Page 90 of Tangled Hearts

“You too!” she squeaked, before blushing and running off.

I looked at Ryder, feeling like I did something wrong.

“Kella is still young, and she is very shy meeting new people,” Ryder said, looking back at the kitchen. “They are also shocked that I found my mate and that you aren’t a shifter.”

“Was I supposed to be a shifter?” I was confused.

“No, it's just custom for our people to have shifters for their mate,” he said, before taking a sip of his coffee.

“So, I’m not who they thought I'd be?” I looked in the kitchen wondering if they were disappointed.

“Having mates from different types of paranormals is unheard of,” Max said. “I've only seen one mating that was between a Fae and a shifter, but for the most part, mates stay within their respective race.”

“Oh,” I said, still feeling confused.

“There is nothing wrong with our bond, Sunshine,” Gray said. “It just makes our mating a little different and special.”

“Do people normally have more than one mate?” I asked.

“It’s more common than having different mates,” Max said. “My aunt had two mates.”

I felt naive thinking our union was normal. Was that why everyone looked at us funny? Or why were they so intrigued? Was it because I was different and not in a good way?

“Heaven.” Ryder touched my shoulder.

I looked up as my thoughts dispersed.

I gave him a smile, hoping it was enough so he wouldn’t ask what was going on in my head. A loud scream made me flinch as Ryder and the guys looked towards the kitchen.

“Shit.” Ryder got up and went to the kitchen. I stood up wondering what had happened.

“My eye!” a girl screamed.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think it was going to do that!” A boy yelled.

I got up immediately, pushing my way to the girl.

“I can’t see,” she cried out and I saw it was Ryder's sister. “My face burns.”

“We have to take her to go see the pack doctor,” Samira said, holding on to Kella.

“If she burned her eye there might not be much the doctor could do,” I said, gaining the attention of the kitchen. “I could take a look at it.”

Ryder shook his head at me.

“So, I'm gonna be blind forever?!” Kella panicked.

“Let me just take a look at it,” I said, ignoring Ryder.

“Take her to the guest bedroom,” Ryder said immediately.

I followed, they set her down on the bed as I pulled a gem from my necklace. I whispered the incantation before putting it over her burn. She instantly relaxed.

“Keep your eyes closed, it will hurt less,” I said, looking over at Ryder ushering everyone out while easing their worry that I was an alchemist with a healing background.

“Can I use a sleep charm while I look at your eye?” I asked, pulling another charm off my necklace.

She looked up at Ryder.

---