Page 42 of Chev's Mate

Somebody rubs my back, and I peek to the side to see Chev. Silas is already gone, but I quickly find him leaning against a black tree several feet away. He’s watching. Chev continuesrubbing my back, and when his bear begins making its noises, I take a calm step away. A meeting. I need to treat this as a meeting.

There have got to be hundreds of lava pits surrounding us. It’s stunning, and I struggle to take it all in. I doubt I’d ever be able to see this particular view if it weren’t for Silas teleporting us. There’s no way we could get this deep into the fields without getting hurt.

The spot they found is perfect, too. It’s large enough that I can feel the heat from the lava, but there’s little risk of tripping and falling into scalding magma. That would be a sure way to ruin a day.

Chev leads me to a nearby picnic table. There’s only one, and it’s decorated with candles and food. My heart pounds when I notice it, and I chew at my bottom lip to remain calm. This is romantic.

I wasn’t expecting it.

“It’s beautiful,” I admit.

I sit at the table, and Chev quickly takes the spot opposite me. He’s brought quite a spread, and I eye the dishes with excitement. I’m hungry, and Chev even brought foods native to the nymphs’ homeland. His thoughtfulness has my heart doing backflips, and I struggle not to tear up as I look at a few dishes I haven’t eaten since childhood. Chev put a lot of effort into this.

“I’m happy you like it,” he says, a small smile toying at the corners of his lips. “Do you feel connected to the lava?”

“Yes,” I say. “It’s amazing.”

Chev beams. “Do you feel the same way toward forests?”

I have a feeling I know where this question is leading, but I take the bait.

“I do,” I admit.

That seems to excite Chev, and he bobs his head before pushing back his hair and reaching for the food. He doesn’tsay anything further, but I know what he’s thinking. The shifter lands are covered in forests. He’s thinking about me at his home, in his pack. It’s a thought I’m not ready to entertain.

Chev serves me a plate of food, and I find great pleasure in explaining the dishes we’re eating. He listens to every word like it’s a confession of love, which encourages me to share the few memories I have of each dish.

It’s surprisingly enjoyable, but as we finish eating and the conversation dwindles, my nerves emerge with a vengeance. I have a feeling we both know what’s coming. We can’t prolong the inevitable, and we need to discuss what’s happening between us.

I glance at Silas. He’s still sitting by the black tree, seemingly not paying attention as he flips the page of the book he’s reading. I hope he isn’t listening, and I stare a bit longer before turning back to Chev.

The shifter is already looking at me, his head cocked slightly to the side. He’s waiting.

“Do you want to sit near the pool?” I ask, gesturing to the large pit of magma to our left.

I really want to get closer.

Chev hesitates, his eyes darting toward it. Is he scared of the lava? I want to ask, but I don’t think he’d ever admit to being afraid. After several seconds, he nods and stands. I follow, letting him take my hand and lead me to the spot he’s deemed is most safe.

It’s a ways away from Silas, and when I cast a nervous glance back at the fate, I’m happy to see he’s still reading his book.

The lava is quiet, but occasionally, I’ll hear a low, deep gurgling. It serves as good background noise to the uncomfortable air that’s grown between Chev and me. We sit beside one another, and Chev wordlessly touches my ankle. I lethim rub the bone with the back of his knuckles. It’s soothing, and it makes the bond between us happy.

I clear my throat as I work up the courage to speak. “What do you want from me?” I ask. “If we were to give this a try, what would you want our relationship to look like?”

I avoid looking directly at Chev, but I peek at him from the corner of my eye. His chest expands as he sucks in a slow breath, the shifter thinking through my question before answering.

“I want everything,” he admits. “But I’m happy with whatever you can give. I know you’ve had a hard life.” Chev clears his throat before continuing. “I just want to be a part of your future.”

He continues running his knuckles along my ankle, and I stare at where we connect before prying further.

“And children?” I ask. Chev stills. “If you’d be willing to forego sex, I’d be willing to have your children through artificial insemination,” I continue to explain. “I want a family and children, but making one is not something I think I’ll ever be comfortable with.”

Chev doesn’t immediately respond, and the silence is deafening.

“I’d be honored to have a family with you, with or without sex,” he eventually says.

Despite Chev’s words, I can tell our bond is unhappy. It wants me to give myself entirely to him, but I can’t see myself doing that. Maybe we can work our way there over time, but that wouldn’t be for a long time. I don’t want to suggest it and get his hopes up.

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