

“Fill your boots, kid.”

Lilac, honeysuckle, and cayenne filled the breeze that wafted beneath my nose. I turned toward it, inhaling deeper. My mate’s scent.

I needed to leave. Now. There wasn’t a moment to waste. Nodding at Jai and Busaba, I headed off down the beach.

“Where are you going?” Jai called after me.

“I don’t know. But I gotta go,” I replied, not looking back. I didn’t have time to wait for one of the shuttle boats in the morning. I needed to start moving now.

I woke up my friend, Somchai, who had a boat, and paid him to take me to Koh Samui which had an airport. From there, I caught a flight to Bangkok, following my instincts that my mate was in the States. I didn’t know where in the States, so I paid for a flight to LAX, and would go from there. Her scent would lead me to her door. Of that, I was sure.

I arrived at LAX the next evening. As soon as I stepped outside, I could feel her closeness, and her scent was as strong as ever. I needed to head north.

Renting a car and driving would take too long, so I hopped on the next available flight north, which took me to Chase City. It was just south of Seattle and about two-thirds the size. I’d never been, but again, my instincts told me that when I touched down, it wouldn’t be too long before I was with my mate.

“Sir, you’ll need to bring your seat up and return your tray table,” the flight attendant said to the man across the aisle from me. “We’re preparing to descend.”

“I don’t understand the big deal,” the guy argued, pulling out one ear bud, and opening one eye to glare at her. “It’s another thirty minutes before we’re on the ground. I want to be comfortable and I still have stuff in my cup.” He put his earbud back into his ear and closed his eyes again, ignoring her.

---